The
BulletinYOUR MAGAZINE FROM THE BRITISH ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY BES BULLETIN VOLin 45:3FOCUS / AUGUST 2014 Photo: Benjamin Magana-Rodriguez Long exposure photograph showing the Cardon Pachycerus pringlei with star trails in the clear night sky
2 Contents August 2014
OFFICERS AND COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 2013-4 REGULARS President: William Sutherland Welcome / Alan Crowden 4 Past-President: Georgina Mace Vice-President: Richard Bardgett President’s Piece: Monitoring change / W. J. Sutherland 5 Acting Vice-President: Andrew Pullin Honorary Treasurer: Drew Purves Science Policy 10 Council Secretary: Dave Hodgson Providing evidence to policy makers: we host a workshop / Cheryl Pilbeam Honorary Chairpersons: 10 Top Tips for engaging and communicating with policy makers Andrew Beckerman (Meetings) Alan Gray (Publications) Natural Capital Initiative – Valuing our Life Support Systems / Daija Angeli Will Gosling (Education, Training Formidable Formicidae / Gabrielle Flinn and Careers) Juliet Vickery (Public and Policy) Special Interest Group News 16 Richard Bardgett (Grants) Climate change Ecology; Ecological Genetics; Computational Ecology; Parasite and Pathogen Ecology and Evolution; Tropical Ecology; Macroecology; Peatland Research; Plants, Soils, ORDINARY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL: Ecosystems; Plant Environmental Physiology; Agricultural Ecology Retiring Emma Goldberg, 2014 Of Interest to Members 27 William Gosling, Ruth Mitchell Julia Blanchard, 2015 The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management / Sally Hayns 43 Greg Hurst, Paul Raven Emma Sayer, Owen Lewis, 2016 Publishing News 45 Matt O’Callaghan Book Reviews 48 Diana Gilbert, Jane Hill, 2017 Joanna Randall Diary 56 Bulletin Editor: Alan Crowden 48 Thornton Close, Girton, Cambridge CB3 0NG FEATURES Email: [email protected] BES Photographic Competition 2014 7
Associate Editor: Emma Sayer A Conservation Success story: A symposium Considering the Future of Conservation 8 Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ Obituary: David Harding / John Packham and Ian Trueman 28 Email: [email protected] Finding the right words: A study of how and why we communicate our science with 29 Book Reviews Editor: Peter Thomas School of Life Sciences, Huxley non-peers / Peter Levi Building, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG Not just speedy – Supersonic! Speed interviews with the BES journal editors / Emma Sayer 30 Tel: 01782 733497 Email: [email protected] Rant and Reason: Do you really think it’s a ‘major paradigm shift’? / Emma Sayer 33 PUBLISHING IN Rant response / Keith Alexander 36 THE BES BULLETIN The Bulletin is published four times Rant response / Mick Green 37 a year in March, June, August and December. Contributions of all types From our southern correspondent / Richard Hobbs 39 are welcomed, but if you are planning to write we recommend you contact one of the editorial team in advance In Defense of Footnotes / John Wiens 41 to discuss your plans (Bulletin@ BritishEcologicalSociety.org). The British Ecological Society: Accounts for 2013 together with Council’s and 58 Material should be sent to the editor by auditor’s reports email or on a disk in Word or rtf format. Pictures should be sent as jpeg or TIFF (*tif) files suitable for printing at 300dpi.
Books to be considered for review should be sent directly to the Book Reviews Editor Peter Thomas.
Cover: This photo of a rock agama by Mick Hanley was entered for a previous BES photo competition. Entries are now open for the 2014 edition of this popular event.
Design: Neo (weareneo.com) Print Management: H2 Associates (Cambridge) Ltd.
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WELCOME
The British Ecological Society is the oldest ecological society So, what has the in the world, having been established in 1913. Since 1980 it has been a Registered Charity BES done for us? limited by guarantee. Membership is open to all who are genuinely interested in ecology, whether in the British Isles or abroad, and membership currently stands at about 5500, about half of whom It is hard to believe that a year has already the findings of this international survey so I’m are based outside the UK. gone by since the International Congress of happy to encourage you to participate in the Ecology was held in London. INTECOL was survey: see page 29 for details. The Society holds a variety of not the largest gathering of ecologists in 2013, meetings each year. The Annual but it drew delegates from the widest range Meeting attracts a wide range You’ll see from the Council report how of papers, often by research of countries and offered the most illuminating important journals are to the BES. To provide students, and includes a series band of plenary, thematic and other speakers a bit of background to the publishing that of informal specialist group of any meeting in recent times. I wonder how underpins the scientific credibility and financial discussions; whereas the Annual many new ideas were fomented, what new strength of the Society, Emma Sayer undertook Symposium and many other collaborations were instigated, how many to conduct a set of speed interviews with smaller meetings are usually students went home committed to a career in BES journal editors. ‘Speed interviews’ are so more specialised and include ecology and how many senior ecologists were called because the questions are short and few invited speakers from around the world. reinvigorated by the enthusiasm all around in number, in keeping with asking a favour them? The Congress was a central plank of the of busy people, and we rather hoped that Proceedings of some of these Society’s centenary celebrations and naturally these would arrive in time to be included in features as a focal point in Council’s report meetings are published by the December issue. The velocity with which the Society in its Ecological to the members for 2013, which begins on responses arrived back astonished us (p30). If Reviews book series. The Society p58. Yet the meeting takes up quite a small you want to know what it takes to be super distributes free to all members, proportion of the report because of the many efficient, at the forefront of research and have four times a year, the Bulletin and varied activities that your Society pursues: the judgement of Solomon, read on. I think it is which contains news and views, publishing; promoting ecology and ecologists; sheer coincidence that the next article is Emma meeting announcements, a supporting an ambitious and varied portfolio having a Rant (p33); don’t miss Buzzword comprehensive diary and many of meetings; supporting and contributing to bingo provided for your amusement during other features. In addition the education and capacity building; promoting Society produces five scientific future meetings. There are also a couple of journals. The Journal of Ecology, the use of ecological science in policymaking; responses to earlier rants; Keith Alexander building partnerships with like-minded Societies Journal of Animal Ecology, offers what might best be described as a robust Journal of Applied Ecology and and groups; all while ensuring the long term response to last December’s ‘Leave it Alone’ stability of the organisation. It is brilliant that Functional Ecology are sold at (p36) followed by Mick Green’s rather gentler a discounted rate to members. so many of you support the BES with your views on the earlier contributions. Methods in Ecology and Evolution subscriptions, by submitting your papers to our is free to BES members. The journals, by giving time to serve on committees Society also supports research Simon Queenborough wrote a fascinating or to attend BES meetings. If you take the time and ecological education with to read the report and accounts you’ll see what series of pieces for the Bulletin on the secrets grant aid. Further details about an outstanding effort the Council and executive of successful ecologists, profiling some of our the Society and membership staff are doing to run an effective, efficient and most productive colleagues in the search for a can be obtained from the innovative Society. secret formula. I miss those contributions and Executive Director (address inside for anyone with similar views Richard Hobbs’ back cover). latest musing may fill the gap (p39). It takes Elsewhere in this issue Bill Sutherland focuses on considerable effort, intellect and skill to hone a The Bulletin circulates exclusively the role of monitoring in a time of rapid change stellar career spanning Scotland, California and to members of the British (p5). There is a substantial group of Science Australia (Richard tells me), but serendipity and Ecological Society. It carries information on meetings and Policy contributions beginning on p10 and the willingness to take a chance clearly lends other activities, comment these segway into the Special Interest Group a hand. Young ecologists in search of a career news via James Pearce-Higgins’ report (p16) and other topical items. path, read and take inspiration. And make sure Unsigned commentaries are the on the launch meeting for the Climate Change you read the footnotes (p41). Ecology SIG. responsibility of the Editor and do not necessarily represent the views of the Society. In the June Bulletin Peter Thomas urged readers to consider ways in which ecologists A limited company, registered can take their subject to a wider audience; by in England No. 1522897 and a coincidence Peter Levi contacted me to ask if Registered Charity No. 2812134. we could publicise his survey of how and why Registered Office: Charles Darwin House,12 Roger Street, London ecologists communicate our science outside the Alan Crowden / Editor WC1N 2JU ecological peer group. Peter will report back on [email protected]
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PRESIDENT’S PIECE Monitoring change
William J Sutherland / President of the British Ecological Society @Bill_Sutherland
Monitoring is the bedrock of ecological research. The current research on applied topics, whether agricultural change, climate change or deforestation, is typically a result of the concern resulting from a detected change, while monitoring, for example of long term studies, has proved central to understanding the fundamentals of ecology and evolution. Monitoring itself is facing revolutionary change on a range of fronts with exciting opportunities but also challenges.
