Subject: ECOLOG-L Digest - 17 Mar 2003 to 18 Mar 2003 (#2003-75)
There are 13 messages totalling 1128 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Not all ecologists opposed to war in Iraq?
2. ESA and DU? (3)
3. Fwd: News: Iraq's environment suffers from multiple stresses
4. On war...let me rephrase this...
5. READ URLs: Depleted Uranium Munitions
6. War and the Environment
7. response to dissenting opinion
8. Internship opportunity in ecology and conservation biology
9. Brinkhurst's The Benthos of Lakes Returns to Print
10. Job announcement (7-9 research/field assistant positions) University of
Notre Dame Aquatic Ecology/Invasion Biology
11. BOOKS AND JOURNALS FOR SALE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 21:43:09 -0500
From: Nicholas Stow <nstow5767@ROGERS.COM>
Subject: Not all ecologists opposed to war in Iraq?
I'd like to voice a dissenting opinion.
There appears to be an assumption that ecologists, in general, are (or
should be) opposed to a war in Iraq. Perhaps the best reason for ESA
not to become involved is that a consensus would not be so easily
reached as some people believe. Frankly, I suspect that the ecological
effects of a war in Iraq would likely be positive. Just a few thoughts.
1. Elimination of sanctions. What, I wonder, has been the ecological
effect of the deterioration of the Iraqi infrastructure on the
environment (due to diversion of humanitarian oil revenues to the Iraqi
military)? How much sewage and industrial waste is being released in
the water, because treatment and sanitation plants are inoperative or
non-existent?
2. Lack of environmental standards. If the old Soviet Union and
communist Europe are any indication, totalitarian states pay little
attention to the environment. What improvements to environmental
practices can we expect under a more representative form of government?
3. Protection of biodiversity. Is there any consideration given to
biodiversity by the current regime? Do we even know what the current
state of biodiversity is in Iraq? Does the Sierra Club have a presence
there? Wouldn't it be better to replace the existing government with
one more responsive to international concerns?
4. Sustainable economic and environmental practices. Again, what
totalitarian state has ever paid any attention to sustainability --
except for the lifestyles of its rulers? Dictators don't look beyond
the end of their regimes. A more representative government means more
concern for future generations.
As for depleted uranium...sure, it is probably nasty stuff. My country,
Canada, uses a different material for its "sabot" rounds, and the
tank-drivers to whom I've spoken (there are a couple in the family) say
that they work just as well as the U.S. rounds. However, I suspect that
the risk to a six year-old Iraqi child of developing leukaemia from
exposure to DU dust (or suffering any injury at all from U.S. military
actions) is much less than risk of death from infectious disease in the
absence of clean drinking water and antibiotics (caused, again, by Iraqi
government diversion of revenues from humanitarian oil sales).
I tend to evaluate the morality of political actions by how they effect
six year-olds (the age of my son), so I'm in favour of this war. I
don't believe that the regime will change in any other way, and I
believe that a change is necessary for the sake of the World, the Iraqi
people and, for that matter, the Iraqi environment.
-----------------------------------
Nicholas Stow Ph.D.
Ecologist
"If I can persuade any man to idle away a day on a stream or a lake when
he should be doing something much more important, I am satisfied I have
done him and the world a service. At any given moment in the world's
history, there has always been an excess of people busy doing important
things, and there always will be." -- Roderick Haig-Brown, "A Primer of
Fly-Fishing".
"All the evil in this world is brought about by persons who are always
up and doing, but do not know when they ought to be up nor what they
ought to be doing. The devil, I take it, is still the busiest creature
in the universe, and I can quite imagine him denouncing laziness and
becoming angry at the smallest waste of time. In his kingdom, I will
wager, nobody is allowed to do nothing, not even for a single afternoon.
The world, we all freely admit, is in a muddle, but I for one do not
think that it is laziness that has brought it to such a pass. It is not
the active virtues that it lacks but the passive ones; it is capable of
anything but kindness and a little steady thought." -- J.B. Priestly,
"On Doing Nothing".
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 22:03:53 -0500
From: "David M. Lawrence" <dave@FUZZO.COM>
Subject: Re: ESA and DU?
I see a lot of propanda expounding the horrors of depleted uranium. Little
is available from sources that have no axe to grind.
>From what I can see in a recent Royal Society report on the effects of
depleted uranium, I would doubt that the depleted uranium artillery is
anthing near as dangerous as some of you insist on saying. There are
concerns, yes, but there are also concerns about one of the other metals of
choice in weapons -- lead. Depleted uranium is less radioactive than
naturally occuring uranium -- depleted uranium is what is left after the
really radioactive stuff has been removed. Toxic effects appear to be of
more concern than radioactive effects, but the guys on the receiving end are
the ones facing the highest risk. It would be interesting to compare the
relative risks to cancer from exposure to depleted uranium in battle versus
that from inhaling radon in my basement.
Here's the link to the Royal Society report:
http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/templates/statements/statementDetails.cfm?Statemen
tID=143
The Royal Society study seems to contradict the assertion below that
depleted uranium cells do not boost the odds of survival of the forces using
the weapons. Depleted uranium shells seem to be an excellent choice for
getting rid of enemy armor quickly -- and ultimately leading to fewer
casualties overall -- while posing few, if any, untoward risks for the
forces using them to get rid of the enemy quickly. Besides, the life the
soldiers may live in the 40 years it takes for the depleted uranium to kill
them from cancer would seem a good trade as compared with the same 40 years
inside a metal casket in a military cemetery near their hometown.
If the ESA wants to enter the debate over the use of these weapons, I
suggest it obtain advice from experts who are qualified and unbiased enough
to weigh both the military as well as the environmental issues involved. I
have to say that those alleging huge environmental disaster have done a good
job of waving their arms, but have not come anywhere close to proving their
case.
Dave
------------------------------------------------------
David M. Lawrence | Home: (804) 559-9786
7471 Brook Way Court | Fax: (804) 559-9787
Mechanicsville, VA 23111 | Email: dave@fuzzo.com
USA | http: http://fuzzo.com
------------------------------------------------------
"We have met the enemy and he is us." -- Pogo
"No trespassing
4/17 of a haiku" -- Richard Brautigan
-----Original Message-----
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
[mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of mike aliotta
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 1:49 PM
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: ESA and DU?
I think the question is not one of safety to soldiers versus environmental
contamination. Depleted uranium shells are NOT increasing the
survivability of friendly forces unless one counts not being blown to
pieces by an undestroyed enemy tank only to die later from lung or bone or
lymph cancer from uranium contamination as "survivability." It is. in fact,
soldiers from both sides who are most at risk from the fallout dust of
uranium shells.
The true question is if the ability to pierce hardened tanks is worth the
future harm to soldiers, civilians and the environment.
The only thing that makes uranium cased shells cost effective is that the U
238 is a waste product of the nuclear power and weapons industry and just
like fluorine (from the aluminum and fertilizer industry) and slag from
uranium mines (which was used as fertilizer on tobacco fields) would result
in millions of dollars in disposal costs if industry hadn't found a means
to make it an, albeit toxic, commodity.
Mike Aliotta
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 10:28:53 -0500
From: David Inouye <inouye@umd.edu>
Subject: Fwd: News: Iraq's environment suffers from multiple stresses
>To: Environmental Ecology News: ;
>Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 21:10:42 -0800 (PST)
>Subject: News: Iraq's environment suffers from multiple stresses
>
>
>War or not, Iraq's environment is a casualty - Scarred by the 1991 Gulf
>War and a quarter-century of mismanagement under Iraqi President Saddam
>Hussein, the environment will suffer whether or not the United States
>leads a war against Iraq, experts say.
>
>http://www.enn.com/news/2003-03-18/s_3415.asp
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>envecolnews-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 23:45:32 -0800
From: Jonathan Greenberg <greenberg@UCDAVIS.EDU>
Subject: Re: On war...let me rephrase this...
