THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF AMERICA NEWSLETTER
SOUTHEASTERN CHAPTER
October 1996, Issue 96-3
Andy Ash, Editor
Comments From the Chair
Southeastern Chapter Officers
SEC/ESA Bag Lunch Meeting, Providence, Rhode Island
Call for Papers, ASB Important Deadlines
Student Awards at ASB
Proposed SEC/ESA Activities at ASB 1997
SEEDS Initiative
Job/Assistantship Announcements
Our informal SEC/ESA meeting at the annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Providence, RI was well attended and several issues were discussed and will be presented at the next business meeting held at the Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting at Furman University. We now have a SEC/ESA chapter homepage on the internet (www.auburn.edu/seesa). Thanks to Mark MacKenzie who has provided the space. SEC/ESA members can post notices.
I have appointed Ross Hinkle (chair), Frank Day and Don Shure to a committee to examine options for archiving chapter information. They will present recommendations to the chapter at the next business meeting. If you have any thoughts about this activity, please contact Ross Hinkle (HINKLER@bonsmtp.ksc.nasa.gov).
Alan Berkowitz will present ideas regarding a program "Strategies for Ecology, Education, Development and Sustainability" at the next business meeting (more in this newsletter). This is a cooperative effort between ESA and the United Negro College Fund to promote minority education in ecology. Chapter members may be able to participate.
Niki Nicholas will be examining potential field trips for the chapter in 1997, particularly the feasibility of a ESA/SEC 20th anniversary trip to Highlands NC.
From the ESA Council meeting, I understand that the national headquarters is diligently working to provide all chapters with more timely, accurate, and detailed budgetary information. Chapter finances should be detailed at our next business meeting.
I encourage any members who have ideas regarding chapter projects or issues to feel free to contact me or other officers listed in this newsletter.
L. Katherine Kirkman
Dr. L. Katherine Kirkman, Chair
Jones Ecological Research Center
Ichauway, Inc.
Route 2 Box 2324
Newton GA 31770
(TEL) 912-734-4706
(FAX) 912-734-4707
(e-mail) KKIRKMAN@jonesctr.org
Dr. Niki C. Nicholas, Vice-Chair
Tennessee Valley Authority
17 Ridgeway Road
Norris TN 37828-2001
(TEL) 615-632-1676
(FAX) 615-632-1495
(e-mail) NNICHOLAS@mhs-tva.attmail.com
Dr. Andy Ash, Secretary
Department of Biology
UNC Pembroke
One University Drive
P.O. Box 1510
Pembroke NC 28372-1510
(TEL) 910-521-6418
(FAX) 910-521-6649
(e-mail) AASH@nat.uncp.edu
The meeting at the Providence Convention Center was convened at 11:30 AM by outgoing president Ross Hinkle. Kay Kirkman was recognized and assumed the duties of chair. Since the ESA Council meeting occurred after the lunch this year, no council report could be provided to the chapter (see comments from the chair in this newsletter). An announcement was made about the new SEC/ESA homepage.
Kay Kirkman delivered a financial report from ESA/NATIONAL. For the period July 1995-July 1996, the total income was $1,985.00, while total expenses were $1,034.56. This produces a net income for the period of $950.44. Dr. Kirkman discussed the problem of getting timely and accurate financial records from the ESA/ NATIONAL office. She suggested that chapter-based accounting would be a preferable alternative. Bob Peet commented on ESA constitutional requirements for chapter accounting by the national office. Kirkman said that chapters may carry over only $2,000.00 from one year to the next unless funds are designated for an endowment such as the Odum Award. Further, ESA/NATIONAL indicates that no royalties from the Biodiversity of the Southeastern United States have been paid to our chapter from the publisher. The publisher maintains that such checks have been sent to ESA/NATIONAL, and earmarked for SEC/ESA. The Director of Finance for the national office has been contacted.
The need for archiving chapter records was raised. A study committee was appointed.
There was discussion of placing the chapter newsletter in the ESA Bulletin instead of mailing it separately. The Bylaws Committee will review this possibility in light of practicalities such as annual elections. Since the chapter will vote on bylaws changes at the 1997 annual meeting, the Bylaws Committee will forward their recommendations on this issue by the end of calendar year 1996.
Alan Berkowitz addressed the group concerning the SEEDS initiative (see this newsletter). He would like to give a presentation on the topic at ASB.
SEC/ESA field trips were discussed. A suggestion for 1997 was a 20th anniversary trip to Highlands, NC. A spring (as opposed to the traditional fall) trip in conjunction with ASB was suggested. SEC/ESA members in the Highlands area are being contacted as possible leaders.
