[ECOLOG-L] More from the ivory tower
Well, that was interesting. Comments on a few highlights: - The “hand in glove’ analogy for species in environments is archaic and teleological. Assorted appendages in a bucket is probably a better analogy, but still useless for practical purposes. - I haven’t seen an attempt to sort out introduced and native agricultural weeds, but the question is effectively a non-sequitur. Regardless of geography, very few plant taxa could be considered native to agricultural operations unless we expand the usual criteria of nativeness. That expansion would open nativeness to both introduced crops and introduced “weeds” typical of various cropping systems (Alphonse De Candolle worked that out in 1855). But native and alien can’t do the work asked of them, either. There is no objective standard of ecological or biogeographical belonging beyond expressed evolutionary fitness. Sense of place is not universal among humans, much less across taxa. Most organisms don’t know they ‘are here’ and they certainly can’t conceive of being anywhere else at any other time. - Quantifying invasiveness has been attempted, and it comes across as fundamentally arbitrary (and a bit silly). It is not clear to me that we need the metaphors of invasion and invasiveness at all in order to make sense of introduced species. I think they obscure more than they reveal, which is what recommends this exercise. - It isn’t necessary to acknowledge native invasives because all that does is reduce taxa to membership in a foursquare classification (native noninvasive, native invasive, alien invasive, alien noninvasive). But that classification changes for every set of coordinates in the biosphere and every timeline point for each coordinate set. It is perfectly subjective. - If we agree to call humans megadispersers that still tells us nothing about dispersed taxa other than that they were prone to dispersal via human agency under some set of conditions. It certainly doesn’t move us away from being megadispersers. Should it? - Were we not all invaders? No, I don’t think we all were. It’s a mistake to lump dispersal with invasion. Doing so evidences a sort of intellectual entropy. - Are there meaningful difference between an organism that evolved with[in] an ecosystem and one that evolved outside it? Yes (drop a kangaroo into the middle of Lake Michigan and watch) but the difference is not meaningfully generalizable much beyond the obvious. I find it curious, for instance, that we acknowledge the similarity of ‘Mediterranean’ ecosystems on several continents but complain when other organisms confirm our judgments by occupying more than one. Even then each case is different, and we have been quick to overgeneralize with hopelessly broad categories. Matthew K Chew Assistant Research Professor Arizona State University School of Life Sciences ASU Center for Biology Society PO Box 873301 Tempe, AZ 85287-3301 USA Tel 480.965.8422 Fax 480.965.8330 mc...@asu.edu or anek...@gmail.com http://cbs.asu.edu/people/profiles/chew.php http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew
Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species
Wayne, it would seem to be as simple as this: a stand of junipers has greater biomass and a deeper root system than a flora composed of grasses, forbs and scattered shrubs. As a result the stand of juniper transpires more water from more levels than its counterpart biota. However, the observed effect of juniper removal on springs and streams is primarily anecdotal, as you said. Oregon's Great Basin ranges were heavily overgrazed starting way back in the late 19th century. The increase in juniper cover has occurred since then, primarily as a result of reduced fire carrying forage species. You can find out much more than you probably want to know about this in the 2005 Oregon State University Technical Bulletin 152, Biology, Ecology, and Management of Western Juniper. http://www.sagebrushsea.org/pdf/Miller_et_al_Juniper_Tech_Bulletin.pdf This publication will answer your questions about pre-fire-exclusion stand characteristics, management practices, and causes for increased juniper recruitment. It will informs us that cow pies have little or no effect juniper seeds spread by birds, not cattle. Warren W. Aney Tigard, Oregon -Original Message- From: Wayne Tyson [mailto:landr...@cox.net] Sent: Monday, 12 September, 2011 19:28 To: Warren W. Aney; ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species Warren and Ecolog: Well, Warren, I guess I'll have to take your word for it. You've got more experience with that area than I do, but I would still like to know more about the theoretical foundations and evidence to justify some of those conclusions. And, I'm concerned about the actual costs and benefits to wildlife as well as cows. To me, that area shouldn't have a cow on it, but certainly not a subsidized cow on a subsidized range. And I come from a cow background, so I'm not prejudiced; I had a Hereford bull for a 4-H project, so I'm not insensitive to ranchers either. But I have seen plenty of cow-burnt range in the Intermountain West. I've heard the same water-hog story about pinyon pines and other brush all over the western US. I've heard the restored spring and streamflow stories too, but haven't seen evidence beyond anecdotal stuff. However, you know me, I think that anecdote is the singular of data. But correlation, again, is not necessarily causation. I'm still skeptical, but holding any final judgment in reserve. I do agree that nothing grows under junipers, but out beyond the drip line it's a different story, at least where I've observed it elsewhere (I wasn't that carefully-observant at Steen's). I don't doubt the stemflow part either, but it's not uncommon for plants to shade out other plants; this doesn't mean that said parched mini-desert is a serious problem in the context of the ecosystem--or does it? But the channeling down into the ground works to the benefit of the juniper--ain't that the way it's supposed to work? What is the penetration profile like in the absence of the juniper? What's the ratio of annual unit biomass production to water consumption for junipers? For the replacement vegetation? Has it been demonstrated that groundwater recharge is more effectively intercepted by junipers than, say, grasses. The former have deeper, ropier root systems than grasses that mine the capillary fringe and other water on its way down, but enough to shut off springs and stop streamflow? It seems to me that any given site has a given effective carrying capacity that is going to limit vegetation growth accordingly, no matter what the (natural) vegetation is. The water may have a better chance of percolating past the junipers than the grass, no? The junipers have a limited capacity (and a limited need) for water; the grasses will increase transpiration surfaces much faster in response to water. What were pre-fire-exclusion stand characteristics? Are management practices aiming for that, or for some other target? How much increased juniper recruitment occurred as a result of fire exclusion rather than some other cause, such as livestock-induced soil disturbance? Do cow pies have any effect, etc? Now I guess we have to add intrusive to our list of terms? But really, Warren--crying cowboys? Is that fair? WT - Original Message - From: Warren W. Aney a...@coho.net To: 'Wayne Tyson' landr...@cox.net; ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 3:44 PM Subject: RE: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species Yes, Wayne, the BLM is cutting down big junipers as you saw -- 100 years of fire protection means we now have some pretty good-sized junipers in the areas that once burnt over. However, the BLM is not cutting down the really big grandfather junipers growing on rims and rocky ridges where wildfires did not reach or burn hot enough to kill these old junipers. Regarding water and
Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species
While we are still on invasive species in the US South Western Regions, what is everyone's opinion about wild horses in the US? They are apparently introduced and became invasive, yet are protected by law. BLM manages them as invasive species, while there is a law suit in the 9th circuit court of Appeals to consider them as native species. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028174.300-are-the-wild-horses-of-the-american-west-native.html http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_71e93474-92ff-11e0-9d41-001cc4c002e0.html I always wondered about this issue while I was in NM. Toshihide Hamachan Hamazaki, 濱崎俊秀PhD Alaska Department of Fish and Game: アラスカ州漁業野生動物課 Division of Commercial Fisheries: 商業漁業部 333 Raspberry Rd. Anchorage, AK 99518 Phone: (907)267-2158 Cell: (907)440-9934
Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species
You missed the point. Environmental science has standardized terminology placed in the ASTM manual. impairment has established peer-reviewed and accepted meaning. Natural does not. Impairment is used because that meaning holds up in court. Natural does not. healthy is another one of these terms. Although we all think we know what healthy and natural mean, they really do not mean anything, especially the way these terms are thrown around. There are tons of terms like this that are bantered about and really do not have a universal meaning. In fact, I've watched discussion after discussion on listerserves such as this one in which two people were adamantly arguing because of misinterpretation based on nebulous terminology only to discover they were in complete agreement. IF we say a potentially invasive species is impairing a habitat, we know that it is disrupting some ecosystem functions and/or structure within that system. Whether an ecosystem is healthy or unhealthy, natural or nonnatural, is simply nonsense because we don't have too many pristine systems left in most of the world. Heck, they even find human trash down in the deep sea trenches. Malcolm On Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 9:33 PM, Eric North xcs...@hotmail.com wrote: I take issue with the statement that no one in Environmental Science talks about ANY one thing. That is a generalization and we, as scientists particularly in todays' political climate, know how damaging and at the same time demeaning generalizations can be. As stated before, the meaning we give to natural is a moot point. Maybe it makes more sense in the context of returning a system to a more natural state. In that context, as it is often used and as well pertains to the degrees of impairment idea mentioned, a natural state happens when the major system processes are those we would expect if fully controlled by nature in the said system. The corollary would be an anthropogenic view where man moves everything around everywhere and the resulting species assemblages are what they are. I had no idea there was so much discourse among us where invasive species were concerned. I remember having these philosophical discussions in my head 15 years ago as an undergrad, but very quickly came to terms with the realities of modern day conservation. Maybe I was just lucky to read lots and lots of Leopold... eric Eric North All Things Wild Consulting P.O. Box 254 Cable, WI 54821 928.607.3098 Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:26:54 -0500 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species From: malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org To: xcs...@hotmail.com CC: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu What is NATURAL? In environmental science no one talks about NATURAL. You have impaired, unimpaired, and degrees of impairment because that has a meaning. Natural is too nebulous and subjective. Malcolm McCallum On Sun, Sep 11, 2011 at 10:50 PM, Eric North xcs...@hotmail.com wrote: This is a troubling thread to me in far too many respects. I'll do my best to brief. I would argue that Mr. Cruzan misses a big point that WT points to. Species do expand their ranges, yes. BUT, they will only do so into conditions that favor them. Sure, speciation will create others. But, what constitutes a successful species? A species, within a group, that has the largest range and broadest niche breadth? If dispersal and random chance were the limiting factors in all species' distributions, then everything would be everywhere. How would we be able to show in say, NMDS analyses, that ph drives a species' occurrence at certain sites? How many species, in say, the plant kingdom, have shown to expand their ranges northward following the retreat of glaciers, while others languish in glacial refugium? I couldnt agree more with the statement of preserving natural processes and not systems. However, my understanding is that certain processes are in no way natural when they are impinged upon by species that have been introduced by man and cause immeasurable damage to trophic interactions within a normally coevolving system. I should be ashamed as Wisconsinite to not have to the quote tattooed on my hand, but Aldo Leopold's line about the first rule of intelligent tinkering is to keep all the parts. Sure, we've given up on Dandelions, and many others, but that's CERTAINLY no reason to just throw up our hands in invasives defeat. I wouldn't even begin to claim even remote knowledge of every invaded system, but surely we could and have set parameters on how to measure invasiveness. The idea of pre-settlement has changed. It's much less of a setting the clock back to a frontier state because we want big trees again, and more of an idea of trying to restore SOME SEMBLANCE of a region of working systems. Up here in the north, we clear cut EVERYTHING a hundred years ago. South of us, there's not much left for praries, but there's
[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral Research Associate, Montana State University, WildFIRE Partnership in International Research and Education (PIRE) Program
The vacancy announcement for the PIRE Postdoctoral Research Associate position is currently posted on the MSU web site at: http://www.montana.edu/jobs/research/11192-33 A 2-yr position, with possible extension, is available for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join an interdisciplinary long-term research project on wildfire funded by NSF's Partnership in International Research and Education (PIRE) program. Fire is an important natural disturbance in temperate forested ecosystems and serves as a critical but poorly understood link between climate change and biosphere response. In recent decades, extreme drought, land-cover alteration, and non-native plant invasions in temperate regions around the world have altered natural fire regimes at an alarming rate, and in the process, threatened native biodiversity and human well-being. Identifying the climate and human-related drivers of disturbance-regime change is one of the most challenging issues facing natural resource management. WildFIRE PIRE utilizes the similarities and contrasts in fire, climate, and land-use interactions in three settings as a platform for integrated fire-science research and education: Tasmania, New Zealand, and the U.S. Rocky Mountains. It employs state-of-the-art field, laboratory, and modeling tools to advance our understanding of regional and hemispheric fire-climate linkages and land-use feedbacks in different biogeographical settings. Modeling experiments in WildFIRE PIRE will be driven by insights from the paleo- and historical information, as well as future climate projections. Modeling serves as a tool to identify the drivers of major thresholds in landscape dynamics, including the consequences of temporal and spatial changes in vegetation (e.g. composition, distribution, successional stage), climate (e.g., fuel moisture, fire weather), fire (e.g. frequency, extent, ignition distribution), and fuel (e.g. fuel loadings, fuel classes). Different grid-based models and modeling approaches are available for the western U.S., Tasmania, and New Zealand that relate to WildFIRE PIRE. Dynamic ecosystem process models (Fire-BGCv2, Firescape and other GCTE models) have been used to simulate landscape dynamics in several vegetation types in the northwestern U.S. and southwestern Tasmania, including areas where WildFIRE PIRE studies are underway (Cary et al., 2006; Keane et al., 2010; King et al., 2008a,b, 2006). In New Zealand, landscape fire-succession models have been developed to integrate modules and functions that explicitly represent human activity (Perry et al., in review). In this approach, plant-functional types (including flammability traits) are used to represent spatial and temporal competition for resources (water and light) in a rule-based modeling framework, and wildfire behavior is represented using a cellular-automata model of fire spread.
