Re: [ECOLOG-L] best tree species for carbon sequestration
Honorable Forum: Rose's additions and clarifications are illuminating. My concerns too are general--related to principle--not specific to the South-Central Iowa area. While I am not overly concerned with individual projects at local scales, particularly urban areas, I am concerned with the impression left with the public at large, upon which ecological distinctions are largely lost. And, of course, the implication that tree planting on a scale actually large enough to have any measurable effect upon global warming can be effective enough is disturbing, even though I do not necessarily wish to imply that the case instant is itself all that disturbing. I only hope that students of all ages and the public at large are not mislead into thinking that the rather romantic practice of tree planting, whether or not a site is actually suitable or historically a tree or forest habitat, will even be a preferable allocation of concern and investment in solving the global warming phenomenon. Such investments may be better directed at oceanic organisms and scales, and certainly, as I believe Hernandez may be suggesting, that simply stopping the wholesale destruction of forests, particularly in the tropics, are more likely to have an effect on the carbon balance than Arbor Day-like projects that, while perhaps consciousness-raising, simply seduce us with an appealing fantasy rather than actually educate and move in the direction of actual solutions. I would emphasize that considering the ecological context is ALWAYS possible; and it's high time that horticulturalists realize that they can choose to move from fascinating fantasies toward even more fascinating realities if they do so. The too-common, even prevalent idea that landscaping and gardening as currently practiced is natural or yes, even ecological is in fact far from ecological or natural is largely fiction, and fostering that idea is simply fraudulent. I hope that Johnson, Hernandez, Rose and similarly enlightened folks will propagate the idea that urban spaces actually can be made to better fit into local ecosystems, not only without giving up aesthetic considerations, but actually enhancing them. The answer to the genetic uniformity issue with nursery stock is to stop using it--at least until the nursery industry stops its industrial-production obsession. Throw out the nursery catalogs. Look to the kinds of ecosystems that existed prior to their destruction, and at least exhaust the ecological options (of which most of the nursery/gardening/landscaping industry is ignorant of and even biased against) before resorting to non-indigenous species--however, when this is done, it may be better, in ecosystem terms, for the species selected to be aliens from very different climatic and ecological conditions so that reproduction is prevented. Selecting species that are well-adapted can seriously backfire, simply because the selected species came from a similar climate on another continent. Liquidambar, for example, can be a weedy tree in some locations beyond its natural or original range. And above all, discard the notion that GMO trees will provide a solution to global warming for the fraud that it is, promulgated by corporate profiteers, not responsible natural scientists. Any additional sequestration that some lab-created and patented tree variety MIGHT (or might not, despite reckless claims) provide would have to be so miniscule as to have no significant or actual effect upon global warming. My purpose in commenting here is to support and supplement the comments of Rose and Hernandez and to better understand what Johnson is proposing, not to dictate or micromanage from afar. I do not expect great changes in established habits overnight, but I do believe that ecologists should stand up and be counted, and help the industries that deal in living things to make better choices. Homo sapiens has been increasingly deluding itself for the last ten millennia or so, and it's time we started to make amends for the damage we have done to the earth in the most sensible way possible. And it IS possible. It's just a matter of the knowledge, the understanding, and the will to do so. WT - Original Message - From: Katie Rose katieroseouts...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2012 7:43 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] best tree species for carbon sequestration Tyson adds a much appreciated nuanced response. I agree that ecological context should be taken into account whenever possible, as well as with his point about looking at the whole carbon footprint of a planting project. I am unfamiliar with the ecological context of South-Central Iowa:I was answering generally without looking at the specific question. So first generally: Planting trees which were grown nearby not only lower the carbon balance of the project (through reducing transportation costs), but also lower the
[ECOLOG-L] IMPRSD summer course on Integral Projection Models