Following visionaries, such as John Ray In a different approach iSpot uses citizen show how small water samples can be and Gilbert White, there has been a long science to identify submitted photographs collected by a non expert and, in the tradition of identifying and recording. The with a sophisticated means of assessing the case of the newts without a need for a pioneering plant atlas of the British Isles credibility of those who name the species newt licence, yet can detect species that published in 1962 led to a need to retain based on their previous identifications. would be challenging to reliably detect the data, which in turn led to the creation With BES funding they have placed some with field studies. The technology is of the Biological Records Centre; this has species within their food chains. rapidly developing with swaggering talk just celebrated its 50th anniversary (happy of categorising communities from simple birthday BRC!). The Centre now has nearly The digital revolution is resulting samples. This leads to a host of issues; 100 million records and has printed atlases in a host of new portable means of as one trivial example, would we accept covering over 10,000 species. monitoring, including automated bat call records of rare migrant waterbirds if just identifiers and means of recording many detected from the DNA they had left? The importance of monitoring can be environmental measures. For example, the illustrated by the peregrine survey showing Norfolk Bat Survey enables members of As with any technological revolution catastrophic declines, which alongside the public to sign up to borrow recorders there can be casualties, such as the Derek Ratcliffe’s classic research on from 21 centres (often libraries). Over handloom weavers seeing their trade eggshell thinning contributed to the ban 400,000 bat records have been collected disappear during the industrial revolution. in the use of DDT. In turn, the British Trust each year since 2013, compared to 1000 Consultants concentrating on detecting for Ornithology’s bird monitoring was set per year before the project began. Two bats or freshwater vertebrates, may well up partly to detect the direct impact of widely discussed goals are to modify need to change their game. pesticides, but then revealed changes in speech recognition software to identify farmland birds. This then led to extensive the songs and calls of birds and use the This revolution will lead to remarkable research on farmland birds and changes in pattern recognition software that identifies opportunities. The volume of data on policy and practice. faces on the internet to identify species species and communities, including for (as Leapsnap does with some success understudied groups, must enable us There are a series of current technological for tree leaves). Both goals are proving to answer a host of new questions. A developments that seem likely to transform technically challenging. This leads to the major current issue is the absence of a our subject. I will describe three. interesting question of how automated we record in an area may be due to a lack of want identification to be; would we still monitoring; these methods will provide Citizen science is well established, but do natural history for pleasure if our optics far more information on effort. We are digital technology is revolutionising could identify everything for us? likely to need new tools to collate and the subject. For example, the popular analyse this mass of data. It will lead birdwatching package Birdtrack enables The final development, Environmental to new requirements, initially in field you to add sightings through an app on DNA, may prove to be the most serious testing, determining bias and error rates, your phone and have all your field notes game changer. Samples of air, water or but especially in creating new means of stored in one location. The revolution is soil have been analysed by microbiologists collating and storing such information and that increasing numbers of birdwatchers for some time identifying the microbe interpreting results. The BES community are using such packages (another, iRecord, community from the DNA. Vertebrates should embrace the opportunities. covers all taxa) to record all of their field shed DNA, for example through faeces notes rather than scribbling unreadable or skin cells, so water samples have been With the current fervent rate of change hieroglyphs in never to be retrieved used to monitor invasive bullfrogs or fish I am sure we can guarantee that when notebooks. This approach is remarkably or to determine which ponds contain BRC celebrates the next fifty years we popular with some contributing many great crested newts (a species protected will have unrecognisable methods with more surveys than days in the month! by European legislation). These studies unimaginably exciting opportunities.
5 6 THE BES PHOTO COMPETITION 2014
Photograph by Hamish Campbell
PRIZES: CATEGORIES HOW TO ENTER Overall winner: £750 1) Ecosystems and Communities Overall runner-up: £250 Photos should show the dynamics within The competition is open to current Student winner: £100 an ecosystem or community. BES members. Entries will now be made online via Flickr™. For detailed Winning category entry that is not one 2) Whole Organisms and competition rules and instructions of of above: £40 Oxford University Press Populations how to submit your image via Flickr™, voucher please download the guidelines Photos should take a unique look at a available on the BES Website: www. Winning student category entry that species in its environment either alone BritishEologicalSociety.org/photocomp is not one of above: £40 Cambridge or as a population. There can of course University Press voucher be other species in the picture, but Although copyright remains with the emphasis should clearly be of one the photographer, by entering the We would like to thank the Oxford species. competition applicants agree to give University Press and Cambridge the BES the right to freely use their University Press for kindly sponsoring 3) Ecology and Society image(s). Photo credits will be used £40 worth of book vouchers to category With around 80% of the UK population where possible. By using our Flickr™ winners. and 2/3 globally living in urban group, your images will be shared with All winning entries will be exhibited at environments, photos submitted in this the BES online community. the BES-SFE Joint Annual Meeting in Lille. category should be an original look at how society affects and interacts with their environment and wildlife. This **NEW JUDGE** could include pictures of how species We are delighted to have responded to societal structures or announce that BBC Wildlife practices. Magazine’s Picture Editor, Wanda Sowry, will be 4) Ecology in action joining our judging panel Photos should be of an inspiring scene for this year’s competition. relating to the practice of ecology. This Wanda has worked for BBC Wildlife since could include pictures of teaching/ 1999 and her passion and experience learning ecology, ecological experiments/ of wildlife photography will be a great fieldwork or any other picture that shows addition to our panel. ecology in action.