[ECOLOG-L] Dungeness crab nomenclature
Hello - Can anyone tell me the proper Latin name for Dungeness crab? I have found both Metacarcinus magister Dana and Cancer magister Dana. Being a plant guy, I'm not sure the go-to resource to confirm. Thanks! -Jeff *** Jeffrey D. Corbin Department of Biological Sciences Union College Schenectady, NY 12308 (518) 388-6097 ***
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Flooding and stream geomorphology question from Vermont (response from Vermont resident)
In the late 1800s Vermont was mostly covered in farms. Even mountainous ares with thin, erodible soils and pitifully short growing seasons were cleared for farms and pastures. The effect was dramatic - severe erosion, loss of soils, loss of arable land... People began realizing around the turn of the century that it was a bad idea to farm in Vermont uplands especially when the Midwest and later California became available for farming. The floods of the 20s hit recovering, but still heavily damaged watersheds. Runoff was more intense from the thin soils and less developed forests. The Winooski river hit ridiculous heights - I think it was near 30 feet at crest from Irene but the 1927 crest was over 50 feet at Winooski (near Burlington). Irene did not get nearly as bad on main stem rivers but in some cases in the upper watershed this flood was worse, just because the rain was so heavy (and the month had already been a wet one). Vermont does not have the immense system of levees that many other states have. In many cases Irene saw rivers abandoning their normal floodplain and cutting new courses. Buildings that survived the earlier floods (in upper watershed areas) were destroyed. This is not a case of people being unwilling or unable to avoid flooding, for the most part. This was a geologic/climactic event that is either a once in a lifetime thing or a result of climate change. Granted there is work to be done and in mill towns and rural areas we need to think long and hard about where we rebuild. In our community there has been a lot of dialog about what to do and today was an interesting day when I found an excavator in a place I did not want or expect to see one. But for the most part people here (like many places) care very deeply about their waterways and their communities. The key is finding the balance where structures and lives are protected but beyond that rivers are not over-engineered in a harmful way due to knee jerk behavior. Rebuilding will bring some interesting dialog to the table and hopefully among the destruction we DO change how we look at our rivers. Sent from my iPad On Sep 12, 2011, at 4:51 PM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Charlie and All: From Charlie's blog: Re: Manage for Healthy Forests While dealing with the current flood, there has been reference to older floods, like theNew England Flood of 1927 . That flood dropped similar amounts of rain to Irene but in many cases had much higher water flow. Why? Part of the reason may be that in 1927 the forests of Vermont were still recovering from clear cutting and hillside farming in the 1800s, and there was much less mature forest at that time than the current day. Our forests have recovered since then, which helped keep Irene's floods from being even worse. [end excerpt] Why? I have zero specific knowledge of Vermont, but know a little bit about the Southern California watersheds and flood of which Hohn speaks. The principles, however, are the same. I used to demonstrate with a bunch of kitchen sponges and a big cookie-sheet. Watersheds absorb a fraction of the precipitation, and when one takes away that absorptive capacity, the runoff (Q) increases, creating a spikey hydrograph. The first kind of absorption is interception; an enormous amount of water can be held under tension on the surfaces of terrestrial features, and trees and other vegetation hold the most. Free water flow rates are reduced by stemflow, and the infiltration rate of undisturbed soil is much greater than disturbed soil; in disturbed soil, smaller particles clog soil pores much as Stop Leak used to stop radiators from leaking (percolating). That fraction runs off, causing erosion (more disturbance and creation of silt loads, which compromise stream/drainage capacity. Logging reduces the amount of water that can be held under tension and the metering effects of stemflow. Clearcutting compounds this phenomenon, both by removing the surface area for a fraction of the precipitation that can be held under tension, and by reducing the infiltration and percolation capacity through equipment disturbance. (This is not an argument for or against logging; it is only a statement of facts that interpreted as such by special interests who fear the facts will gore their particular ox.) Urbanization tends to seal the watershed even more, including highways, roofs, irrigated agriculture and gardens, etc. I'll stop here and possibly comment further on Charlie's blog. WT PS: I do not blame Vermonters for their suffering; most no doubt were completely unaware of the hazard potential. If any flood was unexpected with justification, this one, unlike the Mississippi and other well-known flood plains and riverbottoms. - Original Message - From: Charlie Hohn naturalist.char...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
[ECOLOG-L] Registration Deadline Approaching! Filmmaking for Scientists Workshop - Friday Harbor Labs
Greetings! We still have space available for October 2011 ScienceFilm Training Workshop: *Overview:* This 7-day immersion workshop will teach participants to communicate scientific findings, natural history information, or conservation messages by creating compelling, professional-quality videos. Topics will include story selection, planning, writing, camera technique, voiceovers, technical aspects of video and audio production, basic video and audio editing, project output, and distribution. These technical elements will underpin the main focus of the workshop: effective storytelling through video. The hands-on approach will be emphasized, and participants will put concepts introduced in lecture into daily practice. Opportunities will exist for shooting in the field and studio. Collaborative opportunities may arise between participants and researchers working at Friday Harbor Laboratories. Participants will also critique existing documentaries, and by the end of the workshop, students will produce a short film on a topic of their choosing.* Target audience:* This workshop is intended for academic scientists at any level (undergraduate, graduate, postdoc, faculty, or emeritus) as well as professional biologists (government, NGO, industry, etc.). Interested individuals from the general public will also be considered. No prior film making experience is required. The workshop will run with a minimum of 10 participants, and a maximum of 20. *Where:* University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratorieshttp://depts.washington.edu/fhl/ *When:* Oct 2 - Oct 9, 2011 *Cost: US$1449 *Includes workshop fees, supplies equipment, housing, food, and lab user fees. *Online Registration *Click herehttp://www.sciencefilm.org/workshops/FHLOct2011/FHLOct2011Reg.html *Paper Registration Form: click here to downloadhttp://www.sciencefilm.org/workshops/FHLOct2011/downloads/Film_Workshop_Registration_FHLOct11.doc * *Registration Deadline: *Sept 15, 2011 Hope you can join us! The ScienceFilm Team -- Jeff Morales Producer V0NIG0 FILMS RR1 H-42 273 David Road Bowen Island, BC V0N1G0 Canada +1 604-947-0667 h/o +1 604-375-0580 c j...@sciencefilm.org jeffmoral...@gmail.com www.sciencefilm.org www.vonigofilms.com
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Flooding and stream geomorphology question from Vermont (response from Vermont resident)
