bio. text needed for non native English speakers
Dear Colleagues, I am teaching a introductory biology course at late high school/ beginning college level. However, the students are non-native English speakers.=20 Most textbooks, in particular, Reece and Campbell are filled with American colloquialisms.=20 Can someone please recommend a good introductory text that avoids the American chit-chat and is easier to read? Renee Renee A. Richer, Ph.D Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar Qatar Foundation-Education City P.O. Box 24144 Doha, Qatar (w) (974) 492-8228 (h) (974) 488-2953 (c) (974) 535-6347 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Landscape Ecologist - tenure track position
Dear Ecolog'ers, please find below a copy of an open rank tenure track position for a landscape ecologist/geomorphologist at the Department of Coastal Science / Gulf Coast Reseach Laboratory, The University of Southern Mississippi. Interested applicants are encourage to also view this position at the University's website: https://www.usm.edu/hr/templates/printpost.php?id=1284 and submit the relevant application forms. __ TENURE - TRACK POSITION IN LANDSCAPE SCIENCE The University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Coastal Sciences, invites qualified candidates to apply for an open rank tenure-track faculty position (nine month appointment) starting as early as summer 2007. The successful applicant will hold a doctorate or equivalent and candidates with postdoctoral experience will be given preference. Scientists with a quantitative field and/or laboratory approach broadly focusing on landscape/seascape functions in the coastal zone are encouraged to apply. We envision interviewing someone with a research emphasis at the landscape level who uses dynamic spatial modeling coupled with GIS expertise to address a primary research interest in how landscape structure affects organism interactions and/or environmental health and has the ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary setting. The successful applicant would complement existing programs in the Gulf Coast Geospatial Center, the Coastal Ecosystems Group, the Center for Fisheries Research and Development, and the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center by examining how changes in coastal features at multiple spatial scales affect the health of aquatic environments. The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain a nationally recognized, externally funded research program, to direct masters and doctoral level students, and to participate in graduate instruction. The Department of Coastal Sciences (http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/) is located at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) campus in Ocean Springs, Miss. Coastal Sciences is a research-oriented department with academic emphasis on graduate studies leading to doctoral and masters degrees and administers the GCRL Summer Field Program, which offers courses in marine and coastal sciences to students from across the country. Please send a letter describing research and teaching interests, along with a current vitae, reprints (up to five), and the names and addresses (electronic and physical) of three references to Ms. Kalin Lloyd , Department of Coastal Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 7000, Ocean Springs, MS 39566- 7000. Tel: 228.872.4201 Fax: 228.872.4204,E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Review of applications will begin March 1, 2007 and continue until the position is filled. Applicants must complete an employment application form located on the University of Southern Mississippi Human Resources website at www.usm.edu/hr. AA/EEO/ADAI _ Dr. Patrick Biber Assistant Professor, Marine Botany University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 703 East Beach Drive Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA
CSU Stanislaus -- Assistant VP for Research
Assistant Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs at California State University, Stanislaus http://web.csustan.edu/HR/Employment_Opportunities/index.html POSITION SUMMARY: California State University, Stanislaus is seeking a creative, progressive, and energetic Assistant Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs. This newly created position is an exciting opportunity to provide vigorous leadership for sponsored programs, building on the University's successes and achieving a higher level of extramural support for faculty. The AVP is one who is intellectually invigorated by grant administration and providing effective managerial oversight for sponsored program administration within a collegial environment. Responsibilities include pre-award grant development; post-award grant administration; budgeting; and leadership for supporting research, scholarship, and creative activities of faculty and students. The AVP will play a crucial leadership role in planning and achieving ambitious goals that contribute to the University's distinction. The AVP manages the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, vested with the institutional responsibility for securing extramural funding that contributes to institutional priorities and supports faculty in their research, scholarship, and creative activities. The Office provides vital services for research policy development and implementation and in support of the scholarly activities of students. The AVP serves as liaison with community agencies in envisioning and developing joint funding projects related to the University's mission of commitment to the region. This is a full-time administrative position in the California State University Management