Dear colleagues, Please be informed about the course on **Integral Projection Models** that the International Max Planck Research School for Demography will host in Rostock, Germany this summer. Support for transportation and accommodation is available. Please help us spread the word among students with a strong quantitative background. IMPRSD 184 - Integral Projection Models MPIDR, 20-25 August 2012. For details please visit http://www.imprs-demogr.mpg.de/?courses/12ss/184.htm.. Best regards, Rob Salguero-Gomez Jessica Metcal Eelke Jongejans Sean McMahon Cory Merow -- Aliud iter ad prosperitatem nos est: id est omnibus rebus vincere .:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:. Rob Salguero-Gómez, PhD Postdoctoral fellow Address: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, room 310 Konrad-Zuse-Str. 1. 18057 Rostock, Germany Office phone: +49 (0) 381.2081-267 (ext. 236) Fax: +49 (0) 381.2081-567 Email: salgu...@demogr.mpg.de mailto:salgu...@sas.upenn.edu Skype: robertosalguerogomez Website: http://sites.google.com/site/RobResearchSite/ -- This mail has been sent through the MPI for Demographic Research. Should you receive a mail that is apparently from a MPI user without this text displayed, then the address has most likely been faked. If you are uncertain about the validity of this message, please check the mail header or ask your system administrator for assistance.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Game cameras
I've used Scoutguard SG550s for two field seasons in Kenya and they've been good to me. No weather-related issues, although it doesn't get below freezing at my field site. They hold up well to animal abuse (rhino, hyena, elephant) if you use them with the protective steel cases. Photo quality is better than I expected for the price, and they're quite easy to set up. There is lots more good information, including side-by-side comparative tests at http://www.trailcampro.com/. I would also recommend buying from Trailcampro - the folks there are very helpful and trustworthy, great customer service. - Blair Roberts On Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 6:07 AM, Michael S. Batcher mbatc...@riverbeauty.net wrote: I am interested in using one of the commercial game cameras to photograph wildlife in a small field and forest edge area. I prefer IR to flash to reduce scaring any wildlife. It would need to function in all weather conditions. Does anyone have recommendations on types/models they have used successfully. Thanks in advance. Michael S. Batcher 1907 Buskirk-West Hoosick Rd. Buskirk, NY 12028 Home: 518-686-5868 Mobile: 518-269-1794 -- Doctoral Candidate Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Princeton University
[ECOLOG-L] Ph.D. Position in Adaptive management
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP (Ph.D.) in Wildlife Ecology The School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Auburn University is seeking candidates for a graduate research assistantship (Ph.D.) in Wildlife Ecology and Management to take the lead on a research project designed to study and model predator prey dynamics in Alabama with in an adaptive management framework, capturing the hypothetical ecological interactions between two species. The student will develop models with potentially competing hypotheses of species interactions focused on examining how management actions (different harvest rates, different predator control actions, habitat management, etc.) affect the primary objectives of increasing prey populations. The student will be expected to use computer modeling techniques possibly including adaptive stochastic dynamic programming to find the optimal management policy or strategy, given uncertainty about environmental variability, ecosystem function and management action effectiveness. There will be additional opportunity to design monitoring programs, analyze population data to estimate demographic parameters, and participate in field work to collect monitoring data. This will all be focused on developing management recommendations to aid state managers with decision making related to harvest, habitat and predator control, and hopefully improve decision making and success into the future. The project will be focus on Alabama populations but the results of this work will have far reaching impacts on deer and coyote management throughout the Southeast. The position will be available beginning in the summer of 2012, and will be open until filled. Research stipends are approximately $18,180, and a full tuition waiver is available. Applicants should possess an M.S. degree in Wildlife Ecology or related field, a good work ethic, and strong quantitative or modeling skills/interest. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested applicants should send a cover letter outlining their qualifications for the project, copies of transcripts and GRE scores, and contact information for at least 3 references to Dr. Conor McGowan. Application materials can be sent by e-mail or regular mail. Contact information is: Dr. Conor McGowan, Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 3301 Forestry and Wildlife Building, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849. Phone - (334) 844-9231: E-mail cpm0...@auburn.edu. //-- Conor P. McGowan, Ph.D. Assistant Leader and Assistant Research Professor USGS, Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University Auburn, AL 36849-5418 EM:cmcgo...@usgs.gov Ph:334 844 9231 www.auburn.edu/~cpm0014 http://www.auburn.edu/%7Ecpm0014 //--