Yes, in our area as well it had been quite wet before the storm came. Apparently when hurricane Bob (I think that was the one) passed through Vermont, it came into the state during a severe drought. I get the impression that late summer and early fall are usually quite dry, so again, we are looking at bad luck and/or climate changes. We were worried about the wind also. The wind almost completely failed to materialize in the Middlebury area, especially considering that last November we had a wind even with somewhere near 100 MPH wind gusts, and over the winter we had several nor'easters with much more wind than Irene. We also recently had a severe thunderstorm with much higher winds and tree damage than Irene (as well as 2 inches of rain, probably adding to Irene's flooding later). It's true that the soils were wet (not frozen) and the deciduous trees were fully leafed out, but still, we had virtually no tree damage here. On Tue, Sep 13, 2011 at 9:07 AM, Ann Poole e...@gsinet.net wrote: Hi, Charlie, Also contributing to the flooding during Irene (here, anyway) is the fact that the ground was already saturated from several weeks of rain. We had 5+ inches here and, with no storage available, it ran off in a flash. Brooks rose feet in a matter of minutes taking out historic structures that had stood for 100+ years or more. Thank goodness there was plenty of advance warning though I think most people living on hillsides above the floodplains battened down against wind, not really thinking about flooding. Ann ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ E. Ann Poole, MSc, CWS, Principal Poole Ecological Environmental Consultancy PO Box 890, 741 Beard Rd Hillsborough, NH 03244 (603)478-1178 e...@gsinet.net www.eannpoole.com ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ -- Charlie Hohn Recent Graduate Field Naturalist Program, Department of Plant Biology University of Vermont naturalist.char...@gmail.com slowwatermovement.blogspot.com
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Flooding and stream geomorphology question from Vermont (response from Vermont resident)
Hi, Charlie, Also contributing to the flooding during Irene (here, anyway) is the fact that the ground was already saturated from several weeks of rain. We had 5+ inches here and, with no storage available, it ran off in a flash. Brooks rose feet in a matter of minutes taking out historic structures that had stood for 100+ years or more. Thank goodness there was plenty of advance warning though I think most people living on hillsides above the floodplains battened down against wind, not really thinking about flooding. Ann ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ E. Ann Poole, MSc, CWS, Principal Poole Ecological Environmental Consultancy PO Box 890, 741 Beard Rd Hillsborough, NH 03244 (603)478-1178 e...@gsinet.net www.eannpoole.com ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
[ECOLOG-L] Assistant Professor, Vertebrate Ecology (Purdue University)
Assistant Professor Vertebrate Ecology The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, is seeking applicants for a vertebrate ecologist at the rank of assistant professor. This is a tenure-track, academic-year appointment with both research and teaching responsibilities. RESPONSIBILITIES: The successful candidate will be expected to develop an internationally recognized research program, interact with scientifically diverse faculty across campus, and demonstrate excellence in teaching. Research should focus on vertebrate ecology, with an emphasis on aquatic systems preferred. Ability to apply modern field techniques, to use innovative analytical approaches, and to generate extramural funding support is expected. Teaching responsibilities will include courses in Wildlife in America, an interdisciplinary capstone course, and a graduate course contributing to the curricular objectives of the graduate faculty. The successful candidate will also participate in a natural resource practicum and mentor students. Purdue University's Department of Forestry and Natural Resources is a broad environmental department, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches across a spectrum of research areas including ecology, forest biology, wildlife, fisheries and aquatic sciences, wood science, genetics and human dimensions of natural resource management (www.ag.purdue.edu/fnrhttp://www.ag.purdue.edu/fnr). The successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in department interdisciplinary groups including a Quantitative Ecology group and three areas of excellence: Sustaining Hardwood Ecosystems (SHE), Partnering for Land Use Sustainability (PLUS), and Natural Resource Genetics. The department participates in and leads interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Center for the Environment, Purdue Water Community, Purdue Interdisciplinary Center for Ecological Sustainability, Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center, and Purdue Climate Change Research Center. As the land grant university in the state of Indiana, Purdue University has integrated programs in discovery, learning and engagement. The College of Agriculture embodies this land-grant mission by providing exceptional graduate and undergraduate education, stretching the frontiers of science through innovative research, and providing solutions to societal challenges which help people improve their lives and livelihoods. QUALIFICATIONS: A Ph.D. in wildlife, zoology, or related discipline and have demonstrated expertise in the field of natural resources. Experience in aquatic ecosystems is desired. Teaching experience; the potential to develop a vigorous, extramurally funded research program; and a commitment to research and teaching are required. A strong publication record and post-doctoral or practical experience are desirable. A background check will be required for employment in this position. SALARY: Salary will be commensurate with experience and training. CLOSING DATE: 1 November 2011, or until filled. APPLICATION PROCESS: Submit: 1) letter of application; 2) curriculum vitae; 3) a list of three references, including complete addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and email addresses; and 4) reprints of selected publications. The application should contain formal one-page statements of research interests and teaching philosophy. Application packets should be addressed to Dr. John Dunning, Chair, Vertebrate Ecologist Search Committee, Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2061. Questions may be directed to the Search Committee Chair via telephone (765-494-3565) or email (jdunn...@purdue.edumailto:jdunn...@purdue.edu). Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. Tomas Höök 765-496-6799 http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~thook/
[ECOLOG-L] Mt. Lake Biological Station seeking course proposals
Mountain Lake Biological Station invites proposals for new summer courses to be taught during the summer 2012 season and beyond. MLBS typically offers 3- and 4-week courses in a variety of topics in field and organismal biology, ecology, evolution, behavior, and environmental sciences. Courses are typically small enrollment, field intensive offerings that include a research component. Suggestions for new topics and approaches are welcomed. Interested parties are asked to prepare a short (1-2 pp) course proposal outlining the topic and approach to the course. Inquiries about logistics or further information are welcome. Recent PhDs, and those expecting a degree by June 2012 are welcome. More information about the station and past courses is available at http://www.mlbs.org/www.MLBS.org. Please send proposals along with a CV and direct questions to: Butch Brodie, Director, Mountain Lake Biological Station at mailto:bbro...@virginia.edubbro...@virginia.edu.