Personnel Plan, serves at the pleasure of the President, and reports to the Vice Provost. THE UNIVERSITY: California State University, Stanislaus is a dynamic university, serving one of the fastest growing areas in the country: the San Joaquin Valley located 90 miles east of San Francisco and close to world-famous recreational areas. The University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution that serves a diverse student body (8,300 headcount) with faculty committed to diversity as a vital element for educational excellence, leading to exceptionally high student retention and graduation rates. Widely recognized for its quality academic programs by rankings in U.S. News and World Report, the Princeton Review, and Hispanic Outlook Magazine, the University has 10 nationally accredited programs and holds the highest level of accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The University offers 40 undergraduate majors, 7 post-baccalaureate credentials, and 11 master's programs, with new baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate in education programs under development. New instructional facilities have been built for the unique pedagogy of professional programs, laboratory sciences, and the performing arts. Within this context of a vibrant campus environment, the Office of Research and Sponsored Program's level of productivity in support of faculty and students has steadily increased resulting in current annual direct grant awards of approximately $6.5 million. Overall, multi-year grants account for $17 million in direct awards. (http://web.csustan.edu/ORSPhttp://web.csustan.edu/ORSP) QUALIFICATIONS: The successful candidate must have an earned master's degree (doctorate preferred) from an accredited institution. Successful managerial and budgetary experience and increasingly responsible positions in a higher education, business, or agency environment, including success in obtaining extramural funding or similar job-related experiences. Creative thinking and execution of innovative ideas. Skill in supervising the work of others in a collegial environment. Success in working in a multi-ethnic environment that supports diversity. Ability to conceptualize cross-disciplinary research/grant ventures. Ability to forge strong connections with external agencies to achieve institutional priorities. Extremely strong administrative, budgetary, organizational, interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills. Skill in developing, interpreting, communicating, and implementing federal and state policies to ensure regulatory compliance while responsive to an academic environment. Ability to provide quality services, using technological systems for effectiveness and efficiency. POSITION: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus an excellent benefits package. Benefits information is available at http://www.calstate.edu/Benefits/Summaries/2006_MPP.pdfhttp://www.calstate.edu/Benefits/Summaries/2006_MPP.pdf APPLICATION PROCEDURES: This position has a desired starting date of April 2007, or as soon thereafter as possible. Screening of applications begins immediately and continues until the position
National Invasive Weed Awareness Week
A group from across the United States will congregate in Washington, D.C., Feb. 25-March 2, 2007, to spread awareness about the threat posed by invasive plants. =20 National Invasive Weed Awareness Week (NIWAW) (see http://www.nawma.org/niwaw/niwaw_index.htm for more information) is hosted by the Invasive Weed Awareness Coalition (IWAC) and is in its eighth year. Both Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture, and Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Interior, have been invited to address attendees at special briefings. Attendees come from varying backgrounds and professions, but share a common goal: to control invasive weeds in the United States and protect our native ecosystems. NIWAW focuses on sharing invasive weed information with federal officials at the highest levels and collaborating with experts to address what has become a national and global environmental concern. =20 Invasive [Non-native] plant infestations are spreading across the United States, costing billions of dollars for control and restoration initiatives each year. During the week, NIWAW participants, often experts in weed science who work to control them every day, will meet with members of Congress and congressional staff to increase understanding of the economic and environmental impacts of invasive and noxious weeds. Participants will showcase successful control strategies and tactics in an effort to expand opportunities for success in new locations that face similar challenges. They will also have the opportunity to meet with other experts from around the country to gain new insight into cutting-edge control programs. =20 NIWAW is an opportunity for participants to learn from each other, as well as to share successes, challenges and opportunities with legislators, said Nelroy Jackson, Chair of IWAC. Our hope is not only to raise awareness about invasive weed issues, but also to find common ground in the battle to control existing weeds and prevent potential infestations. =20 NIWAW officials expect more than 200 representatives from industry associations, professional societies, non-governmental organizations, and state and federal agencies at the event. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend briefings with the departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Defense as well as the National Invasive Species Council, on the problems caused by invasive vegetation. They will see examples of local, state and federal projects from all over the country designed to curb the spread of terrestrial and aquatic weeds.