#but i was trained at the smithsonian conservation biology institute

[thedisablednaturalist]

I’m disabled and am thinking about getting into an environmental science outdoorsy field. My joints get injured easily, I have a disease which makes being cold very painful, I’m often sick, and I get tired very quickly. May I ask, what are some of the things you’ve done as a disabled naturalist to continue doing what you want while still taking care of your health? I’m really frustrated that this would 100% be the field for me if it weren’t for my body :(

I wear knee braces and bring TWO walking sticks with me out in the field for support. I keep Tylenol and Dramamine as well as pain creme in my outdoor bag too. Before and after work I use my wheelchair so I save energy that's needed for fieldwork. During my commute I use my TENS machine to relax my muscles and get them ready for the strain (and to recover afterwards). I also always have my coworker with me incase of falls and he's really good about checking up on me. We take frequent breaks and I always make sure to have water and a snack (everyone should do that tbh). Also my fieldwork at most just involves a lot of hiking. Usually we are sitting by the stream filling out assessment forms or looking at bugs. For the cold (which also causes flare ups) I bring electric hand warmers and we use scuba gloves when we need to reach into cold streams.

Outside of work I also have a chiropractor, pain management doctor, and a neurologist who help me find solutions for my pain. Please be careful with chiropractic care as you want to get a licensed doctor, not someone who just has a certificate. Also check their reviews. I'm still in a lot of pain, but not nearly as much as before I pursued treatment.

However if it comes to a point that you can't do fieldwork don't worry, there's a ton of ways to do naturalist stuff indoors! Lots of nature/science organizations need people for data science, which may not seem that exciting but honestly I really enjoy looking through camera trap data. Having office work that involves excel or programming (or even making a PowerPoint) really helps on days I'm too physically exhausted to do fieldwork. There's also of course lab work where you do chemical analysis or look at stuff under microscopes! You would just need to make sure you can sit down in the lab (which most places won't have an issue with). You can also look into stuff like learning arcGIS, analyzing acoustic data, etc. You'd be amazed at all the opportunities that don't require hiking around.

One of my dream jobs is working at Nautilus and doing remote underwater research using an AUV (like in the videos on YouTube). That way I'd be able to sit and be comfortable while still being able to experience doing research and seeing things most people haven't.

If any of my followers have more advice feel free to respond!

[evoldir]

Fwd: Graduate position: BangorU.AnthropoChangePoisonFrogs

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Graduate position: BangorU.AnthropoChangePoisonFrogs > Date: 15 November 2022 at 06:52:41 GMT > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > PhD position (fully funded) available to study the effects of > Anthropogenic habitat disturbance on poison frog microbiomes and disease > susceptibility > > The labs of Dr. Aaron Comeault and Dr. Amy Ellison are inviting applicants > for a PhD studentship (stipend + research funds) to be held at Bangor > University in North Wales (UK and international applicants welcome). > > This project explores the impacts of Anthropogenic disturbance on > Poison frogs in Ecuador and is in collaboration with Dr. Justin Yeager > at Universidad de Las Américas (Ecuador) and Dr. Carly Muletz-Wolz > at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute > (USA). Details below, deadline for applications is 11 January 2023 via > the Envision DTP website. > > Link: > https://ift.tt/R1LPb5w > > Description: > Anthropogenic disturbance, coupled with climate change, is a leading > cause of biodiversity loss. In Ecuador, approximately 97% of the > Chocó biodiversity hotspot is now deforested, underscoring the need to > understand and predict species’ responses to Anthropogenic change. This > project will interrogate behavioural and microbial responses in the > diablito poison frog, Oophaga sylvatica as a test case to assess how > species respond to disturbance and climate change. Because microbiomes > are dynamic and affected by both the ecology and genetics of their host, > a central goal in disease ecology is to understand how the environment > interacts with an organism’s behaviour to affect both their microbiome > and disease susceptibility. > > In this project, the student will use a combination of fieldwork and > molecular approaches to investigate the links between Anthropogenic > habitat modification, frog behaviour, the microbiome of the diablito > poison frog (Oophaga sylvatica), and susceptibility to the fungal skin > pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd); considered one of the > greatest threats to vertebrate biodiversity around the world. > > The project offers a wealth of opportunities for the student to gain > experience in molecular biology, evolutionary genetics, microbiology, > disease ecology and science communication. The studentship will be based > within the Molecular Ecology and Evolution group at Bangor University > (meeb.bangor.ac.uk), a world leader in the analyses of molecular > data addressing global issues in disease biology and evolutionary > genomics. It offers a dynamic and supportive training environment > for young scientists. The student will also undertake fieldwork and > internships with project partners in Ecuador and the USA. > > Essential skills are a minimum 2:1 BSc or equivalent in Life Sciences, > with good numerate skills and enthusiasm for disease ecology, genome > analyses, and tropical fieldwork. Desirable skills are a postgraduate > degree (e.g. MSc or MRes) and/or contribution to scientific publication, > molecular laboratory and/or international fieldwork. > > For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Aaron Comeault > (a.comeault@bangor.ac.uk) and/or Dr Amy Ellison (a.ellison@bangor.ac.uk) > > > Aaron A. Comeault, PhD. (he/him/his) > Lecturer in Zoology (Evolutionary Biology) > Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor > Bangor University, School of Natural Sciences > Environment Centre Wales > Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK > > website: https://ift.tt/fYU5tPm > > > Mae croeso i chi gysylltu gyda'r Brifysgol yn Gymraeg neu Saesneg. Ni > fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi. > > You are welcome to contact the University in Welsh or > English. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to delay. > > Rhif Elusen Gofrestredig 1141565 - Registered Charity No. 1141565 > > > Aaron Comeault