[ECOLOG-L] Wildlife Ecologist Job Posting
WRA, Inc. is an environmental consulting firm based in San Rafael, California. For over 30 years, WRA has provided outstanding ecological and design expertise to develop successful solutions for our clients. We employ experts in the fields of plant, wildlife, and wetland ecology, GIS, CEQA/NEPA and landscape architecture. We are looking for an energetic, career-minded wildlife biologist/ecologist to join us on a full-time basis. We are particularly looking for someone experienced conducting surveys for one or more of the following: California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, San Francisco garter snake, desert tortoise, Mohave ground squirrel, southwestern willow flycatcher, California clapper rail, Alameda whipsnake, and vernal pool crustaceans. Applicants with federal recovery permits for one or more of these, and any other listed species in California, will be preferred. The work that this position entails is varied and may include environmental compliance (CEQA, permitting), mitigation and conservation banking/planning, special-status species surveys, and restoration planning. Experience in these areas is preferred, but not required. This position requires a Bachelors degree or higher in biology with an emphasis in wildlife. Desired qualifications include: 4 to 8 years experience supervising others, education and experience in California wildlife taxonomy and surveys, environmental impact analysis, permit preparation, regulatory compliance, construction monitoring, and mitigation analysis. Demonstrable technical writing ability and excellent communication skills are essential. We offer an excellent salary and benefits package and a positive, progressive work environment. Our employment package includes medical, dental, and 401K with generous match. More information about WRA and our areas of expertise can be found at http://www.wra-ca.com. Interested candidates should respond by e-mailing your cover letter, resume, transcripts, and three references to i...@wra-ca.com and reference Wildlife Biologist/ Ecologist. Please also reference where you heard about the position. WRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Close date for submission of application materials is September 23, 2011.
[ECOLOG-L] Plants Intrusive Water and Nutrient Relations and Fire Effects on the Intrusion and Biomass Production of Indigenous Dominant Indicator Species Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of
[Note: I have concocted a revised (and ridiculously convoluted) subject-line for this line of slight digression (it is still relevant, but specialized), but feel free to go back to the old one if anyone thinks that the better path.] Warren, we need to have another beerhall colloquium (in one of those fancy ones again that serve coffee--no decaf, as I've been taken off coffee and beer). It would, indeed, seem simple, but is the standard explanation too simple? How about the following scenario? Again, I have to agree that a stand of junipers has greater biomass and a deeper root system, but I suggest that said biomass was accumulated over time, doubtless due to the fact that the deeper root system allows it to avoid the seasonal vagaries of weather, continuing to transpire but not produce additional biomass, through dry periods in the upper profile, the annual increase in biomass being limited by said dryness (perhaps because of nutrient limitations in the deeper rhizosphere, a net reduction in water uptake [and transpiration], or a combination of these and other factors. If my observations from other areas are closer to reality than farther away from it, would I be safe in saying that juniper roots are less efficient at capturing water from percolation because there are effective holes in the pattern of water-absorbing roots (as mentally-pictured in plan view) than the much tighter maze of roots formed by the grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Some percolating water escapes capture by the former, but little, if any by the latter. Water from infrequent, light precipitation events during periods of active transpiration, never makes it to the water table (except, perhaps, getting past the juniper root-maze). Deeper percolation occurs only after a short-interval, longer sequence of lighter precipitation events or prolonged ones. The depth of penetration can be calculated/modeled through a combination of available water capacity and percolation rate obtained through adequate and actual field work. Once the wetted front gets past the shallower root systems (after a peak at shallower depths the interception efficiency falls off as the fibrous root systems thin out) it is then free to percolate to depth until it is stopped by surface tension, leaving behind, as it were, a layer of subsoil at field capacity. Of course, discontinuities within the soil profile like big, non-absorbing living and dead roots, rocks, rodent holes, fissures, etc., all conspire to produce a heterogeneous penetration profile very unlike that to be found in every textbook I have ever seen. (See: Kramer and ?: Water Relations of Plants and Soils for the best treatment I have seen). Junipers and other deep-rooted woody plants can mine this water by penetrating the interfaces along the discontinuities, but where free water flows, it escapes even their clutches, ending up either draining out at lower elevation through springs and streams or some kind of water table. And, not all fissures are equally exploited by roots, as the root tips are the primary and specialized absorbing organs. The bottom line here is that there are ups and downs with respect to the whole picture of soil water relations and groundwater on its way to springs that certainly involve junipers, but perhaps not to the degree presumed by a long and persistent history that might do with some reexamination. WT - Original Message - From: Warren W. Aney To: 'Wayne Tyson' ; ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 11:11 PM Subject: RE: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species Wayne, it would seem to be as simple as this: a stand of junipers has greater biomass and a deeper root system than a flora composed of grasses, forbs and scattered shrubs. As a result the stand of juniper transpires more water from more levels than its counterpart biota. However, the observed effect of juniper removal on springs and streams is primarily anecdotal, as you said. Oregon's Great Basin ranges were heavily overgrazed starting way back in the late 19th century. The increase in juniper cover has occurred since then, primarily as a result of reduced fire carrying forage species. You can find out much more than you probably want to know about this in the 2005 Oregon State University Technical Bulletin 152, Biology, Ecology, and Management of Western Juniper. http://www.sagebrushsea.org/pdf/Miller_et_al_Juniper_Tech_Bulletin..pdf This publication will answer your questions about pre-fire-exclusion stand characteristics, management practices, and causes for increased juniper recruitment. It will informs us that cow pies have little or no effect - juniper seeds spread by birds, not cattle. Warren W. Aney Tigard, Oregon -Original Message- From: Wayne Tyson [mailto:landr...@cox.net] Sent: Monday, 12 September, 2011