Re: [ECOLOG-L] best tree species for carbon sequestration
To consider the possibility that using nursery stock has very negative ecological consequences one need only visit a large scale tree and shrub production facility. Certainly the quantity of fertilizers and pesticides used, coupled with extensive runoff (the largest one in Oklahoma is in the Ozarks east of Tulsa on steep terrain with very shallow and rocky soils in a karst geology) have potentially devastating effects. Cities and other jurisdiction can (and I believe a few have) develop codes that require developers to leave what is there so far as possible. A smaller total developed footprint can allow native (whatever that means) landscapes to remain in place. This is not a new notion. but a lot of the work that is contemplated by cities and developers today is renovation in existing developed property, some of it having displaced native landscape decades ago. My small city has in place one of the nicer city parks in this area. It was placed atop a former dump (that was there long before the term or the practice of landfill existed). The dumping had simply taken place amongst clumps of native grasses and trees (for those familiar with the southern plains, it is in the mixed oak/prairie area known as the Cross Timbers). With careful work, the city was able to get a quite nice semi-natural park established, and the native trees and meadows that sit atop the hills complement the playgrounds and picnic areas in riparian areas. Some replanting was done, mostly with locally native species that are fairly easily established, like cedar elm and shumard oak, rather than the more difficult cross timbers species such as post oak and blackjack. The hillsi! de and hilltop woods themselves, however, are native Cross Timbers. Was carbon sequestering a consideration in the park development? Not at all at the time, several decades ago. Is it a reasonable factor to consider now for such work? Probably not. Tyson is correct, that a different attitude and action regarding the largescale removal of native ecosystems is needed to have any effect. But, has the increase in wooded area in the eastern U.S. over the past century slowed the advance of climate change? I haven't seen an adequate analysis to know. mcneely Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Honorable Forum: Rose's additions and clarifications are illuminating. My concerns too are general--related to principle--not specific to the South-Central Iowa area. While I am not overly concerned with individual projects at local scales, particularly urban areas, I am concerned with the impression left with the public at large, upon which ecological distinctions are largely lost. And, of course, the implication that tree planting on a scale actually large enough to have any measurable effect upon global warming can be effective enough is disturbing, even though I do not necessarily wish to imply that the case instant is itself all that disturbing. I only hope that students of all ages and the public at large are not mislead into thinking that the rather romantic practice of tree planting, whether or not a site is actually suitable or historically a tree or forest habitat, will even be a preferable allocation of concern and investment in solving the global warming phenomenon. Such investments may be better directed at oceanic organisms and scales, and certainly, as I believe Hernandez may be suggesting, that simply stopping the wholesale destruction of forests, particularly in the tropics, are more likely to have an effect on the carbon balance than Arbor Day-like projects that, while perhaps consciousness-raising, simply seduce us with an appealing fantasy rather than actually educate and move in the direction of actual solutions. I would emphasize that considering the ecological context is ALWAYS possible; and it's high time that horticulturalists realize that they can choose to move from fascinating fantasies toward even more fascinating realities if they do so. The too-common, even prevalent idea that landscaping and gardening as currently practiced is natural or yes, even ecological is in fact far from ecological or natural is largely fiction, and fostering that idea is simply fraudulent. I hope that Johnson, Hernandez, Rose and similarly enlightened folks will propagate the idea that urban spaces actually can be made to better fit into local ecosystems, not only without giving up aesthetic considerations, but actually enhancing them. The answer to the genetic uniformity issue with nursery stock is to stop using it--at least until the nursery industry stops its industrial-production obsession. Throw out the nursery catalogs. Look to the kinds of ecosystems that existed prior to their destruction, and at least exhaust the ecological options (of which most of the nursery/gardening/landscaping industry is ignorant of and even biased against)
