Re: [ECOLOG-L] correlation v. causation
*“Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time.”* ~ George Carlin BTM On Fri, Oct 12, 2012 at 10:19 PM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: ABSQOLUTELY! WT PS: It's no use, Professor Agassiz, it's turtles all the way down! --A woman who asserted that the earth rested upon the back of a giant turtle, and made this remark when Agassiz asked . . . upon what, then, madam, does the turtle rest? Another turtle, of course, the woman kept responding. (At least this is how I remember the story.) McCallum has touched upon the reason why I have suggested to the Smithsonian Library of Life project that they accumulate data on the ranges of organism's requirements and limitations. - Original Message - From: malcolm McCallum malcolm.mccallum@HERPCONBIO.**ORG malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Friday, October 12, 2012 8:16 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] correlation v. causation The whole point of a correlation is that you don't really know what is going one with two or more variables, but you think there might be a relationship of some kind. That is why we say correlation doesn't indicate causation. A regression does indicate causation because we name a determinant variable. For example, if you take a bunch of guppies in a glass of water and add salt until the die, then you are testing to see how much salt kills guppies. You do a regression. However, if you go out in the wilderness and measure salt concentrations and count guppies for unrelated reasons, and after looking at your data you say, hey it looks like guppies might be getting killed by salt, you still do a regression because you are looking for the effect of salt on guppies, it sure isn't very logical even if narrowly possible that guppies are changing the salt concentration of the water. Now, if you are doing measurements on all kinds of data. YOu happen to notice that a lot of guppies are in ponds that also have plants. You have no idea if the plants are helping the guppies, if the guppies are helping the plants, or if some third factor is influencing both of their apperaance. SO, you run a correlation to see if the association you seem to observe is actually happening. Later, you can set up experimetns to determine why plants and guppies have correlated presence absence rates. In those following experiments you might use a regression. (this all assumes you have the experiment set up properly for the tests I mention :) Make sense? On Tue, Oct 9, 2012 at 12:56 PM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Hi y'all, If I remember the quote correctly, it said Correlation is not causation. It did not say that it didn't imply causation. The distinction is crucial, eh? (It appears that my initial response to the initial question didn't make its way to Ecolog, possibly because I neglected to approve it or because it was rejected. WT PS: Correlation is not in opposition to (v.) causation. Let us not jump to contusions. - Original Message - From: Devan McGranahan devan.mcgrana...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 8:57 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] correlation v. causation Hi Shelley, others, Slate recently had a great article on correlation and causation with a historical perspective. My favorite line: 'No, correlation does not imply causation, but it sure as hell provides a hint. http://www.slate.com/articles/**health_and_science/science/** 2012/10/correlation_does_not_**imply_causation_how_the_** internet_fell_in_love_with_a_**stats_class_clich_.htmlhttp://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2012/10/correlation_does_not_imply_causation_how_the_internet_fell_in_love_with_a_stats_class_clich_.html Having nothing better to do, I set fire to the prairie. -- Francis Chadron, 1839, Fort Clark, North Dakota http://www.devanmcgranahan.**info http://www.devanmcgranahan.info - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1427 / Virus Database: 2441/5317 - Release Date: 10/08/12 -- Malcolm L. McCallum Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry School of Biological Sciences University of Missouri at Kansas City Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive - Allan Nation 1880's: There's lots of good fish in the sea W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) Wealth w/o work Pleasure w/o conscience Knowledge w/o character Commerce w/o morality Science w/o humanity Worship w/o sacrifice Politics w/o principle Confidentiality Notice: This
[ECOLOG-L] Springtails Podcast
New podcast from the Encyclopedia of Life (www.eol.org)! Springtails Collembola Springtails are tiny creatures that live underfoot in the soil and leaf litter. Most people are not even aware they exist. Until 2000, biologists classified these curious animals as insects. Then new DNA evidence forced scientists like Louis Deharveng to revise their thinking and redraw a branch on the tree of life. Listen to the podcast: http://education.eol.org/podcast/springtails EOL Podcasts are hosted by Ari Daniel Shapiro. Brought to you by the Encyclopedia of Life and Atlantic Public Media. About the Encyclopedia of Life The Encyclopedia of Life is a collaborative effort among scientists and the general public to bring information together about all 1.9 million named and known species, in a common format, freely available on the internet. Learn more at www.eol.org.