7 Food, glorious food
Bob Smith, Zoe Davies and Freya St John. A conservation success story!
Some of the enthusiastic conference delegates. Photograph by Simon Tollington
Amy Hinsley winner of the poster competition in both the judges’ opinion and the popular vote
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Considering the Future of Conservation
Alan Crowden / Bulletin Editor
In late June the University of Kent was the venue for a joint British Ecological Society- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology symposium which had the ambitious objective of examining future directions in conservation. Was the meeting a success?
For those concerned with the future drink) and somehow produce an event that the political and social landscape wellbeing of the natural world it can apparently sprinkled with gold dust to affect conservation. We got global scale be easy to fall into a state of perpetual fire up the imagination and enthusiasm conservation issues, and Yorkshire (which, gloom. Most of the news is bad; generally of all those attending. Zoe Davies, Freya in the opinion of my late father in law, has speaking, conservation scientists are St. John and Bob Smith of the University the status of an entire Universe). dealing with species in decline, the of Kent’s Durrell Institute of Conservation economic situation encourages those and Ecology (DICE) produced a bit of Ecologists cannot live by talks alone. who take the view that economic growth magic with their organisation of the joint Those of us concerned with the should be pursued at any cost, and BES DICE symposium held in Canterbury inner person were able to browse on a (considerable) number of countries in June. generous lunches, breaktime cookies, have leaders who appear to be utterly and cakes. The walls were lined with devoid of any sympathy for the notion Making conference organisers report on an excellent array of posters and by of responsibility for the future of the their meeting to a Bulletin deadline that force of personality (aka bullying) the planet. Yet against that backdrop there passed even before the first delegate organisers encouraged 86% of the are individual conservation successes, arrived counts as cruel and unusual delegates attending to vote in the poster where species declines have been treatment, but we hope to have a report competition. Amy Hinsley of DICE can be arrested, where land use change is being from the organisers on the substance very proud of being nominated as winner moderated with efforts to retain crucial of the academic output of the meeting by both the judges and the popular vote. habitat, or where basic scientific advances in December. But I can’t send this issue Social events involving Kentish beer and are being incorporated into agricultural to press without noting that the first barn dancing were greatly enjoyed by the or industrial practice to mitigate the harm BES symposium of 2014 was acclaimed delegates, who distinguished themselves being done to endangered plants and by delegates as a roaring success. The by a) turning up en masse to the first talk animals. Conservation scientists in need speakers took to their allotted tasks with of the day the morning after the social of a bit of encouragement have been obvious relish and in my 40 plus years of evenings and b) by still being present able to gain a modicum of consolation attending conferences I’ve rarely been to in large numbers of the last talk of the by reading Andrew Balmford’s excellent one where the standard of presentation conference, despite the temptations of anthology of some recent conservation has been so uniformly high. Starting and the early train home. The audience rarely success stories Wild Hope (University ending a conference with speakers of gets a mention in conference reports, but of Chicago Press 2012). Another way the calibre of Peter Kareiva and Camille the delegates enhanced the atmosphere of recharging the batteries is to attend Parmesan is a pretty smart move but of the symposium with their astute a conference with like-minded folk filling the slots in between with talks questions, engagement with discussions to talk and exchange ideas about key that kept the standards at the same and enthusiastic reception for the wide issues and the recent symposium at the level throughout is a rare achievement. range of topics presented in the course University of Kent seemed to register with We were treated to all the traditional of the meeting. A large proportion of the all the delegates I spoke to as another delights of an ecologically-based attendees were on the younger end of conservation success story. conference but conservation specialists the spectrum, which augurs well for the of the future have to take a wider view, future of a discipline that will need to be Organising a good conference requires and as well as biology we got the smart, focussed and persistent if we are the skills of an alchemist; the ability to influences of corruption, the prospects to tackle the problems of an ever growing take everyday components (speakers, for conservation gaming, the influence of human footprint in the natural world. audience, lecture room, food and celebrity advocacy and a tour of the ways
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SCIENCE POLICY Providing evidence to policy makers: we host a workshop
Cheryl Pilbeam / Policy Assistant [email protected]/@BESPolicy
It’s clear that ecologists are well-placed to give scientific advice to Government and Parliament. Experience of working across multiple disciplines, understanding concepts at a landscape scale, and a history of applying knowledge to give solutions to problems are all traits that can help policy makers understand the context and consequences of decisions.
Starting down this road of providing Understanding how to package your In collaboration with our Scotland Policy advice and analysis to policy makers evidence and communicate complexity Group, we will be holding a policy can be daunting. How do the processes is vital to engage with policy makers. training workshop in Edinburgh on within Government work? Who do Andrew Pullin (Centre for Evidence Based 2 October. This will be followed by a I contact? And how can I get their Conservation) spoke about his work with one-day biodiversity conference, allowing attention? To help solve these mysteries the Collaboration for Environmental participants to put their knowledge into and enthuse the next generation of Evidence and providing evidence for policy practice. More information is available scientific advisers, we held a policy decisions. Helen Bayliss (Imperial College on our website. training workshop at BES HQ at the start London) advised participants that knowing of April. your audience is crucial to communicating evidence effectively. Helen was called to Ultimately, participants’ needs directed give oral evidence to a select committee the specific content of the day. After an inquiry on invasive species at the start of initial dose of coffee, attendees were 2014 and was able to give an account tasked with putting their fears and of her experiences and explain how she challenges in communicating with policy got involved. makers into words, giving us the ‘wall of challenges’ to work from. Fears and Exercises focusing on communication, the challenges were organised into themes, policy making environment, and linking including communicating complexity, your research to everyday topics (including confidence, and not understanding how a box of chocolates!) were interspersed policy making works. Our challenge was between speakers to allow participants to then to address all these issues in just one solidify knowledge from the sessions and day! We were confident though – we had put new skills into practice. the help of an excellent team of speakers and our expert facilitators, Sarah Cruise By the end of the day the pub beckoned and Jackie Wrout from Psyccess. and we were able to return to our wall of challenges to see how far we’d come. An introduction to policy making in It was great to see so many passionate the UK, as well as how it really works in people who wanted to find out how to practice was given by our first speakers communicate their science and influence – Sasha Leigh (NERC), Jonny Wentworth policy decisions, and we hope everyone (Parliamentary Office of Science and was able to take something away from Technology), and Richard Benwell (RSPB). the day. Hints and tips have been pulled Timeliness, objectivity, and forward- together in our ‘top 10 tips’ guide to planning were all highlighted as key effectively engaging with policy makers aspects for getting involved in the policy (see opposite page). This is also available process. to share online at bit.ly/top10pm/.