[schmergo]

Growing up in the DC area, seeing some really cool historical artifacts on display was always just kind of... normal for me, but one thing I never really appreciated was some of the noteworthy ANIMALS I got to see at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute as a child! You do kind of forget that it being the 'National' Zoo gives it a sort of special clout. Plus, animals can live to be pretty old, so it's easy to forget about the lives these animals lived before I saw them on display! So, because I miss going to the zoo during the shutdown, here's some fun facts

* HSING-HSING THE PANDA: In 1972, Richard Nixon was given a gift of two pandas by the Chinese government following a successful visit. Their names were Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing. While Ling-Ling died in 1992 (which still made it the longest-lived panda outside of China at the time), Hsing-Hsing lived until 1999, which means that I definitely saw a panda that had seen Richard Nixon several times in my childhood-- one of the first two pandas to ever live in National Zoo! (There had been other pandas in US zoos up to that point, but this was the first to grace DC.) Of course, the current pandas they display are major animal celebrities, too!

* PANGHUR BAN THE WHITE TIGER: The first white tiger in America (in fact, the first white tiger outside of India), named Mohini, moved into the National Zoo in 1960. Almost all white tigers in the USA are descended from Mohini, and ALL white tigers are descended from her father, Mohan, who stayed in India. (Note: this is one of the reasons I'm vocally against the breeding of white tigers, who are pretty much all inbred and have significant health problems, but more on that later.) Mohini was a massive celebrity and was officially presented to president Dwight D. Eisenhower on the White House lawn, giving her the nickname, 'First Cat.' She gave birth to several cubs, white and orange, over the years. The Smithsonian's last white tiger descended from Mohini, Panghur Ban, died in 2002. I distinctly remember him leaping impressively in his exhibit when I visited on a kindergarten field trip! The National Zoo no longer breeds or displays white tigers for ethical reasons.

* RUSTY THE RED PANDA: This is a more recent celebrity. A red panda named rusty escaped from the zoo in the summer of 2013 but was luckily recovered in Adams Morgan. Rusty moved out to their suburban breeding facility later, so you can't see him anymore (if he's even still alive-- I'm not sure how long those guys live), but I was delighted to see him during college!

* SHANTHI AND AMBIKA THE ELEPHANTS: Elephants have long, long lifespans. Unfortunately, two of the National Zoo's oldest and most distinguished residents died in 2020. Shanthi had been at the zoo for 44 years and Ambika for 59 years (although Ambika was thought to be as old as 72 when she died, having worked as a logging elephant in India before moving to the USA). It's wild to think that anyone visiting the zoo for the past 4 or 5 decades probably saw these same elephants. Shanthi and Ambika were two of the most studied elephants in the world (Shanthi was also one of the first elephants to give birth from artificial insemination) and zoos have learned a LOT about elephants in captivity during their lives and elephants are getting better care thanks to what was learned from these two.