=20 =20 Throughout the week of NIWAW, the U.S. Botanic Garden will showcase displays submitted by state and federal agency staff that demonstrate how to identify invasive plants and that highlight successful partnership projects. The public is invited and encouraged to view the displays, which will include informative exhibits on menacing invasive weeds, such as: =20 * Eurasian watermilfoil: This aquatic weed spreads when fragments are transported from one water body to another, usually by watercraft and their trailers, or by water currents. It grows quickly to form dense infestations that shade out and replace native plants, negatively affecting birds and fish. The weed has become pervasive throughout much of the country, and officials at all levels of government are working to curb the spread. * Cogongrass: A perennial colony-forming grass that grows to 3 feet tall and forms dense mats that exclude all other vegetation. Cogongrass is an extremely aggressive invader capable of occupying a range of sites and is considered to be one of the world's worst weeds. Its range in the United States continues to expand each year, particularly in the Southeast. * Japanese knotweed: This dense-growing shrub grows as tall as 10 feet, invading disturbed, sunny areas such as roadsides or stream banks. Shading and displacing other plant life, this weed reduces wildlife habitat and forms an impenetrable monoculture, eliminating all other plants near its colonies. * Tree of heaven: This quick-growing tree can grow to 80 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter. It is extremely tolerant of poor soil conditions and is known to grow in cement cracks. Dense thickets displace native species and rapidly take over fields and meadows. * Scotch broom: This shrub invades pastures and cultivated fields, dry scrubland, native grasslands, roadsides, dry riverbeds, and other waterways. Its rapid spread was aided by frequent planting in gardens as an ornamental shrub and as a soil binder along highway cuts and fills. =20 About IWAC =20 IWAC works to educate individuals and organizations on steps they can take to protect land, such as learning more about invasive weeds, recognizing plants that are out of place and alerting appropriate local agencies to their presence. IWAC raises public awareness of the importance of responsibly selecting noninvasive plants for landscaping and preventing inadvertent
AVIAN FIELD RESEARCH CREW LEADER NEEDED
AVIAN FIELD RESEARCH CREW LEADER (1) needed in the shrub-steppe of northern Utah from late April through mid-late August. This is a great opportunity to run a small (2-3 techs) bird crew as a part of a collaborative research program studying landscape-scale impacts across multiple taxa. The primary research objective of the avian sub-project of ShrubMAP is to link the responses of passerines (primarily Sage Thrasher, Sage Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow and Vesper Sparrow) to shrub-steppe habitat restoration projects. Fieldwork will include combinations of the following: 1) nest finding/monitoring, 2) line transect surveys, 3) territory (spot) mapping, 4) vegetation sampling and habitat analysis, 5) accurate, daily record-keeping of data, 6) data entry, 7) working cooperatively with the local ranching community and government agencies. This position requires long days in the field and flexible schedules (sometimes six days/week including Sundays, and night time work will be involved.), so a sense of humor, positive attitude, patience, and self-motivation are essential. Avian crew leader will be responsible for supervising a field crew of 2-3 technicians of varying abilities, as well as some training and logistical responsibilities. Successful applicants will have demonstrable academic and/or field experience, have familiarity with GPS and related computer applications, work well independently and with others, demonstrate the willingness and ability to live in shared housing, communicate well in a variety of situations, and express comfort with living and working in a traditional, rural area of northern Utah. Applicants must be physically fit enough to move quickly across an austere landscape in variable weather conditions. A willingness to learn from and work under the direction of a graduate student and a project manager will be necessary, since the bird crew is part of a large, multi-disciplinary project. Everyone will be responsible for regular entry of their own data. Qualifications of a successful crew leader will include: 1) Demonstrable birding experience esp. with birds of the western U.S., 2) Strong skills in field identification of birds (preferably western) by sight and song, 3) Experience training, supervising and coordinating small field crews, 4) Working knowledge of a variety of survey methods, 5) Plant identification experience, 6) B.S. in wildlife biology or closely related field. Crews will be based out of Randolph, UT, with our field sites at upwards of 6,300 throughout the eastern portion of northern Utah. Bear Lake, the High Uinta Wilderness Area, Wyoming Wind River Range and scenic Logan Canyon are all a short distance away. Compensation will be up to $2,422/mo depending upon experience (plus shared housing and work truck). Interviews begin FEB 15th and will continue until position has been filled. Please email resume and letter of interest to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . Be sure to include previous experience with crew supervision; field research; specific dates of availability; and names, current phone numbers, and email addresses of three references.