I thought I'd drop my thoughts in about the relationship between ecologists
and war: it is our duty, if you will, to protect the biosphere. As
conservation has advanced, we are finding more and more that the answers to
how to protect the biosphere do not lie in the ecosystems themselves,
rather, in the culture and economics of the people who are destroying them.
In SOME cases (not all), the solutions lie in the improvement of quality of
life for the people who depend on these ecosystems: e.g. education, improved
agricultural techniques and technologies, the reduction of carbon release
through cleaner engines and power plants, which in turn decreases unhealthy
pollution...
We have less to fear from people who are not disenfranchised, and the
peaceful application of conservation that both improves the biosphere and
improves the lives of people can decrease the probability of aggressive
nations arising. One example I was considering was, as ecologists, we
continue to push towards clean air technologies which, had they been in
place 20 years ago, probably would have averted the looming Iraqi war which,
as most of us have figured out, has a lot to do with our dependency on
foreign oil.
Kaching, kaching...
--j
--
Jonathan Greenberg
Graduate Group in Ecology, U.C. Davis
http://www.cstars.ucdavis.edu/~jongreen
http://www.cstars.ucdavis.edu
AIM: jgrn307 or jgrn3007
MSN: jgrn307@msn.com or jgrn3007@msn.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 08:36:23 -0600
From: Gary Ervin <gervin@BIOLOGY.MSSTATE.EDU>
Subject: READ URLs: Depleted Uranium Munitions
Dear DU posters:
Before you spend all day again wondering whether there are any environmenta=
l or human consequences of using depeleted uranium munitions, please have =
a quick read through this report that was pointed out over the weekend by =
Ashwani Vasishth.
"One seemingly reasonable piece weighing the implications of using such =
munitions, 'Science or Science Fiction? Facts, Myths and Propaganda In the =
Debate Over Depleted Uranium Weapons,' by Dan Fahey, is at: http://www.an=
tenna.nl/wise/uranium/pdf/dumyths.pdf "
Gary
>>> Ashwani Vasishth <vasishth@USC.EDU> 03/15/03 08:24PM >>
>
A decent bibliography on depleted uranium (DU) weapons is at
http://www.antenna.nl/wise/uranium/dlit.html
One seemingly reasonable piece weighing the implications of using such
munitions, "Science or Science Fiction? Facts, Myths and Propaganda In the
Debate Over Depleted Uranium Weapons," by Dan Fahey, is at:
http://www.antenna.nl/wise/uranium/pdf/dumyths.pdf
Ashwani
Vasishth vasishth@usc.edu (213) 236-1908
http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~vasishth
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 10:22:14 -0500
From: "Straw, William" <William.Straw@FEMA.GOV>
Subject: Re: ESA and DU?
Clarification?
I think that topics such as the ethics, morality, and spirituality of, and
the advocacy for or against DU munitions development, manufacture, and use
should be the focus of individuals and advocacy groups (i.e., not of
scientific societies).
Yes, "hard" facts on DU munitions effects on people and our environment are
within the realm of science and ESA activities (among many other scientific
endeavors).
Yes, science should be publicly available. Personally, I share ~90% of my
works (>95% self-funded). Ideally, science should be objective (as human
y
possible) and comprehensive (time & funds?), for more prudent, circumspect
personal, societal (i.e., collective public), and government decision-making
and actions. Of course, this decision-making includes many other
considerations in addition to the scientific.
My primary concerns here: I would like ESA to continue to promote and make
"good" science publicly available for "better" personal and public
decision-making; and to leave environmental and social activism to
individuals, advocacy groups, elected representatives, service groups, etc.
Wm. Straw
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Whitacre [mailto:dwhitacre@PEREGRINEFUND.ORG]
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 6:10 PM
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: ESA and DU?
Yes....maaaybe...
topics such as the environmental effects of DU ammunition should be the
focus
only of advocacy groups. On the other hand, when, say, "Nukes R-NOT-US"
seeks
to do their advocacy job, they may wish to have a statement from an august
body
such as the ESA, that speaks of the known environmental effects of DU. And
they
deserve to have such a statement. In my mind, this is one of the functions
of a
scientific society--to make their science available to the public who--lets
remember--pays for much of it.
I'm not arguing strenuously that ESA take this on, but if ESA ever makes
pronouncements about environmental impacts of anything, this would seem to
qualify--and to be a sufficiently serious problem to merit attention.
To point out the known facts regarding what DU's properties are, where it
ends
up, how long it lasts, and predictable and/or known effects on people and
the
biosphere most definitely falls well within the realm of science, not
politics--science put forward for societal use, shall we say.
My dos centavos,
Dave Whitacre
"Straw, William" wrote:
> Favor nuclear contamination? When, where, why, how much, what desired
nd
> undesired results? The answers depend on the particular situation and
many
> complex decision-making factors.
>
> The best time for DU risk-benefit analysis probably was before the DU
> munitions, etc. were developed, manufactured & deployed. That was done
> 20-30 years ago. Still, the arguments have merit & we could change fut
re
> policy, etc.
>
> They're just ignorant kids? With all due respect to all of us, and
> considering how far we could go, who isn't?
>
> We can raise DU munitions arguments in appropriate fora, and I recommen
> doing so as individuals and/or members of various advocacy groups.
>
> I consider ESA to be a professional/scientific society, not an advocacy
> group. I became an ESA member for this reason. I'm a member of variou
> advocacy groups for other reasons. I'd like ESA to stick to science.
>
> William Straw, Ph.D.
> DHS-FEMA R4 Regional Envir Ofcr
> 3003 Chamblee Tucker Rd
> Atlanta GA 30341-4130
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Christopher J Wells [mailto:chris_wells@USGS.GOV]
> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 7:49 AM
> To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
> Subject: Re: ESA and DU?
>
> Hard to imagine anyone in favor of nuclear contamination.
>
> I wonder if its amenable to some sort of risk-benefit argument? I supp
se
> one would have to argue that there are other mechanisms or methods that
can
> be used to lieu of depleted uranium; that the remediation potential is
ot
> worth the risk; that the loss of soldier's lives as a result of changin
> weaponry is worth less than the risk to the environment (might be tough
to
> convince some kid about to enter mortal danger that the environment is
more
> important than his life...); etc. I have a feeling there are a few fol
s
> who would rather have a weapon that offers them some significant increa
e
> in survivorship over some long-term environmental benefit. But they're
just
> ignorant kids.
>
> Should be an interesting argument for the Ecological Society of America
to
> send, on the eve of our young men and women facing mortal battle.
>
> ---chris
>
> Christopher J Wells, Geographer
> National Wetlands Research Center, USGS
> 700 Cajundome Blvd
> Lafayette, LA 70506
>
> 337 266 8651
> chris_wells@usgs.gov
>
> Dave Whitacre
> <dwhitacre@PEREGRI To:
> ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
> NEFUND.ORG> cc:
> Sent by: Subject: Re: ESA and D
?
> "Ecological
> Society of
> America: grants,
> jobs, news"
> <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV
> .UMD.EDU>
>
> 03/14/03 09:26 AM
> Please respond to
> Dave Whitacre
>
> I agree fully with Mike Aliotta that the ESA might--at the very
> least--weigh in
> publicly on the issue of contaminating a portion of the planet's surfa
e
> with
> tons of depleted uranium (a portion inhabitated by a goodly number of
> people).
> Surely within the ranks of the ESA is someone who is familiar to some
depth
> with
> the characteristics of "depleted" uranium, and the public and
environmental
> health hazards entailed in its use in munitions--such that they could
> spearhead
> the drafting of such a statement.
>
> I also agree that such weaponry should be globally banned.
>
> Dave Whitacre
>
> mike aliotta wrote:
>
> > One serious, but seemingly overlooked, social and ecological
> consideration
> > that maybe worth commenting upon, regardless of the cost/benefit
analyses
> > applied to such controversial issues as bird migrations and water
quality
> > over the spoils of war or the relative impacts of munitions and fu
l
when
> > used in destroying infrastructure and moving troops instead of bui
ding
> > dams and powering cars, is the effects of dispersing tons of deple
ed
> > uranium all over the cities and deserts. Perhaps this is a such a
> > uncontestable moral, social and ecological issue that the ESA, as
> whole,
> > would have no contention in addressing.
