ASIH Members News and Notices
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- WILMER TANNER PASSES AWAY ON 28 OCTOBER 2011
Wilmer Tanner passed away of natural causes recently. Details will be forthcoming. He was two months shy of celebrating his 102nd birthday according to an email from Jack Sites. - ROHLF MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN MORPHOMETRIC METHODS AND APPLICATIONS
The Rohlf Medal was established in 2006 to mark the 70th birthday of F. James Rohlf, longtime Stony Brook University faculty member. Recipients of the Medal are recognized for their body of work in morphometrics. Please go to life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/people/rohlfdinner for further information.
Please join us on October 24, 2011 to present the first Rohlf Medal to Fred L. Bookstein, Professor of Statistics, University of Washington and Universitätsprofessor of Morphometrics, Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna and to celebrate the career of Prof. F. James Rohlf, John S. Toll Professor of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University.
4:30 pm – Presentation of the Rohlf Medal and Provost Lecture: “Biology and Mathematical Imagination: the Meaning of Morphometrics.” Charles B. Wang Center, Lecture Hall. (Lecture open to the public.)
6:00 pm – Rohlf Medal Dinner and Celebration, Charles B. Wang Center, Zodiac Gallery. $60.00 per person for the dinner only. Please register by October 14, 2011 at: http://naples.cc.sunysb.edu/Pres/confsecct.nsf/rohlf.
- WINNER ANNOUNCED FOR THE NEW JMIH LOGO! (8 Aug 2011)
Congratulations to Kevin Wang, for submitting a gorgeous full-color logo design that will be the permanent face of JMIH for years to come. The attendees at the 2011 JMIH in Minneapolis cast their votes, and Kevin's submission was the clear favorite. Watch the JMIH website in upcoming months to see its public debut. Many thanks to all who participated; indeed there are some very talented artists among the JMIH (and JMIH-related) ranks!
Best regards,
Joe Mendelson, SSAR President - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS - THE ROLF MEDAL (8 JUNE 2011)
The Rohlf Medal was established in 2006 by his family and friends to mark the 70th birthday of F. James Rohlf, Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolution and longtime Stony Brook University faculty member. Recipients of the Rohlf Medal will be recognized for excellence in their body of work on the development of new multivariate morphometric methods or for their applications in the biomedical sciences, including evolutionary biology, population biology, physical anthropology, and medicine. The term “morphometrics” is intended to include multivariate statistical analysis of biological shape and its covariation with other variables, especially those that analyze shape in a comprehensive way. The award can recognize advancements in the mathematical or statistical theory underlying morphometric methods, new software that implements or visualizes new or existing methods, or specific new biological findings that rely crucially on contemporary morphometric methods.
The successful candidate will receive the first Rohlf Medal and a cash prize at Stony Brook University on Monday 24 October 2011. She or he will deliver a lecture that is appropriate for an educated general audience concerning the morphometric research for which the Rohlf Medal was awarded.
Candidates for the Rohlf Medal may be self-nominated or nominated by others. They must have attained the postdoctoral level or its equivalent. Nomination packages should include (1) a description of the body of work (not to exceed two pages) on which the candidacy is based, (2) reprints of no more than three relevant papers and/or software products, (3) a curriculum vitae, and (4) the names and addresses of three referees. Nominating packages should be uploaded to the Rohlf Medal website (http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/rohlf_medal/apply.html) and received by 1 September 2011 to be assured of full consideration. - STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS - 2011 MEETING
ASIH Graduate Student Travel Awards
Travel awards of $300 each ($500 for intercontinental travelers) will be awarded to help defray travel expenses to participate in the 2011 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. A student may apply for an award in only one category (ichthyology or herpetology). The awards will be chosen by random draw. You are eligible for an ASIH travel award if:You are currently a graduate student AND a member of ASIHYou are presenting your research at the 2011 JMIH (oral or poster presentation)You have not previously received an ASIH travel awardYou are eligible for an intercontinental award if you will be traveling to the meeting from a location that will require an intercontinental flight. Students attending North American schools are eligible for an intercontinental travel award if they will be traveling to the meeting directly from a field site in another continent. If you receive a travel award, you are obligated to work four one-hour shifts at the ASIH raffle table during the meeting. Once you have completed your shifts, you can pick up your check from the raffle coordinator.To apply for an ASIH graduate student travel award, please fill out the http://www.dce.k-state.edu/conf/jointmeeting/docs/ASIH-grad-travel-application.doc application and send it to Dustin Siegel at dsiegel2@gmail.com by May 3, 2011.The application can be obtained on the JMIH website. - HERPETOLOGISTS NEEDED FOR 2012 SYMPOSIUM - 15 FEBRUARY 2011
I would like to submit a proposal for an ASIH symposium in 2012 on ectotherm ecology with stable isotope analysis. Recently, studies using stable isotope techniques have been focusing on ectotherm ecology.My own research interests are with applications to modern and paleo-elasmobranch ecology. However, I have noted the limited number of papers on ectotherm taxa and think this symposium would greatly benefit from representation across all ectothermic animals, especially turtles, crocodiles, amphibians, and reptiles. Unfortunately, these taxa are not my area of expertise and I do not know many researchers who focus on these taxa. Thus, I am asking researchers and/or potential symposium participants with a specialty in herpetofauna to contact me so that I might gauge interest in this topic. I can be contacted at skim11@uwyo.edu Sora Kim Post-doctoral Researcher Department of Geology & Geophysics University of Wyoming #3006 Laramie Wyoming 82071 - GRADUATE COURSE IN EARLY LIFE HISTORY OF MARINE FISHES - SUMMER 2011
This lecture and laboratory course uniquely offers a comprehensive view of the biology, morphology and taxonomy of early life stages of fishes, based on a 190 family teaching collection assembled by the late John Olney. Course takes place from 6-24 June 2011 at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Instructors are: Professor Edward D. Houde (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science), Dr. G. David Johnson (NMNH, Smithsonian Institution), Dr. Nalani K. Schnell and Dr. Troy Tuckey (College of William and Mary). For further information about the course and registration details please visit our website http://web.vims.edu/adv/657/ - INTERNATIONAL BEHAVIOR CONFERENCE, BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - 19 JANUARY 2011
The first joint meeting of the International Ethological Conference (IEC) and the Animal Behavior Society (ABS) will be held at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA from July 25th - July 30th, 2011.More information can be found at the conference website: http://www.indiana.edu/~behav11/index.shtml . - SABIN AWARD FOR AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION - 18 JANUARY 2011
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Thanks to a generous donation from Andrew Sabin, the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) is seeking nominations for the fourth annual award to recognize individuals and groups who have made a significant contribution to promoting the conservation of globally threatened amphibians. The award will be open to individuals or groups from all disciplines relevant to amphibian conservation and research anywhere in the world. Nominations of individuals from developing countries are highly encouraged.
ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES
Individuals or groups will be considered based on contributions in any area. Examples include:
• Habitat Protection
• Capacity Building
• Education/Awareness
• Policy
• Species recovery projects
• Advances in understanding threats and how they may be mitigated
• Improving knowledge of status and distribution of amphibians
• Innovative approaches to conservation
AWARD CEREMONY
The award of 25,000 USD will be presented to the selected recipient at a Reception in New York in Spring 2011.
NOMINATIONS
Nominations should be emailed to Robin Moore at rdmoore@conservation. org, including the name of the individual or group and a detailed description of what they have done and its significance for amphibian conservation. Nominees will be assessed by a review panel representing a broad cross-section of disciplines. The closing date for nominations is Jan 31 2011. - SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION REU PROGRAM FOR UNDERGRADS - 12 JANUARY 2011
The Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, is pleased to announce the 2011 competition for paid undergraduate summer research internships at the museum (Washington, DC). The application deadline is February 7, 2011. Details and applications can be found at http://www.mnh.si.edu/NHRE/. Please forward this email to all interested parties and post the attached announcement to your organization’s list-serves and bulletin boards. Smithsonian is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage individuals from groups under-represented in the sciences to apply.
Questions may be addressed to our program administrator, Virginia Power, powerv@si.edu - MERITORIOUS TEACHING AWARD IN HERPETOLOGY - 5 JANUARY 2011
The Herpetology Education Committee is seeking nominations for the Meritorious Teaching Award in Herpetology, sponsored by the American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists, The Herpetologists’ League, and the Society for the Study of Amphibians & Reptiles. The award will be given at the annual Joint Meetings of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists (JMIH) to recognize superior teaching effectiveness and mentoring of students in the area of herpetology. Nomination materials should be submitted to the committee chair, Cathy Bevier (crbevier@colby.edu) by March 31, 2011. For details on this award and the nomination procedure, please contact Cathy or visit this URL:www.herpetologistsleague.org/en/news.php - PETITION TO SAVE THE SAN MARCO MUSEUM IN PERU - 19 NOVEMBER 2010
2010
Dear Colleague:
This message is to inform you of a threat to the future of the largest biological scientific collections in the oldest Peruvian institution, the Natural History Museum (Museo de Historia Natural). The authorities of the University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru have unilaterally decided to propose the construction of a building in the area presently occupied by the Natural History Museum. Their plan under the pompous name of Academic, Cultural and Research Complex does not offer the needed housing for the largest scientific collection in the country, nor for any improvement of research facilities for the study of its biodiversity. Despite that the role of the museum in the life of the University has been widely recognized and praised by the same authorities, since their affiliates contribute a large part of the scientific publications of the institution (in peer reviewed journals like PNAS, Science, Nature); they have ignored or diminished the role and needs of the scientific legacy housed in the museum. There is almost a complete lack of financial support of the authorities of the university to the Natural History Museum with a budget of less than 108000 US dollars per year, only 35% of which is devoted to the activities related to the scientific collections. The Natural History Museum in Lima is an institution over 80 years old that includes the largest collections of the flora and fauna of the country. The herbarium includes over 500,000 plant specimens, the mammal collection near 37000, birds 28000, amphibians and reptiles 50000, fish 450000, insects and arachnids 750000, mollusks 30000, geological samples and fossils 9000. It also includes historical collections made by naturalists during the XIX and part of the XX centuries such as Raimondi, Taczanowski, Jelski, Stolzman, Weberbauer, Weyrauch, Eigenmann, and Koepcke.
To sign the petition online please visit:
http://www.petitiononline.com/musm1710/petition.html - OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LIFE - 18 NOVEMBER 2010
The Encyclopedia of Life Learning + Education Group would like to introduce undergraduate biology instructors to a new set of tools that enable students to research and publish species accounts to the Encyclopedia of Life (www.eol.org). The EOL Learning + Education Group, based at Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology, works in collaboration with <http://education.eol.org/collaborations/undergrad_init2>three partners (<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html>Animal Diversity Web, <http://amphibiaweb.org/>AmphibiaWeb and <http://mushroomobserver.org/?_js=on&_new=true>Mushroom Observer) who provide online collaborative tools to facilitate the writing of species accounts by undergraduate biology students for specific taxonomic groups. EOL’s <http://www.edulifedesks.org/>Education LifeDesk is another species page authoring tool suitable for any taxonomic group. The opportunity to research and publish these accounts to the Encyclopedia of Life is a challenge that many students find highly motivating and rewarding.
If you are interested in incorporating writing species accounts into your course, visit:
http://education.eol.org/collaborations/undergrad_init2
email us at
http://education.eol.org
education@eol.org
About The Encyclopedia of Life
The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL, www.eol.org) is a global collaboration between scientists and the general public to make authoritative information about all 1.9 million named species freely accessible online. Please visit:
http://education.eol.org/collaborations/under_init1
to hear some first-hand accounts from students and professors. - SECOND MEDITERRANEAN CONGRESS OF HERPETOLOGY - 27 OCTOBER 2010
Dear Colleague,
We are very pleased to transmit to you in the attached file the Second
Circular and the registration form of the Second Mediterranean
Congress of Herpetology (CMH2) which will be held at Marrakech
(Morocco) from 23 to 27 May 2011. For additional information, check our web site http://www.ucam.ac.ma/cmh2 . Complementary information will be progressively added in this web site. We would be very grateful if you could forward this message to everyone who may be interested in this congress.
Sincerely,
The CMH2 organizing committee.