Bee Course deadline is March 1 2007
REMINDER DEAD LINE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE BEE COURSE 2007 MARCH 1. 2007 Dates of Bee Course: August 19-29, 2007 Southwestern Research Station, Portal AZ http://research.amnh.org/invertzoo/beecourse/
Intern needed for turtle studies
University Intern Needed for Studies of Turtle Ecology in Freshwater Tidal Wetlands We are accepting applications from university students to participate in new and on-going studies of turtles and wetlands for the 2007 field season. The fieldwork takes place at the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, a 1400-acre research station and environmental education center located on the Patuxent River Estuary, 20 miles east of Washington, D.C. The Sanctuary includes over 700 acres of freshwater tidal wetlands, and large tracts of forests and meadows. Staff naturalists and researchers from other organizations carry out a wide variety of ecological studies. One intern position is available for the 2007 field season. The intern assists with on-going, team projects, but also works independently. Applicants should enjoy fieldwork and should be able to tolerate long hours in the field, occasionally under uncomfortable conditions. It helps to have a high degree of self-motivation. In addition to helping with turtle studies, the intern also helps with bird banding, reptile surveys, fish seining, and water quality studies. The intern will also carry out an independent research project related to mud or box turtles. At the end of the season in August, the intern gives an oral presentation and turns in a written report on their independent project. Interns work under the supervision of Sanctuary Director Chris Swarth. The Friends of Jug Bay, Anne Arundel County, and the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve provide the funding for this project. Projects for 2007 1. Movements of Eastern Mud Turtles in tidal wetlands and adjacent upland forests. Radio telemetry and hoop netting will be the main study techniques. 2. Habitat use and home range of juvenile Eastern Box Turtles. Thread trailing and radio telemetry will be the main techniques. 3. Home range and movements of adult female Eastern Box Turtles. Radio telemetry is the main method used in this study. Qualifications Applicant must be a junior, senior, or recent graduate majoring in the life sciences. Must be motivated, capable of independent work, and enjoy learning about the natural world. Fieldwork is in wet and muddy habitats. Experience with small boats, kayaks, and canoes is a plus. Stipend Award $3,600 stipend. Dates and Work Schedule The intern position is for a 3.5 or 4 month period. The preferred start date is April 15, but this could be pushed back to May 1. The work project ends on August 15. Interns work five full days a week; occasionally nights and on weekends. Housing There is no on-site housing at this time. Interns will need to find their own housing accommodations. Application Process Please send all of the following: 1. Resume 2. Statement of intent, including summary of academic and field experience, qualifications, career goals, and interests. Tell us why you want the position. 3. Transcripts (need not be official) 4. Names, email addresses and phone numbers of three academic or professional references. Deadline: March 30, 2003. Send application by email to: Christopher Swarth [EMAIL PROTECTED] To learn more about the Sanctuary, visit our web site at www.jugbay.org Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary 1361 Wrighton Rd. Lothian, MD 20711 410-741-9330
IPY Postdoctoral Scientist Opportunity
The Ecosystems Center of the Marine Biological Laboratory is accepting applications for a full-time year round Postdoctoral Scientist position as part of a project funded in collaboration with the University of Alaska, Fairbanks under the NSF International Polar Year (IPY) initiative. DUTIES: The successful applicant will have expertise in time-series analysis and data assimilation to work on a study of CO2, water, and energy fluxes in arctic ecosystems. Primary responsibilities will include data assimilation and modeling, the development of a PanArctic flux database, and organization of international workshops to synthesize data. Data will be derived from flux towers near Toolik Lake on the North Slope of Alaska, near Cherskii, Siberia, and also from measurements made by collaborators working in Sweden, Svalbard and Canada. EDUCATION/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE: Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Ecology, Biology, Applied Mathematics or a related field and have a strong record of scientific publication. Familiarity with time-series approaches to model identification, testing, and analysis, including Kalman Filtering, are essential. Familiarity with eddy-covariance methods of measuring CO2 and H2O fluxes are with simulation modeling is highly desirable. CONDITIONS: This position may entail some moderately strenuous fieldwork as well as travel during the summer field season to Arctic research sites. APPLICATION DEADLINE: Until a suitable candidate is identified. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: To apply, send a cover letter, curriculum vitae and the names and contact information of three persons who can be contacted for letters of reference to: Marine Biological Laboratory, ATTN: Human Resources, reference code [PDS IPY], 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543 or e-mail materials with reference code PDS IPY to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer/Non-smoking workplace.