> >
> > I, for one, would vote for a total moratorium on the use of such w
apons
> >
> > Mike Aliotta
> >
> > At 04:05 PM 3/12/03, Dave McNeely wrote:
> > >Jay,
> > >
> > >I have no problem with addressing these questions as a private
citizen.
> I
> > >also have no problem if ESA wishes to examine the relationship
of war
to
> > >ecological matters and make a statement concerning it based on
member
> input.
> > >getting a statement that all members might support would be ve
y
> difficult,
> > >I suspect.
> > >
> > >For example, bombing might disrupt bird migrations. The produ
ts of
> battle,
> > >or of troop concentrations, might effect water quality. But I
am a
> little
> > >confused as to what exactly you are asking us to do in the pre
ent
> instance,
> > >and I have a hard time resolving whether we are the profession
l group
> best
> > >prepared to address whatever it is you want addressed, especia
ly since
> you
> > >mention "social disruption." If you refer to the problems tha
present
> > >actions regarding student visas are creating, then there are d
finite
> > >concerns we can address.
> > >
> > >BTW, I don't mind saying, but I don't think this is something
SA can
> use in
> > >the way you seem to be proposing, that I find the whole idea o
going
to
> war
> > >repugnant, and beyond my understanding of what I think the Uni
ed
States
> is
> > >supposed to stand for in the world community. But my personal
concerns
> on
> > >that are political, social, human, and so on. I am not sure t
ey are
> > >ecological. Though I have a fairly intense feeling that the re
ources
> > >dedicated to a war effort must impact environment in a negativ
way
> (after
> > >all, explosives, fuel, and so on come from some where and they
must
have
> the
> > >same effects when used for destruction that they have when use
for
> > >development, or peaceful transportation), I don't know that I
ould
> provide
> > >a crisp analysis that would convince others. I believe in the
e
> regards, we
> > >are best served by acting in other arenas -- and some of us mi
ht feel
> and
> > >act very differently from how I might feel and act.
> > >
> > >You are welcome to use my thoughts so long as they are not dis
orted
and
> are
> > >not used to support positions or ideas that I don't support.
ut since
> I am
> > >not sure what my thoughts mean, or what positions or ideas the
support
> > >................. .
> > >
> > >Maybe we are straying too far from ESA's purpose? Maybe the m
mbership
> > >would rather we focus on experimental design, or primary produ
tivity?
> > >
> > >Dave McNeely
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Jay Bancroft" <jsbancroft@pw.ars.usda.gov>
> > >To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>
> > >Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 2:48 PM
> > >Subject: press
> > >
> > >
> > > > I would like to challenge Ecologists to take a few minut
s and think
> > > > about how their work is affected by the Iraq conflict. T
is is a
> touchy
> > > > subject, but ESA has a minor role to play. I would love
o see ESA
> put a
> > > > press release or position paper at
> > > > http://www.esa.org/pao/press_releases/
> > > > There is no doubt current policy has effects on our work
and I
think
> > > > the stature of the society would be helped by elucidatin
this. We
> might
> > > > specify that member input address mass destruction in Ir
q and
> > > > widespread social disruption. I suspect the message summ
ry would
> give
> > > > voice to concerns of society members, which would be a n
ce note of
> > > > caution for the world.
> > > > -Jay Bancroft Ph.D. http://jsb95003.tripod.com/
>
> --
> David F. Whitacre
>
> The Peregrine Fund
> 5668 W. Flying Hawk Lane
> Boise, Idaho 83709
> (208) 362-3716
> dwhitacre@peregrinefund.org
--
David F. Whitacre
The Peregrine Fund
5668 W. Flying Hawk Lane
Boise, Idaho 83709
(208) 362-3716
dwhitacre@peregrinefund.org
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 08:57:25 -0700
From: Jill Podolsky <jill_eha@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: ESA and DU?
----- Original Message -----
From: "David M. Lawrence" <dave@FUZZO.COM>
To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 8:03 PM
Subject: Re: ESA and DU?
Besides, the life the
> soldiers may live in the 40 years it takes for the depleted uranium to
kill
> them from cancer would seem a good trade as compared with the same 40
years
> inside a metal casket in a military cemetery near their hometown.
>
I don't know enough about depleted uranium, but in studying the impact of
contaminants on the environment - we not only look for direct mortality of
organisms but long-term, low-level effects on reproduction and development.
In other words, what does not kill the soldiers in 40 years may affect their
children (if they are able to have any). This goes for other organisms in
the area of impact - plants, mammals, birds, water invertebrates, etc.
Just throwing out another aspect to consider in the DU discussion besides
the immediate or direct effects DU may have...
Jill Podolsky
Environmental Health Associates, Inc.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 11:05:54 -0500
From: "Rene Borgella Jr." <Rene.Borgella@CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: War and the Environment
Perhaps not peer-reviewed and all that, but here is some information
about DU and other environmental issues related to war.
Also, please remember that the "war" in Iraq has been going on over
10 years now -- there have been and are almost daily bombings from US
and British forces to enforce the No Fly zone -- these activities
just haven't been labled as "war" . . .
"Two decades of war have laid waste Afghanistan's environment so
badly that its reconstruction is now compromised, the United Nations
says.:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2704989.stm>
The role of radioactive compounds in our current weaponry?
<http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1220/p01s04-wome.html>
Visit this site for some general environmental info on the Mideast:
<http://www.wri.org/iraq/>
<http://pdf.wri.org/middle_east_2000_oilprofile.pdf>
Here is an editorial written by the director of the World Resources
Institute. His contact info is at the end.
"Just over a decade ago, facing imminent defeat at the hands of
western forces, Saddam Hussein gave the order to unleash an
ecological disaster of terrible proportions. As Iraqi forces
retreated, they set fire to some 600 oil wells across Kuwait and
intentionally spilled another four million barrels of oil into the
Persian Gulf.
Amid what appear to be accelerating preparations for a new war, it is
worth taking time to reflect on the environmental consequences of the
1991 Gulf War. War is inherently destructive. The purpose of the
massive structures of military security that nations array against
one another is the destruction of a physical enemy and his capacity
to fight back. While smart bombs and precision guidance increase the
probability that weapons will hit their targets, they do not
eliminate so-called "collateral damage" to people and ecosystems. And
there is reason to fear that Saddam Hussein will fight the next war
in ways that maximize "collateral damage."
In fact, what many recall as a short-lived conflict resulting in the
liberation of Kuwait was an environmental disaster - one from which
the region and its people have yet to recover.
Iraqi forces themselves created much of the immediate ecological
hardship facing the Gulf region after the war. Oil spilled into the
Persian Gulf, tarred beaches and killed more than 25,000 birds.
Scientists predict the toxic residue will continue to affect
fisheries in the Gulf for over 100 years. As much as six million
barrels of oil a day - almost ten percent of the world's daily ration
of oil that year - shot into the air from the burning wells. Oil
spilled on land formed huge pools in lowlands, covering fertile
croplands. One oil lake in southern Kuwait was a half a mile long and
25 feet deep in places. It contained nine times as much oil as the
Exxon Valdez spill.
The deposition of oil, soot, sulfur, and acid rain on croplands up to
1,200 miles in all directions from the oil fires turned fields
untillable and led to food shortages that continue to this day. The
fires released nearly half a billion tons of carbon dioxide, the
leading cause of global warming, emissions greater than all but the
eight largest polluting countries for 1991 that will remain in the
atmosphere for more than a century. The oil that did not burn in the
fires traveled on the wind in the form of nearly invisible droplets
resulting in an oil mist or fog that poisoned trees and grazing
sheep, contaminated fresh water supplies, and found refuge in the
lungs of people and animals throughout the Gulf.
