[ECOLOG-L] Tragedy of the Commons revisited (RE: the precautionary principle...)

Quick note: It wasn't accurate for me to characterize the Tragedy of the Commons (proposed by Garrett Hardin 1968, Science 162: 1243-1248) as an economic theory, though it is, in part. It is every bit as much an ecological theory to explain why over-population is a serious problem and why people

Re: [ECOLOG-L] the precautionary principle makes sense and should be applied to GCC arguments

On the contrary, examples exist (sea mink, cod) of animal communities being greatly diminished at the hands of the very people turning a profit from their harvesting. Phil The tragedy of the commons. The benefit from harvesting a resource accrues only whoever collects it (and probably to

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Question Ecology Natural History etc Re: [ECOLOG-L] Hypothesis Testing in Ecology

I think the common interpretation of natural history among ecologists could be called descriptive ecology. It has the tacit hypotheses Matt Chew listed, but I don't think people associate natural history with explicit hypothesis-testing. It's about collecting and describing observations that

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Conservation or just gardening?

in the political sphere, there are others who will gladly brand the same activities as gardening. Jim Crants -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (612) 718-4883

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Want assistance with a GIS spatial analysis project? (this time with contact information)

started very soon, and the due date is in mid-December, so this couldn't be anything huge, and the data would need to be pre-existing. I hope I can help someone! James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (612) 718-4883 James Crants jcra

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ecology and Gardening Re: [ECOLOG-L] Help with development of a gardening/ecology teaching tool (game)

Wayne, I didn't see your statement as a put-down, but I was wondering what point you were making about the original post. Yes, there are significant differences in how gardens and ecosystems are assembled, but what does this say about USC students' efforts to design a gardening/ecology game?

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Aspect

Mark, I still don't think you need a reference, but using the search terms slope aspect sun in Web of Knowledge, I was able to quickly come up with this potentially useful reference: Geiger, R. J. (1965) The Climate Near the Ground. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. (cited in Huang et

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Aspect

-- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (612) 718-4883

Re: [ECOLOG-L] humans in the definition of environment

Wayne, My aim was simply to dispute the assertion that culture is a sociopathological phenomenon. In doing so, it proved necessary to clarify that my definitions of culture and society are the conventional ones (and I cited Merriam-Webster to show what definitions I was using, which is not a

Re: [ECOLOG-L] humans in the definition of environment

I agree with Jamie Hedges that the assertion that culture is a sociopathological phenomenon requires very strong support. Sociopathological phenomenon could also use a clear definition. I understand it to be any social phenomenon that is (overall) harmful to the society in which it occurs.

Re: [ECOLOG-L] humans in the definition of environment

' points either here or in the response to Hedges, please let me know. - Original Message - From: James Crants jcra...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 10:03 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] humans in the definition of environment I agree with Jamie Hedges

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems

WT and Ecolog, Since the CBD definition of ecosystem calls it a dynamic complex, not the dynamic complex, it implies that there is more than one ecosystem on earth (assuming the authors of this definition didn't define it this way to make room for any extraterrestrial life we might one day

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems

On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 7:14 PM, malcolm McCallum malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org wrote: I do not really see ANY difference between the variation in human culture, and the variation in social behavior of any other organism. I do. A difference of degree is still a difference. I think

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems

I don't see how the CBD definition excludes humans. We and our artifacts are part of the environment with which we and other organisms interact. (The part of the definition I have trouble with is interacting as a functional unit. I think most of these functional units are artifacts of the

Re: [ECOLOG-L] iButtons no longer water proof

PlastiDip is a rubberized coating of the type Malcolm mentioned. They have a clear version (or yellow, red, blue, white, or black, if you prefer). Other brands might, too. Jim Crants On Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 1:08 PM, Susan Herrick susan.z.herr...@gmail.comwrote: This is a great idea except

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Science and Religion Dogmatic conflict?

Martin, Larger brains in earlier modern humans may not indicate that they were logical, sceptical empiricists. Even if a larger brain necessarily meant greater mental capabilities, the larger brains of Cro Magnons (for example) could just as easily have been better at religious thinking, as at

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Science and Religion Dogmatic conflict?

cave art (if neanderthal and modern human religion have a common origin; though I will agree with William Silvert that religion probably didn't come about because any gods revealed their existence to our ancestors). -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Science and Religion Dogmatic conflict?