Pr. Tahar Slimani
Comité d’Organisation du CMH2
Département de BiologieFaculté des Sciences
SemlaliaBP : 2390,
Marrakech 40 000.Maroc
Téléphone : + 212 5 24 43 46 P. 462,
Fax : + 212 5 24 43 74 12
E-mail : cmh2@ucam.ac.ma
web site : http://www.ucam.ac.ma/cmh2 - NATIONAL EVOLUTIONARY SYNTHESIS CENTER OPPORTUNITIES - 27 OCTOBER 2010
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY AND RELATED FIELDS
We are now accepting proposals for Postdoctoral Fellowships at The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). We are looking to support innovative approaches to outstanding problems in evolutionary biology. Proposals are due December 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS - SABBATICAL SCHOLARS AND COLLABORATIVE WORKING GROUPS
Proposals for Sabbaticals and for collaborative working groups (Working Groups and Catalysis Meetings) are now being accepted at The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). We are looking to support innovative approaches to outstanding problems in evolutionary biology. In particular, proposals that have a clear interdisciplinary focus, or involve evolutionary concepts in non-traditional disciplines, are strongly encouraged, as are proposals that demonstrate international participation and a mix of senior and emerging researchers, including graduate students. Proposals for Working Groups and Catalysis Meetings are accepted twice a year, with deadlines on July 10 and December 1. Proposals for Sabbaticals may be one semester to a full year (deadlines July 10 and December 1) or they may be for short-term visits (2 weeks to 3 months; deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1). For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php.
GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS IN EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY AND RELATED FIELDS
NESCent is now including graduate training in its portfolio, by offering one-semester fellowships for graduate students to pursue research with a NESCent sabbatical scholar, a NESCent postdoctoral scholar, or a NESCent Working Group. Deadlines are January 1 (for a fall semester fellowship) and July 1 (for a spring semester fellowship). For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php.
- NEW BOOK ON FISH BIOGEOGRAPHY - J. ALBERT & R. REIS - 11 October 2010New book: Historical Biogeography of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes (edited by James Albert and Roberto Reis) UC PressHardcover, 424 pages (ISBN: 9780520268685)$85.00, £59.00.Description:The fish faunas of continental South and Central America constitute one of the greatest concentrations of aquatic diversity on Earth, consisting of about 10 percent of all living vertebrate species. Historical Biogeography of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes explores the evolutionary origins of this unique ecosystem. The chapters address central themes in the study of tropical biodiversity: why is the Amazon basin home to so many distinct evolutionary lineages? What roles do ecological specialization, speciation, and extinction play in the formation of regional assemblages? How do dispersal barriers contribute to isolation and diversification? Focusing on whole faunas rather than individual taxonomic groups, this volume shows that the area’s high regional diversity is not the result of recent diversification in lowland tropical rainforests. Rather, it is the product of species accumulating over tens of millions of years and across a continental arena.Advanced orders can be placed online at:
- NEW BOOK BY GOVERNOR THEODORE W. PIETSCH - 2 October 2010
THE CURIOUS DEATH OF PETER ARTEDI: A MYSTERY IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE
Theodore W. PietschOctober 2010, 242 pp., Scott & Nix, hardcover, $25.95 (9780982510285)
Eighteenth-century contemporaries saw only a tragic accident when the promising ichthyologist Peter Artedi himself joined the fishes as he tumbled to his 1735 death in an Amsterdam canal. But in this fascinating and impeccably researched novel, Pietsch opens a more sinister possibility. For in a lightly fictionalized account of Artedi's intense but strained friendship with the revolutionary biologist Carl Linnaeus, readers brush up against dark hints that the senior scientist connives in the younger researcher's death. Even if Pietsch moves slightly beyond the historical evidence, the factually grounded bulk of the narrative makes his artistic interpolations entirely plausible. For more than any other man in Holland, Linnaeus has the motive, means, and opportunity for snuffing out his brilliant young rival. Readers see, in particular, how the brilliant but arrogant and impulsive Linnaeus becomes inflamed with jealousy at his collaborator's accomplishments, finally boiling over with covetousness for Artedi's groundbreaking manuscripts, craved as a vital prop for his own meisterwerk in biological classification. Himself a distinguished marine biologist, Pietsch recognizes what is at stake in these men's science. But it is through imaginative vision, not science, that he fathoms the turbid emotions that can turn a towering but merciless genius against a vulnerable collaborator. A truly highbrow whodunit that will be of interest to readers of historical fiction, literary thrillers, and scientific history.Bryce Christensen, Booklist, the magazine of the American Library Association, October 2010. - INTERNATIONAL BIOGEOGRAPHY SOCIETY MEETING - JAN. 2011
The International Biogeography Society will hold its 5th Biennial Conference in Crete, from 7th to 11th January, 2011. Registration, abstract submission for symposia and contributed papers open late-August 2010. Symposium themes include: Mediterranean biogeography, new perspectives on Comparative Phylogeography, synthesizing Biogeography and Ecology, and analytical advancements in Macroecology and Biogeography. Contributed paper sessions will focus on the biogeography of islands, climate change, conservation, palaeoecology, marine environments. More information: http://www.biogeography.org/html/Meetings/index.html - FIRE SALE - ASIH INVENTORY OF PUBLICATIONS
All special publications of the ASIH and all existing back issues of Copeia are on sale from today until 31 December for $0.50/Copeia issue and $5.00/book-length publication, plus shipping (Copeia issues: $4 domestic, $12.50 international/ea; books: $15 domestic, $34 Canada and Mexico, $56 other countries/ea.) and handling ($5.50 each). The fire sale ends on 31 December 2010. On 1 January 2011 we will instruct Allen Press to reduce our inventory, so get in on this great deal today. Prices for any remaining inventory will then return to their current rates on 1 January 2011.
Special Publication 6: "An Empirical Synthetic Pattern Study of Gars (Lepisosteiformes) and Closely Related Species, Based Mostly on Skeletal Anatomy. The Resurrection of Holostei" by Lance Grande will be published soon, and one free copy made available to each ASIH member for the cost of shipping and handling. Shipping rates will be determined after the book is printed. Additional copies will be available to members for $100 each and to nonmembers for $200 (plus shipping and handling) after we complete distribution to the membership.
Allen Press will begin accepting orders on 30 August 2010. JOB POSTINGS ON ASIH WEBSITE
Andres Lopez has taken over this responsibility for the ASIH. Please send job ads to: jalopez2@alaska.edu- JMIH LOGO COMPETITION -6 AUGUST 2010JOINT MEETING OF ICHTHYOLOGISTS & HERPETOLOGISTS
(JMIH)
OFFICIAL LOGO CONTEST
Concept: As is well known to all memberships, the Herpetologists’ League, American Elasmobranch Society, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, and Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, have embarked on a plan to meet jointly in most years for the foreseeable future. Thus, the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH) is the official name for this annual meeting of the four societies. The JMIH needs a logo of its own, in part to facilitate a registration website that can be made active before the annual “local logo” may be prepared, and in part to identify the reality of this important ongoing partnership of our societies. Note that this JMIH logo will be a permanent symbol of the JMIH and will not replace the popular annual “local logo” that makes the t-shirts, programs, and other materials of each year’s JMIH both memorable and unique. JMIH will hold publishing rights to the logo.
Contest: The JMIH logo needs to reflect our interests in cartilaginous and bony fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. If you are artistic and would like to submit a logo for consideration, please:· Notify Joe Mendelson and submit your logo as a TIFF file by 1 March 2011
· Method of voting will be determined by the number of entries. If there are more than five entries, then an on-line voting mechanism will be used to identify the top five entries. This would take place from 15 March to 30 April. All members of all of the societies will be notified of the URL for the on-line voting platform.
· The five finalist entries will be on display at the 2011 Minneapolis JMIH, where the attendees will have a chance to vote for their favorites, and the winning entry will be selected and announced at the JMIH banquet.
Submissions should be sent electronically (e.g., high resolution TIFF file) to Joe Mendelson: jmendelson@zooatlanta.org
Call for papers for the 5th National Symposium on the Ecology, Status, and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin - 30 July 2010
LUMCON W. J. DeFelice Marine Center, Chauvin, LA, 12-14 November 2010. The Diamondback Terrapin Working Group is made up of individuals from academic, scientific, regulatory and private institutions/organizations working to promote the conservation of the diamondback terrapin, the preservation of intact, wild terrapin populations and their associated ecosystems throughout their range. DTWG is committed to and supports research, management, conservation, and education efforts with the above goals in mind. This conference is a forum for the presentation of current information on terrapin research and conservation. In addition to updating colleagues on current research, the conference can serve as a forum to identify research needs, foster friendships, and rekindle interest in terrapins by bringing people with diverse backgrounds together. All interested individuals are invited. We are accepting abstracts for oral papers and posters from now until 1 October 2010. Posters will be on display on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning. The poster session will be on Saturday afternoon. Presentations are planned to be 20 minutes in total length (15 min. presentation, 5 min. questions). For more information please see http://www.dtwg.org or contact Dr. Russell Burke, Department of Biology, Hofstra University, 516.463.5521, mailto:biorlb@hofstra.edu- 2010 Higlights from the Meeting:
ASIH Elections
In the Board of Governor's elections, Henry R. Mushinsky was elected to serve a three-year term on the Henry S. Fitch Award Committee, Eric J. Hilton was elected to serve a three year term on the Robert H. Gibbs, Jr. Memorial Award Committee, and Alan H. Savitzky was elected to serve a three-year term on the Robert K. Johnson Award Committee. In the general election, all incumbent officers were re-elected. Jacob Schaefer was elected to serve as an associate editor for Ecology & Ethology. W. Leo Smith was elected as an associate editor for Genetics, Development & Morphology. Richard Vari was elected to serve as the chair of the nominating committee. Stephen T. Ross, Rafael de Sa, and Roger Anderson were elected to serve on the nominating committee. Andrew Storfer will replace Anne Maglia in the BOG Class of 2011, but unlike the other members of that class, he will be eligible for re-election next year. The herpetological members of the Class of 2015 are Chuck Crumly, Bobby Espinoza, Ann Paterson, Steven Richter, and Mary White. The ichthyologists in the Class of 2015 are: John Friel, Edie Marsh-Matthews, Tom Munroe, Mark Pyron, and Jacqueline Webb. The President-Elect for 2011 is Steven J. Beaupre. Congratulations to all and thanks to all those who agreed to stand in nomination. The society could not run without your volunteerism.
STUDENT AWARD WINNERS:
The Stoye Winners for 2010 were: Justin Davis (Conservation); Katie Groom (Ecology & Ethology); Jennifer Eichelberger (Genetics, Development & Morphology); Neil Aschliman (General Ichthyology); Sean Graham (Physiology & Physiological Ecology)
The Storer Winners for 2010 were: Edward Stanley (Herpetology); Malorie Hayes (Ichthyology)
Congratulations to the 2010 winners!
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS:
John G. Lundberg (Robert H. Gibbs, Jr. Memorial Award), Thomas W. Schoener (Henry S. Fitch Award for Excellence in Herpetology), and Joseph S. Nelson (Robert K. Johnson Award)
Please join us next year in Minneapolis, MN (6-11 July 2011) - MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR JAMES ATZ (FROM JOSH ATZ)
Dear ASIH Members:
My name is Josh Atz and it is quite possible that my dad, James W. Atz, is one of the oldest current members of the organization. His 95 th birthday will be the 23 rd of this month. Although he is not strong enough to attend the meeting he did send along his remaining copies of Dopeia , his compilation of cold blooded critter cartoons from the 1991 ASIH meeting in New York City. He hopes that at least some of you attending the meeting have had a chance to see it and chuckle.
My dad would welcome any greetings and updates from the membership. They can be sent to my email address, babatz@aol.com (James Atz in the subject line would help me) or by mail to his address at Room Fir 602 Caleb Hitchcock Health Center, Room Fir 602, 10 Loeffler Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002.
Thank you for your attention.
Josh Atz - ASSISTANCE FOR THE BUTANTAN INSTITUTE - 18 MAY 2010
By now most of you may have heard of the terrible accident that wiped the largest snake and invertebrate collection in Brazil (80,000 snake specimens and 450,000 invertebrates). There aren't many large collections in Brazil, and this is by far the largest lost we ever had of scientific material. The collection contained the largest geographic coverage, the largest number of type specimens, and the largest number of ongoing projects on snake taxonomy in the country. Students lost their dissertations and thesis, professors lost a life of research. It is hard to quantify the magnitude of this lost at the moment, but the accident will likely defray the growth of our knowledge on neotropical snake taxonomy for decades. At this moment researchers in Brazil have been discussing how we can help. The building will need to be demolished, as the fire condemned it beyond reconstruction. Specimen donations will occur only after this problem is solved.
Another terrible aspect of this accident was the lost of bibliographic material. Again, as with collections, we do not have many comprehensive libraries. The curator of the snake collection, Dr. Francisco Franco (aka Kiko) is a bibliophile and likely had one of the largest libraries on neotropical snakes. All his books and reprints were lost in the fire.
Many of us have spare reprints an book copies. Because of this, we are now organizing donations to the herpetology lab of Butantan Institute.