As pundits discuss the appropriate post-war political arrangements
for Iraq, it is essential to prepare for the possible environmental
devastation. The immediate human suffering is likely to be prolonged
by environmental destruction from a war that takes place amid the oil
fields and one of the world's great river deltas. The Persian Gulf,
in general, and Iraq, in particular, already has a fragile ecosystem.
If the United States and its allies ultimately decide to go to war in
the Persian Gulf, those in command can do a great deal to prepare for
the most likely environmental consequences and should be armed with a
plan to minimize the damage once the conflict begins.
This means being better equipped to put out probable oil fires and
contain massive spills, as well as being prepared to repair
disruptions to the country's infrastructure, particularly aqueducts,
caused by bombs and shells. Plans also need to be drawn accounting
for the mass exodus of Iraqi refugees, if this conflict is indeed the
type of urban warfare many experts predict.
Any plan for a war in Iraq must address how Iraq will be governed in
the future. The Baathist regime currently in power has been a
disaster in the area of environmental governance. Between 1973 and
2000, over 85% or 8,000 square kilometers, of the Mesopotamian
wetlands, Iraq's primary source of freshwater, was destroyed in what
the United Nations has called "one of humanity's worst engineered
disasters."
Should a U.S.-led coalition attack Iraq and topple Saddam's regime,
the succeeding government must be equipped with the knowledge,
technology, equipment, and desire to act as protectors of those who
live there and good stewards of the environment they are inheriting.
Economic and ecological recovery will be linked, and preparing for
both is the only way to truly better the lives of the Iraqi citizens
and prevent the collapse of the ecosystems that support life.
Personal well-being and political stability are at risk when
ecosystems continue to be stretched beyond their limits. As
communities and social structures are disrupted, livelihoods are
destroyed, traditional cultures endangered and wildlife exterminated.
War destroys, it does not create. It is not destruction, but
reconstruction that can give hope for the future. Ultimately,
security and stability in Iraq will depend more on the long-term
impact of war and its aftermath on people than on the short-term
military outcome, and over the decades, the environmental
consequences of armed conflict will loom large. For that reason they
must be part of the strategy."
For more information go to: http://www.wri.org/iraq/
Jonathan Lash, President
The World Resources Institute
10 G Street, NE
8th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20002
tel: 202 729 7675
fax: 202 729 7616
email: jlash@wri.org
--
><><><><><><><><><><
><><><><><><><><><><
><><><><><><><><><
Rene Borgella Jr.
Department of Natural Resources
Fernow Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, N.Y. 14853
U.S.A.
E-MAIL: rene.borgella@cornell.edu
VOICE: 607/254-7249 or 255-3191
FAX: 607/255-8837 or 255-0349
><><><><><><><><><><
><><><><><><><><><><
><><><><><><><><><
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 11:18:26 -0500
From: Dorothy Boorse <dboorse@FAITH.GORDON.EDU>
Subject: response to dissenting opinion
I'd like to respond to Nicholas Stow's opinion.
With all respect, you seem to assume that the war will have these
four positive effects and that they are unachievable without war.
However, we had a war in that region in 1991 in which we (the US
anyway) were the leaders and claimed to have won. As you correctly
point out however, Iraq today lacks environmental standards, may not
protect biodiversity, lacks sustainable practices, and has economic
sanctions.
Some of those problems are directly caused by our war activities and
subsequent policies. They were not solved by the last war or
international actions since then. I have little assurance they will
be solved by this war. I suspect that many many 6 year olds will be
directly harmed by the war in the near future.
I would also respectfully disagree that they are achievable without
war, or at least that they could not have been achieved without war
had we had different policies in the recent past. I do not see that
we tried many avenues.
My impression is that we will cause more and not less, water borne
disease and infrastructure disruption and that we may or may not help
to solve those problems in the future. In either case, it will not be
the war but other actions that cause the improvements you suggest.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Boorse
Dorothy Boorse
Assistant Professor of Biology
Gordon College
Wenham, Ma 01984
from N. Stow
I'd like to voice a dissenting opinion.
There appears to be an assumption that ecologists, in general, are (or
should be) opposed to a war in Iraq. Perhaps the best reason for ESA
not to become involved is that a consensus would not be so easily
reached as some people believe. Frankly, I suspect that the ecological
effects of a war in Iraq would likely be positive. Just a few thoughts.
1. Elimination of sanctions. What, I wonder, has been the ecological
effect of the deterioration of the Iraqi infrastructure on the
environment (due to diversion of humanitarian oil revenues to the Iraqi
military)? How much sewage and industrial waste is being released in
the water, because treatment and sanitation plants are inoperative or
non-existent?
2. Lack of environmental standards. If the old Soviet Union and
communist Europe are any indication, totalitarian states pay little
attention to the environment. What improvements to environmental
practices can we expect under a more representative form of government?
3. Protection of biodiversity. Is there any consideration given to
biodiversity by the current regime? Do we even know what the current
state of biodiversity is in Iraq? Does the Sierra Club have a presence
there? Wouldn't it be better to replace the existing government with
one more responsive to international concerns?
4. Sustainable economic and environmental practices. Again, what
totalitarian state has ever paid any attention to sustainability --
except for the lifestyles of its rulers? Dictators don't look beyond
the end of their regimes. A more representative government means more
concern for future generations.
As for depleted uranium...sure, it is probably nasty stuff. My country,
Canada, uses a different material for its "sabot" rounds, and the
tank-drivers to whom I've spoken (there are a couple in the family) say
that they work just as well as the U.S. rounds. However, I suspect that
the risk to a six year-old Iraqi child of developing leukaemia from
exposure to DU dust (or suffering any injury at all from U.S. military
actions) is much less than risk of death from infectious disease in the
absence of clean drinking water and antibiotics (caused, again, by Iraqi
government diversion of revenues from humanitarian oil sales).
I tend to evaluate the morality of political actions by how they effect
six year-olds (the age of my son), so I'm in favour of this war. I
don't believe that the regime will change in any other way, and I
believe that a change is necessary for the sake of the World, the Iraqi
people and, for that matter, the Iraqi environment.
-----------------------------------
Nicholas Stow Ph.D.
Ecologist
"If I can persuade any man to idle away a day on a stream or a lake when
he should be doing something much more important, I am satisfied I have
done him and the world a service. At any given moment in the world's
history, there has always been an excess of people busy doing important
things, and there always will be." -- Roderick Haig-Brown, "A Primer of
Fly-Fishing".
"All the evil in this world is brought about by persons who are always
up and doing, but do not know when they ought to be up nor what they
ought to be doing. The devil, I take it, is still the busiest creature
in the universe, and I can quite imagine him denouncing laziness and
becoming angry at the smallest waste of time. In his kingdom, I will
wager, nobody is allowed to do nothing, not even for a single afternoon.
The world, we all freely admit, is in a muddle, but I for one do not
think that it is laziness that has brought it to such a pass. It is not
the active virtues that it lacks but the passive ones; it is capable of
anything but kindness and a little steady thought." -- J.B. Priestly,
"On Doing Nothing".
--
Dorothy Boorse
Assistant Professor of Biology
Gordon College
Wenham, Ma 01984
978-927-2300 X 4382
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 11:15:57 -0500
From: Kyle Ashton <kashton@ARCHBOLD-STATION.ORG>
Subject: Internship opportunity in ecology and conservation biology
Internship opportunity in ecology and conservation biology
Immediate openings for research interns in the Vertebrate Ecology
Laboratory at Archbold Biological Station in south-central Florida.
Internships typically run 3-6 months, and I am particularly looking for 1-2
interns for summer 2003. Start and end dates are negotiable; ideal start
date of late April or early May.
Research interns are expected to work 20 hours/week on lab projects, and
spend the remainder of their time (~ 20 hours/week) on independent research
projects. In exchange, Archbold Biological Station provides room and board
and a stipend of $100/week. Current lab projects are focused on reptiles
and include studies of 1) ecology, life history and genetics of fossorial
lizards endemic to the Lake Wales Ridge, 2) conservation of gopher
tortoises, and 3) effects of fire history on species of amphibians and
reptiles. Study organisms and objectives of independent research projects
are flexible.