* BONNIE THE ORANGUTAN: She may not be a worldwide celebrity, but she IS a scientific phenomenon and the subject of academic papers! Bonnie, who was born in 1976 and has lived at the Zoo since 1980, has an unusual talent: whistling. She appears to have learned this skill from zookeepers and is the only known non-human ape to do so. This is not a sound that orangutans are known to make in the wild, though they do sometimes pick up sounds from other species. She wasn’t trained to whistle and doesn’t do it for rewards— she just seems to like the sound! Like many of the zoo’s orangutans, she travels between the Great Apes house and the ‘think tank’ building over crowds by something called the ‘O Line.’ Unlike the other orangutans, though, she doesn’t merely cross quickly. She often stops sits on the tower and watches the crowds below!

***HONORABLE MENTIONS***These are two celebrity residents of the National Zoo that I never got to meet-- but my parents would have!

* SMOKEY BEAR: The real life Smokey Bear was a black bear rescued from a forest fire in 1950. When he came to live at the National Zoo, he became a huge celebrity and over 13,000 fan letters a week were addressed to him! When he died in 1976, his obituary in the Washington Post described him as a longtime government employee in DC. I remember there used to be signs and displays of him at the zoo when I was little.

* HAM THE CHIMPANZEE: The National Zoo used to be home to a real astronaut! Ham the chimpanzee is sometimes described as the first hominid in space. Unlike past primate flights, he actually had to do tasks in space, so he wasn’t a mere passenger. He was launched on a suborbital flight in January 1961 as part of the Project Mercury missions. Ham was transferred to the National Zoo in 1963 and lived there for 17 years! 

***OTHER HONORABLE MENTIONS: The Most Endangered***These aren’t celebrity animals, but some of the rarest creatures you might see on display at the zoo when it reopens:

THE PANAMANIAN GOLDEN FROG: Some of these live in the Reptile house (and possibly Amazonia?) None have been seen in the wild since 2009. This species has been decimated by a disease caused by amphibian chytrid fungus, which the National Zoo was instrumental in identifying and researching. They are also part of reintroduction efforts

SCIMITAR HORNED ORYX: Two of these live in the Cheetah Conservation Center exhibit, and while most guests are most interested in the cheetahs (also famously endangered animals), say hi to the oryxes next time you get a chance! This species is excinct in the wild, though the National Zoo is participating in reintroduction campaigns. There are now thousands in captivity.

BLACK-FOOTED FERRETS: You can see some of these in the small mammal house. These are now considered only endangered (as opposed to critically endangered), but they used to be extinct in the wild in the mid-1990s. Thanks to a reintroduction campaign, there are now over 1,000 in the wild.

PRZEWALSKI’S HORSE: These beautiful wild horses live in a pen across from the Elephant Trails exhibit. Formerly extinct in the wild, there were only 12 horses alive in zoos by the end of the 1950’s, and reintroduction projects have occurred since the 1990s. There are around 1,900 alive today. The National Zoo was home to both the first successful reversed vasectomy on a Przewalski’s horse and the first birth by artificial insemination.

SUMATRAN TIGER: These creatures are critically endangered, with only 200-400 left in the wild. No, that is not a typo. The  National Zoo is home to a female Sumatran tiger named Damai, as well as several Amur tigers. Damai gave birth to three cubs over the years, all of which have moved on to different zoos.

What's your favorite animal to see at the zoo?

[dsenvs3000]

Week 6: The history of Biodiversity

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.” - Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation

It took me a while to form my interpretation of this quote.  Hyams uses the word integrity quite a bit in it, which got me thinking about how he was using and why that word over any others.  In its modern connotation, ‘integrity’ typically refers to someone or somethings reliability or the quality of their morality and nature.  The word came into the English language via the Old French ‘integrité’ then meaning innocence, chastity, or purity.  ‘Integrité’ evolved out of the Latin ‘integritas’ whose root is ‘integer’ meaning soundness, wholeness, or completeness.  Reading the quote again but with the connotation of ‘a whole’ in mind, Hyam began to make a lot more sense to me.  “There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in [completeness], and [completion] entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole , and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of [a whole] entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things [...]”. What I think Hyam is getting at is that history doesn’t make sense without context, understanding why certain actions were taken or why certain events occurred.  Its often easy to overlook historical context in favour of personal belief, but this often leads to dangerous rhetoric.  Countless times we have seen history distorted in order to target ethnic, religious, linguistic, and cultural minorities.  