Possible symposium topics for ASB were discussed. Dan Pitillo and Frank McCormick may be possible moderators.
Association of Southeastern Biologists
The 58th Annual Meeting
Furman University
Greenville, South Carolina
16-19 April 1997
Please note the following deadlines concerning ASB. Blue abstract forms will be available in the October 1996 issue of the ASB Bulletin (Vol. 43 No. 4). Registration forms will be in the January 1997 issue of the ASB Bulletin (Vol. 44 No. 1).
| 30 October 1996 | Nominations for ASB officers and executive committee |
| 5 November 1996 | Abstracts for ASB due |
| 15 November 1996 | Application for student research awards |
| 5 January 1997 | Receipt of manuscripts and application materials for Senior Research Award |
| 1 February 1997 | Receipt of manuscripts and application materials for Student Research Award and Student Research Award in Aquatic Biology |
| 1 February 1997 | Application for student travel awards |
If you are a student and intend to present a paper at the annual ASB meeting at Furman University, you are encouraged to submit your manuscript or abstract for consideration for the following awards.
Eugene P. Odum Award - $250.00 and a plaque given by SEC/ESA for the best ecological paper presented by a student. The paper will be evaluated by a panel of judges at the time of presentation on the following points: (a) Significance of Ideas, (b) Creativity, (c) Quality of Methodology, (d) Validity of Results, (e) Clarity of Presentation. Eligibility requirements include: (a) Undergraduate or graduate student standing, (b) Student must be sole or senior author, (c) The paper must deal with a clearly ecological topic and be presented in one of the following sessions: Animal Ecology, Aquatic Ecology or Plant Ecology, (d) The paper must be presented in a regular contributed paper session, posters or symposia papers are ineligible, (e) The student does not have to be a member of SEC/ESA, (f) Past Odum Award winners are not eligible, (g) Submit title and abstract to program chair by 15 November 1996 to ASB program chair and Odum Award Chair (John Aho, Auburn University at Montgomery, TEL 334-244-3787.
ASB Student Research Award - $500.00 given for especially meritorious paper(s) presented orally by the student at the ASB annual meeting. The author(s) must by a member of ASB. Titles and abstracts must be submitted by 15 November and journal-ready manuscripts must by received by 1 February 1997. See the July 1996 ASB Bulletin for details. Send inquiries to Terry Richardson, Department of Biology, UNA Box 5212, University of North Alabama, Florence AL 35632-0001, TEL 205-760-4429.
Ecology recruitment teams at 5 UNCF schools, comprising students interested in ecology and one (or more) faculty member(s), will plan and carry out recruitment activities (field trips, outside speakers, brochures, discussion sessions). to pique the interest of entry level undergraduates. From the experiences of these 5 schools, practical ideas for success elsewhere should evolve.
The second facet of SEEDS involves improving an existing ecology course or creating a new course where appropriate. Each team will work with an ESA partner from a nearby school who has both subject matter and curriculum expertise. All UNCF colleges will be committed to this process and will implement the curricular innovations in the 1997-98 academic year.
The first year of the project will culminate with a workshop and other events at ESA's 1997 annual meeting in Albuquerque NM.
For more information, contact Alan R. Berkowitz, ESA Vice President for Education and Human Resources, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, P.O. Box R, Millbrook NY 12545, TEL 914-677-5358, FAX 914-677-6455, e-mail 74301.1575 @compuserve.com.
Assistant or Associate Scientist of Wildlife Ecology position is available at the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center. The individual will be expected to develop an active research program from both internal and extramural sources that focuses on the management and ecology of both non-game and game wildlife species, and to cooperate in related multidisciplinary research programs in a longleaf pine dominated landscape. Exemplary research would include wildlife-habitat interactions, population and community level responses to fire, alternative silvicultural practices and natural and managed disturbance regimes, enhancing faunal diversity in ecosystems managed for multiple uses, and ecological restoration. Responsibilities include research (60-70%) and education (30-40%). Adjunct university appointments will be encouraged and facilitated. Ph.D. in wildlife biology/ecology, population ecology, community ecology or a related field. Preference will be given to candidates with post-doctoral experience, strong interpersonal communication skills, experience with extramural grants, and multidisciplinary research perspectives. Availability 1 May, 1997, or until a suitable candidate is found. The Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center is an independent institution funded by the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. The objective of the Jones Center is to develop a program of excellence in ecology and natural resource management that includes research, education and conservation. Letters of application, resume, and names of three references should be mailed by January 15, 1997 to Dr. Robert J. Mitchell, Search Committee Chair, Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center, Ichauway, Route 2, Box 2324, Newton GA 31770 (TEL 912-734-4706, FAX 912-734-4707). The Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center is an equal opportunity employer.