I, too, appreciate Jane's contribution to this conversation. We can only speculate on the origins of religion, since religion originated long before written language, or even cave art (if neanderthal and modern human religion have a common origin; though I will agree with William Silvert that

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Science and Religion Dogmatic conflict?

31'18.14 S, 49 05'32.98 W -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ecology Terminology and associated phenomena Colonizing species etc

But it is my place to warn that the bulk of modern peer-reviewed literature regarding the outcomes of human-mediated dispersal is 'tragically flawed'– by the fact that invasion biology's currency is vehement, almost competitive antipathy to its objects of study. The defining anti stance

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Science and Religion Dogmatic conflict? Re: [ECOLOG-L] evolution for non-scientists textbook

On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 9:01 AM, Sarah Frias-Torres sfrias_tor...@hotmail.com wrote: Science is based on fact. Religion is based on faith. They don't mix. These statements, and some others that have come up, show how narrowly religion has come to be defined in western cultures. In America,

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Science and Religion Dogmatic conflict?

beliefs) on rational evidence or on beliefs with no logical foundation. Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: James Crants jcra...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: sexta-feira, 14 de Maio de 2010 16:14 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Science and Religion Dogmatic conflict? Re

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Science and Religion Dogmatic conflict?

by fundamentalists, but that leads us into anthropological issues that go far outside the scope of this list. Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: James Crants To: William Silvert Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: sexta-feira, 14 de Maio de 2010 21:27 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Science

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ecology Terminology and associated phenomena Colonizing species etc

and let others hash all this stuff out, if they are so inclined. Jim Crants On Wed, May 12, 2010 at 6:00 AM, James J. Roper jjro...@gmail.com wrote: James Crants wrote on 11-May-10 13:05: There's a difference between saying that two species are not ecologically equivalent and saying that two

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ecology Terminology and associated phenomena Colonizing species etc

I think I have not made my arguments clearly enough. I merely intended to summarize my moral case for suppressing invasives as part of my summary of the off-forum conversation. My numbered paragraphs were intended to address the claim that there is no ecological difference between native and

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ecology Terminology and associated phenomena Colonizing species etc

Jim Roper, There's a difference between saying that two species are not ecologically equivalent and saying that two categories of species are not ecologically equivalent. If exotic species (as a category) were ecologically equivalent to native ones, you would still find that every species would

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Grad students: what are they worth, and does their work space effect their productivity? Input gratefully accepted

I went to Michigan, and I would say the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department there was pretty good to its grad students. If anything, they've been getting better since I started there nine years ago. I'm certainly glad they didn't treat us the way your department is planning to treat you.

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Weeds and Invasives, Arguments and Distinctions

in getting to the root of the matter, right here on Ecolog? Thank you all for your help. WT -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Are reviews anonymous?

On the other hand, if the reviewers are anonymous, the authors should be, too. I think transparency is a bad thing, in this case; I think reviews should be double-blind. While reviewer anonymity allows reviewers to be impolite and harsh, it also protects them from retribution for simply being

Re: [ECOLOG-L] now I've seen it all: Decline in education

:17 PM, James Crants wrote: On Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 2:04 PM, Val Smithvsm...@ku.edu wrote: I lay much of this decline at the feet of their parents, who seem to care progressively less and less about knowledge. I recall a particularly notable incident from over a decade ago, when my youngest

Re: [ECOLOG-L] now I've seen it all: Decline in education

On Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 2:04 PM, Val Smith vsm...@ku.edu wrote: I lay much of this decline at the feet of their parents, who seem to care progressively less and less about knowledge. I recall a particularly notable incident from over a decade ago, when my youngest daughter's grade school

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Credibility Research grants etc

Well said, Daniel! The only thing I might add is that, if one looked carefully, one might find an apparent bias against research that fails to find evidence for human-caused global warming or that finds evidence against it. This isn't because it's not PC to say that global warming isn't real or

Re: [ECOLOG-L] to Capitalize or not to capitalize

My experience in botany is that most people only capitalize words in common names if they would be capitalized in regular writing (in the down style, I guess). Example: Here are a few easy ways to distinguish Norway maple, sugar maple, and black maple. You would also capitalize adjective

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Intelligence Who is the greatest of them all?

information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Are ecologists the problem?

person. Look at all of these posts about lifestyle choices to trim our footprint. Only two even refer to the number of humans leaving a footprint as a potential problem. -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Are ecologists the problem?