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TOP 10 TIPS FOR ENGAGING AND COMMUNICATING WITH POLICY MAKERS
Getting your scientific research across to PLAN YOUR APPROACH this is a problem that stops you getting those within policy can be a daunting involved in science policy, find people Once you've decided to engage, plan how process. Conveying your message not who can give you advice and support – you are going to do it and what steps only requires finding the right people to there are many people who can help. you need to take. What do you want to engage with but also using the right tools achieve? What issues does your audience to do it effectively. We’ve put together BE CERTAIN ABOUT UNCERTAINTY care about and what are they motivated this ‘top 10’ list of tips, based on advice by? Different policy makers work at Uncertainty in science exists. Big deal. generated at our 2014 Policy Training different levels so you will need to tailor And the truth is, policy makers know this. Workshop, to provide you with our your language and message appropriately It can be difficult but communicating guidance for how you can get the most to connect with them. Planning your uncertainty in your results, approach or out of your interactions with decision move will help focus your efforts as well even the known unknowns is essential makers and communicate your science in as understand how to balance doing this and you shouldn’t shy away from it. Be an effective and impactful way. alongside your normal workload. clear and open, use language that is easy to understand and try not to make it into GET INVOLVED! TELL A RELEVANT AND the big issue you may think it is. Policy makers are continually looking ENGAGING STORY for trusted sources of evidence. Make BE OBJECTIVE To make it easy for policy makers to yourself known to those who need understand and connect to your message, You may be asked to provide evidence by using existing platforms create a narrative to bring your research recommendations or options for a future and organisations, networking at events to life. Create human interest with stories, policy direction. In these situations, which host different stakeholders, and case studies and graphics that are relevant presenting a balanced and objective case branching out to work with others in to them and try to build a connection is essential. Make it obvious when giving different specialisms. Be reliable and by linking your message to the issues or your own personal opinion or when using willing to engage and, in time, you will areas that they work on – the more recent a scientifically informed one. Referring begin to be recommended by others. the better. But, remember to keep your back to what the evidence says can add clarity to your answer and highlight that UNDERSTAND THE POLICY messages clear and concise and reduce or explain scientific jargon. you are acting as a knowledge broker. ENVIRONMENT AND STAY UP TO DATE If you want to be taken seriously and BE A GENERALIST AS WELL AS REMEMBER, SCIENCE IS NOT effectively engage with policy makers, A SPECIALIST EVERYTHING you need to be aware of how policy Having a specialism is great and can Policy makers are influenced by a huge works, who is who and what issues are offer important insight into complex array of factors, and will not always take on their current agenda. Take the time to problems, but you need to be aware of the decision you think they should based research the people you’ll be interacting the wider developments, problems and on the scientific evidence. Science only with. Wrongly naming the current current understanding in your field. Policy forms part of the argument for or against environment minister or being naïve makers won’t necessarily always expect, a particular policy and the ultimate about the way decisions come about may need or want to know about the minute decision on a policy is usually a political make you seem uninformed, and could details of a particular study, but instead one. As long as you can convey the affect the way you and your message are the wider areas of your subject. So read message as best you can and give them received. around and be aware of what’s going on evidence that can be used to inform their decision, that is all that can really be BE TIMELY (you probably do this anyway!) and be prepared to talk about this. expected of you. To grab the interest of policy makers and make your interactions most effective, get RID YOURSELF OF IMPOSTER For more information visit www. britishecologicalsociety.org/public-policy involved with policy and decision making SYNDROME processes early on. Telling policy makers NB: when we refer to policy makers, this can what they should have done or what You may not feel like an expert, but include (but not limited to) parliamentarians, their options are after key decisions have the fact is, you’re going to know a lot more than most of your audience. More ministers, parliamentary committees, civil been made is not a useful use of your servants, scientific or political advisers importantly, policy makers don’t expect time, and it is far less likely they will be and members of regional assemblies and willing to listen to you. you to know everything. If you find local authorities.
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SCIENCE POLICY Natural Capital Initiative – Valuing our Life Support Systems
Daija Angeli / Society of Biology
It’s been five years since the Natural Capital Initiative (NCI) held their inaugural ‘Valuing our Life Support Systems (VoLSS)’ symposium. From 29th April to 1st May 2009, NCI, now a partnership of the Society of Biology, the British Ecological Society, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the James Hutton Institute, brought together around 200 representatives from academia, the public sector, business and the not-for-profit community to discuss how ecosystems and the services they provide could be better managed and protected.
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on the sustainable use of England’s natural capital by a Natural Capital Committee and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has developed a road map to Natural Capital accounting. Many pilot schemes based on science- informed common sense showed how natural capital can be protected and enhanced using innovative mechanisms such as payments for ecosystem services (PES). The Ecosystems Knowledge Network (NCI is a partner) shares these lessons in a language accessible to a broader audience. It also showcases many projects that use a landscape-scale approach to ensure a seamless transition between urban, rural, freshwater and marine planning.
Multi-disciplinary collaboration resulted in the UK National Ecosystem Assessments, the first analysis of the UK’s natural environment in terms of the monetary and non-monetary benefits it provides to society. Other examples of collaborative research include the Valuing Nature Network (VNN) and the Biodiversity & Ecosystem Service Sustainability (BESS) project. Ecosystem service maps are now widely developed Leading experts in the natural, social and well-being, and safeguarding it is vital by environmental consultancies and economic sciences and key figures in part of growth. Better communication spatial maps and models have been government and business gave key note is needed to embed this in the public developed to facilitate planning on a speeches that explored natural capital conscience. We also determined a need landscape scale. from different perspectives. Facilitated for a new and more accessible language workshops focussed on the concept of to talk about natural capital. Finally, many businesses have realised natural capital in rural land use, urban their dependence on natural capital, planning and the marine environment • We called upon researchers, including started incorporating this in their respectively. those from the arts and humanities, to accounts and work in partnership with develop new tools to include natural the not-for-profit sector, for example in One of the main outputs of the event was capital in decision making. Collecting, the Natural Capital Coalition and the a set of key messages for policymakers, collating and integrating data from Natural Capital Declaration. communicators, researchers and business different disciplines is essential in order to act on: to facilitate environmental assessments. To review progress in the natural We identified a need for spatial models capital arena and to reflect on the • With regards to policy, we identified and ecosystem services maps to inform recommendations we made five years a pressing need for government land management decisions on the ago, NCI will be hosting a Valuing our departments to work together to national level and in the national Life Support Systems natural capital safeguard natural capital; something planning framework. summit (#VoLSS14) on 6th and 7th which underpins and influences all November 2014. The event will be areas of our economy. It was suggested • We prompted businesses to take uniquely characterised by an emphasis on to integrate ecosystem valuation responsibility for accounting for science and the application of evidence into fiscal policies and departmental natural capital, instead of waiting for by the wider community. We will discuss targets. However, we also identified the government requiring them to do so. newest research findings with leading importance of non-monetary valuation. An unpredictable supply associated experts in the fields of environmental Urgent action was and still is required to with unsustainable exploitation of science, economics, nature conservation, protect our natural capital – we cannot natural resources poses real risks for human health, as well as hear from the wait for perfect knowledge to act. businesses and it is in their best interest broader community of business leaders, to take urgent action. • We urged communicators and senior NGO practitioners, and influential educators to address the growing Much progress has been made since public sector professionals. disconnect between people and nature. we made these recommendations. For Learn more about VoLSS 2014 on our website, Natural capital is the foundation of our example, the Government is now advised www.naturalcapitalinitiative.org.uk
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SCIENCE POLICY Formidable formicidae
Gabrielle Flinn / BES Policy intern, February-May 2014
Increasingly, humans are learning about their reliance on ants and taking inspiration from these ecological and mathematical marvels. This inspiration has led to innovations that aid a variety of industries from space exploration to emergency route design. As the human world evolves rapidly and dramatically, nature continues to inspire and aid technological adaptation – through the medium of the ant colony.
