Post doc pos: INVASIVE INSECTS: adaptations, interactions and dynamics
by Helena Bylund
Post doc position: Invasive insects: adaptations, interactions and dynamics
At the Department of Ecology, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden
Species that extend their geographical range and rapidly increase in abundance are often referred to as ‘invasive species’. Causes of these invasions are not fully understood but increased movements of people and goods as well as climate change are thought to be contributing factors. Since many invasive species have shown to be threats to local biodiversity, agricultural crops and forests understanding their biology and ecology has become crucial.
Duties: For this project we seek a post doc interested to contribute to an increased understanding of the underlying biological and ecological reasons contributing to successful species invasions. Do invasive species differ from other species with respect to (1) variation in life history adaptations and (2) interactions with other species, which eventually may lead to differences in (3) population dynamics? The approaches may be several but can include comparisons between taxonomically related and functionally similar invasive and non-invasive species with respect to life history trait adaptations. The study organisms will be insects, mainly in a plant protection perspective. The successful applicant is expected to work partly in collaboration with researchers connected to the large program Future Forests (www.futureforests.se<http://www.futureforests.se> ).
Qualifications: The applicant should hold a PhD and have a strong background in insect ecology and/or entomology. Experience in working with life history adaptations and population ecology is considered to have high merit value. You must be able to work independently but also interact/collaborate with group members and colleagues. Strong written and oral English communication skills are required. The project involves national and international collaboration.
Form of employment: Temporary employment, The position is for up to two years
Extent: 100%
Starting date: By agreement
We welcome your application marked with Ref no. SLU ua 1483/2011.
Please submit your application to the Registrar of SLU, P.O. Box 7070, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden or registrator(a)slu.se<mailto:registrator@slu.se> no later than June 20, 2011.
Specific documents attached: The application must include your CV, list of publications, previous research accomplishments (one page), a brief description of research interests likely to be pursued within the project (one page) and names and contact information of at least two academic references.
The application should be written in English.
For more information see SLUs homepage ( http://www.slu.se/en/shortcuts/jobs-and-vacancies/ ) or contact
Christer Björkman ( Christer.Bjorkman(a)slu.se<mailto:Christer.Bjorkman@slu.se> )
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Research proposal
by John Alexander Pulgarin Diaz
Dear ALL*,*
The present message is to propose to your institution a research project
that will boost the forest development in Colombia, our country. Now days,
Colombia has 20.000 ha of *Acacia mangium* plantation whit very good
performance, to recover degraded lands, produce pulp for paper production
and solid wood production. The government is planning to increase the area
to 1´000.000 ha because all the benefits a forest plantation has to the
society.
At the moment the unique problem *A. mangium* has is the attack of some
disease that cause a sudden death. This has decreased the interest in this
specie in the public. In our previous research we have found that there are
some fungus in attacked specimens: *Fusarium*sp., *Myrothecium *sp. y *
Phomopsis* sp., that could be causing the seen problems .
We would like to hear of possibilities for financial support, and an
institution that will join us (we are working with an University in our
area). We would provide resources and also we will cover some of the
expenses, and the University will provide scientific advices, laboratories
and equipment. We will really appreciate your help contacting the right
institution and personnel if your institution is not interested.
Regards, John Pulgarin
--
*John Alexander Pulgarín D*.
Ingeniero Forestal. MSc. Entomología
*Reforestadora Cacerí S.A.*
www.caceri.com/
j.pulgarin(a)caceri.com
Cel: (57) 321 830 8223
Tel: (57) (4) 511 2877
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Postdoc in forest disturbance
by Matthew.P.Ayres＠Dartmouth.EDU
POST-DOCTORAL POSITION: Dartmouth College and U.S. Forest Service
CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST PEST DYNAMICS
A post-doctoral position is available to investigate climatic effects on regional forest insect outbreak dynamics. Climate change is having simultaneous impacts on the potential yield of forests (via effects on tree growth and species distribution) and on biotic disturbance regimes in forests (via effects on insect pest populations). Our ability to adaptively manage forest ecosystems is presently limited due to inadequate knowledge of the linkages between climate, forest landscapes and forest pest population dynamics. The project will address this general problem through studies of North American pest species thought to be influenced by climate change (e.g., Dendroctonus bark beetles and Hemlock woolly adelgid). The post-doctoral scientist, working with the other investigators, will assemble and coordinate work groups with appropriate expertise and lead the development of resulting papers. The objective is to provide a foundational set of scenarios linking climate predictions with process-based models of forest pest dynamics and associated forest management options. This will build capacity for evaluating socio-economic impacts of climatic effects on forest pest dynamics under alternative management scenarios.
We seek applicants with skills and interest in forest ecology, population dynamics, climate, ecosystem science, and/or natural resource economics. The position requires facility with modeling, programming, data management, and data analysis. Experience with work groups and multi-disciplinary science is a plus.