[ECOLOG-L] Visiting Assistant Professor, Environmental Science (Forest/Field Ecology)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Environmental Science (Forest/Field Ecology) The Center for Earth and Environmental Science at the State University of New York, College at Plattsburgh seeks to fill a position for a one year visiting assistant professor in environmental science and ecology, effective August 2012. Responsibilities include: The successful candidate will teach 12 contact hours per semester including: Forest Ecology and Management, Field Ecology, Plant Ecology and an advanced writing seminar. Required Qualifications: A Ph.D. in a related field is required at time of appointment. Preferred Qualifications: Candidates with a Ph.D. in an ecological science or a related field with expertise in forest ecology and management are preferred. Preference will be given to candidates with documented evidence of college level teaching effectiveness. SUNY Plattsburgh is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity. Salary: $45,000 minimum, plus excellent benefits. Review of application materials begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Materials received by March 23 will be guaranteed full consideration. Please apply to http://jobs.plattsburgh.edu/postings/3480 and include cover letter, resume or C.V., and a statement of teaching philosophy. Confidential references may be solicited for candidates as the search progresses. Official transcripts from an accredited institution will be required prior to employment. For position details and application process, visit http://jobs.plattsburgh.edu and select View Current Openings
[ECOLOG-L] Research technician position at Rice University, Houston, TX
Research technician position at Rice University, Houston, TX I am seeking a research technician to join my lab in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Rice University (Houston, TX). A Bachelors degree in Biology or relevant sub-discipline is required. The technician will be responsible for managing ecological experiments involving plants and insects in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field. The appointment will be 40 hours/week, and this may include weekends or holidays as experiments demand. The technician will supervise undergraduates working in the lab, so strong communication skills and leadership abilities are essential. This position is ideal for a recent college graduate considering graduate school in ecology and evolution and looking to gain more experience. The technician will be involved in all stages of the research process, will be encouraged to develop independent projects related to research in the lab (http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~tm9/), and will have opportunities to co-author papers. Desirable experience and skills: - ability to work and solve problems independently (required) - previous research experience with plants and / or insects - strong quantitative skills, including experimental design, statistics, and mathematics - programming skills (ideally R) - GIS knowledge - basic molecular techniques (DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis) To apply, please submit the following to tom.mil...@rice.edu: (1) a statement (no longer than one page) describing your scientific background, your interest in the position, and how it relates to your long-term career goals, (2) CV, and (3) contact information (name, institution, email, and phone) for two references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis (open immediately), but no later than March 15, 2012. The position could start as soon as mid-April but start dates in late spring or summer are also possible. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Please contact me (tom.mil...@rice.edu) if you would like additional information.
[ECOLOG-L] Research Job in Forest Ecology - Venezuela
*** all replies to ndz...@ivic.gob.ve please *** *** Spanish version follows*** Please send to relevant email lists: The Ecology Center of the Instituto Venezolan de Investigaciones Cientificas (IVIC; http://www.ivic.gob.ve/ecologia/) announces the search for an investigator or post-doc in forest ecology to join the Laboratory of Soil Ecology. Candidates must have a doctorate as well as research experience in the dynamics and functioning of forests, impacts of disturbance on vegetation and soils, and/or restoration of degraded ecosystems. Those interested should send a CV and letter of intent to Dr. Nelda Dezzeo (ndez...@ivic.gob.ve), prior to March 16, 2012. *** Favor difundir por las listas relevantes: El Centro de EcologÃa del Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones CientÃficas (IVIC) inicia el proceso de selección para el ingreso de un investigador o postdoctorante al Laboratorio de EcologÃa de Suelos a partir de Agosto de 2011, para trabajar en el área de ecologÃa forestal. Los interesados deberán poseer el titulo de doctor y tener alguna experiencia en investigaciones relacionadas con la dinámica y funcionamiento de bosques, el impacto de las perturbaciones sobre la vegetación y los suelos, y la restauración de ecosistemas degradados. Los interesados deberán remitir su currÃculum vitae y una breve exposición de motivos a la dirección electrónica de la Dra. Nelda Dezzeo ( ndz...@ivic.gob.ve ). La recepción de esos documentos queda abierta hasta el 16 de Marzo de 2012.