Here’s an example of how languages evolve and change over time using the pronoun “I”. (Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/dj7rb1/evolution_of_the_pronoun_i_in_indoeuropean/)

What stood out to me in this week’s unit were the questions “Who/what benefits from this story and how might that impact them/others in the future?” and “how a community might be enhanced, it is often through the recognition of collective memories, stories” (Hooykaas 2021).  This week I want to talk about the history of biodiversity (my uni major).  

The concept of biodiversity has existed in some form for as long as the human conscious has. Aristotle made note of the differences between animals; and in its most basic sense, that is what biodiversity is, differences between organisms and their variety (Mayr, 1998). Biodiversity, the word itself, has a much shorter history, but why?  It was coined in 1985 by Walter G. Rosen for the creation of the National Forum on BioDiversity.  The forum was made to discuss the increasing demands of the human species on economic development and the potential ramifications it might have on the natural environment.  Edward Wilson, an American biologist, summarized the forum as “BioDiversity creates a systematic framework for analyzing the problem and searching for possible solutions” (Wilson, 1988).  This describes the political, economic, and scientific climate during the time of ‘biodiversity’s creation.  The public and scientific community were becoming increasingly aware of the negative impacts of human development, of air pollution, deforestation, habitat fragmentation, water pollution, etc… on the environment and the implied repercussions on the economy (Wilson, 1988).  

Image illustrates some of the main threats causing global biodiversity decline. (Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/biggest-threats-to-earths-biodiversity/)

Through out the century, scientists were noticing that when certain species were removed from their ecosystems trophic downgrading would occur, and, notably, the increasing the rate of extinction worldwide (Wilson, 1992; Myers, 1979).  In 1979, Norman Myers, an English ecologist, published The Sinking Ark: A New Look at the Problem of Disappearing Species.  In it, he discusses extinction but draws attention to the unexpectedly fast rate at which species were going extinct in the modern day; far greater than one would expect over the course of the process of evolution.  However, unlike the Cretaceous or any mass extinctions before, this one was not caused by natural disasters but by a single species; the cause was and is anthropogenic (Myers, 1979).  A warning call.  Wilson’s Biodiversity, a series of articles written by leading authorities  in biological and environmental disciplines, compiled from the BioDiversity Forum, further outlined the importance of diversity of species and the ecosystems that support them as well as the very species that threatens their stability (Wilson, 1986).

“The Sinking Ark” by Norma Myers (source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2381140.The_Sinking_Ark)

By the late 1980s, biodiversity, used interchangeably with biological diversity, had entered the mainstream of scientific literature and public culture.  Yet the understanding of what biodiversity is and what it means was vague at best and measuring biodiversity was controversial and can be a challenging task (Franco, 2013).  With its growing popularity and the urgency felt by the scientific community, in 1992, the United Nation’s Environment Program organized and launched the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to clarify what was meant by ‘biodiversity’.  The broad definition of “Biological diversity means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems” was given (CBD, 1992).

So “Who/what benefits from this story and how might that impact them/others in the future?” and “how a community might be enhanced, it is often through the recognition of collective memories, stories” (Hooykaas 2021). Knowing this story, we understand that ‘biodiversity’ is a word made for a purpose, as a defence of conservation biology.  In this sense, the two are inexorably linked.  Biological diversity had no need for a name before the 20th century because it was a constant of life.  As a community we are enhanced in our collective appreciation of it and its causes. Human development caused, and is causing, a massive reduction in native species diversities, which in turn reduces genetic diversity, and on a global scale, human development has caused the largest and fastest mass extinction on record (Wilson, 1988).  

What do you think of the story of biodiversity?  Although not a physical artifact, certainly an important part of history.  Can you think of any other historically significant words?

 References:

Convention on Biological Diversity Article 2. Use of Terms. (CBD). (2006, November 2). Retrieved April 10, 2020, from: https://www.cbd.int/convention/articles/?a=cbd-02

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 6: Nature Interpretation Through History. Lecture Notes Retrieved, February 24, 2021 from https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2592718/View

Mayr, E. W. (1998). The Development of Biological Thinking.