To apply, please send curriculum vitae, a cover letter, and contact information for three references to Matt Ayres (Matt.Ayres(a)Dartmouth.edu) Review of applications will begin 1 June.
INVESTIGATORS
Matthew P. Ayres, Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~mpayres/
Barbara Bentz, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Logan, Utah
http://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/profiles/?last=Bentz&first=Barbara+J
Thomas P. Holmes, Southern Research Station, Research Triangle Park, NC
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/sustain/people/holmes.htm
Andrew Liebhold, Northern Research Station, Morgantown, West Virginia
http://nrs.fs.fed.us/people/aliebhold
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Forest Service unveils first comprehensive forecast on southern forests
by Kier Klepzig
Date: May 17, 2011
>
> Contacts: Steve
Bekkerus
>
404-347-7240
>
> Zoë
Hoyle
>
828-257-4388
>
>
> Forest Service unveils first comprehensive forecast on southern forests
> Urbanization expected to reduce forest area in South during next 50
years
>
> The USDA Forest Service and the Southern Group of State Foresters
released
> the first phase of the Southern Forest Futures Project report on
Tuesday,
> May 17, which identifies areas forest managers will focus on to maintain
> southern forests in the coming years.
>
> According to the report, urbanization, bioenergy use, weather patterns,
> land ownership changes and invasive species will significantly alter the
> South?s forests between the years 2010 and 2060. About 23 million acres
of
> forest land are projected to decrease. People are also expected to
> influence water resources, wildlife, recreational opportunities, fire
and
> other issues.
>
> Project team members used computer models and expert analysis to develop
> the report. It will serve as a guide as Forest Service personnel seek
to
> maintain the vitality and efficiency of forests in the South.
>
> ?The agency is poised to respond to the implications of the findings in
the
> summary report,? according to Forest Service Southern Regional Forester
Liz
> Agpaoa, ?The summary report clearly demonstrates the urgent need for
> developing a collaborative strategy to conserve and restore southern
> forests. A healthy and prosperous America relies on the health of our
> natural resources, and particularly our forests.?
>
> The technical and summary reports completes phase one of the two-phase
> project and begins a 60-day public comment period, wherein people can
> submit remarks via the Futures Project website at
> http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/futures/.
>
> Forest Service employees can view the summary report and other materials
at
> http://fsweb.srs.fs.fed.us/comm/futures/index.shtml
>
> To put the report?s forecast into perspective, Rob Doudrick, director of
> the Forest Service Southern Research Station, said the potential
decrease
> in forest area is equivalent to the state of South Carolina.
?Urbanization
> along with population growth equates to more demands for additional
goods
> and services from a declining forest base. This could have a dramatic
> impact on our Southern forests,? he said.
>
> Additional key findings are:
> o Population growth will bring more runoff from roads, buildings
> and parking lots as well as increased pollution, impacting
> supplies of clean drinking water and the quality of aquatic
> habitats
> o More numerous and severe wildfires are forecasted
> o More frequent and intense wildfires will pose additional
> challenges to community and forestry wildfire organizations
> o The spread of plant, insect and disease pests could severely
> affect native species, forest productivity and wildlife
> o More than 1,000 plant and wildlife species of conservation
> concern could be threatened by urbanization, climate change and
> invasive species
>
> ?Over the next 50 years, multiple forces will interact to determine the
> future of southern forests,? said Charlie Morgan, Mississippi State
> Forester and chairman of the Southern Group of State Foresters. ?This
> report will give state foresters information they need to inform their
> programs and make decisions in their respective states.?
>
> More than 30 scientists, researchers, foresters and other experts with
the
> Forest Service, state forestry agencies and universities contributed to
the
> study.
>
> ?The Forest Service was well positioned to undertake this complex
project,?
> said Dave Wear, project co-leader and economist with the Southern
Research
> Station. ?In the South we have a network of scientists from the various
> scientific disciplines needed to address all of the issues and forest
> managers dealing with them on a day-to-day basis.?
>
> John Greis, the other project co-leader with the Southern Region of the
> Forest Service, added that ?we reached out to the broad public to
identify
> the important issues and subjected all the work to independent
scientific
> review.?
>
> Beginning in Fall 2011, the Forest Service will release separate reports
> that detail the findings and implications for forest management and
> conservation for five sub-regions of the South, which are the Piedmont,
> Coastal Plain, Appalachian/Cumberland, Mississippi Alluvial Valley and
> Mid-South. The 13 southern states included in the study are Alabama,
> Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North
> Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
>
******************************************************************************
Kier Klepzig
Assistant Director for Research
Southern Research Station, USFS
200 WT Weaver Blvd.
Asheville, NC 28804
(828)257-4307
kklepzig(a)fs.fed.us
TTY 828 259-0503
******************************************************************************
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