Internships are ideal for individuals that have recently completed their
undergraduate education, although students enrolled in undergraduate and
graduate programs are also encouraged to apply. Research internships
provide training in the development of research projects, field and
laboratory techniques, and presentation skills (all interns are required to
give a seminar upon completion of their independent research projects).
Archbold Biological Station is an independent, non-profit research
facility, devoted to long-term ecological research and conservation. The
Station owns and manages a 5,140-acre, globally significant natural
preserve located at the southern end of the Lake Wales Ridge in central
Florida. Please see the station website for additional information:
http://www.archbold-station.org/abs/index.htm
Applicants should send an email message to Dr. Kyle Ashton (address below)
including the following: 1) description of research interests; 2)
availability (duration and times of year); 3) CV or resume; 4) names, phone
numbers and email addresses of two professional references. Include all
information in the text of the email message (please no attachments).
Alternatively, all requested information could be sent postal mail.
Thanks,
Kyle Ashton
Archbold Biological Station
P. O. Box 2057
Lake Placid, FL 33862
Lab: 863-465-2571 x226
Fax: 863-699-1927
Email: kashton@archbold-station.org
Webpage: http://www.archbold-station.org/abs/staff/kashton/kashton.htm
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 13:25:12 -0500
From: Andrea Herbert <AHerbert@BLACKBURNPRESS.COM>
Subject: Brinkhurst's The Benthos of Lakes Returns to Print
First published in 1974, "The Benthos of Lakes" by Ralph O. Brinkhurst
provides a detailed review of the state of research into the fauna of lake
bottoms for scientists and students of limnology. This book became a classic
in benthic research and limnology, and still remains the only comprehensive
review of the field on a world-wide basis.
The Blackburn Press is proud to announce that it has brought the book back
into print with a new foreword from the author, making it again available to
scholars, students, libraries and researchers who would like to own or
replace a copy of this invaluable book.
In his new foreword, Dr. Brinkhurst identifies new themes and progress made
since the original work was presented 25 years ago; many current workers in
the field were asked to assist in this brief update.
The volume continues to be of value as a source of ideas for benthic
biologists, as well as teachers and students of limnology.
For more information, see: http://www.blackburnpress.com/benthosoflakes.html
or
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1930665709/qid=1047497858/sr=1
-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-0738645-1973618?v=glance&s=books
The Blackburn Press is a relatively new publishing company, founded with the
mission of keeping in print and available for purchase at reasonable prices
book titles that larger publishers have lost interest in and have declared
to be "out of print." It specializes in scientific and technical books that
are classics in their field. (See www.blackburnpress.com).
The Blackburn Press is especially interested in reprinting niche textbooks
with modest adoptions. While it is not well-positioned to bring every
out-of-print book back into production, its editors are eager to hear from
authors and readers about out-of-print books that have value and should be
returned to print. Please contact Frances Reed, Publisher, at
freed@blackburnpress.com.
Andrea Herbert
The Blackburn Press
Publishers of classic scientific and technical books
P.O.Box 287, Caldwell, N.J. 07006
973-228-7077 Fax: 973-228-7276
AHerbert@BlackburnPress.com
Explore the latest additions to our list at http://www.BlackburnPress.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 14:12:12 -0500
From: Joanna McNulty <mcnulty.9@ND.EDU>
Subject: Job announcement (7-9 research/field assistant positions) Universit
of Notre Dame Aquatic Ecology/Invasion Biology
Summer Opportunities in Aquatic Ecology & Invasion Biology
The lab of Dr. David Lodge
(http://www.science.nd.edu/biology/faculty/lodge.html), the University of
Notre Dame, has multiple undergraduate research and field assistant
positions to fill for summer 2003 (mid-late May through late August) at a
pay scale of $6.35-$8.00 per hour, commensurate with experience. Upper
division undergraduates or recent graduates with an educational background
in biology, ecology, or environmental sciences are encouraged to apply.
1. Invasion Pathways:
One or two research/field assistants based at Notre Dame, to work in the
surrounding area surveying aquarium, bait and watergarden shops to identify
the potential of these outlets as sources of nonnative species
introductions. Work will include visiting retail outlets, identifying
purchased organisms (fish, mollusks, macrophytes), and conducting ecological
risk assessments of those species. Contact: Reuben Keller
(rkeller2@nd.edu).
2. Landscape Spread and Impact of Invasive Species:
Two or more undergraduate research/field assistants in northern Wisconsin
and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for projects possibly including: 1.
Investigating how different invasive species (rusty crayfish, Eurasian
watermilfoil etc.) spread through lake systems 2. Analyzing the
effectiveness of public education 3. Investigating ecological effectiveness
and economic costs of invader control. Duties include conducting field
experiments, sampling lakes, and processing lake samples in the laboratory
(identification and enumeration of invertebrates and plants). SCUBA
certification a plus. Contact: Reuben Keller (rkeller2@nd.edu) or Sadie
Rosenthal (srosenth@nd.ed)
3. Lake Restoration After Invasion:
Two or more field assistants and undergraduate researchers in northern
Wisconsin and the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan for projects evaluating ecosystem level effects
of the nonnative rusty crayfish and exploring measures of crayfish control
and lake restoration. Duties include conducting field experiments, sampling
lakes, and processing lake samples in the laboratory (identification and
enumeration of invertebrates and plants). SCUBA certification a plus.
Contact: Tim Kreps (tkreps@nd.edu) or Sadie Rosenthal (srosenth@nd.edu).
4. UV-DOC effects on Lake^ÖStream Ecosystems:
One undergraduate research/ field assistant for research taking place in the
Ontonagon River Watershed, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, investigating the
relationship between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and ultraviolet
radiation (UV) in streams. Duties include sampling streams, assisting in
artificial stream experiments and analyzing samples for water chemistry.
Contact (jlarson@nd.edu)
For projects in the northern Wisconsin or Upper Michigan, housing will be
provided at the University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center
(UNDERC) (http://www.nd.edu/~underc/underc1.htm) To apply, indicate
position(s) of interest and send copies of your resume, transcripts, and a
list of three references with telephone numbers to:
Joanna McNulty (mcnulty.9@nd.edu)
P.O. Box 369
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
574-631-2849
Decisions will begin April 2, 2003
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 09:49:31 +1100
From: MARTIN COHEN <cohen.martin@ABC.NET.AU>
Subject: BOOKS AND JOURNALS FOR SALE
Hi
If anyone is interested in these books or journals please contact Martin
Cohen on +61 3 9524 2347 (w) or +61 438 161961 (m) or email me:
cohen.martin@abc.net.au
Thanks
Martin
Journals for sale:
A complete set (except 2 1995 issues) of Australian Journal of
Ecology/Austral Ecology from 1986 to the end of 2002. All in excellent
condition (76 journals in total) plus all Bulletins from 1986.
Only Au$600 (plus shipping costs)
Ecological books for sale:
The Ecology of Australia^Ňs Wet Tropics (R. Kitching Ed. 1988) - Au$20
The Rainforest Legacy Vol 1 and 2 - Au$15 each
Resetting the compass (David Yencken and Debra Wilkinson 2000 - Au$20
Arid Shrubland plants of WA (A.A. Mitchell & D.G. Wilcox 1994) - Au$20
Plants of the Kimberley Region of WA (R.J. Petheram & B. Kok ^Ö 1986) -
Au$20
Dr Martin Cohen
Senior Researcher
ABC Natural History Unit
Phone (03) 9524 2347
Fax (03) 9524 2373
------------------------------
Subject: ECOLOG-L Digest - 20 Mar 2003 to 21 Mar 2003 (#2003-78)
There are 10 messages totalling 506 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. On war...let me rephrase this...