[ECOLOG-L] FW: Announcing 2013 Switzer Fellowships
This may be of interest to ECOLOG members. ___ Greetings from the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation: We are pleased to announce that the application period for the 2013 Switzer Environmental Fellowships is now open! Switzer Fellowships are given to top graduate students in New England and California who are committed to a career in environmental improvement, and who demonstrate the potential for leadership in their chosen field. The Fellowship provides a one-year $15,000 cash award, as well as access to other Switzer grant programs and career support, and membership in the Switzer Fellowship Network, a vibrant community of over 500 Switzer Fellows and environmental leaders. (We invite you to check out Switzer Network News to see live podcast interviews with some of our Fellows working on a diverse set of issues.) The Switzer Fellowship is not intended to be a research fellowship. We fund individuals doing a wide variety of environmental work (e.g., science, law, policy, engineering). Leadership potential is a more significant factor in our evaluation than the specifics of a particular graduate research project, although we are interested in novel and applied approaches to contemporary issues. Please see the Call for Applications which describes the Fellowship program and its requirements. Please pass this on to eligible candidates and colleagues, and post to your financial aid or graduate student office bulletin boards! This year's application deadline is January 10, 2013. If you have any questions about the Fellowship Program guidelines or the online application process, please do not hesitate to contact any of the Switzer Foundation staff. Thank you, and we look forward to receiving your students' applications! Lissa Widoff, Executive Director - li...@switzernetwork.org Erin Lloyd, Program Officer - e...@switzernetwork.org Don Brackett, Administrative Officer - d...@switzernetwork.org Office: (207) 338-5654 (office hours 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Eastern time, Mon-Thurs, other hours available by appointment) The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation is a results-driven family foundation that invests in individuals and organizations that drive positive environmental change. Founded in 1986, the Foundation is a grant making organization that mobilizes leaders from diverse disciplines who focus on integrated solutions to environmental issues. Through the Switzer Environmental Fellowship Program and related grants, the Foundation supports a Network of over 500 Switzer Fellows who are leaders in the nonprofit, public policy, business, academic and government sectors working to solve today's environmental challenges. For more information see www.switzernetwork.org. -- - Jane Shevtsov, Ph.D. Mathematical Biology Curriculum Writer, UCLA co-founder, www.worldbeyondborders.org “Those who say it cannot be done should not interfere with those who are doing it.” --attributed to Robert Heinlein, George Bernard Shaw and others
[ECOLOG-L] Job Posting: Avian Biologist
The Department of Biology at the State University of New York at New Paltz invites applications for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor with specialization in avian biology, to begin in fall 2013 (http://www.newpaltz.edu/hr/displayjobdetails.php?id=1303). The successful candidate for this position is expected to teach courses in her/his area of expertise, develop a course for non-majors, advise students and engage in service to the department, the school and the College, contribute to the core major requirements of the Biology major, including General Biology and upper-level classes, and establish an independent research program involving undergraduate students. ***Qualifications: A Ph.D. in Biology or related field is required; exceptional ABD candidates with a firm completion date will be considered. Candidates with expertise in avian behavior, ecology, and/or evolution will be considered. Preference will be given to candidates with postdoctoral experience and experience with amateur bird enthusiasts. Applicants should be able to make use of local natural resources (The Shawangunk Ridge, Catskill Mountains and Hudson River Valley). Candidates who bring diverse cultural experience and who are especially qualified to mentor and advise all members of our diverse student population are especially encouraged to apply. ***Contact Information: Electronic applications preferred. Please submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, representative publications, separate statements of research interests and teaching philosophy and three letters of recommendation to: biosea...@newpaltz.edu Paper submissions may be sent to: Chair, Avian Biologist Search Committee Affirmative Action, HAB 602A 1 Hawk Drive State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NY 12561-2443 Please note search #F12-18 on all materials submitted. Official transcripts will be required of successful applicant. ***Deadline: Applications accepted until position is filled; priority given to applications received by 1/15/13. - David C. Richardson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Biology SUNY New Paltz 1 Hawk Drive New Paltz, NY 12561
Re: [ECOLOG-L] The Audacity of Graduate School
I went a slightly alternative route, born and B.S.-ed in the US, but went to Australia (University of Tasmania) for my PhD in the marine conservation field, then returned to the US for my post doc. I had an overall great experience in Australia - like Europe, no class requirements and finished in 3-4 years. I had advisors who didn't just hand me a project 'recipe', but gave me space to develop my project, while also providing guidance when needed. I was also able to get tuition and a stipend covered, even as a foreign student. I know I was lucky, but would encourage students to keep Australia in mind in their PhD search! International conferences can be a great way to meet potential advisors, as well as over email and skype.