Re: National Invasive Weed Awareness Week
I congratulate IWAC on this event, but would like to suggest that in educational programs for the general public that the emphasis should be on invasive exotics which are often planted in gardens or landscapes - english ivy, Bradford pear, burning bush, butterfly bush, bamboo, daylily, autumn olive, bush honeysuckles, Japanese barberry, privet, wisteria, oriental bittersweet, periwinkle, mimosa, Norway maple, Princess tree, etc. The U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) has an excellent Invasive Exotic Discovery Cart which suggests native species which can be planted instead of the some of the invasives from the above list. Last year during invasive weed awareness week the exhibits at the USBG placed too much emphasis on some very serious invasive threats and neglected the species which the general public might do something about - the ones they plant in their gardens. There was even a Forest Service Woodsy Owl exhibit for children which ran exhibit which emphasized speices like Japanese stilt grass rather than species which children might see in their neighborhoods. Bob Mowbray Forest Ecologist -- Original message from Cliff Duke [EMAIL PROTECTED]: -- A group from across the United States will congregate in Washington, D.C., Feb. 25-March 2, 2007, to spread awareness about the threat posed by invasive plants. =20 National Invasive Weed Awareness Week (NIWAW) (see http://www.nawma.org/niwaw/niwaw_index.htm for more information) is hosted by the Invasive Weed Awareness Coalition (IWAC) and is in its eighth year. Both Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture, and Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Interior, have been invited to address attendees at special briefings. Attendees come from varying backgrounds and professions, but share a common goal: to control invasive weeds in the United States and protect our native ecosystems. NIWAW focuses on sharing invasive weed information with federal officials at the highest levels and collaborating with experts to address what has become a national and global environmental concern. =20 Invasive [Non-native] plant infestations are spreading across the United States, costing billions of dollars for control and restoration initiatives each year. During the week, NIWAW participants, often experts in weed science who work to control them every day, will meet with members of Congress and congressional staff to increase understanding of the economic and environmental impacts of invasive and noxious weeds. Participants will showcase successful control strategies and tactics in an effort to expand opportunities for success in new locations that face similar challenges. They will also have the opportunity to meet with other experts from around the country to gain new insight into cutting-edge control programs. =20 NIWAW is an opportunity for participants to learn from each other, as well as to share successes, challenges and opportunities with legislators, said Nelroy Jackson, Chair of IWAC. Our hope is not only to raise awareness about invasive weed issues, but also to find common ground in the battle to control existing weeds and prevent potential infestations. =20 NIWAW officials expect more than 200 representatives from industry associations, professional societies, non-governmental organizations, and state and federal agencies at the event. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend briefings with the departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Defense as well as the National Invasive Species Council, on the problems caused by invasive vegetation. They will see examples of local, state and federal projects from all over the country designed to curb the spread of terrestrial and aquatic weeds.=20 =20 Throughout the week of NIWAW, the U.S. Botanic Garden will showcase displays submitted by state and federal agency staff that demonstrate how to identify invasive plants and that highlight successful partnership projects. The public is invited and encouraged to view the displays, which will include informative exhibits on menacing invasive weeds, such as: =20 * Eurasian watermilfoil: This aquatic weed spreads when fragments are transported from one water body to another, usually by watercraft and their trailers, or by water currents. It grows quickly to form dense infestations that shade out and replace native plants, negatively affecting birds and fish. The weed has become pervasive throughout much of the country, and officials at all levels of government are working to curb the spread. * Cogongrass: A perennial colony-forming grass that grows to 3 feet tall and forms dense mats that exclude all other vegetation. Cogongrass is an extremely aggressive invader capable of occupying a range of sites and is considered to be one of the world's worst weeds. Its range in the United States continues to
ATV info request- insurance and models
