I agree that a fish ladder is aptly described as "assisted migration". = In fact, that is precisely the sort of thing one might accurately = describe using this term. But that is rarely, if ever, the intended = meaning of this "assisted migration" term that has unfortunately crept = into the lexicon. Generally, folks are talking about assisted range = extension/translocation.
I insist that "assisted migration" is an inherently confusing and = inaccurate term, since the actions it is being applied to do not involve = migration in the sense traditionally used by biologists. I see that = human demographers and sociologists use the term "migration" to describe = human movements--also unfortunate, as such range extensions, dispersals, = or diasporas are not "migration" in the customary biological sense. At this point, we may be stuck with the term "assisted migration", and = will need to explain ever after that we're not talking about = back-and-forth migration in the traditional sense. Still, I consider it = worth battling this usage, and employing some alternative term when we = are really talking about translocation, range extensions, etc. Perhaps = it is not too late to strive for precision in our communications = surrounding the concept of moving organisms to help them survive climate = change. Language IS important (just ask George Lakoff), and we would do well to = strive for precision and accuracy in communication. BTW, though I = embrace the peer review system, here is an example where some reviewers = and editors fell down on the job, allowing this term to come into = general usage for cases of human-assisted range extensions or = translocations to combat effects of climate change. Dave Whitacre, GOE (grumpy old ecologist) ----- Original Message -----=20 From: James J. Roper<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>=20 To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>=20 Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 4:16 AM Subject: Re: assisted "migration" (not) Good point Bill. But, while some things may be labeled "assisted=20 migration" many things that fall under that heading are not. Such as=20 the Florida Torreya, the first example in the Conservation Biology = paper=20 on the topic. That would clearly be called something like "Assisted=20 range extension". So, we do not want to classify processes that are=20 fundamentally different under the same heading. And, while sure, we screw up a river, we should try to make it still=20 habitable for the regional fauna, when we screw up the planet, the job = becomes overwhelming and outside of our understanding of how to do so. Interestingly, I just read that some physicist (clearly not a = biologist)=20 says that we need to colonize Mars within the next, what, 45 years, = for=20 the continuation of the human species - that might be considered=20 "assisted migration." Cheers, Jim William Silvert said the following on 19/Jul/07 17:59: > To return to a previous posting, what would you use to describe fish = > raceways, such as those used to help salmon bypass dams? I cannot=20 > think of a better term than "assisted migration". > > Bill Silvert > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "DAVID WHITACRE"=20 > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> > To: <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> > Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:26 PM > Subject: assisted "migration" (not) > > >> "Migration" is the repeated movement back and forth of a = population. =3D >> This new phrase "assisted migration", in contrast, seems to apply = to =3D >> human assistance in dispersal/range extension, to compensate for=20 >> climate =3D >> change. >> >> Clearly the term is already spawning confusion. I suggest we banish = it =3D >> in its infancy, and use a term such as "assisted dispersal", = "species =3D >> translocation", or something that accurately describes the idea. >> >> Dave Whitacre=20 > --=20 James J. Roper, Ph.D. James J. Roper Ecologia e Din=E2micas Populacionais de Vertebrados Terrestres = ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Caixa Postal 19034 81531-990 Curitiba, Paran=E1, Brasil = ------------------------------------------------------------------------ E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> = <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> Telefone: 55 41 33857249 celular: 55 41 99870543 = ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ecologia e Conserva=E7=E3o na UFPR = <http://www.bio.ufpr.br/ecologia/<http://www.bio.ufpr.br/ecologia/>> Econci=EAncia - Consultoria e Tradu=E7=F5es = <http://jjroper.googlespages.com<http://jjroper.googlespages.com/>> = ------------------------------------------------------------------------