The total biomass of all humans is structure of the soil, nutrient distribution, of entomaphagy as an alternative to approximately equal to the total and population control of grazers are all less sustainable protein sources. biomass of all ants. 25% of all insects, benefits that ants provide to ecological Further to this, they also have the the largest and most populous group communities. In addition, ants (and potential to be important contributors of animals on the planet, are ants and termites) have been shown to contribute to the pharmaceutical industry due they are found within almost every single greatly to agricultural yields – particularly to the microbial defences they terrestrial ecosystem on the planet. The in warmer and more arid climes where produce to protect them from overwhelming influence that these small the role of earthworms is reduced. pathogens. Ants are already used as but mighty creatures have on global In wheat fields, through increasing medicine by some communities and terrestrial ecosystems is astounding water filtration and enhancing the have the potential to be farmed as but under-represented in current nitrogen cycle, ants have been shown a mini-livestock for pharmaceutical literature. The Amazon rainforest, to increase crop yields by up to 36% purposes (http://bit.ly/1gOGxhD). for example, shares an intricate and (http://bit.ly/1qUsgE7). essential relationship with leaf cutter The overarching manner in which ants that if removed would cause the The integral relationships ants have with the phenomenal nature of these extinction of an immeasurable number their ecosystems is emphasised by their organisms has been tapped is through of plant and animal species (Wilson and use as bioindicators. A bioindicator is a understanding and taking inspiration Hölldobler, 2008). The influence of ants, species, community or even a biological from their behaviour. Nature is a source however, is not restricted to their direct activity that indicates the ecological of human inspiration for innovation ecological interaction. health of an environment and how an and the complexities and intricacies environment is changing in relation to a of ant communities provide a fount of stressful disturbance. Ant communities ideas. Ant colonies have within them have been used to assess the health of groups of individuals assigned to specific forest ecosystems (http://bit.ly/REJlS5) tasks, ranging from nursing young to and to measure restoration success in protecting the colony from threats. environments that have experienced However, they all act together working disturbance due to mining in Australia towards the unified purpose of caring (http://bit.ly/1j7fubH). Bioindicators can for and ensuring the production of new also indicate natural disturbances. At the sisters and (eventually) reproductive Universität Duisburg-Essen in Germany, brothers and sisters who will ensure the the impact of seismic activity on the survival of their genes. This collaborative behaviour of ants is investigated. Results structure and division of labour echoes from a preliminary study show that wood of how a body works to ensure its own ant behaviour signposts earthquakes survival. For example, the streams of hours before they happen (http://bit.ly/ foragers delivering and distributing food TWtyA4). throughout the colony – much like a Ants perform valuable ecosystem duties. blood circulatory system distributing Photograph courtesy of Andrey Pavlov The benefits that humans obtain from nutrients to all the cells in a body. Formicidae stretch beyond agriculture This organisation, alongside foraging Ants are necessary for many ecosystem and their use as bioindicators, and they behaviours and decision-making maintenance duties, many of which are increasingly being used to the benefit processes within and outside the colony impact primary producers and the of humans in a diverse way. Ants can have given rise to ideas that aid with organisms that rely on them. Soil form an essential part of a human diet, as a variety of services such as the parcel turnover, bioturbation, forming the is observed with the growing popularity delivery systems and even space travel.
14 Photograph courtesy of Andrey Pavlov
Ant colony optimisation (ACO) algorithms Groups of ants move in a similar way to There are countless algorithms to be have been used to put this understanding crowds of humans and can give insights found by understanding the behaviours of ant foraging behaviour to use [Figure into how to manipulate and manage ants use to optimise their survival and 1]. ACO algorithms use the foraging crowds of humans safely and efficiently. reproduction. In fact, the algorithm used strategy and natural algorithms used by By inducing an alarm response from by the inventors of the internet is almost ants – when locating food sources and small ant colonies, entomologists are the same as a foraging algorithm used communicating routes using pheromone able to assess how ants locate the best by specific ant species. There are 13,000 trails – and translate it into a computer route of escape in the quickest way ant species in the world, living in a great programme based on this decision possible. Understanding this behaviour variety of environments. As such there may making process. When foraging ants find can then be translated and applied to be a great diversity of ACO opportunities a food source they lay a pheromone trail human circumstances. Translating these to discover and utilise where ant colonies to the source and then one back to the behaviours into ACOs also helps with the find ways of adapting to the resource nest. The return journey is usually shorter design of exit routes within buildings to availabilities and environmental challenges and more direct as they are no longer ensure that residents can escape quickly they face. New research opportunities are scouting. As more and more foragers and safely (http://bit.ly/1jzUJ8K). currently arising from this field (http:// leave the nest to find this food source, a wrd.cm/1myrdmU) such as using ACOs more efficient route is established. This to understand the spread of cancerous FIGURE 1 route is strengthened by an increasing tumours (http://1.usa.gov/1pDFxg5) number of foragers choosing it and and designing rescue robots (http://bit. reinforcing the pheromone trail that ly/1nJZ5jv). By understanding how some communicates the route and food source species of ants use ‘collecting resource’ location. Eventually all other, less efficient algorithms, ecologists can help engineers routes evaporate. This is how ACO works to design robots that are designed for with the correct decision being made search and rescue purposes after natural as more and more digital ants follow disasters such as earthquakes. the route with the most efficient and therefore the strongest trail. On a basic As ecosystem engineers and inspiration level ACO is used as a problem solving for innovators, ants are unique in their tool and has been applied in a large ability to influence the natural and range of industries. This includes delivery anthropogenic world. It is therefore companies who wish to increase efficiency essential that these diverse organisms are of the delivery of packages as well as fully appreciated in scientific literature and companies involved in space exploration. by science- information outlets so that the ACO has been used to generate the Decision-making and Ant Colony Optimisation: inspiration and ecosystem services they most effective space exploration routes Diagram 1: Ant takes a long explorative route provide are fully realised. To date, their (http://bit.ly/1tWgLKA) using ‘Multiple (a) to a food source (F) from the nest (N) and use as bioindicators and role in providing Gravity Assist’(MGA) and wire micro- takes a short route home. Diagram 2: Some ants ecosystem services has not been fully satellites (http://bit.ly/1lX2GWZ) which take longer exploratory routes whilst others find recognised. In the media, they are often shorter, more efficient routes. They lay down have components that are too small and represented as pests. It is important that a pheromone trail as they do so. Diagram 3: knowledge of their incredible value is complex to design and arrange manually. As more ants start to choose the shorter route built upon and disseminated so we – due to its efficiency – the pheromone trail is In addition to foraging behaviour, strengthened and recruits even more ants. Old can continue to be positively influenced emergency behaviours of ants can trails eventually begin to evaporate leaving only by them and ensure their essential roles be utilised to create ACO algorithms. the best option. are protected.
