Re: [ECOLOG-L] Anti-singles discrimination? Re: [ECOLOG-L] Career - Life Balance supplements to NSF awards
I think it was a single person who objected to it, the rest seems to be far more supportive. Kim On 7/6/2013 11:25 PM, malcolm McCallum wrote: I don't get it. The NSF puts together a program to help folks out, and people are up in arms about it. Maybe I missed something? M
[ECOLOG-L] Affordable fully automated 3D micro imaging system
Dear List, Currently, I am in the process of developing a prototype of an affordable (US$15,000-20,000) fully automated 3D imaging system that can accurately obtain 3D surface renderings including color of small 3D objects such as the head of a fruit fly, the proboscis of a butterfly, and other micrometer size objects. This system will automatically image the object from all sides, extract the surface data and stores it as a single object. In order to obtain a grant for the development of this system, I need to access whether there would be a market for such a system. To help me with that, could you, if you, your lab or institution would be a potential customer, please let me know (k...@kimvdlinde.com). Feel free to forward this to other lists where people could be interested. Thanks, Kim
[ECOLOG-L] Eastern gamagrass stands
Hi all, I am asking for help here. I am trying to collect a specific drosophild fly that breeds on Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides). Around here, there are some very small patches of this grass (its at the Southern edge of the distribution), but no flies. So, in order to find these flies, I am looking for more substantial swats of this grass anywhere in the eastern US. I would appreciate both locations as well as names of people that would know where to find this grass. Thanks, Kim -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
[ECOLOG-L] Answers to Software for spatially explicit models
Hi All, Thank you all for the kind responses. I got the following suggestions, of which only NetLogo got more than one vote (6): Free software: NetLogo (http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/) SADIE (http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/pie/sadie/SADIE_home_page_1.htm) SELES = Spatially Explicit Landscape Event Simulator (http://www.seles.info) Paid software: Simile (http://www.simulistics.com/) Stella (http://www.iseesystems.com/softwares/Education/StellaSoftware.aspx) Ecobeaker (http://simbio.com/products-college/EcoBeaker) Thanks, Kim -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
[ECOLOG-L] Software for spatially explicit models
Hi, I am looking for software to run some simulations on a spatially explicit model in a meta-population context. This are my requirements: 1. Multiple species competing for a single resource. 3. Resources come in discrete patches of variable but finite length. 3. Ability to vary the global resource levels, resulting in increased or deceased distances between suitable substrate. Can be static or dynamic (aka varying during a single run). 4. Ability to vary the local resource levels, resulting in increased or deceased amounts of suitable substrate. 5. Migration between substrates. If anybody knows about some software for this, or has something unpublished on the shelf that they are willing to share for attribution, please let me know. Kim -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
[ECOLOG-L] Ethics of spousal hires (was Re: [ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement: US Forest Service Ecologist)
On 8/19/2011 11:07 PM, Aaron T. Dossey wrote: Was it about unethical hiring practices like spousal hirings, nepotism, etc.? These are RAMPANT in Academia. I have no serious problem with spousal fires, because it means that the hire committee/dean/chair/ has basically concluded that hiring the two of them is the best choice for the university, even if the spouse is maybe not of the same level of what they otherwise could get. Sometimes, like I have seen here where I work, the money for the hire would not have been freed at all, and the spousal hire effectively resulted in a extra hire. Offering spousal hires often is part of the hiring negotiations because split families means that your candidate is at far larger risk to keep looking for a job elsewhere after you hire them so s/he can be with his partner again. It is easy to rail against spousal hires if you are single, or have a partner who has a career that is portable so you can just go where you want to go, or when you don't care to live at the other side of the country. It is a different story of you have a family and like to be with you family. And universities understand the two-body problem and spousal hires are just one way to ensure you can hire the best candidates. Kim
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ethics of spousal hires (was Re: [ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement: US Forest Service Ecologist)