2. translation of "Wasserbleuthe"? (3)
3. GIS Digital Elevation Models for floodplain hydrology
4. Large-scale forest succession
5. Savanna TIEE Teaching Workshops
6. Ecological consequence of dams
7. Marcio Ayres
8. SUMMER AVIAN AND PLANT RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 07:04:45 -0500
From: "Straw, William" <William.Straw@FEMA.GOV>
Subject: Re: On war...let me rephrase this...
Thanks to Warren for his input. I've been in artillery units (i.e., arty
platoon & company, and later, arty battalion operations & intelligence
sections). We also practiced & refined many "field operations" natural
resource *conservation* applications to reduce signatures of our presence,
numbers, activities, capabilities, etc.; and to protect the environment as a
matter of conscience, for the benefit of ourselves, other people & the
environment itself. We emphasized conservation first & foremost.
However, some field damages & losses are unavoidable. Therefore, we also
practiced & refined many natural resource *restoration* applications, which
I continued into grad school & my subsequent civilian career. I did this
by: (1) thorough use of ESA, SER & related organizations' literature, (2)
adapting various ecological, engineering & other concepts & principles, to
use local species & materials; and (3) experimenting with these local
species & materials to further refine the restoration methods (develop Best
Management Practices). Such restoration applications remain an important
part of my fieldwork to this day. I emphasize restoration (& conservation
first) with States, communities, staff, students & others in my work & life.
William Straw, Ph.D.
DHS-FEMA R4 Regional Envir Ofcr
3003 Chamblee Tucker Rd
Atlanta GA 30341-4130
Tel 770 220 5432
Cell 404 909 5199
Fax 770 220 5440
Email <mailto:william.straw@fema.gov> william.straw@fema.gov
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 09:51:30 -0500
From: Scott Ruhren <ruhren@ETAL.URI.EDU>
Subject: translation of "Wasserbleuthe"?
I am teaching a phycology course and have several slides labeled
"Wasserbleuthe" that are supposed to represent mixed freshwater
planktonic algae. My limited German translation of Wasserbleuthe is
water bloom/flower but I was wondering if any readers could offer a
better translation? I have checked several online translation sites to
no avail.
Thank you.
Scott
--
Scott Ruhren, Ph.D.
Department of Biological Sciences
Ranger Hall
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
Phone: 401-874-2626 FAX: 401-874-5974
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 01:37:22 +1100
From: tran3341@MAIL.USYD.EDU.AU
Subject: GIS Digital Elevation Models for floodplain hydrology
Hi
My colleagues and I have come across an interesting problem concerning the
calculation of catchment areas/watersheds using Digital Elevation Models
with ArcGIS Hydrology plug-in. For high altitude sites catchment area
calculations work beautifully because the digital elevations are well
defined, however, it is in the lowland areas that catchment area
calculations become problematic. The main issue is the lowland areas are
mostly flat low relief floodplains, with a large anastomosing river through
it and some small waterways acting as drainage areas. The hydrology plugin
just doesn't seem to cope with this topography and frankly most of
Australia is lowlying.
How do we calculate catchment area for low relief regions? Also how do
others work out catchment areas for deltas, wetlands and other
distributaries using GIS?
Thanks for your time,
Liza Miller
Tanya Rankin
______________________
Freshwater Sciences
EPA Victoria
Ernest Jones Drive
Macleod VIC 3085
Australia
-------------------------------------------------
This mail sent through IMP: www-mail.usyd.edu.au
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:40:12 -0500
From: ajith.perera@MNR.GOV.ON.CA
Subject: Large-scale forest succession
I posted a query on ECOLOG in 1999, requesting information on spatial
studies of forest succession. I received 32 responses from colleagues
around ECOLOG - Many thanks.
Based on your responses, and further review of literature, we developed a
spatially stochastic model for boreal forest succession. This model is
designed to generate spatially-explicit null hypotheses for modeling and
field studies.
This model was published in Ecological Modeling 150:189-209, Forestry
Chronicle 79 (1)132-146, and two internal research reports. Several other
publications on its use are in press, and in review. If you want more
information please contact me.
Ajith
===========================
Ajith H. Perera
Research Scientist & Program Leader
Forest Landscape Ecology Program
Ontario Forest Research Institute
1235 Queen St. East
Sault Ste. Marie
ON P6A 2E5
CANADA
Ph: (705) 946-7426
Fax: (705) 946-2030
ajith.perera@mnr.gov.on.ca
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 10:10:36 -0700
From: Charlene D'Avanzo <cdavanzo@HAMPSHIRE.EDU>
Subject: Savanna TIEE Teaching Workshops
There will be 2 TIEE (Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology)
workshops on Sunday August 3, 2003 at the Savannah meeting.
* USERS WORKSHOP - for faculty who want to learn how to use
TIEE in their courses (Sunday morning)
* AUTHORS WORKSHOP - for faculty interested in writing an
Issue or Experiment or other contributions to TIEE. Issues and
Experiments are peer reviewed ESA publications. (Sunday afternoon)
TIEE is an NSF funded and ESA supported website and CD-ROM designed
to help ecology faculty include more student-active teaching in their
labs and lectures, even in large classes.
Register now - spaces are limited!
--
Charlene
=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=
=A9=A9=A9
Charlene D'Avanzo
Professor of Ecology
Hampshire College
Amherst, MA 01002
413-5595569 (P); 413-5595448 (F)
cdavanzo@hampshire.edu
=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=A9=
=A9=A9=A9
Website
http://helios.hampshire.edu/~cdNS/
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 09:59:33 -0700
From: Stefan Sommer <sommstef@ISU.EDU>
Subject: Re: translation of "Wasserbleuthe"?
Dear Scott,
Normally the German version of flower would be spelled "Blute" with
two dots (Umlaut) over the u. If your word is an attempt to write
"Wasserblute" (again with Umlaut) my understanding is that this refers to
the coloring of water from the presence of blue-green algae. Kind of like
in English when we say that something has a "blush" of color.
I hope this helps!
Stefan
Dr. Stefan Sommer, Director
Natural Heritage Center
Idaho State University
Campus Box 8007
Pocatello, Idaho 83209
[VOICE] (208) 282-5841
[FAX] (208) 282-4570
[E-MAIL] sommstef@isu.edu
[URL's] http://www.NaturalHeritageCenter.org
http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas
Scott Ruhren wrote:
> I am teaching a phycology course and have several slides labeled
> "Wasserbleuthe" that are supposed to represent mixed freshwater
> planktonic algae. My limited German translation of Wasserbleuthe is
> water bloom/flower but I was wondering if any readers could offer a
> better translation? I have checked several online translation sites to
> no avail.
> Thank you.
> Scott
>
> --
>
> Scott Ruhren, Ph.D.
> Department of Biological Sciences
> Ranger Hall
> University of Rhode Island
> Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
>
> Phone: 401-874-2626 FAX: 401-874-5974
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 12:18:22 -0800
From: "William R. Porter" <bill_porter@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Ecological consequence of dams
Disappearing marshland in Iraq:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/05/0518_crescent.html
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 16:26:35 -0500
From: Agkistrodon <agkistrodon@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: translation of "Wasserbleuthe"?
Almost for sure it is "Wasserbluete" (u with umlaut) and it means just about
any kind of "bloom on water," from cyanobacteria to diatoms to chytrids and
on to any form of "pond scum". In fact, I think the general term you may be
looking for is "pond scum". The specific type of "bluete" is determined by
he specific growing organism.
Jim S
>
> Dear Scott,
Normally the German version of flower would be spelled "Blute" with
two dots (Umlaut) over the u. If your word is an attempt to write
"Wasserblute" (again with Umlaut) my understanding is that this refers to
the coloring of water from the presence of blue-green algae. Kind of like
in English when we say that something has a "blush" of color.
I hope this helps!