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SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS Successful launch of the new Climate Change Ecology special interest group
James Pearce-Higgins / British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
On the 25th April, the British Ecological Society’s youngest Special Interest Group (SIG), on climate change ecology, was launched at Charles Darwin House. The meeting, which was attended by almost 100 people, provided an opportunity to reflect on the latest IPCC fifth assessment reports from Working Group II, on impacts and adaptation, and Working Group III, on mitigation, that have been published recently. To help us with this, we were joined by five lead or contributing authors of chapters from the latest assessments, who gave an excellent series of presentations outlining the process and some of the resulting key messages.
The day was kicked off by Mike Morecroft uncertainty in future projections. Firstly, increasing extinction risk with increasing of Natural England, who introduced the the amount of external forcing is unclear magnitude of climate change – further SIG, and reminded us of the importance and dependent upon future greenhouse reinforcing the need to cut emissions. of climate change as an issue for the UK gas emissions. Total emissions are strongly Such effects will not just be direct as well as for us as ecologists. Not only linked to total warming. We need to responses to climate change, but also can we monitor the impacts of climate limit these to less than 1000 PgC, so the the result of interactions between climate change upon species and ecosystems, later we cut emissions, the deeper those change and other stressors. In relation but ecology has a lot to contribute to the cuts will have to be in order to achieve to other stressors, Josef highlighted two disciplines of adaptation and mitigation. this. Secondly, there is uncertainty in the particular sources of uncertainty: the The National Adaptation Programme, response of the climate system, which ability to attribute expansions in invasive published in 2013, has set out national accounts for the spread of projections non-native species to climate change is priorities and commitments for from different climate models. Thirdly, low, and the magnitude of potentially adaptation across a wide range of sectors, there is a high degree of natural variability negative effects on biodiversity of which presents significant challenges in the system due to the chaotic renewable energy, particularly biofuel for ecologists. Ecologists have also behaviour of the atmosphere, which expansion, require quantifying and contributed significantly to mitigation, means that periods of apparent slow- urgent consideration at the policy level. by estimating the contribution that down in warming are likely. This all means Land-Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry that trying to work out exactly what will We then turned our attention to (LULUCF) in the UK may play in climate happen in the short-term for adaptation Europe, where Sari Kovats of the change mitigation – currently a sink for purposes can be extremely difficult. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine discussed the European 3.3 Mt CO2e. Richard was followed by Josef Settele chapter. This considered four sectors: Four fascinating presentations followed, from the Helmholz Centre for infrastructure and settlements, food, from chapter lead authors of the IPCC Environmental Research, Germany, who fisheries and forestry, health and well- fifth assessment. Richard Betts from the gave an illuminating account of the IPCC being, and environmental quality and Hadley Centre started by considering process and the sorts of negotiations conservation. Sari emphasised key risks climate change projections, which are that are undertaken when agreeing the of climate change to these sectors being fundamental to our thinking about the final text of the summary documents associated with heatwave, drought future. In the context of recent debates which governments sign-up to. Although and flood events, of which there have about the cause of recent slowing in the there have been few species extinctions been multiple examples across Europe rate of surface warming, Richard directed to date as a result of climate change, in recent years in sectors as diverse as us to consider three potential sources of terrestrial and freshwater species face nuclear power and air pollution, and
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longer-term issues of water scarcity. unpredictable and interacting impacts of suggested. Scientists need to effectively She highlighted particular concerns climate change, but did point out that communicate in an easily understood associated with multiple stressors other potential drivers of change should way – it was suggested that even the combining to cause systematic failure be acknowledged. Camille particularly summary IPCC reports required further of infrastructure and society, and the discussed the rapid pace of change simplification and synthesis. Presenting potential vulnerability of marginal rural in the marine environment, where examples of impacts and adaptation landscapes to these pressures. There may shallow temperature gradients mean action was agreed to be a valuable also be legal and cultural limits on the that warming drives greater range shifts means of helping people engage with adaptation measures that can be taken. than on land and some species have the issues, whilst citizen science may also moved both deeper into the ocean and help wider public engagement with the Finally, Jo House from the University of polewards. identification of change and provide a Bristol turned our attention to mitigation willing audience to receive and promote and the potential role of land-based After tea, Andrew Watkinson, University the key messages from that science emissions from LULUCF. Deforestation is of East Anglia, provided an engaging and more widely. The panel concluded with a key driver, which currently accounts for passionate call to action, focussing on the agreement over the need to understand circa 8% of global carbon emissions. Like need to reduce energy demands across the impacts of climate change, including Richard, she emphasised the challenges society and the challenges of doing this the many cross-linkages between both of effective mitigation and the need to within the current governance structures. earth systems and societal sectors achieve negative emissions – for example, He emphasised that implementing the (particularly adaptation and mitigation), using bioenergy and carbon capture necessary changes will be tough to and then to effectively communicate that technology – but re-emphasised that achieve, particularly given the challenges knowledge to society and policy makers. the most effective land-use solution and uncertainties associated with using is to avoid deforestation. Importantly, geoengineering options to achieve Clearly there are many important areas she provided some hope that rates of negative emissions. His presentation led for this special interest group to engage deforestation and emissions from such nicely into a final panel discussion session with, to help the BES have an impact sources have reduced in recent years, chaired by Sue Hartley, University of York, in this crucial arena for society and the although further work is required to with the panel comprising Georgina environment. Get in touch to join us in increase the precision of these estimates. Mace (UCL), Andrew Watkinson, Camille this endeavour, and look out for further Parmesan and Pam Berry (University of events and activities organised by the After lunch, when there was time to view Oxford). At first, this discussion focussed Climate Change Special Interest Group. the range of posters presented, three on identifying knowledge gaps. Given further presentations explored in more the complexities of ecological responses Contact Mike Morecroft detail the impacts of climate change on to climate change, it was suggested [email protected] biodiversity. Jane Hill, University of York, that we take a risk-based approach to reviewed the evidence for distributional the problem, to identify and focus on change in response to climate change, where the greatest risks occur, and contrasting strong latitudinal responses particularly to identify likely tipping in northern temperate systems with points of ecosystem collapse. However, evidence for altitudinal shifts in the given these complexities, there was some tropics of Borneo. Such changes have debate about how realistic it was to potential impacts on the biological identify system thresholds before they are importance of protected areas although, crossed. As a result of these uncertainties, in practice, evidence is building that we also need to develop adaptation protected areas provide important sites solutions that work in a range of different for range-shifting species to