On 8/20/2011 11:46 AM, Aaron T. Dossey wrote: Maintaining the quality of one's marriage, personal life, sexual relationships, etc. is not an employer's, University's, Department's, the tax-payer's (for public institutions and those who receive government grants/funds) or even society's responsibility. Correct, it is the universities task to keep the best workforce around that they can hire. And if they deem that that requires to do a spousal hire, it is in their own best interest to do the spousal hire. In the case I am most familiar with, their trophy employee got an offer from another university, who was willing to hire his spouse. So, his then and current employer made a counter offer including a spousal hire as well. It was competition between universities that resulted in the spousal hire. They did not give a damn about his personal life, they did not want to loose their trophy hire. Kim
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ethics of spousal hires (was Re: [ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement: US Forest Service Ecologist)
On 8/20/2011 1:05 PM, Aaron T. Dossey wrote: Do you believe in evolution? Yes, and evolution by means of natural selection predicts that the best adapted individual has the best change of surviving. It does not predict what the best adaptation is. If a man has a special good way of scoring a highly valued wife, he has far more change of having his genes propagated. When she can get a good job and he gets a job through spousal hire, he must have done something right by selecting his mate. Obviously, natural selection is flavoring this man based on the total of his genes, not just his academic credentials genes. Kim
[ECOLOG-L] Gender issues in the ethics of spousal hires
I disagree with you. Universities have to make the choices that are best for them. If spousal hires would be so detrimental as your examples suggest, they would not do them, but reality is that they work well. In the case I am talking about, the department got extra money for the additional position, which was a win for the department as well as a win for the other department that was able to retain her spouse. And the reality is that most spouses are very suited for academic positions. What is sorely missing in this discussion is a far more important issue. namely that most spousal hires are the wives of men. It is one of those many signs of still existing gender bias in academics, but it is also a sign of different priorities for men and women in life. This means that women are far more often decide to go with their husband then men with their wife. This becomes even more obvious once children are involved. A block on spousal hires is only going to aggravate this issue. So, let me ask you a question: would you consider to work in the lab of your partner without pay (which in many cases is actually not allowed because of insurance issues)? Kim On 8/20/2011 3:13 PM, Aaron T. Dossey wrote: Consider the alternative that I bet never occurred to the hiring officials: They could have also decided that it was arrogant for this star to insist that the institution hire their spouse (or child, or friend, or... whoever else) and that this is a buyer's market for employers, especially employers of Ph.D. scientists, and that they could easily replace that star and their spouse with 2 or even 3-4 others in the field currently seeking positions. Let them go. Instead of getting one must have and one because we have to, why not go look for TWO must haves? Or even 3-4 (considering entry level faculty have less financial requirements and can be obtained at lower costs often) seem to be very good, let's see what they can do's? Multiple benefits: 1) more scientists hired, 2) avoid the dodgy ethics of nepotism, 3) better bang for the hiring buck and 4) you MIGHT, just MIGHT get someone even (sit down, get ready for it) BETTER than the star you let go? God duth forbid the blasphemy! :) Did you also consider the (real life) scenarios I described before and weigh them against the idea that spousal hiring is either good or necessary? Aaron T. Dossey, Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology http://www.allthingsbugs.com/Curriculum_Vitae.pdf On 8/20/2011 2:38 PM, Kim van der Linde wrote: On 8/20/2011 11:46 AM, Aaron T. Dossey wrote: Maintaining the quality of one's marriage, personal life, sexual relationships, etc. is not an employer's, University's, Department's, the tax-payer's (for public institutions and those who receive government grants/funds) or even society's responsibility. Correct, it is the universities task to keep the best workforce around that they can hire. And if they deem that that requires to do a spousal hire, it is in their own best interest to do the spousal hire. In the case I am most familiar with, their trophy employee got an offer from another university, who was willing to hire his spouse. So, his then and current employer made a counter offer including a spousal hire as well. It was competition between universities that resulted in the spousal hire. They did not give a damn about his personal life, they did not want to loose their trophy hire. Kim -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ethics of spousal hires (was Re: [ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement: US Forest Service Ecologist)