Sciences Arizona State University Tempe, AZ 85287-4601 -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Biological control of invasive species by import of alien species Re: [APWG] NEWS: Invasive Saltcedar Triggers Lively Debate

together to discuss how to tame the aggressive plant and you'll trigger a lively debate about how -- or even whether -- it should be controlled. See the link above for the full text of the press release. -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Fw: Biological control of invasive species by import of alien species Re: [APWG] NEWS: Invasive Saltcedar Triggers Lively Debate

. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.64/2321 - Release Date: 08/23/09 06:18:00 -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734

Re: [ECOLOG-L] How 'bout those Boll Weevils?

Southwestern University 1001 East University Ave Georgetown TX 78626, USA email: ta...@southwestern.edu phone: (512) 863-1583 fax: (512) 863-1696 -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] What's wrong with growth, (was: ESA position on sustainable growth)

. -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] What's wrong with growth, (was: ESA position on sustainable growth)

rate. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif. -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Listserv posting and email subject line additions Ecolog

in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.38/2274 - Release Date: 07/31/09 05:58:00 -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] What's wrong with growth (was: ESA position on sustainable growth)

have is big claims and hopeful words. The neoclassical-economic world even gave us Julian Simon and others who denied the existence of ANY limits to natural resources. This is not a crowd in which I can have any confidence. Just my humble opinion, Joe -- James Crants, PhD Scientist

Re: [ECOLOG-L] ESA position on sustainable growth

accordingly. Heather Reynolds Associate Professor Department of Biology Jordan Hall 142 Indiana University 1001 E 3rd Street Bloomington IN 47405 Ph: (812) 855-0792 Fax: (812) 855-6705 hlrey...@indiana.edu -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics

Re: [ECOLOG-L] ANOVA - too many treatments

! +Buscados http://br.maisbuscados.yahoo.com -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] real versus fake peer-reviewed journals

in the online Journal of Simple Systems, www.simple.cafeperal.eu - I can say this with confidence, since I am the editor and publisher). If the journal seems strange or inappropriate, think about why the paper ended up there, Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: James Crants jcra

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Mosquitoes as keystone species?

In the quoted text below, Michael Cooperman says only that whatever chemical Conor's county uses to control mosquitoes probably affects other insects as strongly as it affects mosquitoes. The implication is that he agrees it's plausible that the chemical used to control mosquitoes near Alamosa

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Mosquitoes as keystone species?

I agree with you the rest of your post, except to say that not all mosquitoes are human-feeders, and not all are WNV-vectors (only those that bite both birds and mammals are). Fewer bees probably does equate with fewer flowering plants. In the same spirit, I should add that many

Re: [ECOLOG-L] real versus fake peer-reviewed journals

Fax: 714-755-3299 Email: rapha...@sccwrp.org -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] GM trees

stated below. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif. -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Plagiarizing methods...

. Jim Crants On Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 3:38 AM, Cara Lin Bridgman cara@msa.hinet.netwrote: James Crants' response is addressing the problem. Many people with English as a second or third language are trying to write papers in English. It is very easy to find sentences and paragraphs that have

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Plagiarizing methods...