Stefan
Dr. Stefan Sommer, Director
Natural Heritage Center
Idaho State University
Campus Box 8007
Pocatello, Idaho 83209
[VOICE] (208) 282-5841
[FAX] (208) 282-4570
[E-MAIL] sommstef@isu.edu
[URL's] <a target=_blank
href="http://www.NaturalHeritageCenter.org">http://www.NaturalHeritageCen
er.org</a>
<a target=_blank
href="http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas">http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas<
/a>
Scott Ruhren wrote:
> I am teaching a phycology course and have several slides labeled
> "Wasserbleuthe" that are supposed to represent mixed freshwater
> planktonic algae. My limited German translation of Wasserbleuthe is
> water bloom/flower but I was wondering if any readers could offer a
> better translation? I have checked several online translation sites to
> no avail.
> Thank you.
> Scott
>
> --
>
> Scott Ruhren, Ph.D.
> Department of Biological Sciences
> Ranger Hall
> University of Rhode Island
> Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
>
> Phone: 401-874-2626 FAX: 401-874-5974
>
Arbeit macht stockdumm!
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 06:32:59 -0500
From: Rosa Guedes <rguedes@SPARC.ECOLOGY.UGA.EDU>
Subject: Marcio Ayres
a Brazilian zoologist who has been widely credited
with saving the world's largest swath of protected rain forest, died
March 7
in New York City. Ayres, who was 49, died of lung cancer.
March 17, 2003 - The Scientist (http://www.the-scientist.com/)
Creator of world's largest rainforest preserve diesJosé Márcio Ayres,
conservation biologist who protected people while preserving the Amazon,
dies aged 49. | By Fred Powledge
José Márcio Corręa Ayres, a Brazilian zoologist who has been widely credited
with saving the world's largest swath of protected rain forest, died
March 7
in New York City. Ayres, who was 49, died of lung cancer.
At the time of his death, Ayres served as senior conservation biologist at
the Wildlife Conservation Society, the global agency based at New York
City's Bronx Zoo. But his most noted accomplishments were in Brazil, near
the confluence of the Solimőes (Amazon) and Japourá Rivers.
This was not far from the site where Ayres began his serious education into
the biological diversity of the Amazon. As a young man, he had seen a white
uakari monkey from the upper Amazon at a German zoo. He returned home to
Brazil, embarrassed that he had never seen the animal in his home country
and determined to learn more about his native environment. He bought a
riverboat upstream in Manaus, put his family on board, moved into the
river's upper reaches, and began a study of the uakari that brought him his
PhD in primatology from Cambridge University in 1986. Appalled by the
habitat destruction he saw around him, Ayres started a long campaign to
bring protected status to the area.
The scientist battled and reasoned with bureaucracy, the resource extraction
community and even some fellow environmentalists and researchers to create
the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, Brazil's first such area, in
1996. Two years later, Ayres set up the adjacent Amană Sustainable
Development Reserve. Together, the reserves, plus Jaú National Park,
produced the Amazon's largest environmental corridor more than 22,000
square miles of seasonally flooded forest covering an area larger than Costa
Rica.
The reserves provide habitat for thousands of types of birds, fish, land
mammals, plants as well as Homo sapiens, a species often excluded from
protected conservation areas. Ayres and colleagues worked closely with
people living within the reserves, most of them rural Amazonians of mixed
white and Indian blood known as caboclos, to plan the area's future.
José Márcio Ayres, known to friends and colleagues as Márcio, believed that
local people must be involved in planning and managing such projects. To
John G. Robinson, senior vice president and director of international
conservation for the Wildlife Conservation Society, Ayres had "fundamentally
changed the way Brazil thought about its protected area system.
"Before he came on board, the core way of thinking about protected areas was
that protected areas and parks were areas where human beings were not
allowed. A number of national parks were created, and people conveniently
forgot that these areas were just chock-a-block full of people, in many
cases, who were making their livings basically by exploiting natural
resources."
The result of such policies, Robinson said, was that "the local people
became totally disenfranchised from the national park system in Brazil.
Basically what Márcio did was say, 'Hey: people are part of this landscape.
And we can work with the people towards common interests so that together,
we can actually make this park system functional.' And Mamirauá is in many
ways one of the most functional national parks in Brazil, perhaps one of the
most functional parks in the world, because the local people are very firmly
behind the protection and conservation of wildlife, of natural resources,
and so on, because they were built into it from the very start And this has
had a huge impact around the world."
Miguel Pinedos, a Columbia University researcher and Amazon native who has
worked at Mamirauá since 1987, told The Scientist, Ayres proved that "you
can do conservation without taking people from their communities. The way
the local people look at conservationists is a very conflicted relationship.
They see the conservationists as the ones who will help elephants, but they
are also going to destroy the livelihood of the people. What Márcio did was
he became a voice for these people who were already conserving the land."
Carlos Peres, who teaches at the University of East Anglia and researches
human effects on protected Amazon reserves, remembers his friend Márcio
as a
fellow teenager and future scientist in Belém. "He was fondly known as Além
da Imaginaçă o" beyond the imagination "and like many of us was a bit of
an odd kid, often more interested in 'weird' things well ahead of his time
than the usual pursuits of his peers," said Peres.
When Ayres was named a winner of the Rolex Award in 2000, he welcomed the
recognition not for himself but for the programs he had created. "The better
known the project," he said at the time, "the less likely that opponents or
politicians can destroy it."
José Márcio Ayres was born February 21, 1954 in Belém, near the mouth of the
Amazon, where much of his family still resides. He is survived by his wife,
Carolina Diniz Ayres; two sons, Daniel and Lucas; a brother, Manuel and
sister, Helena, and his parents, Manuel and Iza Ayres.
Links for this article
Wildlife Conservation Society
http://www.wcs.org/
University of Cambridge
http://www.cam.ac.uk/
Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve
http://www.mamiraua.org.br
Amană Sustainable Development Reserve
http://floodedforest.com/ff-wcsinff/ff-amana/
Jaú National Park
http://whc.unesco.org/sites/998.htm
S. Schwartzman et al., "Rethinking Tropical Forest Conservation: Perils in
Parks," Conservation Biology, 14: 1351-1370, 2000.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/servlet/useragent?func=synergy
&synergyAction=showAbstract&doi=10.1046/j.1523-1739.2000.99329.x
Columbia University
http://www.columbia.edu/
University of East Anglia
http://www.uea.ac.uk/
Rosa Guedes Ph.D.
Ecology Professor UFRPE/Biology/Ecology
Phone 55 81 3 302-1302
home-page http://home.att.net/~bpotter/index.html
International Director
Study Abroad in Brazil http://www.ecology.uga.edu/Brazil/
P.E.T. Tutor, UFRPE Biology
http://petbiologiaufrpe.hpg.com.br
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 15:35:19 -0700
From: Steve Hanser <shanser@USGS.GOV>
Subject: SUMMER AVIAN AND PLANT RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS
SUMMER AVIAN AND PLANT RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS:
Two seasonal positions are available for part or all of the field season
from May through September 2003 to assess bird abundance and vegetation
types along Breeding Bird Surveys in the Columbia and Great Basin
Ecosystems. The home base for this study is in Boise, ID, but the study
site covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, California, and
Arizona. We are looking for assistants who have attention to details, the
ability to manage multiple tasks, and can work independently and as a team
member. Assistants need to be able to work irregular hours and hot
environmental conditions and be willing to camp when in the field. Duties
for Avian Research Assistants include collecting avian abundance (point
count and BBS surveys), vegetation data, and data management. Applicants
must have experience to identify western bird species by sight and sound
and some knowledge in plant identification. Duties for Plant Research
Assistants include collecting vegetation data and data management.
Background in plant identification and basic GIS knowledge preferred but
not a must. Applications for these positions will be accepted March 21-
27 through Idaho Job Services (http://www.labor.state.id.us/) under
Biological Science Technician (Wildlife) with the following reference
numbers: #ID1045196 for G-5 and #ID1045190 for G-7. If you have any
additional questions about the Avian Research Assistant Position please
contact Sean Finn, USGS-BRD, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center,
sfinn@usgs.gov, phone: 208-426-2697 and for questions about the Plant
Research Assistant Position contact Steve Hanser, USGS-BRD, Forest and
Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, shanser@usgs.gov, phone: 208-426-2892.