On 8/20/2011 11:32 AM, Aaron T. Dossey wrote: Personal interests like but my wife/child/friend wants a job too! should not be a consideration of any hiring entity. I think it should be. You do not want your new faculty member leave after two years for a place closer to her partner. After she spend most of the setup money and forcing you to go through a new hiring round (any idea how expensive they are money and time wise?). Where does it end? Is it ok for a chair and group of faculty to decide only to hire members of their church or their own religion, or only hire other atheists? Is it ok for them to only hire their friends to the exclusion of all other applicants regardless of QUANTITATIVE qualification/skill/talent? Maybe a department wishes to be all white, or all Chinese, or all Jewish? Kosher? You seem to miss the point. A spousal hire is not a prerequisite set by the university before they can hire someone; it is a added issue that needs to be resolved before someone is willing to come. It is not a university set requirement but an applicant set requirement. Having a specific religion etc are university set requirements. Spousal hiring is not benign, it is not a victimless crime. It is an unethical tragedy which is leading to many very good hard working scientists to leave the field and their dreams, some of us who have worked hard all our lives toward this goal of starting our own lab one day, and were the first in our families to even go to graduate school (and second to college at all). I would argue that the opposite takes place. Many highly qualified scientists left and still leave the field when forced to choose between love and passion. But really, when you apply without a spouse needing a job, and you are passed by for a guy who also demands a job for his wife, I think you better start thinking about the quality difference between you and that person. The problem with this discussion is that this is a non-issue. Universities do not ALWAYS hire a spouse. No, they weigh that on a case-by-case basis. The American Dream has been dead in the private sector for many years, is it dead in Academia too? No, you can still make it. The illusion is that you would have MORE changes if there were no spousal hires. Because if a university is willing to pay for a spousal hire, it means that the person they intent to hire is a lot better than the person who does not require a spousal hire. That most likely also means that there are a lot of candidates between you and the top choice. Kim
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Fwd: [ECOLOG-L] To capitalize or not to capitalize
Well, when you write about it, it might be obvious to you because you know what you mean, but to me, it is not because I have to extract this out of the context, the name itself is generally ambiguous. The key is the discussion is whether or not names of animals are common nouns or proper nouns. Once the species within a group have each has a single established name, it becomes a proper noun. For most species, except birds, there is no such standardization. I personally would prefer to treat each name as a proper noun, but unfortunately that kind of clarity will take a long time. Kim Eric Schauber wrote: When I write about white-tailed deer I do not mean any deer with white on its tail. Similarly, when I write about a spotted salamander, I do not mean any salamander with spots, nor with spicebush swallowtail, nor a fat pocketbook mussel. Only with birds is this tyranny of capitalization held up as gospel. I think we can all agree that respect for scientific authority is valued by those who study all types of animals, so let's just come out and admit that it's a socially enforced convention among ornithologists to require capitalization. -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
Re: FW: semi-silly question from John Nielsen
Hi, Just a list of invasives that are now so common that no body actually really see them anymore that way: - Homo sapiens, commonly known as human or man - House rat - Domesticated pig - Domesticated goat - Killer bee - etc. Hope this helps! Kim Annie Drinkard wrote: Please respond directly to John Nielsen. Cheers, Annie From: John Nielsen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 2:57 PM To: Annie Drinkard Cc: John Nielsen Subject: semi-silly question from John Nielsen Annie - Hi it's John Nielsen from NPR News. I am working on one of those stories that you hear over the holiday season, which is another way of saying it's based on a silly premise. Basically, it's a story that reports on the status of the five most loathed invasive species in the world. I've got a few favorites in mind - zebra mussels, for example, and perhaps those cane toads - but I also want to give some actual scientists a chance to put their two cents in. For that reason I am hoping you will help me out by posting a note on your listserve that asks your members to consider sending me an email that names the five most despicable invasive species in the world. If they want to name just one or two that would be fine as well. If they want to send me a long rant about just one I would be grateful. If somebody wants to be interviewed they need only include a number and a time that I might call. It's likely that this story will run late next week so naturally I'm a hurry. Please request that all responses be sent directly to me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] My work phone is 202 513 2781. By now it should be clear that this will be an utterly unscientific survey. At the same time, I'm convinced that it'll help draw badly-needed attention to the problems caused by invasive species. One or two last things before I thank you and hit the send button. First, in hopes of keeping the list manageable, I'd like to ask your members not to nominate diseases. Second, if you nominate a creature like a rat it would be best if you named a particular kind of rat. Third and last, please feel free to let your emotions fly. Call if you have any questions. And thanks, John Nielsen Corrrespondent Science Desk NPR News -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