[ECOLOG-L] Faculty Positions in Sustainability at University of Illinois at Springfield
FACULTY POSITION(S) SUSTAINABILITY OR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Interdisciplinary Department of Environmental Studies in the College of Public Affairs and Administration at University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) seeks applications at the tenure-track ASSISTANT PROFESSOR level with expertise in sustainability or sustainable development. One position will begin August 16, 2012; the other pending on approval. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in sustainability, sustainable development, environmental studies, environmental science, or a related field; evidence of research potential; and ability to perform academic and research advising. The position(s) requires teaching Environmental Social Sciences and Humanities, Sustainable Development, Introduction to Sustainability, and courses in candidates' areas of expertise. Teaching load consists of a combination of on-campus and online courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. For full information, please visit: http://uis.edu/ens. Located in the state capital, UIS is one of three campuses of the University of Illinois. The UIS campus serves approximately 5,000 students in 23 undergraduate and 21 graduate programs. The academic curriculum of the campus emphasizes a strong liberal arts core, an array of professional programs, extensive opportunities in experiential education, and a broad engagement in public affairs issues of the day. The campus offers many small classes, substantial student-faculty interaction, and a rapidly evolving technology-enhanced learning environment. Our diverse student body includes traditional, non-traditional, and international students. Twenty-five percent of majors are in 17 undergraduate and graduate online degree programs and the campus has received several national awards for its implementation of online learning. UIS faculty members are committed teachers, active scholars, and engaged professionals in service to society. Applicants are encouraged to visit the campus web page at http://www.uis.edu/. Send a letter of application, statement of teaching philosophy and research interest, vita, undergraduate and graduate transcripts (unofficial acceptable), and the names and contact information of three references to Search Committee, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Illinois at Springfield, One University Plaza, PAC 308, Springfield, Illinois 62703. Review of applications will begin October 24, 2011, and continue until the position is filled or the search is terminated. UIS is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to recruitment and retention of a diverse and inclusive campus community. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
[ECOLOG-L] Save the dates of 5/30-6/2 for the 2012 Arthropod Genomics Symposium i5k Workshop
Please reserve the dates below on your calendar and plan to attend! *-*-*-*-* Sixth Annual Arthropod Genomics Symposium*-*-*-*-*- MAY 31, 2012 (Thursday evening) to JUNE 2, 2012 “2012 Arthropod Genomics Symposium.” The conference focuses on new insights gleaned from analyzing arthropod genomes and is designed for scientists interested in genomic studies of Arthropods, both model organisms and those of agricultural or health relevance. The program will include platform presentations, a welcome reception, a bioinformatics-related workshop and arthropod genomics-related poster sessions. A few poster abstract submissions will be selected for platform presentations. Postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students are also encouraged to attend. Sessions conclude Saturday evening, followed by an optional banquet. *-*-*-*-* New this year: i5k Workshop*-*-*-*-*- MAY 30, 2012 (Wednesday morning) to MAY 31, 2012 (Thursday afternoon) “i5k Community Workshop: An international effort to sequence 5,000 of the world’s key arthropod species.” The Workshop will aim to bring together biologists, informaticists, and policy-makers to discuss and advance planning for the i5k initiative. Plans for the Workshop include presentations by top genomics and bioinformatics researchers and representatives from the primary sequencing centers, followed by breakout sessions focused on the critical components of i5k. The Workshop will conclude with a discussion of white papers and initial programmatic steps needed to initiate i5k projects. VENUE: The symposium will take place at the Kansas City Marriott on the beautiful Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri. REGISTRATION: Registration will be opening soon! If you would like to join the ArthropodNews listserv to ensure receiving future notices, please send an e-mail with your name and e-mail address to dmerr...@ksu.edu . Arthropod Genomics Institute Kansas State University dmerr...@k-state.edu
Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species -- feral horses
For a good statement and some facts on feral horses and donkeys go The Wildlife Society sites: http://joomla.wildlife.org/documents/positionstatements/Feral.Horses.July.2011.pdf http://joomla.wildlife.org/documents/policy/feral_horses_1.pdf The most recent release of domestic horses into the wild probably occurred this morning due to someone's inability to feed their stock or sell them to a meat processor. Warren W. Aney Senior Wildlife Ecologist Tigard, Oregon -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Hamazaki, Hamachan (DFG) Sent: Tuesday, 13 September, 2011 01:12 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species While we are still on invasive species in the US South Western Regions, what is everyone's opinion about wild horses in the US? They are apparently introduced and became invasive, yet are protected by law. BLM manages them as invasive species, while there is a law suit in the 9th circuit court of Appeals to consider them as native species. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028174.300-are-the-wild-horses-of-the-american-west-native.html http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_71e93474-92ff-11e0-9d41-001cc4c002e0.html I always wondered about this issue while I was in NM. Toshihide Hamachan Hamazaki, 濱崎俊秀PhD Alaska Department of Fish and Game: アラスカ州漁業野生動物課 Division of Commercial Fisheries: 商業漁業部 333 Raspberry Rd. Anchorage, AK 99518 Phone: (907)267-2158 Cell: (907)440-9934