Phone: 886-4-2632-5484 ~~ -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Sea-Level Rise Revised

. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Gallup poll on evolution

longer beak. You must show a biochemical process by which environmental cues direct gene mutation and expression. It can happen fast in nature, and it happens far too efficiently to be random. Lamark awaits your research. -- Michael Harvey Victoria, BC -- James Crants, PhD Scientist

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Analysis of habitat specificity and circular logic

of forest-candidate species which may or may not be present in any given site surveyed. Have others here found similar issues when reviewing papers dealing with the biodiversity values of secondary forest and agricultural habitats? Brian Campbell -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University

Re: [ECOLOG-L] no acorn mast

. Was there a similar failure in other parts of the US (or elsewhere)? David Inouye -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy and Plant Genetics Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Economic Growth

greenhouse gas emissions. And= of course education on the perils of economic growth should help to reform t= he consumer ethic, affect growth rates from the demand side as well. Neil K. Dawe -- James Crants, PhD Scientist, University of Minnesota Agronomy

[ECOLOG-L] Blue-Green Alliance 2009 Conference

Colleagues, The Blue-Green Alliance is a collaborative effort of the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club to promote the development of green jobs in America. They are holding their second annual conference in Washington, D.C., 4-6 February of next year. I've been asked (informally) to share

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Obama - good news for ecologists?

Of cours, good is a relative term. The country had two choices for president on Tuesday; if the Obama administration is better for ecologists than the McCain administration would have been, his victory is good news for ecologists. The candidate's responses to Science's questions (referred to by

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Obama - good news for ecologists?

I think Barack Obama's victory is great news in terms of energy policy and other policies related to global warming. As for research funding, I hate to speculate. Obama will want to increase funding for science and promote science education (including environmental education), which is a big

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Acceptance of basic research, even with fruit flies

, cardboard cut-out crap. -David Crosby (of the Byrds, Crosby Stills, Nash [ Young], etc.) -- James Crants PhD, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Michigan Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Invasion biology reading

If I understand this argument correctly, it sounds as though some call conservation biology a pseudoscience on the grounds that it has objectives that are based on emotional responses to natural realities. Of course, to even mention that the Nazis were at least as concerned with removing exotic

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Invasion biology reading - Burning Bush

of ascribing value to anything? -Peter P.S. I think tardigrades are so freakin' cute! -- James Crants PhD, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Michigan Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Invasion biology reading

-- We have met the enemy and he is us. -- Pogo No trespassing 4/17 of a haiku -- Richard Brautigan -- James Crants PhD, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Michigan Cell: (734) 474-7478

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Malformed Frogs: The Collapse of Aquatic Ecosystems - By Michael Lannoo

Mr. Cherubini, Yes, big city biology students and professors know that most frogs in Minnesota's farmlands look like perfectly normal frogs (and ARE perfectly normal frogs, as far as anyone knows). You see, that's part of what makes the malformed frogs interesting. In fact, those big

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Ecosystems and faux ecosystems Re: [ECOLOG-L] Wetland creation

Andrew, I'm not optimistic that you will find your answer. I think some of the discussion around the semantics of your question is unnecessary for answering it (we know you're not talking about crops, and the question is regarding our allocation of resources in creating imitations of

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Heat as a cause of global warming?

I must not have made myself very clear, because a few people have written in to disagree with me and then said exactly what I was thinking when I wrote my comments. I was trying to say that atmospheric warming has two components, at a very basic level: heat must enter the atmosphere

Re: [ECOLOG-L] summer reading with an environmental theme

Perhaps I am in a minority or am mis-interpreting the purpose of the summer reading course, but I would (if it were me, granted) focus on authors that would touch the soul and stir the imagination much more than any that would seek to fire my students' angst or rankle their sensitivities.

Re: [ECOLOG-L] SUVs for Ecologists, was McDonough - I don't think so

My old vehicle was a 1989 Honda Accord. In both 2002 and 2003, I got myself stuck in situations that a low-slung front-wheel-drive couldn't escape, but an all-wheel drive with decent clearance probably could have. It took half a day to escape from the 2003 incident, and I didn't see another

Re: dead zones and water nutrients

I don't see why an excessive algal growth model would fail to predict a large hypoxic zone around the mouth of the Mississippi. In fact, the models apparently do predict it, though I can't say if they get the right answer for the wrong reason. The Mississippi watershed is vast, and an

Re: Used copy of Dispersal 'Ecology' by Bullock et. al.

It looks like you can order the book through Bookworks at 109 State Street, Madison, which is probably the store Liane is referring to. It's almost $150, though. Jim Quoting Liane Cochran-Stafira [EMAIL PROTECTED]: You could try Powell's Used Books. I have been able to find a number of