[ECOLOG-L] Job opportunity - Stream salamander Technician position
POSITION One seasonal Technician position is available to work in the lab of Dr. Winsor Lowe at the University of Montana. Fieldwork will be conducted at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in central New Hampshire. DURATION and HOUSING The position will last approximately three months, starting mid-June and ending in early/mid-September. Housing will be provided at Hubbard Brook in New Hampshire. Round-trip transportation to New Hampshire along with travel to local field sites is provided. JOB DESCRIPTION The technician’s primary duties will involve surveys of stream salamanders and brook trout in headwater streams of central New Hampshire. The technician will also assist in setting up and maintenance of artificial stream experiments at the field site. Work will be in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and technicians should expect to hike to field sites in rough terrain, get wet from working in headwater streams, handle salamanders, use a handheld GPS unit, and experience East Coast humidity and heat. The technician will be a part of a three-person field crew, thus the successful applicant should work well with others. Prior fieldwork experience is preferred, but not required. PAY: $10.00/hour, 40-hour work week. LAST DATE TO APPLY: March 15, 2012 or until position is filled. CONTACT: Send a cover letter, resume and contact info for at least 2 references to Jon Davenport, jon.davenp...@mso.umt.edu
[ECOLOG-L] Recreation Technician
The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Elko Bureau of Land Management, Tuscarora and Wells Field Office is hiring two Recreation Technicians to assist in the Outdoor Recreation and Wilderness program in the District. Recreation Technicians perform a wide range of duties in support of the Bureau's recreation program: assisting in inventories, evaluating visitor patterns, preparing and maintaining recreation sites, briefing visitors and answering their questions, or conducting visitor patrols on land and water, responding to emergency situations, and administering first aid/CPR. Requires some weekend field work; litter removal from campgrounds and recreation facilities, hoses down toilets and routine maintenance on signs, etc. Provide assistance in identifying, gathering, recording and compiling several types of prescribed recreational/statistical data and information related to travel management planning and entry into GIS and RMIS databases. Other tasks include route inventory for future travel management planning efforts; inventories of Lands with Wilderness Characteristics; Special Recreation Permit management for commercial and competitive events; assists in providing recreation, wilderness, and visual input on projects occurring in the Field Offices. Assists in monitoring of Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) and placing signs on public lands, especially for off-road-vehicle use. Receives on-the-job training and orientation related to the Bureaus recreation management, maintenance, and safety programs. The Recreation Technicians would have an office in the either the Tuscarora or Wells Field Office located in Elko, NV. The Recreation Technicians would spend much of their time assisting the Recreation Planner in providing recreation services. The work is performed in an outdoor environment in rugged terrain; to include very steep, wet, muddy, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces; positions require physical exertions, such as, bending, crouching and stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities. Individuals should be capable of working alone, or with other people, during early morning hours, night, or during the day. Work may occur in temperature extremes up to an occasionally exceeding 100F. There is some flexibility in choosing a work schedule, but likely the Technician will work five 8-hour days (Monday - Friday), with flexibility as long as the 80 hours/per pay period was being met. Compensation: o Rate of Pay: $15.00/hr o Health and dental benefits o Occasional field per diem Timeline: o April 16, 2012 through September 30, 2012, or until funds run out. Qualifications: o Coursework in recreation/wilderness management, natural resources, or equivalent field experience; o Experience collecting field data and/or following established field collection protocols; o Knowledge of or ability to learn how to use Trimble GPS unit; o Experience creating maps and manipulating data using ArcGIS, desirable; o Ability to read and navigate using topographic maps and a compass; o Experience writing project reports and/or presenting technical data in an organized and understandable manner; o Motivated, self-starter, detail oriented, and possess good organizational skills; o Ability to camp and work in remote locations; o Willingness to work along or in small groups to accomplish the goals and mission of the BLM and GBI; o Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, traverse uneven terrain and hike cross-country for extended distances (8-10 miles); and o Clean, valid, state-issued drivers license with ability to safely operate an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or Utility Vehicle (UTV), as well as a 4WD pickup on paved and unpaved roads. oLocal applicants are encouraged to apply; How to Apply: Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references to Bridget Walden, at bwal...@thegreatbasininstitute.org. Please include where you found this position posted. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religion. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