Job: Research Technician in Drosophila laboratory
Research Technician, OPS We are seeking a full-time research technician, experienced in traditional genetics and molecular genetics, to assist in a new three-year project. Duties include traditional genetic crosses, phenotypic measurements of Drosophila, construction of transgenes, and assays of gene expression. Will also manage an active Drosophila lab and supervise routine stock maintenance and undergraduate employees. Pay will be from $10-$15/hour, depending on experience. Qualifications: Bachelors degree in a biological science, or equivalent laboratory experience. Requirements Experience with molecular biological techniques. Excellent knowledge of transmission genetics. Good organizational skills. Experience working with Drosophila (fruit flies) is desirable, but not required. Contact Info The work will be at the laboratory of Dr. David Houle (http://bio.fsu.edu/~dhoule/), Department of Biological Science (http://www.bio.fsu.edu/), Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306. To apply, send a brief letter stating your interest, a curriculum vitae, and the contact information for three references to Kim van der Linde, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Applications will be considered starting October 17, 2007. For additional information, please contact Dr. Kim van der Linde directly Equal Employment Opportunity An Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action Employer. -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
Re: gender bias: a summary of ecolog-L responses
Maybe the post was a bit exaggerated, the general line is clear, and that is that what women experience differs from what men see. Kim William Silvert wrote: I am surprised at this interpretation of the postings. As I recall, no male poster stated that gender bias does not exist although some, such as Gary Grossman, felt that the degree of discrimination had been exaggerated. As for the men who said that maternity/paternity leave should not pose a problem, the key word here is should -- I certainly argued that it should not pose a problem, but that is different from stating that it is a problem. I think that most of the male posters admitted that there are serious problems, and some of us tried to point to solutions It appears that at least in some quarters though we are bound to be condemned. This is not a good way to make progress. Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: Anita Lahey [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 12:30 AM Subject: gender bias: a summary of ecolog-L responses Similarly, on this listserve, 8 out of 9 (89%) women said there is gender bias in ecology/biology, while 3 out of 5 (60%) men said that gender bias does not exist. 3 out of 3 women were not concerned with age bias, while 2 out of 3 men expressed concern about age bias. 4 out of 6 (67%) of women believed that maternity/paternity leave or raising children poses an additional challenge/problem, while 7 out 9 (78%) men said that maternity/paternity leave should not pose a problem. -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
Help requested: Zaprionus indianus invasion
Dear List, I would like to solicit some help with documenting the ongoing invasion of a Drosophilid fly, Zaprionus indianus. The species was found last July in Central Florida, and had reached by the end of last year the panhandle (Tallahassee). See http://www.fcla.edu/FlaEnt/fe89p402.pdf This year, we have documented the ongoing invasion, and by the end of August, we have documented it from Mississippi (the farthest place we sampled). As summer is now almost over, we would like to get a snapshot of a much wider area, and for that reason would like to solicit the help of Drosophila researchers in the gulf-coast states towards Texas and north of these states. It is very well possible that this species has jumped large stretches (fruit transport), and that the expansion Tallahassee-Mississippi is just a severe underestimate of the new territory that this species has conquered. The current confirmed distribution can be found here: http://www.kimvdlinde.com/pictures/Zaprionus/Florida.gif The species is very easy to catch and to identify as it has two nice white lines across the head and thorax, which is absent in all US species. See http://www.kimvdlinde.com/professional/Zaprionus_indianus.html for an image made by Gary Steck. The species is relative large, and I can see the white stripes with my bare eyes under good light conditions (really handy). Catching is easy with some rotting fruit, or mused banana with some yeast (or beer) over it. We often collect them at the fruit dump of fruit stands. The species is a pest on figs, at least in Brazil and as such, there is some concern as it spreads towards California. I would appreciate any help on getting a decent snapshot of the current distribution. In that context, negatives are as important as positives Thanks, Kim van der Linde Florida State University -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
Re: capitalization rules for common names?