If you could please advertise this to anyone who can help, we would be very grateful. Donations can be sent to the following address:
Dr. Francisco Franco; Instituto Butantan; Laboratório de Herpetologia; Av. Doutor Vital; Brazil, 1500, São Paulo, SP05503-900Brazil; flfranco@butantan.gov.br - COLLECTION REBUILDING - UNIVERSITY OF CONCEPCION FISH COLLECTION - CHILE
I am told by my friend and colleague, Victor Hugo Ruiz, that their fish collection was about 95% destroyed during the earthquake. Victor’s office was in the fish collection room. Here is what he wrote to me via e-mail: “I think that we will be able to recover a part of the collection in approximately three to four years, but there were fish of great value product of expeditions difficult to repeat and product of the work of many people (Hulot, Fischer, Berra, Beddings, Small, Fields, Mann, Randall, Rendall, Yañez-Arancibia, Olivre Schneider, Ojeda etc.) and of many years.” Victor expects to be allowed back into his office to deal with the mess today (Monday 15 March 2010). I asked if there was anything the ichthyological community could do and this was his reply: “In a near future It would be good that some icthyologists could do a few donations of fish to us, to increase our collection. Donations of fishes always will be welcome; this can go to: Dr. Jorge Artigas Coch – Curador del Museo Zoológico de la Universidad de Concepción, - Departamento de Zoología – Casilla 160-C Concepción, Chile. Thank you very much for your good intentions.Please think about sending some specimens to rebuild the collection.
Thanks for the consideration
Tim M. Berra, Ph.D.
berra.1@osu.edu
- NESCENT SABBATICAL SCHOLARS AND COLLABORATIVE WORKING GROUPS - 20 APRIL 2010
Proposals for Sabbaticals and for collaborative working groups (Working Groups and Catalysis Meetings) are now being accepted at The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). We are looking to support innovative approaches to outstanding problems in evolutionary biology. In particular, proposals that have a clear interdisciplinary focus, or involve evolutionary concepts in non-traditional disciplines, are strongly encouraged, as are proposals that demonstrate international participation and a mix of senior and emerging researchers, including graduate students. Proposals for Working Groups and Catalysis Meetings are accepted twice a year, with deadlines on July 10 and December 1. Proposals for Sabbaticals may be one semester to a full year (deadlines June 10 and December 1) or they may be for short-term visits (2 weeks to 3 months; deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1). NESCent is also now seeking to include graduate traineeship to our portfolio by offering one-semester fellowships for graduate students to pursue research either with a NESCent sabbatical scholar or with a NESCent Working Group. For more information, please see our website at:
https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php - TEACHING AWARD - HERPETOLOGY - 9 MARCH 2010
REMINDER: The March 31, 2010 deadline to nominate your worthy mentors and teachers for the Meritorious Teaching Award in Herpetology is quickly approaching! A complete description of the award and nomination process can be found at http://ssarherps.org/pages/herpeducation.php OR http://www.herpetologistsleague.org/en/news.php
If you have questions please contact Cathy Bevier (crbevier@colby.edu) - WILD TROUT X SYMPOSIUM 2010 - 22 JANUARY 2010
The Wild Trout X Symposium will bring together a diverse audience of governmental entities, non-profit conservation groups, educators, anglers, and business interests associated with trout fisheries to exchange technical information and viewpoints on wild trout management and public policy. The meeting offers a unique forum for professionals and anglers to interact, where participants will to be exposed to the latest in wild trout science, technology and philosophies. Abstracts on all aspects of wild trout research, management, conservation, education, and recreation are welcome and will be considered
Presentations will be accepted in oral or poster format, so please specify your preference and whether you would be willing to present in either format. Authors who are selected for oral presentations at the symposium must submit a complete manuscript ready for Symposium Proceedings by August 31, 2010.
Abstract submission should be sent electronically to Kevin Meyer (address below) by April 1, 2010 using Word Perfect or MS Word file format. Guidelines for abstract, poster, and manuscript preparation can be found at the Wild Trout X web site: http://www.wildtroutsymposium.com
For additional information and inquiries, contact the Program Committee Co-chairs: Kevin Meyer (Kevin.meyer@idfg.idaho.gov) or Doug Besler (doug.besler@ncwildlife.org)
Award/Scholarship Nomination Deadline: April 1, 2010. Nominations are invited for the Aldo Starker Leopold Wild Trout Medal, the Marty Seldon Student Scholarship Award and the Trout Unlimited-Federation of Fly Fishers Wild Trout Stewardship Award. Details of the awards and scholarships can be found on our website. Please send nominations to Wild Trout X Awards Chairman: Jim Daley (jgdaley@gw.dec.state.ny.us).
- AWARD FOR TEACHING HERPETOLOGY - 21 JANUARY 2010
The Herpetology Education Committee announces the inaugural Meritorious Teaching Award in Herpetology, sponsored by the American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists, The Herpetologists’ League, and the Society for the Study of Amphibians & Reptiles. The award will be given at the annual Joint Meetings of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists (JMIH) to recognize superior teaching effectiveness and mentoring of students in the area of herpetology. The award recipient will receive a cash prize of us$500°°, recognition in the form of an official letter from HEC, and a plaque. To nominate an individual, please submit a letter of nomination to Cathy Bevier (crbevier@colby.edu) by March 31, 2010 that 1) describes specific evidence to support the nomination (e.g., teaching modules, lab or field exercises), 2) includes names and contact information of at least two peers who are each qualified to review the merits of the nominee, and 3) includes names and contact information of two current or former students or program participants.
For details on this award and the nomination procedure, please contact Cathy Bevier (crbevier@colby.edu ) or visit www.herpetologistsleague.org/en/news.php.
- CORNELL LIBRARY NOW ONLINE - 21 JANUARY 2010
Cornell University libraries has completed a massive conversion of books in their system published prior to 1923 to digital format. The website for the archives is: http://archive.org/details/cornell (submitted by Steve Busack). - NEW COPIEA ONLINE VERSION - 7 JANUARY 2010
ASIH and Allen Press will deploy a new version of Copeia online in mid-January 2010.
Following upon the successful deployment of the new Copeia print version launched in January 2008, Copeia will be available in a new and improved electronic version. The new versioninvolves an improved presentation, better navigation, and a number of new and enhanced features for saving and searching among publications, exporting and tracking of citations, among other exciting and useful features. Published papers can be viewed on screen as either pdf or full text in an appealing new form and layout, complete with embedded links to internal and external resources. Users will be able to search for other publications by authors, search for other papers citing a particular Copeia paper, create a list of favorites and customize email alerts about new publications, notifications, and special offers. Journal
contents and abstracts can be viewed by all, but only ASIH members have access to full papers and all other features-- yet another benefit to ASIH membership!
During the course of the next months, the editorial office and society leadership will beworking to deploy a number of additional features and enhancements to the online version of Copeia. Watch for further announcements as these efforts develop. - NEW AUTOBIOGRAPHY BY JOHN C. BRIGGS - 23 DECEMBER 2009
A new autobiography has just been published by Xlibris. It is primarily an account of academic and family life at seven different universities. It is a small book of 271 pp. entitled "A Professorial Life." The list price for the paperback edition is $19.95. It is available from <http://www.xlibris.com>www.xlibris.com, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other book sellers. - ASIH BLAST EMAIL FUNCTIONALITY - 20 DECEMBER 2009
We have a new way to communicate with you through the email "blast" function. If you wish to be removed from the email server, please send an email to asih@allenpress.org and ask them to remove you from the list. Happy Holidays from the ASIH! - ASIH EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE - 5 December 2009
The newly formed ASIH Education and Human Resources Committee (EHRC) is looking for a few good men and women -- students, faculty, and other. The roles of EHRC include guiding and helping implement the Society’s efforts 1) to raise the public’s awareness and understanding of ichthyology and herpetology, 2) to ensure the continuing supply of new ichthyologists and herpetologists, and 3) to create a scientific environment that embraces diversity and allows all professionals to flourish. EHRC is responsible for promoting excellence in education at all levels, and for developing and overseeing the education programs of the Society. The Committee is also responsible for development of programs to enhance recruitment, training and retention of women and minorities in the fields of ichthyology and herpetology, and to encourage equitable treatment and representation of all scientists, regardless of gender, age, race, sexual orientation or cultural background.
If you are interested in participating, please contact George Middendorf, Department of Biology, Howard University, gmiddendorf@howard.edu - CALL FOR PROPOSALS - NESCent - 12 November 2009
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY AND RELATED FIELDS
We are now accepting proposals for Postdoctoral Fellowships at The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). We are looking to fund innovative approaches to outstanding problems in evolutionary biology. Proposals are due December 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php.
SABBATICAL SCHOLARS AND COLLABORATIVE WORKING GROUPS
Proposals for Sabbaticals and for collaborative working groups (Working Groups and Catalysis Meetings) are now being accepted at The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). We are looking to fund innovative approaches to outstanding problems in evolutionary biology. In particular, proposals that have a clear interdisciplinary focus, or involve evolutionary concepts in non-traditional disciplines, are strongly encouraged, as are proposals that demonstrate international participation and a mix of senior and emerging researchers, including graduate students. Proposals for Working Groups and Catalysis Meetings are accepted twice a year, with deadlines on June 10 and December 1. Proposals for Sabbaticals may be one semester to a full year (deadlines June 10 and December 1) or they may be for short-term visits (2 weeks to 3 months; deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1). For more information, please see our website athttps://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php. - SHARK INTERNATIONAL MEETING - AUSTRALIA - 2010 - 11 NOV 2009
The organising committee for Sharks International would like to extend an invitation to attend this one-time event being hosted in Cairns, Queensland, Australia from 6-11 June 2010. The aim of this conference is to provide a forum for the world's leading shark and ray experts, along with students and up and coming early career researchers, to come together to share ideas, update information and report on the progress of the most recent scientific studies in the field of shark and ray ecology. As these species become more affected by human and environmental factors on a global scale, international approaches to their study and management will be increasingly important. This conference is a first step in encouraging and developing international linkages between researchers from various regions.
Registration for Sharks International opens 1 November. Early bird registration is open until 28 February so we suggest you register before 1 March to receive the discount. Keep an eye on key dates to ensure you apply in time for abstract submission, travel funding, etc. Travel funding is available for students and early career scientists - see the web site for details.
For security purposes you will need to create an account to be able to register for the conference. You will need to select 'Register' at the top right hand side of the web page (http://www.sharksinternational.org/) and create your account. Once the account is established you will be able to see secure pages for abstract submission and registration.
Publications: Proceedings of the conference will be published (please see:
http://www.sharksinternational.org/conference-proceedings). Manuscripts will be due at the meeting. Your intention to submit a publication should be indicated on your registration and a tentative title listed to ensure we are expecting your submission.
Accommodation: Rydges Esplanade has offered a great rate for rooms at the conference venue. We have not, however, held a block of rooms. If you wish to stay at the conference venue we suggest you book early as this hotel is very popular with tour groups and can fill quickly. Links to booking accommodation are provided on the conference web site.
Please note: If you are registering from overseas please note that we are working on Australian east coast time. The web site is automated to switch registration rates to full cost on 1 March and I cannot override it. Also please see the travel information section on the site to help in your planning. If you are travelling from overseas please pay careful attention to departure and arrival dates in your planning as you may cross the international dateline. Meaning if you leave Los Angeles on Monday you will arrive in Cairns on Wednesday, not Tuesday.
Thanks for your time and we look forward to seeing you in Cairns next year.
The Sharks International Organising Committee - ASIH WEB CONTENT & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE - 1 NOV 2009
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT LUNDBERG: I am writing to ask for your suggestions/nominations of ASIH members to serve on an expanded ASIH Web content and management committee to include 6 persons. Self-suggestions are welcome. The committee will be charged with oversight of ASIH.org Web design, content and operations. The WCMC will include a balance of ichthyologists and herpetologists and represent the diverse subdisciplines of our fields. Members of WCMC should be Web literate but will not be expected to have advanced knowledge of HTML or other Web building tools. Members of WCMC will not be charged with writing Web code. However, those who are interested and good at that are most welcome to be creative. Please contact me by email: lundberg@acnatsci.org . - EXECUTIVE ORDER - NATURAL SCIENCE COLLECTIONS - 19 SEPT 2009
All ASIH member with any interest in research collections of fishes, herps or other organisms, should follow the links below and send a letter to President Obama, supporting the Executive Order for Natural Science Collections. I just did this and it only took a minute. Hank Bart.
From: owner-nhcoll-l@lists.yale.edu
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 10:02
Ask President Obama for an Executive Order for the Preservation and Use of Science Collections Ask President Obama for an Executive Order for the Preservation and Use of Science CollectionsAs many of you know, last summer the Natural Science Collections Alliance launched a campaign to have President Obama establish a Presidential Executive Order for the Preservation and Use of Science Collections. A number of scientific societies and natural history museums have already endorsed the proposed Order ( http://nscalliance.org/?p=144). There is now a need for individuals with an interest in scientific collections to write to President Obama to ask him to issue the NSC Alliance proposed Executive Order. A letter to the President is now available at http://capwiz.com/aibs/issues/alert/?alertid=13948726.