[ECOLOG-L] Volunteers headed to Patagonia willing to collect data
We have a team that will be leaving in 15 days for Patagonia. They will be walking from Ushuaia to the Equator over the course of a year. If you would like them to collect any type of data for you, please let me know ASAP as they leave very soon. You would be able to talk with them directly and tell them exactly what you need. Gregg Treinish Executive Director Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation 2008 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 406.579.9702 skype: gtreinish www.adventureandscience.org
[ECOLOG-L] Brown University Open Rank Position in Global Environmental Social Science and Policy
Brown University Open Rank Position in Global Environmental Social Science and Policy Center for Environmental Studies Environmental Change Initiative Brown University announces a search for a social scientist with broad interests in the science and policy of global environmental change. We seek an outstanding researcher with a strong record of interdisciplinary collaboration whose strengths will complement and integrate existing research strengths at Brown. Examples of areas of particular interest include socio-economic aspects of energy, water or land use decisions, energy and climate policy, environmental risk analysis, environmental governance, and climate change adaptation. Although we would prefer to hire at the senior (tenured) level, this appointment can be at any rank: Assistant, Associate Professor or Professor, tenured in an appropriate department such as in Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Sociology or one of Brown’s area studies departments. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to interdisciplinary research programs, teach environmental courses in their area of specialty, and advise undergraduate and graduate students, especially on thesis research projects. Requirements include an outstanding record of externally funded research and peer-reviewed publication meriting departmental appointment, commitment to excellence in graduate and undergraduate education; and potential for intellectual leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration. To apply, please send a letter of interest and a current CV to: Search Committee, Center for Environmental Studies, Box 1943, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912-1943. If you are applying for this position at the rank of Assistant Professor, please have three letters of reference sent to us. If you are applying at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, please include the names of 5 references with your application. For further inquiries, please contactpatti_ca...@brown.edu. Applications must be received by November 15, 2011 in order to receive full consideration, but the search will remain open until the position is closed or filled. Brown University is an EEO/AA employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.ed to apply. -- J. Timmons Roberts timm...@brown.edu Director, Center for Environmental Studies Ittleson Professor of Environmental Studies and Sociology Brown University 135 Angell Street Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: (401) 863-3449 skype: timmonsroberts http://envstudies.brown.edu/ www.AidData.org http://www.aiddata.org/ www.Intercambioclimatico.com/ http://www.intercambioclimatico.com/enenhttp://www.intercambioclimatico.com/en Marty Downs Assoc. Director, Environmental Change Initiative Brown University 401-863-3493 www.brown.edu/eci http://www.brown.edu/eciEnvironmental Events Calendar: http://brown.edu/Research/ECI/calendar/index.html
[ECOLOG-L] GIS Landscape Ecology Position, University of Alaska
GIS Landscape Ecology-Spatial analysis Institution: University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Natural Heritage Program Location: Anchorage, Alaska Education: BS, MS or PhD Salary: Competitive (based on education and degree) Application Deadline: until filled Duration: Full time 40hrs/week, beginning October 1, 2011 for a one-year term. Potential for long-term funding and conversion of position to research. Job Description: AKNHP conducts applied and fundamental scientific research focused on native species, invasive species and biological systems of conservation concern in Alaska. We seek an individual with research experience in landscape ecology/spatial analysis to assist principal investigators on several projects. Previous experience in spatial modeling, raster-based GIS analysis, and ArcGIS software desired. A background in either botany, vegetation ecology, or zoology is also required. To apply: This position can be applied to through two web access points. (1) All applicants can apply at www.uakjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=74725 (2) Or, for recent PhD’s, you can apply as a postdoctoral fellow at www.uakjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=74705
[ECOLOG-L] Graduate student positions at McGill University in limnology and ecosystem ecology
I am currently recruiting for graduate students on two projects in my aquatic ecology lab at McGill University. Both positions are available, with stipends, at the PhD or MSc level. Start dates of January, June, or September 2012 are possible. The first project involves a whole-lake experiment to test whether changing terrestrial organic matter inputs subsidize lake food webs. There are opportunities for interested students to work on organismal (fishes, invertebrates, microbes) or biogeochemical aspects of the project. Field work for this project will occur mainly at a remote field station in the spectacular northwoods of upper Michigan, USA. The second project focuses on understanding carbon cycle processes in lakes, using sensor network data and statistical and simulation modeling. Good quantitative skills are essential. Field work for this project will occur at the same Michigan field station and at temperate and boreal sites throughout Québec, with additional international travel for workshops with collaborators. If you are interested in applying, please email Dr. Chris Solomon (chris.solo...@mcgill.ca) with a cover letter stating research interests, a current CV, and your undergraduate transcripts (and GRE scores if available). Review of applications will begin 3 Oct 2011 to accommodate possible January 2012 start date, but will continue throughout the fall and winter until positions are filled.