Myers, N. The Sinking Ark: A New Look at the Problem of Disappearing Species. Oxford, United  Kingdom: Pergamon Press, 1979.

Wilson, E. O. Biodiversity. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences Press/Smithsonian Institution,1988.

[rjzimmerman]

If you’re interested in cheetahs, particularly in protecting cheetahs and their habitats, you might learn some interesting things from this Smithsonian article. The one bit that I learned is that the Smithsonian operates what it calls the “Cheetah Ridge Facility” at its Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. As of January 2021, Cheetah Ridge has 29 cheetahs, with room for more. Programs at the Institute, including Cheetah Ridge, are intended for studying, breeding and training members of endangered species or species already extinct in the wild.

A good video from this article (two minutes long):

[sciencespies]

Searching for the Invisible, Invincible Peruvian Tern

https://sciencespies.com/nature/searching-for-the-invisible-invincible-peruvian-tern/

Searching for the Invisible, Invincible Peruvian Tern

Smithsonian Voices National Zoo

Searching for the Invisible, Invincible Peruvian Tern

November 5th, 2020, 9:30AM / BY Ximena Velez-Zuazo

The Peruvian tern’s desert camouflage makes it almost impossible to track, but that’s exactly what our research team set out to do. (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

Esta historia esta disponible en español aquí.

On Peru’s pacific coastline, where desert meets sea, lives one of the least studied and most at-risk birds: the Peruvian tern, known locally as “gaviotin Peruano” (Sternula lorata). The tern is nearly invisible in its native habitat, which looks more like a moonscape than anything you would expect to find on Earth. Its desert camouflage makes it almost impossible for scientists to track, but that’s exactly what our team set out to do. It would take us four months to survey more than 1,851 acres, battling sandstorms, stifling heat and impossible landscapes inside Paracas National Reserve — terrain that the Peruvian tern has mastered.

Peruvian terns are part of a small group of terns (Sternula) that are slender, with long beaks and short legs. They have white feathers with black “caps” that look like masks, and they lay their eggs in shallow depressions in the bare ground. They are found in Paracas National Reserve, Peru’s oldest marine protected area, where reports suggest they began nesting as early as 1920. One hundred years later, the Reserve treasures the largest nesting colony in the country.

But Peruvian terns are on a path toward extinction, and the population in Paracas is no exception. According to the IUCN’s Red List of Endangered Species, Peruvian tern populations are decreasing. A 2018 survey of Paracas’ nonbreeding terns reported fewer individuals than in the past, and the last survey of the Reserve’s breeding population was conducted nearly a decade ago. Our team wanted to find out how many terns still nest in the park and what threats they face. Locating them would be the hardest part.

It took our team four months to survey more than 1,851 acres, battling sandstorms, stifling heat and impossible landscapes inside Paracas National Reserve — terrain that the Peruvian tern has mastered. (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

Paracas National Reserve is home to a myriad of species of all sizes, from sea lions and seahorses to foxes and geckos. Seabirds are common; many are residents and many more are migrants. Wildlife thrives in the intertidal zone — the zone where the Pacific Ocean meets the shoreline — but it’s a different story on land. The extremely dry landscape makes this habitat nearly impossible to occupy. “Paracas” means “sand rain” in Quechua, the Andean native language, and when it “rains,” it pours. During the sandstorm season, sustained winds of up to 62 mph (100 kph) unroll a thick curtain of sand. This extreme environment is unwelcoming to humans, but it’s an oasis for the Peruvian tern.

How has the tern thrived in this harsh environment? By being invisible. Although we are still learning about this species (there are just four studies on Peruvian populations), we know one thing: they are masters of matching their environment. When the wind blows, terns crouch close to the ground to disappear. They build nests that are nearly impossible for outsiders to spot and adorn them with tiny stones, shells and bones. These visual cues help the birds locate their nests in the homogeneous landscape. Masters of disguise, even their eggs and chicks are the same color pattern as the ground. It’s like the terns wear invisibility cloaks.

Peruvian terns are masters of disguise. Their chicks’ color pattern matches their surroundings. It’s like the terns wear invisibility cloaks. (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

To find them, we would need help. So, our team at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute partnered with a private company, Terminal Portuario Paracas (TPP). TPP is leading the expansion of General San Martin Port Terminal, a port in Peru for the import and export of goods. The road to the port is also the only road that leads to an area where the Peruvian tern has historically nested. The paved and busy road was built in the 1950s before Paracas National Reserve existed.