Simply enter your name and address and click send to have a copy of this letter electronically delivered to the White House. To read the proposed Executive Order, please go to http://nscalliance.org/?p=139. - CALL FOR PUGNOSE SHINE TISSUE SAMPLES - 31 AUGUST 2009
Researchers from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada and the University of Toronto are conducting a population genetic analysis of the Pugnose Shiner (Notropis anogenus). The species is extremely rare throughoutits range in the Midwestern U.S. and southern Ontario and is a conservation concern. We are soliciting help with sample collections because of the lack of available samples. If anyone has any tissue samples, historical or recent,that were preserved in ethanol from the start, please contact Megan McCusker(mmccusker@utsc.utoronto.ca). Your help is greatly appreciated. - HELP NOAA CHART THE FUTURE - 31 AUGUST 2009
Colleagues, on behalf of NOAA’s Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco, I’m inviting you to help NOAA "Chart The Future". And, all it takes is 10 minutes.NOAA’s Next Generation Strategic Plan (NGSP)<http://www.noaa.gov/ngsp> is the blueprint for how NOAA will meet the needs of the nation and the world over the coming years. A strong and effective plan is one that supports decision-making and is as inclusive and as transparent as possible. NOAA's NGSP<http://www.noaa.gov/ngsp>will incorporate input from NOAA employees, stakeholders, and partners in academia, government, private industry and nonprofit organizations.
You have a stake and a pivotal role to play in shaping the agency's mission, vision, and goals. Through September 11, 2009, NOAA is soliciting your thoughts and ideas in the form of a short survey accessible at: www.noaa.gov/ngsp<http://www.noaa.gov/ngsp>. We encourage you to participate in this survey and contribute to NOAA's long-term strategic plan. Please share this message with members of your organization and help chart NOAA's future. - US VISA REQUIREMENTS - 10 JULY 2009
For those JMIH 2009 participants traveling from a foreign country, please be advised that the US now requires a visa for all international travelers. The system is done via computer. Go to:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html
to obtain the visa. This is the text from the welcome page:
Welcome to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization Web Site.
International travelers who are seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program are now subject to enhanced security requirements. All eligible travelers who wish to travel under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for authorization using the following process:
The process takes up to 72 hours so please submit your request soon. We look forward to seeing you in Portland. - WORKSHOP on ONTOLOGIES FOR ICHTHYOLOGY & HERPETOLOGY (22 June 2009)
To be held in conjunction with the joint meeting of Ichtyologists and Herpetologists; Portland Oregon; July 25,2009 https://www.phenoscape.org/wiki/ASIH09_workshop
WORKSHOP GOALS:Ontologies, controlled vocabularies with well-defined relations among terms, are a key tool in scientific data integration. By using ontologies, scientists from different disciplines can know when they are referring to the same entity by different names, and new discoveries are enabled by computer software being able to reason across disciplines and over large datasets. Already widely used in genomics, ontologies are of growing importance in systematics, ecology, behavior, genetics, morphology and physiology. This workshop aims to explore the utility of ontologies for ichthyology and herpetology, using the Teleost Anatomy Ontology and the Amphibian Anatomy Ontology as case studies of community resources that are being actively developed and used by members of ASIH. Participants will present examples of how these ontologies are being used to provide new ways of exploring data within morphological and phenotypic databases. Talks in the morning will be followed in the afternoon with ontology development workshops and hands-on demonstrations of Phenoscape and AmphibAnat tools.
DATE & TIME: Saturday, July 25, 2009
PLACE: Hilton Portland & Executive Tower
SPEAKERS:* Hilmar Lapp (National Evolutionary Synthesis Center) A gentle introduction to ontologies for biology* Monte Westerfield (Director, Zebrafish Information Network and Institute of Neuroscience, Eugene, OR) Linking animal models and human diseases* Paula Mabee (University of South Dakota) Phenoscape: Using ontologies to link comparative morphology to genes* Greg Riccardi (Florida State University) Why ontologies are important for understanding morphological images* Peter Vize (University of Calgary) The Xenopus ontology and database* Anne Maglia (Missouri University of Science and Technology) Development of an anatomical ontology for amphibians* Marc Robinson-Rechavi (Universite de Lausanne, France) Integrating ontology and homology for the study of gene expression evolution
SPONSORS & ORGANIZERS
The workshop is jointly sponsored by the Phenoscape and AmphibAnat projects. Organizers include Paula Mabee, Anne Maglia, Todd Vision and Monte Westerfield. - COLLECTIONSWEB/YEAR OF SCIENCE (30 MAY 2009)
CollectionsWeb is excited to work with the Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) in an effort to increase public understanding of the nature of science and its value to society. A key objective of COPUS is to create new forums for communication and to develop new opportunities for engaging the public with science. Participants in COPUS are leading the celebration of Year of Science 2009 -- a grassroots celebration of how science works, why science matters, and who scientists are.
CollectionsWeb is serving as a thematic hub for natural history collections. This means that we want to help you learn how to get involved in this exciting endeavor. Please visit our web site:
http://www.collectionsweb.org/get_involved/getinvolved_yearofscience.htm
to determine how you can involve your natural history collection in the Year of Science 2009. We at CollectionsWeb would love to see a strong showing from the museum community, and we encourage you to be an active member in this exciting initiative.
Alan Prather on behalf of CollectionsWeb
http://www.CollectionsWeb.org - CALL FOR PROPOSALS - NESCent Sabbatical Scholars, Working Groups and Catalysis Groups (30 May 2009)
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is now accepting proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings. Proposals for postdoctoral fellowships are accepted at the December 1 deadline only. Proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings are accepted twice a year, with June 15 and December 1 deadlines. Proposals for short-term visitors are considered four times a year, with deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php. - ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEACCESSION - MUSEUM OF SOUTHWESTERN BIOLOGY (11 Feb. 2009)
Per the recommendations of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Code of Ethics, the Division of Fishes, Museum of Southwestern Biology wishes to announce their intention to deaccession redundant collections of three species of fishes from the main collections and offer these lots to other institutions. The target species are: red shiners (Cyprinella lutrensis), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Our aim is to reduce the number of lots of non-native fish species that are over represented for certain New Mexico drainages on the collection’s shelves. Our first effort is to deaccession collections of Cyprinella lutrensis collected from the San Juan River (New Mexico, Utah) between 1992 and 2008 with larval seines and drift nets during annual surveys (April-September) for native larval razorback suckers and Colorado pikeminnow. All lots of red shiners will be subsampled and retained in a vial jar system at the MSB. The remaining specimens from these subsampled lots will be made available for transfer. Please contact Alexandra Snyder, Collections Manager for more details at amsnyder@unm.edu - NEW BOOK ON ICHTHYOLOGY OF NEPAL (26 Jan. 2009)
A new book by Dr. Tej Kumar Shrestha is now available: Ichthyology of Nepal: A Study of Fishes of the Himalayan Waters. The book contains a number of very good color photographs taken by Dr. Shrestha. He includes keys and habitat descriptions and many other fish-related subjects. Nepal, in the shadow of Mt. Everest, is big country, with a fish fauna to match. On a postcard accompanying the book is a photo of the Golden Mahseer or Himalayan salmon, a cyprinid of the genus Tor with the description: "Trophy size, 6 ft., 110 pounds. The fighting strength and spirit of the fish is prodigious." The thought of hooking one of these on a fly rod is nothing less than frightening.The book is available at Steven Simpson Books, 5 Hardingham Road, Hingham. Norwich, Norfolk NR9 4LX.UKWebsite:www.stevensimpsonbooks.com email info@stevensimpsonbooks.comPrice 51.95 GBP, $71.52 USD.
Shrestha, T.K. Ichthyology of Nepal, A Study of Fishes of Himalayan Waters. 9789937206532. 2008. 25 cm. Pp.400. 105 colour photos, 72 plates of colour photographs featuring all 232 species of fishes, 32 maps and habitat photos. Paperback. Standard reference. The quality of the photography is very high. We are pleased to have been associated with the publication and distribution of Dr. Shrestha's books on the wildlife of Nepal since the early 1990s. Several titles are unique and remain the only modern books on the subject. Price 51.95 GBP [71.52 USD]. - INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY - 2009
The 3rd International Symposium of Integrative Zoology will take place 8 - 10 July 2009 at Olympic Village Science Park, Beijing and will be organized by the International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS).
Recently, the ISZS initiated a research program titled 'Biological Consequences of Global Change' to enhance our understanding of the impacts of climate change on animals and their environments. As a result, the theme of the 3rd International Symposium of Integrative Zoology will focus on 'Biological Consequences of Global Change' and include many topics including, but not limited to: biodiversity, ecosystem services, behavior, phylogenetics, and infectious disease.
Please see the Society's website http://www.globalzoology.org will be updated with Symposium information regularly.
Jean-Marc Jallon
President, International Society of Zoological Sciences
T: +86-010-64807295
A: C-506, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Datun Lu,Beijing, 100101
www.globalzoology.org - 8 November 2008 - CALL FOR PROPOSALS - PRAIRIE RESEARCH
Prairie Biotic Research (PBR), Inc. is a Wisconsin nonprofit that fosters biotic research in prairies. We offer a Small Grants Program that funds grants up to $1000 to individuals for the study of any grassland taxon in the USA. We support both natural history and experimental science. We are especially eager to support independent researchers (those lacking institutional support), but anyone may apply. Since 2002, we've awarded 61 grants worth $57,097 to people in 18 states to study insects, plants, mammals, reptiles, slime molds, mycorrhizal fungi, spiders, and invasive species. Many of these grants supported graduate student research.
In 2009, we expect to fund at least 10 grants of up to $1000 each with the donations we have received, including some restricted by donors to support research in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and in Missouri, where research on Missouri Prairie Foundation properties is of special interest.
To Apply for a Grant Contact Andrew Williams at Prairie Biotic Research, Inc., PO Box 5424, Madison, WI 53705-0424, or by email at prairiebioticresearch@gmail.com for our simple application form with instructions, a two-part historic summary of our Small Grants Program, and a sample researcher agreement form that winners of this competition must sign. Applications must be postmarked by January 7, 2009. Those who won PBR Small Grants Program funding in 2008 are ineligible for this funding in 2009. - 3 November 2008 - SYMPOSIUM PROPOSALS FOR 2010
Are you thinking about planning a symposium for the 2010 Annual Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island? If so, proposals are DUE to Dr. Robert C. Cashner, bobcashner@gmail.com, by 1 March 2009. Your proposal should contain the following: 1. Symposium Title (or Topic); 2. Name of the Symposium Chair (phone number and e mail address) with the names of Associated Co-organizers; 3. Information on topic and background; 4. What benefit is the topic to the Society?; 5. List of potential speakers and topics; 6. Length of symposium (1/2 day, 1 day); and 7. Sources of funding other than ASIH; 8. ASIH funding requested and rationale (maximum per request = $1,500). - 1 November 2008 - DARWIN SYMPOSIUM 2009 - PORTLAND, OREGON
Darwin at 2009: A View from Ichthyology & Herpetology.
The year 2009 is the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of Origin of Species. It is fitting that ASIH pay tribute to the person that historians of science say had the greatest idea ever had by the human mind. The theory of evolution forms the basis of all we do in biology including systematics, biogeography, ecology and ethology, and molecular biology.
Speakers and Topics:
Tim M. Berra: Darwin: The Man & his Accomplishments
Daniel Pauly: Darwin's Fishes
Aaron Bauer: Darwin's Herps
David Wake: Darwin's Species
Peter Wainwright: Darwin's Diversity
Darrel Frost: Darwin and the Tree of Life
Lynne Parenti: Darwin, Wallace and Biogeography
Daniel Lewis: H.M.S. Beagle from Bow to Stern
Maria Isabel Landim: Darwin in Brazil
Evelyn Habit: Darwin in Chile
Doug Hoese: Darwin in Australia
Eric Hilton: Darwin's Fossils: An Ichthyological & Herpetological Perspective
Farish A. Jenkins, Jr.: Origin of Tetrapod Limbs
Pamela Henson & Bruce Collette: The Smithsonian and Evolution
David Smith & Inci Bowman: Darwin and his Critics
Arnold Kluge: The Epistemological Significance of Darwin's Principles - 24 October 2008 - DESERT FISHES COUNCIL MEETING
The Desert Fishes Council will hold its 40th annual gathering in Cuatro Ciénagas, Coahuila, Mexico on 12-16 November 2008. The valley of Cuatro Ciénagas contains exceptionally high biotic diversity associated with an incredibly diverse complex of thousands of geothermal springs, lakes and streams, and the local community is wonderfully hospitable. Further information is available at http://desertfishes.org/meetings/2008/call_2008.html. - 20 October 2008 - WORKSHOP ON GONADAL HISTOLOGY OF FISHES
The Fourth Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes will be held 16-19 June 2009 at El Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz, Spain. This 4 day workshop will cover many aspects of fish reproductive biology and gonadal histology, including male and female reproductive strategies, comparision of gametogenesis across species, characterization and determination of skip spawning, immature and regenerating fish, determination of seasonal patterns on reproductive activity, and reproductive terminology. Contributed oral and poster presentations are welcome. Please visit the website at http://www.fresh-cost.org/Workshop-Histology/ for additional information and to preregister for the workshop. Updated information can also be found on the website as the conference approaches. - 20 October 2008 - WORKSHOP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, 10-11 JANUARY 2009
ESTIMATING SPECIES TREES: A PHYLOGENETIC PARADIGM FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Recent computational and modeling advances have produced methods for estimating species trees directly. Accurate estimates of phylogenetic relationships can be extracted from genetic data with these new approaches, sometimes with less data, by directly modeling the causes of discordance in topology and branch lengths among gene trees. Such inferences are commonly impossible under the traditional phylogenetic paradigm because of the potential for the idiosyncrasies of gene trees to obscure the actual history of species divergence.