[ECOLOG-L] Deadline reminder--Call for Individual Presentation Panels and Poster Sessions - AESS 2012 - Santa Clara
Dear Colleagues, The deadline for presentation submissions is approaching for the 2012 AESS conference at Santa Clara University. Submissions can be made at the conference website below. Apologies for cross posting. All the best, Phil Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences 2012 Annual Meeting 21-24 June, Santa Clara, California, U.S.A. Conference Theme: Preparing for our Environmental Future Call for Individual Abstracts, including Panels and Posters Conference Website: http://aess.info/2012 Submission Deadline: 1 March 2012 The 2012 annual meeting of the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) will be held on 21-24 June 2012 in sunny Santa Clara, California. We invite your participation. If you are associated with an accepted Presentation Panel, you still need to submit an individual abstract. Please indicate the panel title in your abstract submission. For everyone else, follow these steps: (1) choose a session type (2) compose your abstract (3) create descriptors of your topic area (4) submit your abstract. Each step is explained further below. (1) SESSION TYPES There are two (2) session types to choose from: * Presentation Panels * Poster Session Presentation Panels Presentation panels are designed for presentation of research or other scholarly AESS-related endeavors. They consist of 3-4 presenters who are each allotted approximately 20-30 minutes (time includes presentation and discussion). Presentation panels are 1.5 hours in length, and will take place on June 22, 23, and 24 in parallel with discussion symposia and other presentation panels. Poster Session The poster session will take place during a reception on the Saturday evening of the conference. Poster presenters are expected to accompany their poster during the reception. Guidelines will be provided to those whose posters are accepted. (2) ABSTRACT REQUIREMENTS Your abstract should be no longer than 300 words. Please include: * title * overview of content type: o For example, empirical research results, theoretical contribution, project description, pedagogical experiment, presentation of artistic work, personal or institutional experience, etc. * statement of content: o Provide sufficient information that we can judge the quality of your proposal and its relevance to the conference. o For example, research results might include focal question, method, results and conclusion; pedagogical experiment might include description of experiment, outcomes and lessons learned; presentation of artistic work might include creation of the work, presentation to the public and potential impact; etc. * justification for presentation: o This might include applicability to the conference theme, contribution to your field, connection to the mission and goals of AESS and the broader environmental studies and sciences community, and/or scholarly and professional merit. (3) DESCRIPTORS We expect a tremendous variety of proposals. To assist the Program Committee in grouping presentations into coherent sessions, please briefly describe your topic area. The submission form contains a box for up to five (5) terms that describe the thematic content of your proposal, similar to key words for a journal article submission but at a more general level. Create a set of 'higher order' terms that best describe your proposal – using terms such as environmental history, climate change, marine policy, campus sustainability, ESS pedagogy, environmental psychology, environmental theatre, biodiversity loss, sustainable development in Africa, ESS programming, etc., etc. (4) SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT To submit your abstract, please visit the AESS conference website: http://www.aess.info/2012. FURTHER INFORMATION AESS themes AESS is proud of its breadth. To continue our efforts to reach out, we encourage abstracts that: * combine scholarship from multiple disciplines—physical and natural sciences; social sciences, humanities, and the arts; professional schools * bring together theory and practice * blend experience in government, business, foundations, and other areas of society * are submitted by students, faculty, or administrators * are submitted by Environmentalists of Color * are submitted by practicing artists * enhance conference participants' awareness of a sense of place—in the case of the AESS 2012 conference in Santa Clara, this means that we encourage proposals with a geographic focus on the San Francisco Bay Area and California. Limitations on Submissions: Individuals may submit more than one proposal. However, the Program Committee reserves the right to select from among a suite of proposals from a single author. Registration Requirements: In order to be included in the 2012 AESS conference program, all presenters must be registered and paid in full by the early registration deadline.
[ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement -- Teaching Assistant for field-based course in WI/MI
Teaching Assistant needed for 10-week summer course at the University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center (UNDERC) in northern Wisconsin and the Michigan Upper Peninsula. This undergraduate course, Practicum in Environmental Field Biology, runs from May 21 July 27, 2012. The course includes both teaching and research components to educate 28 sophomore and junior undergraduate students. The teaching component is broken up into 5 week-long modules (Herpetology, Mammalogy/Ornithology, Aquatic Ecology, Insect Ecology, and Forest Ecology), taught by instructors from the University of Notre Dame and other collaborating universities. Students also work with mentors and TAs to design and carry out independent ecological research projects. See UNDERCs web page for specifics about the course: http://www.nd.edu/~underc/east/education/ TA will work to assist professors during each teaching module, as well as provide guidance on a daily basis to enrolled students. Additionally, the TA will directly mentor 1 student project during the summer. The project topics will be directed towards the mentors strengths in ecology (e.g., herpetology, mammalogy, forestry, etc.). Modern apartment-style housing will be provided at UNDERC. Field vehicles provided throughout the course. Other amenities (24-hr computer lab, wireless internet access in apartments, free laundry facilities) are accessible on property. Qualifications: M.S. in Ecology or related field is preferred, but B.S. in Ecology plus 1 year post-graduate work experience in teaching or biological research may substitute. Basic knowledge of 5 modules (listed above) and univariate statistics preferred. If applicable, please include a list of relevant coursework you have completed. Salary is negotiable, based on level of experience. Minimum $5000 for the class (10 weeks). Please submit cover letter (which includes topics of potential independent projects), CV/resume, and the contact information for three references (e-mail submission preferred) to: Dr. Michael J. Cramer Department of Biological Sciences University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 46556 mcra...@nd.edu (574) 631-0970 http://underc.nd.edu Review of applications will begin 11 March 2012, and continue until the position is filled.
[ECOLOG-L] Starlings Podcast from the Encyclopedia of Life
Starlings Podcast from the Encyclopedia of Life This week, we hear a story in two acts about a very familiar birdthe common starling. It's a non-native species that is omnivorous, gregarious, adaptable, and highly successful in its adopted land. It turns out we humans have inadvertently put out the welcome mat for this alien species. Act One tells the story about this winged invader with an $800 million appetite for fruit crops. As for Act Two, well let independent producer Josh Kurz and the theater troupe Higher Mammals explain. Startling recordings courtesy of Donald Kroodsma and were recorded at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Listen to the podcast here: http://education.eol.org/podcast/starlings
[ECOLOG-L] JOB OPENING - ESA EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR
ESA's Office of Education and Diversity Programs works to develop and implement education programs that will increase diversity in the field of ecology and improve the quality of ecology education. The Education Coordinator is responsible for coordinating education programs to enhance undergraduate teaching and learning in the field of ecology with emphasis on digital resources. This position is available as grant funds allow. The primary duty of the Education Programs Coordinator will be to solicit, manage and/or promote: • online teaching resources for undergraduate faculty • use of continental-scale data into undergraduate science and ecology courses • environmental education resources with a technology component • an annual Education conference • the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning For full details and how to apply, please go to: http://www.esa.org/careers_certification/jobLists.php
Re: [ECOLOG-L] best tree species for carbon sequestration
Ecolog: To minimize the temptation to get lost in the brambles, I'm going to annotate McNeely's remarks [[thus. WT]] WT - Original Message - From: David L. McNeely mcnee...@cox.net To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 6:53 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] best tree species for carbon sequestration To consider the possibility that using nursery stock has very negative ecological consequences one need only visit a large scale tree and shrub production facility. Certainly the quantity of fertilizers and pesticides used, coupled with extensive runoff (the largest one in Oklahoma is in the Ozarks east of Tulsa on steep terrain with very shallow and rocky soils in a karst geology) have potentially devastating effects. [[Good addition to this thread. This is a large subject, and I hope all the comments lead to wider consideration of the merits of various approaches to fostering a wider understanding of the value of real rather than fantastical conceptions of what ecology is and is not all about. WT]] Cities and other jurisdiction can (and I believe a few have) develop codes that require developers to leave what is there so far as possible. A smaller total developed footprint can allow native (whatever that means) landscapes