[ECOLOG-L] Madagascar Expedition willing to collect data
I have an athlete leaving on Oct 4th to spend time in Madagascar. He has volunteered to collect data while biking through the country. This is also short notice so please let me know ASAP if you are interested in data from this location. Cheers, -- Gregg Treinish Executive Director Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation 2008 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 406.579.9702 www.adventureandscience.org
[ECOLOG-L] growing oaks from acorns - Qs answered
Good People, Would you believe that my simple query on growing oaks from acorns returned 30 email and phone responses in 48 hours? Thanks to all who provided advice and contacts. Seems like oaks are pretty popular. David -- *David L. Anderson**, Ph.D.* *Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences* Boise State University 1910 University Drive Boise, ID 83725 208-426-3216 davidlander...@boisestate.edu
Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species
Warren/Ecolog: To further clarify and more fully respond to this post, I do agree that a plant with a larger total biomass, especially with respect to transpirational surface, will use more water than smaller plants (less total biomass) with less transpirational surface. However, since much of a larger plant's total biomass is represented by a fraction (wood, bark, cortex, etc.) I speculate that, to make an accurate and relevant comparison, adjustments will accordingly need to be made if one is to asses the water-hog quotient of the two categories so the potential for an apples to oranges issue is minimized. For example, is it standard procedure in such cases to use the area coverage of, say, junipers and grass/forb/shrub coverage when estimating transpiration (and evaporation?). How much more does a juniper covering the same area as the grass/forb/shrub category transpire in a year or seasonal cycle and in luxury and high-stress conditions, and are such data normalized over a longer period (say, a few years)? Is wind velocity a relevant factor? The amount of solar radiation (sun/shade) effects? For example, I speculate that the wind speed and frontal area of junipers and hence transpiration/evaporation may be greater than the grass/forb/shrub component, but, on the other hand, the windbreak and shade effects might offset those factors to a greater or lesser degree--but by how much, and how significant? Has grazing and associated soil disturbance been ruled out and fire suppression ruled in as a cause of the juniper intrusion? I agree that juniper seeds are not dispersed via cow pie; my suspicion was/is that the added nutrients, dispersal of Bromus tectorum and other species introduced largely by cattle, and safe site influence of cow pies might have had direct and indirect influence upon soil moisture and groundwater recharge, but I was not clear about that. I ask these questions because I do not know what procedures are used, so Warren and/or others can perhaps fill me in. Thank you, Warren, for the link/reference. WT - Original Message - From: Warren W. Aney a...@coho.net To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 11:11 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species Wayne, it would seem to be as simple as this: a stand of junipers has greater biomass and a deeper root system than a flora composed of grasses, forbs and scattered shrubs. As a result the stand of juniper transpires more water from more levels than its counterpart biota. However, the observed effect of juniper removal on springs and streams is primarily anecdotal, as you said. Oregon's Great Basin ranges were heavily overgrazed starting way back in the late 19th century. The increase in juniper cover has occurred since then, primarily as a result of reduced fire carrying forage species. You can find out much more than you probably want to know about this in the 2005 Oregon State University Technical Bulletin 152, Biology, Ecology, and Management of Western Juniper. http://www.sagebrushsea.org/pdf/Miller_et_al_Juniper_Tech_Bulletin.pdf This publication will answer your questions about pre-fire-exclusion stand characteristics, management practices, and causes for increased juniper recruitment. It will informs us that cow pies have little or no effect - juniper seeds spread by birds, not cattle. Warren W. Aney Tigard, Oregon -Original Message- From: Wayne Tyson [mailto:landr...@cox.net] Sent: Monday, 12 September, 2011 19:28 To: Warren W. Aney; ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species Warren and Ecolog: Well, Warren, I guess I'll have to take your word for it. You've got more experience with that area than I do, but I would still like to know more about the theoretical foundations and evidence to justify some of those conclusions. And, I'm concerned about the actual costs and benefits to wildlife as well as cows. To me, that area shouldn't have a cow on it, but certainly not a subsidized cow on a subsidized range. And I come from a cow background, so I'm not prejudiced; I had a Hereford bull for a 4-H project, so I'm not insensitive to ranchers either. But I have seen plenty of cow-burnt range in the Intermountain West. I've heard the same water-hog story about pinyon pines and other brush all over the western US. I've heard the restored spring and streamflow stories too, but haven't seen evidence beyond anecdotal stuff. However, you know me, I think that anecdote is the singular of data. But correlation, again, is not necessarily causation. I'm still skeptical, but holding any final judgment in reserve. I do agree that nothing grows under junipers, but out beyond the drip line it's a different story, at least where I've observed it elsewhere (I wasn't that carefully-observant at Steen's). I don't doubt the stemflow part either, but it's not
Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species -- feral horses
All: Ecologically speaking, horses are a true grasslands animal, adaptable to some extent, but not adaptable enough; the Intermountain West and the Southwest have few places truly suitable for horses. Dayton Hyde, who owned a big ranch in southwestern Oregon, moved to the plains to care for wild (feral) horses http://www.daytonohyde.com/ahomeforwildhors.html . This is another good example to illustrate that habitat is not definable by geography; it is defined by the organisms most suited to habitat conditions. The Great Plains is good horse habitat even though horses did not evolve there. Their requirements are similar to the indigenous bison, the healthy-protein animal birthright which our alien forefathers (except my grandmother's side) almost killed out for the mess of white-bread and breakfast-cereal pottage we industrially farm today, so they could probably establish viable populations, especially in the absence of enough predators to keep their populations healthy. The feral horses which do survive (many starve, and many are ill-suited to the harsh conditions under which they must struggle to live, their numbers harshly thinned out to a wilder and wilder form by indifferent Nature.) Personally, I love horses. Ecologically, the western US is very poor in suitable habitat, which is almost entirely taken up by human, fenced-off uses, forcing them to live a harsher-than-normal life in marginal habitat ill-suited to their survival. Even though I admire their beauty, grace, and apparent toughness, turning domestic horses loose is a cruel act for most of them. Personally, I love pronghorns too; they are better-adapted to the marginal, semi-arid, and otherwise harsh habitats of the West than horses and cattle (which also are a grasslands animal, not a sagebrush steppe one). WT - Original Message - From: Warren W. Aney a...@coho.net To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 11:08 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species -- feral horses For a good statement and some facts on feral horses and donkeys go The Wildlife Society sites: http://joomla.wildlife.org/documents/positionstatements/Feral.Horses.July..2011.pdf http://joomla.wildlife.org/documents/policy/feral_horses_1.pdf The most recent release of domestic horses into the wild probably occurred this morning due to someone's inability to feed their stock or sell them to a meat processor. Warren W. Aney Senior Wildlife Ecologist Tigard, Oregon -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Hamazaki, Hamachan (DFG) Sent: Tuesday, 13 September, 2011 01:12 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] a non Ivory Tower view of invasive species While we are still on invasive species in the US South Western Regions, what is everyone's opinion about wild horses in the US? They are apparently introduced and became invasive, yet are protected by law. BLM manages them as invasive species, while there is a law suit in the 9th circuit court of Appeals to consider them as native species. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028174.300-are-the-wild-horses-of-the-american-west-native.html http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_71e93474-92ff-11e0-9d41-001cc4c002e0.html I always wondered about this issue while I was in NM. Toshihide Hamachan Hamazaki, 濱崎俊秀PhD Alaska Department of Fish and Game: アラスカ州漁業野生動物課 Division of Commercial Fisheries: 商業漁業部 333 Raspberry Rd. Anchorage, AK 99518 Phone: (907)267-2158 Cell: (907)440-9934 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3894 - Release Date: 09/13/11