We are offering this workshop to not only increase the visibility and use of these methods, but also address a number of significant challenges to estimating species trees, to assure that the advantages these methods offer reach a broad community of users. The goals of the workshop are to: (i) provide an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of current methodology, (ii) present empirical examples demonstrating the utility of current methodology as well as its limitations, and (iii) offer instruction on the technical aspects involved in using current software. This will be accomplished through the combination of a series of lectures (day one) and hands-on computer training (day two). Participation in the workshop requires registration (go to http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/sptree.html) and is free for those attending the lectures (on Jan 10) and is $25 for those attending the computer training (on Jan 11; see website for programs that will be covered). To facilitate broad and diverse participation in this important workshop, funding is available to offset transportation and lodging costs (i.e., $500 for those from the US and $1000 for international participants - see website for details on how to apply).
Co-organizers: L. Lacey Knowles, University of Michigan, and Laura S. Kubatko, Ohio State University
Invited speakers for workshop: Liang Liu, Harvard University; Laura Kubatko, Ohio State University; Dennis Pearl, Ohio State University; Cecile Ané, University of Wisconsin; James Degnan, University of Canterbury; L. Lacey Knowles, University of Michigan; Luay Nakhleh, Rice University; Karen Cranston, University of Arizona; Bret Larget, University of Wisconsin; Robb Brumfield, Louisiana State Univ.; Lisle Gibbs, Ohio State University; Scott Edwards, Harvard University; Catherine Linnen, Harvard University; Natalia Belfiore, University of California, Berkeley
For more information please contact: Dr. L. Lacey Knowles, knowlesl@umich.edu - 5 October 2008 - NOTICE FROM NATIONAL EVOLUTIONARY SYNTHESIS CENTER (NESC)
CALL FOR PROPOSALS – NESCENT POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS, SABBATICAL SCHOLARS, WORKING GROUPS AND CATALYSIS GROUPS
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is now accepting proposals for postdoctoral fellows, sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings. Proposals for postdoctoral fellowships are accepted at the December 1 deadline only. Proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings are accepted twice a year, with June 15 and December 1 deadlines. Proposals for short-term visitors are considered four times a year, with deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php. - 30 September 2008 - NEW PUBLICATION: CONSERVATION OF NORTH AMERICAN FISHES
The following publication was produced by several members of the ASIH Conservation Committee. The follow-up story in the Associated Press was provided to us by Frank McCormick, Chair, Conservation Committee.
Conservation Status of Imperiled North American Freshwater and Diadromous
Fishes. Jelks, HJ, SJ Walsh, NM Burkhead, S Contreras-Balderas, E
Diaz-Pardo, DA Hendrickson, J Lyons, NE Mandrak, F McCormick, JS Nelson, SP
Platania, BA Porter, CB Renaud, JJ Schmitter-Soto, EB Taylor, and ML
Warren, Jr. Fisheries Volume 33(8): 372-407.
http://www.fisheries.org/afs/docs/fisheries/fisheries--3308.pdf
An interactive map by the U.S. Geological Survey that shows status of fish
populations in 80 different regions of North America:
http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/development/map--object.html
Freshwater fish in N. America in peril, study says
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 10, 2008
Filed at 8:14 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- About four out of 10 freshwater fish species in North America are in peril, according to a major study by U.S., Canadian and Mexican scientists. And the number of subspecies of fish populations in trouble has nearly doubled since 1989, the new report says.
One biologist called it ''silent extinctions'' because few people notice the dramatic dwindling of certain populations deep in American lakes, rivers and streams. And while they are unaware, people are the chief cause of the problem by polluting and damming freshwater habitats, experts said.
In the first massive study of freshwater fish on the continent in 19 years, an international team of dozens of scientists looked not just at species, but at subspecies -- physically distinct populations restricted to certain geographic areas. The decline is even more notable among these smaller groups. The scientists found that 700 smaller but individual fish populations are vulnerable, threatened, or endangered. That's up from 364 subspecies nearly two decades ago. And 457 entire species are in trouble or already extinct, the study found. Another 86 species are OK as a whole, but have subspecies in trouble.
The study, led by U.S. Geological Survey researchers, is published in the current issue of the journal Fisheries. Researchers looked at thousands of distinct populations of fish that either live in lakes, streams and rivers or those that live in saltwater but which migrate to freshwater at times, such as salmon that return to spawn.
Some vulnerable fish are staples of recreational fishing and the dinner plate. Striped bass that live in the Gulf of Mexico, Bay of Fundy and southern Gulf of St. Lawrence are new to the imperiled list. So are snail bullhead, flat bullhead and spotted bullhead catfish. Sockeye, Chinook, coho, chum and Atlantic salmon populations are also called threatened or endangered in the study. More than two dozen trout populations are considered in trouble.
About 6 percent of fish populations that were in peril in 1989, including the Bonneville cutthroat trout, have made a comeback, said lead author Howard Jelks of the U.S. Geological Survey. But one-third of the fish that were in trouble in 1989 are worse off now, said the Gainesville, Fla., biologist. The study includes far more species and populations than those that are on the official U.S. government endangered species list. Jelks said the number of species in trouble was close to double what he expected and that means people should be ''considerably worried.'' The biggest cause, Jelks said, is degraded freshwater habitat, both in quality and quantity of water for fish to live in. Invasive species crowding out native fish is also to blame, he said.
Fish ''live in a freshwater habitat that's pretty much under assault by people,'' said Duke University marine biologist Larry Crowder, who wasn't part of the study. ''Things are tanking all around us. When does it have to be bad enough to get people's attention?''
Many of the species in trouble or already extinct are small minnows and darters whose absence is little noticed, but they play a vital role in the food chain.
Hardest hit is Mexico where nearly half the fish species are in trouble. One in three species in the United States are in peril -- up from about one in five in 1989. About 10 percent of Canadian species dwindled. In the United States, the most vulnerable populations are in the Southeast, not counting Florida. In the U.S., 263 fish species are in trouble or are already extinct, and nearly 500 have no problems. The number of fish species and subspecies in North America that went extinct rose from 40 to 61 since 1989.
Anthony Ricciardi, a McGill University biologist who was not part of the research, found that about 10 years ago freshwater extinctions were happening at a faster pace than on land or in the sea. And yet few people notice, he said. ''A lot of silent extinctions are happening,'' Ricciardi said. ''What we're doing is widespread, it's pervasive and it's rapid.'' - 9 September 2008 - ELECTROFISHING CERTIFICATION
The Natural Resources Extension Program at Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University-College), Nanaimo BC, is pleased to offer:
Electrofishing Certification:
Fort St John, Sept 13-14: http://mala.ca/nrep/courseinfo.asp?ID=1342
Castlegar, Oct 4-5: http://mala.ca/nrep/courseinfo.asp?ID=1343 NEW!
******************************************************************
Our training schedule: http://www.mala.ca/nrep/schedule.asp - 21 August 2008 - BLEEKER AWARD FOR INDO-PACIFIC ICHTHYOLOGY
The Scientific Advisory Committee for the Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (IPFC) offers an award for distinguished contributions to Indo-Pacific ichthyology. The award honours the “father” of Indo-Pacific ichthyology, Pieter Bleeker. The first Bleekers were awarded at the 7th IPFC, Taiwan, in 2005 to John E. Randall, and J. Howard Choat. Details of the winners may be found in Ichthyological Research 2006 53(2):205.
Nominations are now solicited for the 2nd round of Pieter Bleeker Awards for Excellence in Indo-Pacific ichthyology. The prize is awarded for "an outstanding body of published work in Indo-Pacific ichthyology, mainly in systematics and ecology" to an ichthyologist. The award consists of a plaque and prizes, and will be presented during the 8th IPFC , to be held in June 2009 in Perth, Western Australia ( http://www.ipfc2009asfb.com/ ). Nominations may be made by any ichthyologist, including self-nominations, and should include the nominee's curriculum vitae, details of the nominee's specific contributions and their impacts on ichthyology.
Nominations should be submitted as an e-mail attachment (Word or rtf) by 31 January 2009 to the Chair of the Bleeker Award Committee, Dr. Jeffery Leis of the Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia, e-mail: Jeffl@austmus.gov.au. - 8 August 2008 - WORKSHOP FOR GRAD STUDENTS/POSTDOCS IN HERPETOLOGY
Workshop on Predictive Modeling Using Tree Data - For Graduate Students and Postdocs in Herpetology
AmphibiaTree, an NSF-funded consortium of biologists from Harvard University, the University of Texas, the University of Kansas, and the University of California, Berkeley, will hold a workshop on “Predictive Species Distribution Modeling Using Tree Data” on December 5-6, 2008, at UC Berkeley.
The workshop will feature 5 invited speakers and hands-on training for all participants. Its emphasis will be the creative use of phylogenetic, i. e., tree, data to reconstruct ancestral ranges, phylogeographic patterns and climate change, historical-present-future biogeographic scenarios, etc., understanding and using the latest climate data and species distribution modeling applications in a spatial context. The general format includes presentations that illustrate conceptual issues (e. g., “are niches conservative over time?”) and practical considerations (e. g., understanding climate models, data preparation and organization, model choice, implementation, and GIS execution). Workshop participants will bring a dataset to work on during hands-on sessions to learn techniques; participants can then leave the workshop with real acquaintance with the tools. We will use the GIS computer lab of the Geospatial Imaging and Informatics Facility in the College of Natural Resources at Berkeley. A summary of techniques and results will be posted on the AmphibiaTree website (http://amphibiatree.org).
We expect to fund travel and accommodation for 10 graduate students and postdocs. US and foreign/overseas students are welcome to apply. Please send your cv and a statement of your interests relevant to the workshop, and what you hope to gain from it, to David (wakelab@berkeley.edu) and Marvalee (mhwake@berkeley.edu) Wake, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 3101 VLSB, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3160, by 15 September 2008. Participants will be notified by 1 October and provided the workshop details.
- 5 June 2008 - JOE SLOWINSKI BIOGRAPHY PUBLISHED
Jamie James recently published a book about former ASIH member Joe Slowinski called Snake Charmer. Stories about the author and Joe have circulated on the web. You can learn more about the publication by visiting the website for the book: http://snakecharmerbook.com/index.html. - 12 APRIL 2008 - WORLD CONGRESS OF HERPETOLOGY 2008
The World Congress of Herpetology will meet in Manaus, Brazil 17-23 August 2008. For more information visit the Congress website: www.worldcongressofherpetology.org - 10 APRIL 2008 - REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Call for Proposals – NESCent Sabbatical Scholars, Working Groups and Catalysis Meetings
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is now accepting proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings. Proposals for postdoctoral fellowships are accepted at the December 1 deadline only. Proposals for sabbatical scholars (one semester to a full year), working groups and catalysis meetings are accepted twice a year, with June 15 and December 1 deadlines. Proposals for short-term visitors (2 weeks to 3 months) are considered four times a year, with deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php. - 23 MARCH 2008 - XX INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ZOOLOGY
- SUMMER COURSES - SHOALS MARINE LABORATORY (11 March 2008)
Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML) features small class sizes and an experiential learning environment where everyone learns by first-hand observation. The close-knit community we create each summer on Appledore Island gives SML the feeling of a residential college, where even a casual conversation with a faculty member or teaching assistant can turn into a life-changing one. Being on an offshore island also means that every class includes adventure and learning opportunities far beyond any normal classroom. We still have openings in each of the courses listed below, but our deadline for applicants seeking financial aid is fast approaching. Please take a minute to review some of our exciting offerings and call them to the attention of students - and plan to join us on Appledore Island this summer!