Steve Hanser
Wildlife Biologist
Snake River Field Station
USGS FRESC
970 Lusk St.
Boise, ID 83706
208-426-2892
http://SAGEMAP.wr.usgs.gov
------------------------------
To: Recipients of ECOLOG-L digests <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>
Subject: ECOLOG-L Digest - 21 Mar 2003 to 22 Mar 2003 (#2003-79)
There are 5 messages totalling 266 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. translation of "Wasserbleuthe"? (2)
2. Journal Management of Environmental Quality
3. decomposition of northeastern trees
4. ES Texts
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 19:00:27 -0700
From: Stefan Sommer <sommstef@ISU.EDU>
Subject: Re: translation of "Wasserbleuthe"?
Dear Scott,
It just occurred to me that this is most similar to the English "algal
bloom".
Stefan
Scott Ruhren wrote:
> Thank you Stefan.
> Scott
>
> >===== Original Message From Stefan Sommer <sommstef@ISU.EDU>
====
> >Dear Scott,
> > Normally the German version of flower would be spelled "Blute"
with
> >two dots (Umlaut) over the u. If your word is an attempt to write
> >"Wasserblute" (again with Umlaut) my understanding is that this ref
rs to
> >the coloring of water from the presence of blue-green algae. Kind o
like
> >in English when we say that something has a "blush" of color.
> > I hope this helps!
> >
> > Stefan
> >
> >Dr. Stefan Sommer, Director
> >Natural Heritage Center
> >Idaho State University
> >Campus Box 8007
> >Pocatello, Idaho 83209
> >
> >[VOICE] (208) 282-5841
> >[FAX] (208) 282-4570
> >[E-MAIL] sommstef@isu.edu
> >[URL's] http://www.NaturalHeritageCenter.org
> > http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas
> >
> >
> >Scott Ruhren wrote:
> >
> >> I am teaching a phycology course and have several slides label
d
> >> "Wasserbleuthe" that are supposed to represent mixed freshwate
> >> planktonic algae. My limited German translation of Wasserbleut
e is
> >> water bloom/flower but I was wondering if any readers could of
er a
> >> better translation? I have checked several online translation
ites to
> >> no avail.
> >> Thank you.
> >> Scott
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >> Scott Ruhren, Ph.D.
> >> Department of Biological Sciences
> >> Ranger Hall
> >> University of Rhode Island
> >> Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
> >>
> >> Phone: 401-874-2626 FAX: 401-874-5974
>
> --
> Scott Ruhren, Ph.D.
> Department of Biological Sciences
> Ranger Hall
> University of Rhode Island
> Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
>
> phone: 401-874-2626
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 11:26:36 -0800
From: "Prof. Walter Leal Filho" <lealfilho@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Journal Management of Environmental Quality
Dear Colleagues,
Since the beginning of the year, the journal
^ÓEnvironmental Management and Health^Ô has up-dated its
scope, enhanced its coverage and is now called
^ÓManagement of Environmental Quality^Ô. Now on its 14th
volume, it is one of the world´s leading journals on
matters related to environmental protection and
management and its unique feature, namely a serious
contribution to the debate of environmental issues and
their effect on human health, has been kept.
Submissions are welcome and further details are
available at its home page:
http://zerlina.emeraldinsight.com/vl=8096079/cl=28/nw=1/rpsv/meq.htm
Walter Leal Filho
Editor
=====
Prof Walter Leal Filho, TuTech, Kasernenstr. 12, D-21073 Hamburg, Germany.
__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop!
http://platinum.yahoo.com
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 18:48:28 +0100
From: Tim Nuttle <Tim.Nuttle@UNI-JENA.DE>
Subject: Re: translation of "Wasserbleuthe"?
I did a little check on dict.leo.org (a utility from University of Munich)
and Wasserblüte is a recognized term pertaining to the environment, meaning
"water bloom". Another way to write it is "Wasserbluete" (no h)--any German
letter with an umlaut can be correctly written by dropping the umlaut and
adding an e after the vowel (e.g., ä is ae, ü is ue, ö is oe). I don't know
about the h--if the slides are old maybe the spelling has changed...or
perhaps it is a dialect like Swiss-German? As I recall, they often switch
the dipthongs around.
Tim Nuttle
Research Fellow
Institute of Ecology
Friedrich Schiller University
Dornburger Strasse 159
D-07743 Jena
Germany
(not a German, though--just learning the ropes of the language)
----- Original Message -----
> Dear Scott,
> Normally the German version of flower would be spelled "Blute" wit
> two dots (Umlaut) over the u. If your word is an attempt to write
> "Wasserblute" (again with Umlaut) my understanding is that this refers
o
> the coloring of water from the presence of blue-green algae. Kind of li
e
> in English when we say that something has a "blush" of color.
> I hope this helps!
>
> Stefan
>
> Dr. Stefan Sommer, Director
> Natural Heritage Center
> Idaho State University
> Campus Box 8007
> Pocatello, Idaho 83209
>
> [VOICE] (208) 282-5841
> [FAX] (208) 282-4570
> [E-MAIL] sommstef@isu.edu
> [URL's] http://www.NaturalHeritageCenter.org
> http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas
>
>
> Scott Ruhren wrote:
>
> > I am teaching a phycology course and have several slides labeled
> > "Wasserbleuthe" that are supposed to represent mixed freshwater
> > planktonic algae. My limited German translation of Wasserbleuthe i
> > water bloom/flower but I was wondering if any readers could offer
> > better translation? I have checked several online translation site
to
> > no avail.
> > Thank you.
> > Scott
> >
> > --
> >
> > Scott Ruhren, Ph.D.
> > Department of Biological Sciences
> > Ranger Hall
> > University of Rhode Island
> > Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
> >
> > Phone: 401-874-2626 FAX: 401-874-5974
>
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 16:26:34 -0400
From: fmoola <fmoola@DAL.CA>
Subject: decomposition of northeastern trees
Hello,
Is anyone aware of a decompostion degree scale to simply estimate log age fo
northeastern N. American tree species. I am only aware of descriptive
feature-based scales (i.e., amount of rotting, absence of bark) for boreal a
d
pacific northwestern forests.
Thank you.
cheers
faisal
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 16:02:13 -0600
From: Burks_Romi <BURKSR@RHODES.EDU>
Subject: ES Texts
I enjoyed the recent discussion of the pros and cons of different
ecology text. I wondered if people would be interested in sharing their
opinions about Environmental Science texts (for 1st year students within
an Environmental Studies program) as well? If you prefer, you can email
directly to me (burksr@rhodes.edu) and I'll compile the responses for
the list.
=20
Thanks - Romi Burks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Romi L. Burks
Faculty Fellow, Rhodes College
=20
http://kesler.biology.rhodes.edu/burks/burks.html
<http://kesler.biology.rhodes.edu/burks/burks.html>
<http://www.biology.rhodes.edu/burks/burks.html>
<http://www.biology.rhodes.edu/burks.html>=20
=20
2000 North Parkway
Memphis, TN 38112-1690
Phone: 901-843-3558
FAX: 901-843-3565
=20
E-mail: burksr@rhodes.edu <mailto:burksr@rhodes.edu>=20
=20
"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior
teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." W. A. Ward, English
novelist
=20
Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is
perilous. -- Confucius
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=20
------------------------------
End of ECOLOG-L Digest - 21 Mar 2003 to 22 Mar 2003 (#2003-79)
**************************************************************
˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙
Thanks to discussion with TVR, I have decided to put a link to back files of the discussion group. This months back files.
The link to complete archives is available elsewhere.
This text was originally an e-mail. It was converted using a program
RUPANTAR- a simple e-mail-to-html converter.
(c)Kolatkar Milind. kmilind@ces.iisc.ernet.in