colonise. futures. The need to understand the The challenge is to prevent habitat potential biodiversity consequences of fragmentation from limiting the ability geoengineering solutions to climate of species to do so. Next, James Pearce- change was emphasised, so that we Higgins, British Trust for Ornithology, can make informed decisions. Several reviewed climate change impacts on participants emphasised the need for natural populations and communities, inter-disciplinary research to address demonstrating the importance of this problem. Sue then directed us winter cold and summer drought as to consider how we as a scientific key periods for UK biodiversity, and community could help to stimulate illustrating how recent population trends change. The need for the effective of a range of taxa may be related to promotion and communication of climate change. He also emphasised science was repeatedly emphasised, using the challenge of correct attribution of a variety of media and reaching a range changes to different causes. This theme of audiences from policy to commercial was picked up by Camille Parmesan, to wider society; the challenges of Plymouth University, who argued communicating through journalistic against the value of attempting such media were discussed, leading to more attribution as a result of non-additive, direct means of communication being
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ECOLOGICAL GENETICS were those that aimed to educate the heavily influenced by both producers “masses” about the “basics” – whether and users of computational methods. Paul Ashton that be species distribution models, We’re now taking the lessons learned [email protected] good coding or spatial analysis. So we from that event to decide on how to During the recent EGG conference in decided to move beyond just workshops evolve the Field Guide further. Next Newcastle, it dawned on the delegates and into something that will be longer public outing will hopefully be at a that the group has a significant lasting and updatable over time (though workshop at our annual meeting in Lille. anniversary beginning to appear on the we’re still doing workshops!). This led Along the theme of education we’re also horizon. In 2016 EGG will hold its 60th to the idea to develop a new “Field looking forward to a Software Carpentry annual conference. This is planned to be Guide to computational methods in workshop with the Macroecology SIG held jointly between the University of predictive ecology”, known to us as just on July 10th and a mini workshop Aberystwyth and The National Botanic the “Field Guide”. The goal with the on the Statistical evaluation of IBMs Garden of Wales, Aberystwyth being the Field Guide is have a one stop online using ABC (Individual Based Models; location of the original meeting in 1956. resource for those wanting a high level Approximate Bayesian Computation) Given it is such an occasion – there can’t overview of different computational and on July 11th, both of which will have be many academic groups boasting mathematical methods used in ecology. happened by the time you read this, and similar longevity – it is intended to make Target audiences include those who another event in October 1st with the it a special event. One aspect of this is utilise the outputs of computational Royal Statistical Society and Biometric to be a celebration of previous meetings methods in ecology or are planning Society (two different organisations) through programmes and photographs. to: for example, in Government these might be people consulting papers on a subject yet to be finalised but The EGG secretary and organisers on an area of interest, or interpreting most likely being something like “New are particularly keen to acquire any results or information they have been concepts to connect mechanistic models photographs of previous meetings, sent, or it may be when deciding who to large ecological datasets”. You can especially the excursion, which is a to grant money to from a set of grant receive updates on these in myriad ways: fundamental part of the meeting. If you applications. We’d like people like that to join our mailing list at www.freelists. have such photographs can you please be able to go somewhere and see a brief org/list/bes_comp_eco
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best poster at the conference]. Many You can keep up to date with all our congratulations to both of them. activities by joining our mailing list (which is archived as an RSS feed on our As ever, a key component of the meeting Facebook page https://www.facebook. was the socialising – and as in previous com/pages/Parasite-Pathogen-Ecology- years we organised a social event at a Evolution/409655852380316). The list local pub (the Anchor, for anyone who is also used by the community to knows Cambridge) after the first day’s advertise events, post job information sessions. This was very well attended, and make requests. We hope you will and allowed SIG and non-SIG members be excited to join us and be part of this to discuss their favourite parasites in an growing community. You can sign up increasingly-relaxed atmosphere. On to our mailing list very easily by filling behalf of the committee, thank you to in your details at: https://www.jiscmail. everyone involved for their organising, ac.uk/cgi-bin/ PARASITE & PATHOGEN presenting (and socialising) skills. ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION GROUP Future events Andy Fenton Later this year we will be running [email protected] two events: Meeting report: Ecology sessions at 1. Workshop on Public engagement the British Society for Parasitology Following the success of last year’s Spring Meeting, University of early-career event, this year the SIG will Cambridge, 6th-9th April organise a 1-day workshop on public Over recent years The British Society engagement, scheduled for the Autumn. for Parasitology Spring meeting has This will be a great opportunity for PhD been infiltrated by ecologists, to the students and researchers in their first extent that there is now an established couple of Post-Docs to get the necessary ‘ecology’ theme running throughout the skills to communicate their science to the meeting, organised and supported by general public. If you are interested in TROPICAL ECOLOGY the ‘Parasites & Pathogens’ SIG – and being involved in organising, attending, this year was no exception. The ecology or have any suggestions then please get Lindsay Banin [email protected] theme kicked off with a session on in touch with Ines Fontes (i.fontes@nhm. ‘Bridging scales’, followed by sessions ac.uk). In August 2014, TEG is welcomed by covering topics such as Local Adaptation the University of York for the 7th Early 2. Themed symposium at the and Coevolution, Disease Transmission, Career Researcher Meeting. This year’s BES-SFE Annual Meeting in Lille the Genetics, Ecology and Evolution of meeting is themed ‘Tropical Ecosystems: Host-Parasite Interactions, and even a We are organising a symposium entitled from process to policy’. Day one focuses session on ‘Global Weirding’ (relating “Pan European Parasite Ecology – State on ecology and ecosystem processes, to invasive species and parasitism). of the Art and Looking Ahead” for the while day two looks into practical All sessions showcased an impressive upcoming BES-SFE Annual Meeting applications and links to policy and array of talks at the interface of ecology in Lille (9th-12th December). The development. The broad scope means and disease, covering the full range of symposium will include talks from six there will be something for everyone approaches from pure theory through early-career stage researchers from across and will provide ample fodder for to ecosystem-scale empirical studies. Europe, with the aim of highlighting interdisciplinary discussion during What was particularly impressive was the recent developments in the research of the evening social event. standard of talks by the postgraduate parasites and pathogens, and providing a students – the clarity, enthusiasm, and showcase for the high quality of research TEG also looks forward to supporting timekeeping of the student talks were in this subject area. As ever we will the SEARRP (South East Asia Rainforest exceptional. As in previous years, we organise a social event to accompany Research Programme) discussion offered prizes for the best ecology this symposium, and the whole meeting meeting at the Royal Society on 6-9th student talk and poster, and this year should provide a real opportunity to October 2014. The meeting is on the they went to Jessica Stephenson (Cardiff engage with like-minded researchers topic “Threats to tropical rainforests University) for her talk on ‘Parasites of from across Europe. Registration for in an era of rapid environmental Trinidadian guppies, Poecilia reticulata: the meeting is now open and we change – a global synthesis” and aims evidence for sex – and age-specific trait- encourage those interested in attending to provide a comprehensive review of mediated indirect effects of predators’, to check out: rainforest science integrating biodiversity, and Cassandra Raby (University of ecosystem functioning, carbon cycling http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/ Liverpool) for her poster on ‘Seasons and atmospheric chemistry, examining events/current_future_meetings/2014- of disease: using baboons in a seasonal commonalities and differences across annual-meeting/meeting-outline-and- environment to predict changes in tropical biomes and identifying symposia/ disease risk due to climate change’ knowledge gaps, whilst also looking [Cass also won the overall prize for at threats, responses to environmental