Diversity of Fishes
Study with Bruce Collette to learn about the global diversity of fishes with a special focus on taxa from the Gulf of Maine: http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_sfishes.html
Introduction to Marine Conservation Biology
How can we integrate management of marine fisheries with marine ecology? http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_introconserv.html
Comparative Embryology and Life History Strategies
Study invertebrate and vertebrate embryos to understand links between development and ecology:
http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_compembryo.html
Forensic Science for Marine Biologists
Explore the expanding interface between marine science, criminal justice and civil litigation with famous forensic scientists and criminologists:
http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_fsmb.html
Anatomy and Function of Marine Vertebrates
Explore the structure and function of marine fishes, birds, reptiles and mammals:
http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_anatfunc.html
To view SML's complete list of college credit courses for Summer 2008, please go to: http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_students_creditcourses.html - Clark Hubbs Obituary by Ann Hubbs (sent in by Bob Cashner - Feb. 2008)
During World War II he served in the army in the 96th Infantry Division Headquarters, including the invasions of Leyte and Okinawa. After the war, he obtained his PhD from Stanford in 1951 under the GI bill. He met his wife of 58 years, Catherine, while on a field trip with the Stanford Natural History Club.
In 1951, Clark Hubbs became an assistant professor of zoology at the University of Texas and subsequently became an associate and then full professor. From 1974 to 1976, he was chairman of the Biology Department and from 1978 to 1986, he was chairman of the Zoology Department. He was professor emeritus at the time of his death. During his long career, he published more than 300 articles. He was still collecting field data for his studies in January 2008. He was editor of Copeia, the journal of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists for more than a decade and a former president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, the American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists, the Southwestern Association of Naturalists, Texas Organization for Endangered Species, and the Texas Academy of Sciences. He is Chair Emeritus Science Committee Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute. He was a tireless supporter of the Edwards Aquifer and Defense of Endangered Species. Four different species were named after him.
Clark Hubbs was preceded in death by his mother, father, and two sisters, Marjorie Anne Hubbs and Frances Miller. He is survived by his wife, Catherine, his brother Earl, daughters Laura Hubbs-Tait and Ann Hubbs, son John Hubbs and four grandchildren, Aaron and Aiden Tait, Eric Hubbs, and Adam Weissman as well as hundreds of students, colleagues, and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute (<http://www.hswri.org/>www.HSWRI.org) or a charity of your choice. Memorial services will be held at the Congregational Church and at a scientific meeting. Dates to be arranged in the future.
- February 7, 2008
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DR. CLARK HUBBS
The Hubbs family has asked me to invite anyone coming to the Friday, February 8 memorial event at 6:00 PM at the UT Pickle Research Campus to bring digital photos they might have from their time with Clark. Multiple Windows laptops and projectors will be available for anyone to run their own short PowerPoints or display images. Bring files on a USB drive or CD and, if possible, automate your show it so it can run unattended. Files may also be emailed before Thursday evening to Dean Hendrickson (deanhend@mail.utexas.edu).The family also wishes to again alert those planning on going to the church service at 2:30 that traffic jams are anticipated and both parking and space capacities at the church will most likely be exceeded. Come early or plan to attend only the more informal 6:00 PM event where space is more than ample and free parking is abundant and close.
Complete Information about both of the February 8 memorial services for Dr. Clark Hubbs is posted at http://desertfishes.org/obits/ch/Clark_Hubbs.html. Please feel free to link to this page from other websites, and to distribute this announcement to others who knew Dr. Hubbs, etc. - January 6, 2008
Beginning with the first issue for 2008, Copeia will adopt a new style and page format that includes a color photograph on the front cover of each issue. The feature photograph (of amphibians, reptiles, or fishes) may be chosen from among the illustrations appearing in that issue. Authors of the selected photograph will receive a waiver of color reproduction charges for one plate ($300 value). Alternatively, the feature cover photograph may be selected from among images contributed by the ASIH membership at-large. The contributor will be acknowledged and a brief title caption for the photograph will be included in the table of contents on the outside back cover of that issue. For students in particular, this is a great way to get your artwork published in a high-visibility print publication.
If you have high-quality color photographs involving fishes and/or herps that you would like to offer for the Copeia front cover, please contact Editor Schaefer (copeia@amnh.org). Images must be 600 dpi TIFF format, RGB color mode, and final maximum print size will be 175 mm width by 150 mm length. For optimal results, images should contain roughly 14.5k pixels total, or about 4,135 pixels across the top and 3,550 pixels along the length. Sample low-res images (file size under 4 MB) may be sent via email attachment for initial consideration. Contributors must hold the copyright to the image, which is transferred to ASIH upon publication.
- November 15, 2007
SMITHSONIAN RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM: 26 MAY 2008 - 1 AUGUST 2008
Application Deadline: 1 February 2008
The Research Training Program is a museum-based, in-residence program exclusively for currently enrolled, English proficient, college-level undergraduate students interested in a career in the biological, geological or anthropological sciences. Through a competitive review process approximately 20 outstanding students from around the world are selected each year to participate. Students partner with a Smithsonian scientist to investigate a natural history research topic as well as participate in a series of lectures, workshops, demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours, and field trips that focused on exploring natural history science and developing the skills necessary to become effective researchers. Students, in collaboration with their Smithsonian research advisor, develop and test a scientific hypothesis and communicate the results through written manuscripts plus oral and poster presentations. Research is conducted in-residence at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC utilizing the vast research facilities and collection of the Museum including 126 million natural history specimens.
Participants are provided stipend ($3,000), plus housing and travel. Detailed information and application materials are available electronically at http://www.nmnh.si.edu/rtp/ For more information contact: Mary Sangrey; Director, Research Training Program; Head, Office of Academic Services; phone: 202-633-4548; fax: 202-786-0153
- October 10, 2007
NATIONAL EVOLUTIONARY SYNTHESIS CENTER - CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Call for Proposals – NESCent Postdoctoral Fellows, Sabbatical Scholars, Working Groups and Catalysis Groups
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is now accepting proposals for postdoctoral fellows, sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings. Proposals for postdoctoral fellowships are accepted at the December 1 deadline only. Proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings are accepted twice a year, with June 15 and December 1 deadlines. Proposals for short-term visitors are considered four times a year, with deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php.
- September 11, 2007
The Third International Symposium on the Biology of Cypriniformes will be held 10-16 November 2007 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The link to the websitefor information on the symposium, registration, accomodations, excursions, etc. is:
- September 4, 2007
INVASIVE ANURAN CONFERENCE-ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS
The Coqui Frog Working Group is hosting the first international conference on the coqui frog and other invasive anurans on the Big Island of Hawaii 7-9 February 2008. Anyone interested in herpetology, invasive species management, or amphibian ecology is encouraged to attend. For more information, please see the conference website at:http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/coqui/conf08.asp
BULLETIN #25 ALABAMA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The Alabama Museum of Natural History announces the publication of Bulletin #25. This issue contains two articles of interest to ichthyologists:
Powers, Steve and Richard Mayden. Systematics, Evolution, and Biogeography of the Etheostoma simoterum species complex (Percidae: subgenus Ulocentra).
and
Egge, Jacob. The osteology of the stonecat, Noturus flavus (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae), with comparisons to other siluriforms.
Bulletin #25 is currently on sale for $20. Orders or other inquiries should be sent to Carolyn Averett (caverett@bama.ua.edu).
- July 20, 2007
STUDENT TRAVEL AWARDS - INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ZOOLOGICAL SCIENCES
The International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS) is devoted to bettering the field of zoology (www.globalzoology.org). ISZS is responsible for publishing Integrative Zoology, the official journal of ISZS, as well as organizing the International Congress of Zoology (ICZ), which takes place every four years. The XX ICZ will be held in Paris in August 2008 (http://icz2008.snv.jussieu.fr).
To encourage student attendance at this event, ISZS and the XX ICZ are co-sponsoring a number of student grants. Before April of next year, ISZS will select the top 20 papers that have been submitted to Integrative Zoology by students. The winning students will receive funding to assist them with their travel and accommodation expenses. (The money will only be awarded if the students attend the ICZ).
All papers must be submitted by February 15th 2008 in order to be eligible for consideration for this award. A cover sheet for submitted papers must be headed: 2008 International Zoological Congress Student Grant Application, below this should be the Title, the Author‚s name, their supervisor’s signature and a copy of their student ID.
For details about submitting papers, please check our website at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/inz or contact Zhang Wei (iszs@ioz.ac.cn) or Dustin Odle (iszs2@ioz.ac.cn).
- May 31, 2007
EIGHTH ASIAN FISHERIES FORUM
The 8th Asian Fisheries ForumThe 8th Asian Fisheries Forum, will be held held in Kochi, Kerala 20-23 November 2007. The website: http://www.8aff2007.org has additional details concerning the meeting. A hardcopy brochure can be obtained by from the organizers. Prof.Dr.Mohan Joseph Modayil, Director, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi & Convener, 8th Asian Fisheries Forum - 2007, Kochi.
- May 29, 2007
USE OF COLLECTIONS AT THE U.S. NATIONAL COLLECTION - SMITHSONIAN
The collections of the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution) are scheduled to be moved from the Natural History Building on the National Mall to a new storage wing at the Museum Support Center in Suitland, Maryland beginning about 1 October 2007 and continuing through the first week of April 2008.
It is anticipated that the collection management staff will be devoting significant amounts of time to preparing the collection for the move as well as moving the collection. It is realistic to assume that there will be significant periods of time between now and when the collection move is complete when there will be delays in processing loan requests and times when parts of the collection will not be available for examination by visitors. Visitors in particular should contact us well ahead of their projected visits to assure that collections will be available for their use. The collection will be moved by major taxonomic units. Each unit will be unavailable for study during the time that unit is being moved to the new facility.
Once the move has been completed, we will send out an announcement, including new contact information for the collection management staff as well as appropriate addresses to use for loan returns.
ICHTHYOLOGICAL CONGRESS IN CROATIA
The European Ichthyological Congress is hosting a meeting in September in Croatia. President Mayden attended a meeting in Croatia last September and the weather was great, people were great, swimming was fantastic, etc.Please click on the link for the meetings, symposia, workshops, etc.http://www.biol.pmf.hr/~ecixii/
- May 17, 2007
2007 GOPHER TORTOISE COUNCIL MEETING - SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS
The meeting will take place Oct 12-13, 2007 and will be hosted by Adventures Unlimited, Milton, Florida. Abstracts and Meeting Registration are due Aug 31, 2007. There is still space available for contributed presentations, and graduate students are particularly encouraged to present their research.
Please see the GTC website for information on how to register, submit an abstract, lodging, and field trips: http://www.gophertortoisecouncil.org/events.php
Margaret S. Gunzburger, PhD, Phone: (850) 585-3297, Email: gunzburger@nokuse.org
SUMMER COURSES - SHOALS MARINE LABORATORY
Shoals Marine Laboratory (http://www.sml.cornell.edu) still has places and financial aid in several college credit courses this summer. A complete listing of our courses and their dates is available at http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_students_creditcourses.html. Courses of special interest to vertebrate biology students include: Marine Vertebrates (6 credits), Diversity of Fishes (6 credits), Sharks: The Biology, Evolution and Conservation of Sharks and Their Allies (2 credits), Functional Morphology of Marine Organisms (4 credits), and Forensic Science for Marine Biologists (2 credits). All SML classes are small, intensive, taught by leading experts, and award credit at Cornell University that can be transferred to other institutions.
- April 5, 2007
CALL FOR PROPOSALS (NESCENT)
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is now accepting proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings. Proposals are accepted twice a year, with June 15 and December 1 deadlines. Proposals for post-doctoral fellowships are accepted at the December 1 deadline. Proposals for short-term visitors are considered four times a year, with deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php.
- February 11, 2007
COURSE - LARVAL MARINE FISHES (ECOLOGY & IDENTIFICATION)
This is a graduate-level course for students and technical staff with an interest in ichthyology, systematics, taxonomy, larval fish ecology, fisheries science, and biological oceanography. It is presumed that students will have some experience and background in those areas. Prerequisites include an undergraduate degree in a biological discipline and permission of the instructors.Instructors: Professors John Olney (Virginia Institute of Marine Science) and Edward Houde (University of Maryland). Laboratories and lectures to be held at the Marine Science Center of the University of New England (Biddeford, Maine), 29 July-15 August 2007. For more information, please see the course web site: http://www.vims.edu/adv/657/
ANNOUNCING THE SABIN AWARD FOR AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION
The Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) announces a new annual award to recognize individuals and groups who have made a significant contribution to promoting the conservation of globally threatened amphibians. The award will be open to individuals or groups from all disciplines relevant to amphibian conservation and research anywhere in the world. Nominations of individuals from developing countries are highly encouraged.Individuals or groups will be considered based on contributions in any area. Examples include: Habitat Protection, Capacity Building-Education/Awareness Policy, Species Recovery Projects, Threat Mitigation, Innovative Conservation.
The award of 25,000 USD will be presented to the selected recipient at Conservation International's New York dinner in April. Award recipients and their work will be featured on the ASG website.
Please submit nominations to asg@conservation.org before March 15.
Nominations should include the name of the individual or group and a detailed description of what they have done and its significance for amphibian conservation. Nominees will be assessed by a review panel representing a broad cross-section of disciplines.