Hello- =20 My company is looking to purchase an ATV or similar piece of equipment (gator) for field work and I could use feedback from others on the list about the two questions below. Specifically, I am interested in the process of getting the ATV insured for off-road use and what that process might entail to address issues raised by our current insurance carrier. =20 =20 1. What use/designation was your ATV called for insurance purposes (e.g. marine vehicle, on road versus off road use)? Were user training courses required for coverage? If so, which one(s)? =20 2. What companies or models have you had good luck with? We are looking for something to carry at least one person plus a fair amount of field gear in settings from hilly terrain to marsh levees and roads in mud. =20 =20 Thanks. =20 Kim =20 Kimberly Suedkamp Wells, Ph.D. Project Manager and Senior Wildlife Ecologist H. T. Harvey Associates=20 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite #145 San Jose, CA 95118 Phone (408) 448 9450 x205=20 Fax (408) 448 9454 www.harveyecology.com =20 =20
Summer grassland/restoration ecology assistant needed
Summer grassland/restoration ecology field assistant needed A trustworthy and dependable individual is needed to assist with grassland/restoration ecology research for the summer of 2007. Duties will primarily entail sampling vegetation in reconstructed and remnant grasslands throughout the state of Iowa. Additional responsibilities will include: assistance in planting and maintaining experimental plots, data entry, weighing, and sorting plants. Many opportunities exist for developing an independent research project. Generally, projects in the Wilsey Lab are investigating factors that maintain diversity within grasslands. We have on-going studies in the Loess Hills region of Iowa, at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge (Prairie City, IA) and in the blackland prairie region of Texas. Information from our studies will be useful in management and restoration of grassland ecosystems. For more information please visit: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~bwilsey/homepage.htm The position will require approximately 40hrs/week ($8/hr) from the end of May to mid August (start/end dates flexible). Applicants must be able to work in the field under potentially adverse weather conditions and be tolerant of chiggers, ticks and other biting/stinging creatures (not to mention the plants!). Some Saturday work/overnite stays will be required. Preference will be given to those with previous experience in botany/field ecology and majoring in the biological sciences. In addition, applicants must know or be willing to learn common native prairie plants and introduced agricultural weeds. Please a send cover letter detailing your experience with field work and species identification along with your resume and contacts for two references. Applications will be accepted until position is filled. To guarantee consideration, please submit your application materials by March 15th, 2006 to: Kathryn Yurkonis EEOB Dept Iowa State University 253 Bessey Hall Ames, IA 50011 [EMAIL PROTECTED] We will be working out of Ames, IA a mid-sized college town (home to Iowa State University- www.iastate.edu) in the center of Iowa. Ames is a three hour drive from Minneapolis/St. Paul, 5 hours from Chicago and 2 hours from Omaha. Although housing is not provided, there are numerous sub-lease opportunities open during the summer months. ::: Kathryn A. Yurkonis PhD Graduate Student Dept. Ecology, Evolutionary and Organismal Biology 253 Bessey Hall Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011-1020 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Job: Research Technician, plant-herbivore interactions, Florida State Univ.
Research Technician, plant-herbivore interactions Full-time one year research technician position in the Ecology and Evolution group at Florida State University to assist with greenhouse, lab, and field experiments studying plant-herbivore interactions. The technician will assist with two primary projects: (1) characterizing density effects in plant-herbivore interactions for use in plant population models and (2) testing the effects of induced resistance on spatial patterns of herbivore damage. Position to begin mid-summer 2007 (start date flexible). Technicians in our lab are encouraged to participate actively in the intellectual life of the EE group by attending reading groups or seminars. Salary $20-22K, commensurate with experience, and including benefits. Review of applications starts March 1 and will continue until the position is filled. The full position description, with instructions for applying, can be found on our lab web pages: Underwood: http://bio.fsu.edu/~nunderwood/homepage/ Halpern: http://server.ns.pacificu.edu/~shalpern/Research/research%20interests.htm Dr. Nora Underwood Department of Biological Science Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306-1100 (850) 644 4167
Ant Course 2007: the last announcement!