Thus, the terns still live in the area, and we don’t know if the increased activity from the port will affect them. In October 2019, with the sandstorm season officially over, we established our base camp in El Chaco, the last urban area before the desert landscapes of the Reserve. Our goal was to cover 1,851 acres in just four months before the end of the reproductive season. We would study tern flight patterns and comb the area for nests.

At 6 a.m. on Dec. 2, 2019, at the onset of the Austral summer, we headed into the already hot desert. One hour later, we were in the middle of nowhere feeling more on the moon than on Earth. The terrain changed abruptly from hollows to hills, with bizarre sculptures that resembled giant puff pastries.

The terrain in the park changed abruptly from hollows to hills, with bizarre sculptures that resembled giant puff pastries. (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

Between the dunes and hills of the northern side of the park is Cequion Bay — the largest flat terrain in the Reserve. It took us six hours to find the first active nest. Trained eyes and determination helped us detect the subtle circular depression in the ground. Inside were two tiny eggs, each with spotted coloration that matched the ground.

Our next challenge was to set up sound recorders and camera traps. We deployed our recorders along the road, at increasing distances from the road, and near active nests. The lifespan of each recorder was about 12 days. They were set to record one minute of sound every 10 minutes until their batteries ran out. Our camera traps were camouflaged under sand and gravel. We placed them about 9 feet from nests located near the road, to capture both the adult terns and the road traffic. The cameras were set to take a picture every 5 seconds until the batteries ran out.

It might be difficult to imagine the full scope of our work, so let’s compare it to something most people are familiar with: football (soccer).

Between December 2019 and March 2020, we inspected the equivalent of 1,050 soccer fields in search of nests.

We analyzed 40,000 1-minute sound recordings, the equivalent of 444 soccer games.

We analyzed 500,000 images from camera traps, which is about the number of photos a professional photographer would capture during 143 of the most amazing soccer games.

Between the dunes and hills of the northern side of Paracas National Reserve is Cequion Bay — the largest flat terrain in the part of the Reserve. (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

This enormous effort was well worth it. We suspect that, after 70 years, Peruvian terns have learned to manage the road that disrupted and likely fragmented their habitat. We identified 20 active nests and 26 past activities, including two new nesting areas adjacent to the road that were previously unreported. Noise can have a major impact on bird populations, so the fact that some terns are still nesting near the road is encouraging for their long-term conservation. It tells us that they are both resilient and adaptable.

The sound recorders and cameras told similar stories. Images showed adult terns undaunted by road traffic. Sounds near the road were loud and covered a large sound spectrum, but about 656 feet (200 meters) away, the road noise was nearly undetectable. Most of the nests we found were located far from the road, where our sound recorders detected only the birds’ morning calls.

When we started our study, we wondered what could threaten this tiny bird that looks like an avian Batman with its “mask” of black feathers and has evolved to survive desert predators and sandstorms alike. Surveying such a big area gave us unexpected information that portrays a complex scenario for their conservation. Inside the park, we found lots of garbage, dogs tracks and illegal roads. The garbage pollutes the terns’ nesting habitat, but dog tracks and illegal roads are another story. Domestic animals are predators of wildlife and could pose a threat to the terns.

A Peruvian tern nest containing two tiny eggs, each with spotted coloration that matches the ground. (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

Illegal roads were the most unexpected and worrying discovery. Their existence is subtle, but this landscape has memory (and a particularly good one for tracks made by cars). No matter how strongly winds blow, the roads are still visible. We mapped each one and saw a tangle of existing illegal roads traversing the terns’ nesting area, and two new roads appeared during our study. With few paved roads, it’s tempting for park visitors to take old short-cuts or make new ones. The terns cannot avoid the destructive effects of visitors searching for hidden beaches or exclusive sunset views, or local fishermen looking for the daily catch.

At the beginning of September 2020, after wrapping up months of data analyses, we stood in front of the Peruvian environmental authorities to tell the evidence-based story of Peruvian terns, share our findings, and make recommendations for their long-term conservation. Our research made the Peruvian tern visible. Peru and Chile are now joining forces to recover the tern’s depleted populations. With our data and lessons learned, we are developing an ambitious, integrated monitoring program to stop the Peruvian tern from taking a one-way detour to extinction. As we work on this rescue plan, I am reminded of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s mission: We save species. We do. And for this work, we must try to be just like the Peruvian tern, invincible.