CONTACT: asg@conservation.org
- Janaury 12, 2007
Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society
The ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY‚s 44th annual meeting will be held 21-25 July 2007 in Burlington, VT, USA. For futher information see http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABS/Program or contact the designated host Ken Yasukawa (yasukawa@beloit.edu).
- January 5, 2007
Obituary - Bruce A. Thompson
Bruce A. Thompson, a 40-year member of ASIH, passed away in the early morning of Friday, January 5, 2007. Bruce succumbed to an aggressive kidney cancer that was first diagnosed just three weeks earlier. Bruce, a long time faculty member of the Coastal Fisheries Institute and Louisiana State University, was active in studies involving freshwater fishes in North America, as well as estuarine and marine species worldwide. His research interests included systematics, life histories, biodiversity, ecology and conservation. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Kathy , and their three children, Ethan, Wendy and Melanie. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 pm on Monday, January 8, at Jefferson United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. (submitted by Robert C. Cashner).
Graduate Student Positions at Auburn
I am seeking 1-2 graduate students, MS or PhD, interested in the behavioral ecology of freshwater fish acoustics. Flexible starting date. Positions will include graduate research assistantships; field-oriented people preferred. Please contact Carol Johnston (cjohnsto@acesag.auburn.edu; 334 844-1781) for more information.
- January 2, 2007
Are you thinking about planning a symposium for the 2008 Annual Meeting in Montreal? If so, Proposals are DUE to Dr. Deanna J. Stouder, dstouder@fs.fed.us by 1 March 2007. Your proposal should contain the following: 1. Symposium Title (or Topic); 2. Name of the Symposium Chair (phone number and e-mail address) with the names of Associated Co-organizers; 3. Information on topic and background; 4. What benefit is the topic to the Society?; 5. List of potential speakers and topics; 6. Length of symposium (1/2 day, 1 day); and 7. Sources of funding other than ASIH; 8. ASIH funding requested and rationale (maximum per request = $1,500).
- December 8, 2006
Call for Proposals - US Forest Service
The Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service is announcing aRequest for Proposals (RFP) to pursue new research in the Lake Tahoe Basin
through support from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. This
request identifies six science theme areas in which these research
proposals are solicited. The due date for proposals is January 26th, 2007.
Please read the RFP carefully for important details. The RFP and more
information can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/.
- December 4, 2006
Survey of American ichthyological and herpetological collections
The ASIH Collections Committee is conducting an on-line survey of American ichthyological and herpetological collections. This online survey will provide valuable data that will enhance long-term support and maintenance of collections. Based on previous surveys by Poss & Collette (1995) and Collette & Lachner (1976) of ichthyological collections, this survey captures general collection information, as well as more specific information on collection and data management policies (e.g., availability of electronic catalogs). This survey addresses a need for detailed information about ichthyological and herpetological collections, while other ongoing initiatives, such as the Legacy Infrastructure Network for Natural Environments (LINNE), seek to more broadly identify existing collections for inclusion into an accessible network for the scientific community. Results from the survey will be summarized and submitted for publication in Copeia and will be also be available from the main ASIH website, including an improved index to collections.
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY:
http://chelydra.unm.edu/asihsurvey
- November 28, 2006
We are happy to announce that all current and archived issues of our journal are now available to our members.
To access the archived copies of Copeia, please go to: http://www.asihcopeiaonline.org/perlserv/?request=get-archive
Once you click the archive you will have to enter your userid (the last six digits of your ID, please drop leading zeros that show on your Copeia mailers) and your password which is your last name. The last name must be capitalized (the entry is case sensitive).
Eighth International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology (ICVM8)
The congress will be held 16-21 July 2007 in Paris, France. To obtain more information please visit: http://www.icvm8.snv.jussieu.fr
12th European Congress of Ichthyology
The 12th European Congress of Ichthyology will be held 9-13 September 2007 in Cavtat (Dubrovnik), Croatia. The details can be found at: www.biol.pmf.hr/~ecixii
- November 27, 2006
Fifth Conference on the Biology of Plethodontid Salamanders
The fifth conference on the biology of plethodontid salamanders will be held in Colegio de la Frontera Sur in Chiapas, Mexico from 3-6 August 2007. For information, please visit: http://www.ibiologia.unam.mx/barra/congresos/salamandra/salamandra.html or send an email to vsalamanders@biologia.unam.mx.
- October 28, 2006
NANFA To Again Award Up To $1000 For Conservation Research
The North American Native Fishes Association (NANFA) will again award up to $1000 for research that can aid the conservation of North America's native fishes, particularly those that are threatened or endangered. Professionals and hobbyists are all eligible for the award. To qualify for the award, applicants must submit to NANFA a proposal of two double-spaced pages, a budget and timeline for the research, a one-page resume, and a letter of recommendation from an academic professor, research advisor or someone familiar with the applicant's background and research history. Applicant must also be a member ofNANFA and can opt to join when they submit their proposals. The deadline for applying is January 20, 2007. The award decision will be announced by March 31, 2007. Additional details on the award are available from NANFA's website, http://www.nanfa.org.Questions about the award may be addressed to Dr. Bruce Stallsmith, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899. Dr. Stallsmith may also be contacted by telephone at 256-824-6992 or by e-mail at stallsb@uah.edu.
National Museum of Natural History (USNM) Fish Collection is Moving
The Smithsonian Institution’s USNM fish collection will be moving to a new building in the spring and summer of 2007. The new building will provide badly needed space for expansion and decompression of the fish collection. The new building is nearing completion at our Museum Support Center at Suitland, Maryland, about a 25 minute drive from our current location in Washington, DC. The research staff and library will remain at the Natural History Museum but the collection-support staff will move to the new facility. We will need to close the collection in March 2007 and will probably not open for business again until September 2007. If you anticipate requesting a loan of specimens, or are planning to visit the fish collection next year, please note the dates (March – September 2007) when the collection will be closed and plan accordingly.
Jeff Williams (williamsjt@si.edu)
Dave Johnson (johnsond@si.edu)
- October 17, 2006
NSF PEET Competition
The National Science Foundation’s program Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET) is running a competition for 2007. The deadline for proposals will be Monday, March 5. The PEET program is a biennial competition that has been in existence since 1995 and 70 projects have been funded through the PEET program. We invite you to view the solicitation (announcement NSF 04-606; http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04606/nsf04606.htm) for further details on the program and proposal guidelines.
The Cognizant Program Officer is Dr. Juan Carlos Morales (sbbi@nsf.gov).
- October 12, 2006
Job Announcement:
The California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California is hiring TWO Animal Physiologists. Applications are due 11/20/2006. For more information see https://www.calpolyjobs.org/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1160180079133 or http://tinyurl.com/goh6w
- October 2, 2006
Job Announcement:
As part of our strategic plan to strengthen research in 1) environmental stress and 2) ecology & evolutionary biology, the Department of Zoology at Oklahoma State University invites applications for four tenure-track faculty positions; one at open rank in area (1) above and three at the assistant professor level in either (1) or (2). We are seeking a complementary set of scientists with expertise in, but not limited to, areas such as ecotoxicology, invasive species, multiple stressors, ecology of infectious diseases, behavioral ecology, physiological ecology, population genetics, or evolutionary developmental genetics. Ideal candidates will have a Ph.D., postdoctoral research experience, teaching experience, and success in obtaining extramural funding. Application review will begin November 1, 2006. Please see http://zoology.okstate.edu for more information and application instructions.
- September 29, 2006
Job Announcement:
DEPARTMENT HEAD OPENING: The Dept. of Zoology at Oklahoma State University invites applications for the position of Department Head to increase our national prominence in: 1) Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and 2) Environmental Stress. Applicants should have the academic rank of Professor, a nationally recognized research program in (1) or (2) above, demonstrated success in obtaining extramural grant support, significant administrative experience, a commitment to supporting innovative teaching, and a vision for curricular reform that will produce students highly qualified for careers in research, teaching, and other professional positions. Please see http://zoology.okstate.edu for more information and application instructions.
- September 14, 2006
The Sarah and Daniel Hrdy Visiting Fellowship in Conservation Biology
The Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University invites nominations and direct applications for the Hrdy Visiting Fellowship in Conservation Biology. The Hrdy Visiting Fellowship is available either at the senior faculty level or at the junior (i.e., postdoctoral) level, for the academic year 2007-08. Duties will include teaching one course and/or giving lectures in conservation biology, as well as research and collaboration with members of the Harvard community. Applicants should identify a faculty sponsor(s) with whom they will collaborate. Please send a cover letter with a statement of intent, CV and representative publications, and arrange to have three letters of reference sent to: Committee for Hrdy Fellowship in Conservation Biology, Dept. of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. Harvard University is an equal opportunity employer. Review of applications will be begin on October 1st.
Job Announcement:
The California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California is hiring a Behavioral Ecologist with expertise in Evolutionary Biology. Applications are due 10/13/2006. For more information see: www.calpolyjobs.org/applicants/Central?quickFind=159894
Job Announcement:
Soka University of America, a liberal arts university located in Aliso Viejo, California, seeks an Assistant Professor of Biology with emphasisin Environmental Aquatic Microbiology. Deadline for applications isNovember 15, 2006. See http://www.soka.edu/page.cfm?p=936 for application instructions.
- September 13, 2006
Past-President Meg Stewart died August 2, 2006 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Gifts in Meg's memory may be made to The University at Albany Foundation with notationfor the Margaret Stewart Biodiversity Fund and sent to Dr. Sorrell Chesin at the Foundation,UAB-201, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222.
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: The Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Biology at Iowa State University seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor who studies the ecology and evolution of organisms. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in a biological science and are expected to develop a nationally recognized research program and contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching. See http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/search/ for application instructions. Direct questions to Dr. Carol Vleck, Search Committee Chair (cvleck@iastate.edu). The department is committed to fostering a culturally diverse educational environment. ISU is an EO/AA Employer.
- September 11, 2006
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: Fish ecology, evolution, and/or systematics. Assistant or Associate Professor level. Major curatorial responsibilities. Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Review of applications begins 20 October 2006. For details, see http://eeb.bio.utk.edu/jobs.asp.
The ASIH website is now live. Please send comments about the page to asih@fiu.edu .
Thanks to funding from the Mexican Comisión para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad [CONABIO]) we are working on a translation to Spanish of Freshwater Fishes of Mexico by Robert Rush Miller, W.L. Minckley and Steven M. Norris (2005, University of Chicago Press). We hope to have the manuscript of Peces Dulceacuícolas de México ready for publication by early 2007 and invite readers of the book to help compile a list of errors and suggested updates via the form available at
http://www.desertfishes.org/MX_fishes_book/MX_fishes_errata_submission.html
2004 Systematic Ichthyologists Database and Newsletter of Systematic Ichthyology.
Dear Colleagues,
In the Fall of 2004 the Field Museum's fish collection will be moving to it's new facility at the southeast corner of the Museum. In preparation for the move, loan activity will stop June 1, 2004 and the collections will be closed to visitors September 1, 2004. A few exceptions will be made for visitors with special circumstances, depending upon the timing of their visit. We will continue to welcome all loan returns throughout the duration of the move. We hope to have the move completed by Summer 2005. Many thanks for your patience through this transition. -- Your friends in the Division of Fishes, Field Museum
Mark Westneat (mwestneat@fmnh.org; 312-665-7734) Mary Anne Rogers (marogers@fmnh.org; 312-665-7732) Phil Willink (pwillink@fmnh.org; 312-665-7735) Kevin Swagel (kswagel@fmnh.org; 312-665-7736)
Due to recent reports of problems with carrying alcohol-preserved specimens on planes and of uncertainties involved in transporting museum specimens into and out of Manaus, the following institutions will not be bringing specimens to the 2003 ASIH meetings in Manaus and will not accept any specimens for hand-carrying back to the US:
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (ANSP)
California Academy of Sciences - Ichthyology (CAS)
Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates (CU)
Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH)
Illinois Natural History Survey - Ichthyology (INHS)
Museum of Comparative Zoology - Ichthyology (MCZ)
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History (USNM)
Fishes of the Gulf of Maine Returns to Print
Originally published in 1953, the Fishes of the Gulf of Maine (Fishery Bulletin 74) by Henry Bigelow and William C. Schroeder, provided a handbook for the easy identification of the fishes that occur in those waters, with summaries of what was known about the distribution, relative abundance and life history of each species. The Blackburn Press has just returned this classic book (first revision) to print, making it available again to libraries, scholars, marine biologists, ecologists, fisheries scientists and managers, coastal resource managers and commercial fishermen who wish to own or replace an invaluable reference.
Fishes of the Gulf of Maine by Henry Bigelow and William C. Schroeder, ISBN 1-930665-60-1, Hardcover, 561 pages, $64.95
For more information, we invite you to point your browser to: http://www.blackburnpress.com/fisofgulofma.html
SCHEDULE FOR THE 2002 JOINT MEETING OF HERPETOLOGISTS AND ICTHYOLOGISTS
The schedule for the 2002 joint meeting of herpetologists and ichthyologists in Kansas City is now available at the following link:
We look forward to seeing you in Kansas City.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FOR 2002 MEETING OF ICHTHYOLOGISTS AND HERPETOLOGISTS - KANSAS CITY IS EXTENDED TO 11 MARCH 2002
Because of the technical difficulties associated with the submission of abstracts, the deadline for abstract submission has been extended to 11 March 2002. If you have heard from the Secretary's office confirming receipt of your abstract, you can disregard this message.