to remain in place. This is not a new notion. [[I applaud any city which has made progress in a more realistic approach to land development with respect to ecosystems at all scales. The issue of what native means may best be left to a separate, though related, thread of discussion that has its own importance in transitioning the human-earth relationship from one of exploitation to one of mutualism. WT]] but a lot of the work that is contemplated by cities and developers today is renovation in existing developed property, some of it having displaced native landscape decades ago. My small city has in place one of the nicer city parks in this area. It was placed atop a former dump (that was there long before the term or the practice of landfill existed). The dumping had simply taken place amongst clumps of native grasses and trees (for those familiar with the southern plains, it is in the mixed oak/prairie area known as the Cross Timbers). With careful work, the city was able to get a quite nice semi-natural park established, and the native trees and meadows that sit atop the hills complement the playgrounds and picnic areas in riparian areas. Some replanting was done, mostly with locally native species that are fairly easily established, like cedar elm and shumard oak, rather than the more difficult cross timbers species such as post oak and blackjack. The hillside and hilltop woods themselves, however, are native Cross Timbers. [[This sounds like a good example of the integration of landscaping with ecosystem restoration, management, and preservation that could come to characterize a more sensible, useful, aesthetic, and more efficient approach to our relationship to the land right under our feet and noses as well as the earth itself. WT]] Was carbon sequestering a consideration in the park development? Not at all at the time, several decades ago. Is it a reasonable factor to consider now for such work? Probably not. Tyson is correct, that a different attitude and action regarding the largescale removal of native ecosystems is needed to have any effect. But, has the increase in wooded area in the eastern U.S. over the past century slowed the advance of climate change? I haven't seen an adequate analysis to know. [[Indeed, we may never know the effects of small-scale projects on climate change, but everything has to start someplace, and if such projects give rise to greater awareness that produces a paradigm shift within individuals and cultures, the implications for enhanced ecosystem health on a large enough scale to have effects on many aspects of global systems. WT]] [[ mcneely Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Honorable Forum: Rose's additions and clarifications are illuminating. My concerns too are general--related to principle--not specific to the South-Central Iowa area. While I am not overly concerned with individual projects at local scales, particularly urban areas, I am concerned with the impression left with the public at large, upon which ecological distinctions are largely lost. And, of course, the implication that tree planting on a scale actually large enough to have any measurable effect upon global warming can be effective enough is disturbing, even though I do not necessarily wish to imply that the case instant is itself all that disturbing. I only hope that students of all ages and the public at large are not mislead into thinking that the rather romantic practice of tree planting, whether or not a site is actually suitable or historically a tree or forest habitat, will even be a preferable
[ECOLOG-L] Seeking student volunteers near DC
Volunteer opportunity National Park Service National Capital Region - Exotic Plant Management Team Help gather information on plants that are early detection targets or emerging invasive threats in our region. We are compiling a list of species that may pose a risk to our native plant communities in the Mid Atlantic. However, because these species are not well known we need learn more about them and share that information widely. Be a part of the process by developing in fact sheets that can be used by natural resource managers in the region. Volunteers can be individuals students in one of your classes. For more information please contact: mark_f...@nps.gov 202-342-1443 extension 217
[ECOLOG-L] 2012 Nationwide Wetland Permit Webinar this Week
2012 Nationwide Wetland Permit Webinar When: March 1, 2012 Time: 11 AM to 1 PM EST Location: Online Live Webinar On March 18, 2012 the current US Army Corp of Engineers 2008 Nationwide permits are set to expire. The 2012 permits have been out for public comment and have been released. This workshop will cover all the new and proposed Nationwide permits. Some of the highlights we will discuss are the new coal mining permit (NW50) and the land based (NW-51) and water based (NW-52) permits for renewable energy sources. Get up to speed with this mini course on the new 2012 US Army Corps of Engineers Permits today. The workshop will be presented as a live webinar and is accessible anywhere you have internet. It is fully PC and Mac compatible. The workshop is live so you will have an opportunity to ask question and participate. Can't make the date? No problem. The entire workshop will be recoded for playback. Hurry, webinar space is limited. Sign up today== http://swampschool.org/new/2012-nationwide-wetland-permit-webinar/ Continuing education credits are available. Please call 1-877-479-2672 or email i...@swampschool.org if you have any questions.