[ECOLOG-L] IBS conference, Florida, Miami - early registration extended
Early Registration is extended until 31st October, 2012 for the 6th Biennial Conference of the International Biogeography Society Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA 09-13 January, 2013 Check out the IBS meeting website for more details and to register http://www.biogeography.org/html/Meetings/2013/index.html = 6th Biennial Conference of the International Biogeography Society North Miami, Florida, USA - January 9-13th The meeting is built around four successive SYMPOSIA (10th 11th January) each with a suite of leading international scientists and *openings for contributed papers*: 1. Island Biogeography: new syntheses (Organizers: Rob Whittaker Kostas Triantis). 2. Beyond Bergmann: new persectives on the biogeography of traits (Organizers: Adam C. Algar and Nathan G. Swenson). 3. The convergence of conservation paleontology and biogeography (Organizers: Jenny McGuire Edward Davis). 4. Predicting species and biodiversity in a warmer world: are we doing a good job? (Organizers: Antoine Guisan Niklaus E. Zimmermann). The meeting also has 12 sessions of CONTRIBUTED PAPERS (12th January) on key topics: i. Island biogeography ii. Neotropical biogeography iii. Climate-change biogeography iv. Conservation biogeography v. Pre-quaternary paleoecology and biogeography vi. Quaternary paleoecology vii. Phylogeography viii. Marine biogeography ix. Natural disturbance biogeography x. Global-scale biogeography xi. Hot topics in biogeography Dr. Jim Brown will give a keynote lecture after receiving the Alfred Russel Wallace Award, recognizing his lifetime of outstanding contributions to biogeography. Dr. Miguel Araújo will give a keynote lecture after receiving the MacArthur Wilson Award, a new award recognizing an early-research individual for a notable, innovative contribution to biogeography. In addition, before the meeting, on the 9th of January, five WORKSHOPS will be held: Biodiversity Informatics Training, Biogeography of Stress, Communicating Biogeography, Popular Science Writing, an Introduction to Bayesian Statistical Analysis. On the 9th 13th of January, arranged FIELD EXCURSIONS will visit a number of Florida's beautiful biogeographic locations. == Michael N Dawson mdaw...@ucmerced.edu dawson...@gmail.com
Re: [ECOLOG-L] The Audacity of Graduate School -Knowledge of Today Documentary
As I am currently deciding on whether to enter a PhD program vs. consulting work/career position, I am finding this feed quite informative and wanted to respond to: When we graduate, we have more or less the same credentials as everyone else a degree. There are many successful scientists without Ph.D.'s but many more with Ph.D.'s who are unemployed. I immediately thought of sharing this documentary, as it illustrates this very point as well as other ideas: http://www.knowledgeoftoday.org/2012/02/education-college-conspiracy-exposed.html -It illustrates how the U.S. educational system is not what it used to be and exposes the facts and truth about America's college education system. It was was produced over a six-month period by NIA's team of expert Austrian economists with the help of thousands of NIA members who contributed their ideas and personal stories for the film. NIA believes the U.S. college education system is a scam that turns vulnerable young Americans into debt slaves for life. Best wishes for us all in life, love, work, and happiness. Brandi M.S. Candidate Avian Sciences University of California, Davis Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:29:21 -0700 From: jane@gmail.com Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] The Audacity of Graduate School To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU On Wed, Oct 17, 2012 at 6:40 AM, Aaron T. Dossey bugoc...@gmail.com wrote: When we graduate, we have more or less the same credentials as everyone else - a degree. There are many successful scientists without Ph.D.'s but many more with Ph.D.'s who are unemployed. Can you make a rough estimate of the relative frequencies of each. Also, to emphasize how little we get out of a Ph.D. (a lot is stolen from us), we don't get credit for our work or publications because the professor always gets credit for everything we do while in their lab as a student or postdoc (which is something I am fighting on other fronts - I call it institutionalized intellectual property theft). Isn't that taken care of by the first author/last author distinction? A PI may get some undeserved credit, but that's different from the student not getting credit. The paper is still cited as Student et al. Or are you talking about taking the student's idea outright? BTW, if you believe that grad students are employees to the point of needing a union and thinking of their advisor as their boss, I would point out that people who do creative work as employees rarely keep the rights to their work. Typically, the intellectual property belongs to their employer (work done for hire). Isn't it better to say that grad students are not employees? -- - Jane Shevtsov, Ph.D. Mathematical Biology Curriculum Writer, UCLA co-founder, www.worldbeyondborders.org “Those who say it cannot be done should not interfere with those who are doing it.” --attributed to Robert Heinlein, George Bernard Shaw and others
[ECOLOG-L] Opportunities for graduate studies in tri-trophic interactions, UC Irvine
The Mooney Lab (http://tritrophic.org/http://tritrophic.org) in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Irvine ( http://http://ecoevo.bio.uci.edu/) welcomes applications for Ph.D. and M.S. students to begin in the 2013-14 academic year. Research in the Mooney Lab addresses both basic and applied questions relating to the community and evolutionary ecology of tritrophic interactions. Past studies have focused on natural plant-insect systems and the effects of vertebrate insectivores. Research opportunities include: a diverse faculty with strengths in ecology, evolutionary ecology, global change biology, evolutionary genetics and comparative physiology; greenhouse, growth chamber, common garden, mass spectrometry and stable isotope facilities; and access to the diverse ecosystems included in the UC Natural Reserve System. Graduate students are expected to develop independent research projects conceptually related to Mooney Lab research themes. Funding opportunities include guaranteed TA-ships, opportunities for year-long intramural fellowships, and assistance with applications for external multi-year graduate fellowship. Applications are due January 1 ( http://ecoevo.bio.uci.edu/grad_program/admissions/index.html) but prospective students should first direct inquiries to Dr. Kailen Mooney (moon...@uci.edu). Please include a statement of research qualifications, motivations for joining the Mooney Lab, and an example of a proposed thesis topic.