The "resubmission" form on the web is not compatible with Internet Explorer 6.0. You must use an older version of Internet Explorer or use Netscape as your web browser. Go to the NEW submission site: http://www.fiu.edu/~asih. Reload the page. Please enter the proper data in the proper fields. Check to see that the data are correct and go to the bottom of the page and hit submit. If you were successful, you will get a message back that says "Thank you for submitting your proposal". You will get a message from the ASIH secretary's office within 2 business days informing you that your abstract has been received.
If you only have access to Internet Explorer 6.0, please follow the instructions on page 12 of the call for papers for submitting abstracts by email. Please do not send attachments. Each line of the email corresponds to the information we need. We will enter your data into the database. You will receive an email from the ASIH secretary's office within 2 business days.
If you have questions, please contact Mo Donnelly, ASIH Secretary (asih@fiu.edu).
We apologize for all of the problems you have had with abstract submission and we look forward to receiving your abstract soon.
Mo Donnelly ASIH Secretary
The meeting abstract submission site is functional and is accepting abstracts. If you experience problems with http://www.fiu.edu/~asih try using Nescape as your browser. Reload the page and when you are sure all information is correct hit the submit button at the very bottom of the page.
Please be sure to include your email address so we can contact you.
When the form is submitted, you will get a message saying: Thank you for submitting your abstract. You will get an email message from the Miami office confirming date of receipt of your abstract.
I apologize for all the problems associated with abstract submission and look forward to seeing you in Kansas City.
Mo Donnelly ASIH Secretary
U.S. National Science Foundation Funding Opportunity for ASSEMBLING THE TREE OF LIFE (electronic solicitation NSF 02-074 for Fiscal Year 2002)
A flood of new information, from whole-genome sequences to inventories of earth's biota, is transforming 21st century biology. Along with comparative data on morphology, fossils, development, behavior, and interactions of all forms of life on earth, these new data streams make even more critical the need for an organizing framework for information retrieval, analysis, and prediction. Phylogeny, the genealogical map for all lineages of life on earth, provides an overall framework to facilitate information retrieval and biological prediction. Currently, single investigators or small teams of researchers are studying the evolutionary pathways of heredity within particular phyla or domains. Assembly of a framework phylogeny, or Tree of Life, for all 1.7 million described species requires a greatly magnified effort by large teams working across institutions and disciplines. This is the overall goal of the Assembling the Tree of Life activity. The National Science Foundation invites research proposals from multidisciplinary teams to conduct creative and innovative research that will resolve phylogenetic relationships for large groups of organisms on the Tree of Life. Teams of investigators also will be supported for projects in data acquisition, analysis, algorithm development and dissemination in computational phylogenetics and phyloinformatics.
Please see the Program Solicitation (NSF 02-074) soon to be posted on the NSF website (www.nsf.gov in the Documents Online section) for description of the activity and guidance on proposal preparation; note the deadline of May 17, 2002 and the optional Letter of Intent requested by March 29, 2002.
Dear ASIH Member,
Due to unforseen technical problems with a server at FIU, the abstracts submitted to the website are lost in cyberspace. Regrettably, all abstracts need to be resubmitted as soon as possible. The new site is live and ready to receive your abstract. The new abstract submission form can be found at: http://www.fiu.edu/~asih. The new form indicates that you are sending a new submission. You will receive a message back from the ASIH office in Miami confirming receipt of your abstract within 48 hours. After the program planning meeting in mid-March 2002, the schedule for the meeting will be posted on the web.
Please use the format described in the call for papers when you resubmit your abstract.
The abstract submission deadline has been extended to 2 March 2002. Revised content of the abstracts will be accepted at least through 9 March 2002. Please continue to check the meeting website (http://www.asih.org/annualmeetings andhttp://www.dce.ksu.edu/dce/cl/2002jointmeeting/) for details concerning our upcoming meeting.
I apologize for this inconvenience and I look forward to seeing you in Kansas City.
Sincerely,
Mo Donnelly ASIH Secretary
The 2002 meeting will be held from 3--8 July 2002 in Kansas City. The website for the meeting is: http://www.dce.ksu.edu/dce/cl/2002jointmeeting/ The website for abstract submission is: http://www.fiu.edu/~asih Abstracts are due by 15 February 2002. If you want to give a power point presentation, you will have to bring a projector. Rental of power point projectors would have greatly increased registration costs so we decided not to rent them and hold costs down. We look forward to seeing everyone in Kansas City.
The position of Ichthyological Information Coordinator has been filled. Mollie Cashner is the new coordinator and the ASIH thanks her for volunteering to fill this important outreach position for the society.
The ASIH is searching for a new Ichthyological Information Coordinator (IIC). Steve Norris has done this job for many years but now must step down. The IIC answers "fish" questions for the ASIH. The requests for information come to Secretary Donnelly and she passes them to the coordinator. Most of our requests for information come electronically but there are occassional written requests. If you are interested in filling this important outreach post, please contact Mo Donnelly (donnelly@fiu.edu).
New ASIH travel reimbursement form. (PDF)
Abstracts from the 2001 meeting are posted on the website. Please visit the "meetings" link and go to the 2001 meeting. The documents are html and pdf files.
Announcement List: We have established an announcement list for the ASIH. I will use this list to send members periodic announcements regarding the ASIH. This is a "one-way" list. Please do not "reply" to the messages you receive. Please visit the directory link on the website to make sure your current email address is on file. As you update your information, the announcement list will also be updated.
I am pleased to announce that the ASIH Bulletin Board is once again functioning properly.
If you posted a message and it is not listed on the Bulletin Board, please repost it. Several messages were overwritten due to the problems caused by the redirection script.
Thank you.
LETTER OF INVITATION - ANNUAL MEETING 2002
If you require a formal letter of invitation for the 2002 annual meeting to help acquire visas or funding, please contact Mo Donnelly (donnelly@fiu.edu).
As many of you may have noticed, the Bulletin Board is not functioning properly. This was due to someone using a redirection script, in their post, to redirect people to an online casino site. I have removed the offending post; however, this script has caused several problems with the Bulletin Board program and I am still working to get them all sorted out.
I have disabled the ability to use scripts, in future posts to the Bulletin Board, to prevent this, or something similar, from happening in the future.
The Bulletin Board should be up and running again soon. I will post a message as soon as it is working correctly.
The summary of business that will be published in Copeia 2000 (4) is now available on the website (see the Annual Meetings link and look at the 2002 meeting).
We have also posted the ballots used during the 2001 election and the Board of Governors book for 2001.
I am pleased to announce that the ASIH Bulletin Board is once again functioning properly.
If you posted a message and it is not listed on the Bulletin Board, please repost it. Several messages were overwritten due to the problems caused by the redirection script.
Thank you.
LETTER OF INVITATION - ANNUAL MEETING 2002
If you require a formal letter of invitation for the 2002 annual meeting to help acquire visas or funding, please contact Mo Donnelly (donnelly@fiu.edu).
As many of you may have noticed, the Bulletin Board is not functioning properly. This was due to someone using a redirection script, in their post, to redirect people to an online casino site. I have removed the offending post; however, this script has caused several problems with the Bulletin Board program and I am still working to get them all sorted out.
I have disabled the ability to use scripts, in future posts to the Bulletin Board, to prevent this, or something similar, from happening in the future.
The Bulletin Board should be up and running again soon. I will post a message as soon as it is working correctly.
The summary of business that will be published in Copeia 2000 (4) is now available on the website (see the Annual Meetings link and look at the 2002 meeting).
We have also posted the ballots used during the 2001 election and the Board of Governors book for 2001.
Abstracts will be converted to PDF files and should be posted soon. Please visit this link regularly to see if there are new postings.
Recently Dr. Thomas Orrell contacted the ASIH Secretary regarding a letter he received from PETA. The address on the letter from PETA matched the ASIH directory entry. This letter has been received by some, but not all, ASIH members.
We regularly rent out our membership list (in the form of mailing labels) to book, journal and magazine publishers, manufacturers, and other societies to generate revenues that help support the general operation of the ASIH. While we enjoy these revenues, we do not want ASIH members to receive unwanted or offensive materials.To many, including me, the PETA materials are unwanted and I apologize to all or you who have received such materials.
To prevent this from happening again, all requests for our mailing list (in the form of labels) will pass through me. I will do my best to ensure that ASIH members only recieve information that will foster the scientific study of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles.
The information on Gaige and Raney grants to support student research is posted on the website (Grants and Awards). Information on format is available on the page. Grant applications are due on 1 March 2002. Awards are typically made by May. The winners will receive grant funds directly and certificates will be presented at the annual banquet. Winners should try to attend the Kansas City meeting and the banquet so they can be recognized for their accomplishments by the membership.
The chair of the Gaige Committee for 2002 is: Dr. Joe Pechmann, Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, joe.pechmann@uno.edu.
The chair of the Raney Committee for 2002 is: Dr. Keith B. Gido, Assistant Professor, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66503, kgido@ksu.edu.
Additional information on the annual Gaige and Raney competition will be published in Copeia 2001 (4).
www.disl.org/~conference/larvafish
The 2000 meeting program is now on the Web. Go to http://www.uabcs.mx/asih/.
The local committee has witnessed problems with hotel reservations and are doing a city-wide evaluation of what's still available. There are still accommodations to be had, but realize it's difficult for foreigners to find them, so they ask that anyone looking for accommodations contact them at asih@uabcs.mx and they will help them out.
Flights to La Paz are full or going for very high prices. Those still looking for flights should investigate flying to Los Cabos and transferring to the shuttle to La Paz for about $80 round trip.
ASIH is happy to report that word from Allen Press indicates that orders for Special Publication 4, Fishes of Bermuda, will be fulfilled this week (January 10). If you ordered a copy, it should be on its way to you by the end of the week. Thanks for your patience and for your order. R. K. Johnson, ASIH Secretary.
A complete listing of past ASIH meetings ordered by year and venue and including presiding society officers has been compiled by Dr. Joseph S. Nelson of the University of Alberta. This listing is available under the Annual Meetings directory on the home page of the ASIH website. Our thanks to Dr. Nelson• for this useful contribution.
The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia is currently in the process of filling the position of Collection Manager. During this time requests for information and loans will be answered, but we ask that any large or non-urgent requests be postponed until the position is filled. Any requests should be sent by e-mail to fishman@acnatsci.org after September 20,1999. Thank you for your patience during this transition.
I have received a number of requests for the postal address for Dr. Carlos Villavicencio, Chair, Local Committee for the Year 2000 Meetings. Here it is:
Dr. Carlos Villavicencio
Laboratorio de Elasmobranquios Depto. de Biologia Marina, UABCS
A.P. 19-B. La Paz, B.C.S. Mexico
Cp 23080
cvilla@calafia.uabcs.mx
The ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING will be held 26 June - 1 July1999 at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Plenary speakers include Gail Michener, Lynne Houck, and Steve Nowicki. Symposia include"Educating about Animal BehaviorA Broader Perspective". For further information see http://www.indiana.edu/~animal/events/travelinglectures.html or contact local host, Michael Pereira [mpereira@bucknell.edu, (717) 524-1430].
The Center for Field Research at Earthwatch Institute is now acceptingproposals from scientists conducting fieldwork in the natural and applied sciences. Earthwatch Institute is a non-profit institution that sponsors scholarly field research in the biological, physical, social and cultural sciences. Please view CFR's homepage (http//www.earthwatch.org/cfr/cfr.html) for information on field grant application guidelines, proposal forms, and recent Grants Lists. You may also review our Requests for Proposals at http://www.earthwatch.org/cfr/CFRrfp.html
- Job Announcement: Herp Collection Manager at the LA County Natural History Museum
- Conference announcement: The First National Conference on Marine Bioinvasions (link unavailable)
- Due to mail delays in delivery of meeting announcements to society members, the local hosts realize that some members may not be able to submit abstracts by the initially stated March 13 deadline. They have therefore indicated that they "would like to have all the abstracts by the first week in April if at all possible but will entertain additional abstracts on a case by case basis."
- Amphibian related post-doc posistions announced
Interested parties can request to be added to the mailing list, or visit the home page for complete details and updates.African Fish and Fisheries: Diveristy and Utilization Conference
JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology
Private Bag 1015
Grahamstown, 6140
South Africaemail: fishcon@ru.ac.za homepage: http://www.ru.ac.za/affiliates/jlb/fishcon/
"Biotic Recoveries from Mass Exctinctions," September 12-14, 1997, Prague, Czech Republic