Last announcement for: The Ant Course 2007 (more than meets the ommatidium!) Are you a systematist, ecologist, behaviorist, conservation biologist, or any other kind of biologist whose research responsibilities require a greater understanding of ant taxonomy? If yes, apply to: The Ant Course 2007 Taught at the Southest Research Station (SWRS), Portal, Arizona, USA From August 2-12, 2007 Deadline for application: April 1, 2007 Details about the application and the course are available online: http://www.antweb.org
ESA 2007 oral session on paleo- modern ecology of megaherbivores
Dear colleagues, We write to draw your attention to the organized oral session, Ancient Extinctions Modern Experiments: Ecological Effects of Adding Removing Megaherbivores from the Landscape, which will be convening at the Ecological Society of America annual meeting in San Jose (August 5-10, this session is Monday afternoon, August 6). Several slots are open so we encourage anyone interested to submit an abstract (due March 1st). Otherwise, we encourage you to attend what promises to be an exciting session. Session description follows end of email. Thank you for your interest, and apologies for cross-posting. Respectfully, Jacquelyn Gill Jack Williams Department of Geography University of Wisconsin ** SESSION DESCRIPTION Successful conservation and restoration efforts require an understanding of the drivers of ecosystem dynamics. Often, conservationists seek to return highly altered landscapes to a pristine state that may or may not have existed in the past and is often poorly understood. With increased human impact, this typically requires intensive management under disturbance regimes that are quite different than those of the past. Understanding the role of megaherbivores in ecosystem dynamics is particularly challenging, because in many cases key species are long absent from the landscape. In response, some have suggested reintroducing locally extinct species or their closest analogs to extirpated groups. Large mammals are particularly susceptible to extinction, and the megafauna has experienced disproportionate species losses since the last ice age. What impact did local and global megaherbivore extirpation have on the evolution of landscapes during the early Holocene? Would changes i n modern herbivore biodiversity have a similar impact on vegetation? How would such changes influence local fire regime, soil properties, or other factors that could contribute to ecological cascades? Recent publications on herbivore-plant dynamics, particularly long-term exclusion studies, indicate the importance of megafauna to the maintenance of many natural habitats. Megaherbivores often play a keystone role in modern ecosystems, which conservationists must consider if they are to implement a systems-based approach. One proposed strategy, re-wilding, involves reintroducing herbivores to regions where now-extinct species once lived. Research assessing the effectiveness of such strategies should include both modern and paleoecological perspectives. Paleoecological data can offer spatial and temporal perspectives not possible with modern process studies, and can address the rate and extent of landscape change following a particularly dramatic example of selective extinction during the late Pleistocene. Paleoenvironmental proxies allow reconstruction of megafaunal presence and ancient fire regimes, and advances in stable isotope analysis allow reconstruction of diet and migratory patterns of extinct species. Better integration of modern landscape ecology and paleoecology offers significant contributions to future restoration efforts. Modern ecologists can offer direct experimental and observational evidence of the impacts of herbivore presence on the landscape; paleoecologists can contribute a broader spatiotemporal perspective. Whether or not megaherbivores will ultimately play a role in restoration efforts, an understanding of their impact and ecology is critical to the development of conservation strategies.
Job: Dean, Duke Univ.
*Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences* *Duke University* Duke University invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences. The Nicholas School is one of the world's premiere centers for environmental research with educational programs at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level. Located within one of the nation's foremost research universities, the School's 50-member faculty brings together natural and social scientists to teach and conduct basic and applied research in environmental, earth and marine sciences, and to address the pressing environmental policy issues of our time. The Dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of the Nicholas School. The Dean's responsibilities include strategic planning, faculty appointments, budgetary and administrative oversight, and stewardship and development. As a member of the Cabinet of Deans, the Dean of the Nicholas School works collaboratively with the Provost, President, and other Deans in fostering the aims of the University as a whole. Additionally, the Dean is a representative of the School to the University, alumni, relevant external groups, and the public at large. The Dean of the Nicholas School is expected to be an intellectual leader among the faculty. He or she should be an accomplished scholar or, in exceptional circumstances, a leading practitioner with substantial experience in the environmental field. The Dean will be expected to continue the school's strong tradition of interdisciplinary scholarship in the natural and social sciences and, in this dynamic era of globalization, extend the School's reach abroad. In alignment with the University's focus on knowledge in the service of society, the Dean, jointly with the Provost, will oversee the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions to ensure meaningful engagement by Duke's faculty in environmental policy development and in the effective training of the next generation of environmental leaders. Please send nominations and applications electronically to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Candidates should submit a cover letter highlighting relevant areas of experience, a curriculum vita, and three names of individuals familiar with the candidate's qualifications. Confidentiality will be maintained. The review of nominations and applications will begin on March 1, 2007 and continue until the position is filled. For further information about the Nicholas School Dean Search, including a complete position description, see www.nicholas.duke.edu/deansearch. Duke University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