#Nature

[celebritylive]

An Illinois mother and daughter were left injured and terrified after being attacked by a rare exotic cat while walking through their neighborhood.

The large animal, which Bloomington police officials identified as a Caracal, was reportedly living in a nearby home but had escaped, CI Proud reports.

The frightening encounter occurred over the weekend, while a mother and her child were enjoying a Sunday stroll through their Bloomington neighborhood, according to the outlet.

Their walk took a terrifying turn, however, when the pair came across the Caracal which was also walking down the sidewalk before it launched its attack.

Bloomington Police Department responded to the scene just before 11 a.m., where they were reportedly informed by residents that the large cat had pounced on the child before the mother was able to distract it and bring her daughter to safety.

RELATED VIDEO: Can I Own an Exotic Animal?

Once police and animal control arrived, the Caracal was shot after it lunged at them, CI Proud reports. Officials were also able to locate the owner of the cat and reportedly issued several ordinance violations.

It is not illegal to own a Caracal in the state of Illinois, though similar animals, such as leopards, ocelots, jaguars, lynx, bobcats, and cheetahs, are prohibited, according to Big Cat Rescue.

The woman and her child luckily did not suffer any life-threatening injuries but were treated for puncture wounds and scratches, CI Proud reports.

Bloomington Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

RELATED: Woman Attacked by Zoo Jaguar Apologizes For Incident; Big Cat Will Not Be Euthanized

Caracals, which are similar to a lynx, are typically found in regions of Africa and northwest India and can weigh anywhere between 25-40 pounds, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

They are sometimes referred to as desert lynx because of the long, black-furred tufts on their ears, according to the biology institute.

As carnivores, the Caracal usually preys on birds, rodents, and small antelopes, according to the Smithsonian. Big Cat Rescue reports that they will not hesitate to kill prey larger than themselves.

Caracals, who are excellent jumpers, were also once trained for bird hunting in Iran and India and are capable of knocking down 10-12 birds at once, according to Big Cat Rescue.

from PEOPLE.com http://bit.ly/2xdsiy0

[evoldir]

Fwd: Graduate position: BangorU.AnthropoChangePoisonFrogs

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Graduate position: BangorU.AnthropoChangePoisonFrogs > Date: 15 November 2022 at 06:52:41 GMT > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > PhD position (fully funded) available to study the effects of > Anthropogenic habitat disturbance on poison frog microbiomes and disease > susceptibility > > The labs of Dr. Aaron Comeault and Dr. Amy Ellison are inviting applicants > for a PhD studentship (stipend + research funds) to be held at Bangor > University in North Wales (UK and international applicants welcome). > > This project explores the impacts of Anthropogenic disturbance on > Poison frogs in Ecuador and is in collaboration with Dr. Justin Yeager > at Universidad de Las Américas (Ecuador) and Dr. Carly Muletz-Wolz > at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute > (USA). Details below, deadline for applications is 11 January 2023 via > the Envision DTP website. > > Link: > https://ift.tt/R1LPb5w > > Description: > Anthropogenic disturbance, coupled with climate change, is a leading > cause of biodiversity loss. In Ecuador, approximately 97% of the > Chocó biodiversity hotspot is now deforested, underscoring the need to > understand and predict species’ responses to Anthropogenic change. This > project will interrogate behavioural and microbial responses in the > diablito poison frog, Oophaga sylvatica as a test case to assess how > species respond to disturbance and climate change. Because microbiomes > are dynamic and affected by both the ecology and genetics of their host, > a central goal in disease ecology is to understand how the environment > interacts with an organism’s behaviour to affect both their microbiome > and disease susceptibility. > > In this project, the student will use a combination of fieldwork and > molecular approaches to investigate the links between Anthropogenic > habitat modification, frog behaviour, the microbiome of the diablito > poison frog (Oophaga sylvatica), and susceptibility to the fungal skin > pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd); considered one of the > greatest threats to vertebrate biodiversity around the world. > > The project offers a wealth of opportunities for the student to gain > experience in molecular biology, evolutionary genetics, microbiology, > disease ecology and science communication. The studentship will be based > within the Molecular Ecology and Evolution group at Bangor University > (meeb.bangor.ac.uk), a world leader in the analyses of molecular > data addressing global issues in disease biology and evolutionary > genomics. It offers a dynamic and supportive training environment > for young scientists. The student will also undertake fieldwork and > internships with project partners in Ecuador and the USA. > > Essential skills are a minimum 2:1 BSc or equivalent in Life Sciences, > with good numerate skills and enthusiasm for disease ecology, genome > analyses, and tropical fieldwork. Desirable skills are a postgraduate > degree (e.g. MSc or MRes) and/or contribution to scientific publication, > molecular laboratory and/or international fieldwork. > > For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Aaron Comeault > (a.comeault@bangor.ac.uk) and/or Dr Amy Ellison (a.ellison@bangor.ac.uk) > > > Aaron A. Comeault, PhD. (he/him/his) > Lecturer in Zoology (Evolutionary Biology) > Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor > Bangor University, School of Natural Sciences > Environment Centre Wales > Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK > > website: https://ift.tt/fYU5tPm > > > Mae croeso i chi gysylltu gyda'r Brifysgol yn Gymraeg neu Saesneg. Ni > fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi. > > You are welcome to contact the University in Welsh or > English. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to delay. > > Rhif Elusen Gofrestredig 1141565 - Registered Charity No. 1141565 > > > Aaron Comeault