Funny, I asked about two weeks ago our in house editor (every department should have one), and she explained exactly what you said. Official names and proper nouns capitalized, rest in lower case. Kim Warren W. Aney wrote: As I understand it, the American Ornithological Union standard is to capitalize all common names of specific birds, e.g., Canada Goose and Greater White-fronted Goose, but to not capitalize when talking about groups of species, e.g., geese, quail. As far as I know, all other taxonomic organizations do not capitalize common names unless it is a proper noun -- so you have mule deer and Roosevelt elk. When writing for publication, I go by thise latter rule even for birds. Warren Aney Senior Wildllife Ecologist Tigard, OR -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Scott Ruhren Sent: Tuesday, 18 July, 2006 12:28 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: capitalization rules for common names? Dear List Members: I have been attempting to find a definitive answer regarding rules and standards of capitalization for common names of biota. Except when the common name contains a proper name (ex. Canadian, Wilson's), I follow the no-capitalization rule. This complies with several writing style guides often used for journals (ex. CBE, APA) and popular press science publications. Additionally, popular press sources such as National Geographic, NY Times, Nature Conservancy magazine etc. do NOT capitalize common names. Finally, is it my imagination that there seems to be some disparity between zoological (more caps.) and botanical (less caps.) publications. Could this be an antique holdover? I have seen more capitalization in ornithological publications for fanciers/birders/associations. Field guides seem top overuse capitalization for emphasis. Thank you for your input. Scott --- Scott Ruhren, Ph.D. Senior Director of Conservation Audubon Society of Rhode Island 12 Sanderson Road Smithfield, RI 02917-2600 401-949-5454 -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
Maldaptation, Extinction and Natural selection
Hi all, I am having an interesing discussion at the moment about Natural selection. The context is a single population of individuals that, due to changes in the environment, are now maladapted and the population is reducing in size. Based on the often used definition of differential reproduction, when there is not much to differentiate with, there is no longer differential selection, and as such, no natural selection. However, they are maladapted, so unfit to survive. Any opinions about this nice contradiction? Cheers, Kim -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
Re: why italics?
And for those who want to find the full code of Zoological nomenclature, it is online available nowadays here: http://www.iczn.org/iczn/index.jsp Kim van der Linde L. Brian Patrick wrote: To answer this question, I thought that the most logical person to ask would be a taxonomist. So I forwarded Dr. Inouye's question to Dr. Charles D. Dondale, Honorary (= Emeritus) Curator of the Arachnid Section for the Canadian National Collection of Insects and Arachnids. Here is his answer: Answer: Taxonomists operate under a set of Rules of Zoological Nomenclature. In this little book is found the rule that generic and species names are to be written in Latin, or in words that are latinized. Many following rules specify the endings for nouns, adjectives, etc. Higher categories are not latinized, but have certain endings such as -idae for family names. Most taxonomists I know keep a copy of the rules at hand. Why do we italicize only genus and species names when presenting taxonomic information? One web site I looked at claims that By the way, the italics are used only because it is proper, in writing, to italicize words that are in any language other than English. Aren't any other parts of the taxonomic hierarchy in Latin? -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
REU: Invasive species monitoring
Hi, We (Dr. David Houle and I, at Florida State University in Tallahassee) have obtained a REU grant for this summer for an undergraduate student who want to work on monotoring a new invasive species (Zaprionus indianus) that we found in the USA last year. Previous experiences in Brazil and Uraquay show that this species expands rapidly, has a large effect on the existing drosophilid community. Furthermore, it is a documented pest species on figs and damaged fruits still on the tree and a pest allert has been issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture (http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/zaprionusindianus.html). We expect that this species will expand its range in the coming years to all suitable habitat (Open forest, savannah like, urban areas) in the southern USA. This invasion, how bad as it is in itself, offers a unique opportunity to study the rapid expansion of an invasive species caught in the act. If you are interested in this project, please contact either me or Dr. David Houle ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) for a full project description. Regards, Kim van der Linde -- http://www.kimvdlinde.com