[evoldir]

Fwd: Job: GeorgeWashingtonU.BiodiversityInformatics

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Job: GeorgeWashingtonU.BiodiversityInformatics > Date: 5 November 2019 at 10:41:57 CET > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > Tenure-track Faculty Position in Biodiversity Informatics > > Department of Biological Sciences > > The George Washington University > > The Department of Biological Sciences at the George Washington University > (GWU) invites applicants for a tenure-track faculty position in* > Biodiversity Informatics (data science)* at the rank of Assistant > Professor, to begin as early as the Fall 2020 Semester. We encourage a > broad array of applicants working with “big data,” including but not > limited to: i) artificial intelligence applied to biological systems; ii) > -omics (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, phenomics, etc.); and iii) > evolutionary, ecological, environmental, and global change biology. The > successful candidate will complement our existing strengths in > multidisciplinary research areas such as Systematics, Evolution, Evo-Devo, > Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation. They > will be expected to establish and maintain an externally funded research > program comprising graduate and undergraduate students. Teaching duties > include undergraduate courses that contribute towards the new undergraduate > curriculum in Data Science as well as upper division Biology electives in > their area of expertise. We encourage applications from individuals with > identities historically underrepresented in STEM, and those who have > experience working with diverse student populations. > > Office space and start-up funding will be provided. As a computational > investigator, no dedicated laboratory space is available, but collaborative > opportunities in shared spaces will be available as needed. Institutional > resources at GWU include a high-performance computing center, greenhouse, > core facilities in genomics, imaging, nano-fabrication, histology, and > flow-cytometry. Our location in Washington DC offers superior undergraduate > and graduate learning opportunities through access to the GW Computational > Biology Institute, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Institutes of > Health, and a consortium of universities in the DC area. > > Required Qualifications: A completed PhD and postdoctoral training in > biological sciences, computer science, mathematics or related fields as > well as research accomplishments that integrate biology and data science, > as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications in high quality journals. > > Application Procedure: To be considered, complete an online faculty > application at https://ift.tt/2PQZCFB and upload the following > documents: (i) cover letter describing interests and qualifications for the > position; (ii) curriculum vitae including a full list of publications; > (iii) brief research and teaching statements; (iv) three recent > publications; (v) diversity statement that highlights past experiences and > future plans related to supporting a diverse and inclusive educational > community; (vi) and include the names and contact information of three > referees. Letters of recommendation from referees will be requested at a > later stage for candidates advancing to the second stage of the process. > Only complete applications will be considered. > > Review of applications will begin on December 4, 2019 and continue until > the position is filled, pending final budgetary approval. Employment offers > are contingent on the satisfactory outcome of a standard background > screening. > > The George Washington University is an Equal Employment > Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not unlawfully > discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, > color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, > sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis > prohibited by applicable law. > > Please contact Dr. Alex Pyron (rpyron@gwu.edu) with any questions. > > Alex Pyron > via IFTTT