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change and opportunites for their involved/special-interest-groups/ delegates, and two networking exercises: conservation, sustainable management macroecology/) and UK macroecology a speed dating session and breakout and restoration. (http://macroecologyuk.weebly.com) discussion groups. websites, with registration live here: We are always thrilled to hear from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bes-data- Registration was accompanied by a people wishing to organise an event, deficits-workshop-tickets-11988442755 challenge: self-identification of the time develop cross-society and institutional period worked on, via the medium of links or to become involved in the Still futher into the future, we are really coloured stickers (blue for deep time, work the committee does. If you have excited to announce that next year’s green for shallow time, red for modern ideas, please contact us via our e-mail, SIG annual meeting will bring together day, and yellow for other) that were [email protected]. macroecologists from across Europe attached to name badges. Some people We are currently looking for a student in a joint venture with the German went ahead and identified themselves representative, so if you are enthusiastic GfO Macroecology Group and the with more than one time period, which about your subject, passionate about Copenhagen Center for Macroecology, was very much in keeping with the science communication and want to Evolution and Climate (CMEC). CMEC cross-timescale, multidisciplinary nature promote the needs of your peers, get in will host the meeting in the Copenhagen, of the day. touch. Keep up to date with our events where we all hope to welcome you to and news via our Facebook group and EUMacro2015. After an introduction and welcome by Twitter @BES_Tropical. meeting co-organiser Victoria Herridge, MEETING REPORT Andy Purvis gave the first talk on ‘What is Macroecology’. At about 25 years ‘Challenges in Macroecology: old it’s still a relatively young field, and Scaling the Time Barrier’ at the Andy took us through the development Natural History Museum, London on of macroecology in that time, from 1st April 2014 descriptions of large scale patterns of abundance, diversity and body size (often Phil Jardine with birds) to more process orientated The Open University studies that seek to explain these and Victoria Herridge other patterns, with an ever-increasingly The Natural History Museum complex set of analytical tools. Isabel Fenton Our next invited speaker was David Imperial College London and The Jablonski, who focused on spatial patterns Natural History Museum of diversity in bivalves through time, and especially the latitudinal diversity gradient Adriana De Palma (LDG). David showed how the temporal Imperial College London and The MACROECOLOGY processes of speciation, extinction and Natural History Museum Tom Webb dispersal have underpinned the LDG from @besmacroecol Palaeoecologists work on ecology throughout the Cenozoic, and explored in the past, and neo-ecologists are the interplay between climate, range size At the time of writing, we are busy getting increasingly interested in and extinction. organising our early July annual meeting longer timescales. But how often do The next session was chaired by Isabel in Nottingham. Look out for a report in they actually collaborate, or even meet Fenton. Our third invited speaker, Lee the next Bulletin. each other? On 1st April 2014 67 Hsiang Liow, opened the session with a ecologists and palaeoecologists met at Further ahead, we are really looking talk entitled ‘Inferring paleoecological the Natural History Museum in London forward to hosting a Data Deficits and evolutionary dynamics by separating for the ‘Challenges in Macroecology: workshop with the Citizen Science process and observation’. Lee Hsiang Scaling the Time Barrier’ meeting. The SIG at Charles Darwin House on showed how ecological modelling meeting, which was co-funded by the 22nd September. The use of data approaches (capture-recapture and British Ecological Society (through the collected by volunteers underpins occupancy modelling), that model Macroecology Special Interest Group) many macroecological studies, and detection and ecological processes and the Palaeontological Association, the purpose of this workshop will be to separately, can be applied to the fossil aimed to bring together neo- and bring together professional ecologists, record to reconstruct patterns of turnover palaeoecologists for talks, discussion and ‘citizen scientists’ and third sector and occupancy in the face of incomplete networking. The day was co-organised organisations to consider challenges and variable sampling. and opportunities for collaboration. by Phil Jardine (Open University), Victoria Further details will be published in the Herridge (Natural History Museum), We then moved into our first set of usual places (Macroecology Facebook Isabel Fenton and Adriana de Palma (both lightning talks. David Nicholson spoke Group, @besmacroecol on Twitter, Imperial College London and Natural about macroecological responses of BES macroecology (http://www. History Museum). It was built around four turtles to environmental change in the britishecologicalsociety.org/getting- talks by invited speakers, sessions of 5 Mesozoic and Cenozoic, and David minute ‘lightning talks’ that were open to Hawksworth reminded us that the big
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obvious organisms aren’t always the to produce lists of the five main most ecologically interesting by exploring challenges and solutions to integrating the macroecological aspects of fungi. questions and data across timescales, Andrés Baselga showed that biotic spatial and the five key research questions ranges are fractally structured. Anne that we as a community should be Magurran demonstrated that while addressing. These lists were handed in alpha diversity in ecological assemblages at the end of the session, to be brought has remained stable through the 20th together for further discussion at the century, the composition of those end of the meeting. assemblages has changed dramatically. Both Ellinor Michel and Viv Jones spoke Phil Jardine chaired the final session of about palaeolimnological datasets, for the day. Stewart Edie opened the third studying community change and carbon set of lightning talks, with his research Neo- and palaeoecologists get to know each cycling respectively. on the effect of taxonomy on large-scale other across the time barrier during the speed biodiversity patterns. The next three talks dating session. The morning ended with academic took us back to the latitudinal diversity speed dating, with delegates targeting gradient. Philip Mannion showed that people working in different time intervals pronounced gradients may only be using the coloured stickers on their present in ice-house climatic phases, and name badges, and Victoria marking Mark Bell explored tetrapod latitudinal the changeovers with her trusty tin diversity in the Cretaceous. Meeting co- whistle. This got everyone mixed and organiser Isabel Fenton spoke about her mingling in time for lunch, and a bit research on modern and past latitudinal more networking. gradients in planktonic foraminifera. Richard Field then presented research Adriana De Palma chaired the third on elevation and isolation as important session, which was opened by Kathy factors in enhancing plant speciation, and Willis with a talk on ‘Earth’s testimonies: Thomas Guillerme ended the session with In breakout discussion groups the delegates how the past can inform the future in a talk on missing data in phylogenies that identify the challenges and potentials of cross- biodiversity conservation’. This talk made include both extant and fossil taxa. timescale macroecological research. a strong case for using palaeoecological data to set baselines for conservation During this session of talks Victoria had PEATLAND RESEARCH and to test forecasting methods such as been busily compiling the lists from the species distribution models. Ian Rotherham discussion groups, which formed the [email protected] framework for a final open discussion. The next set of lightning talks was kicked Major points to come out of the Wilder by Design: Report on the off by Graeme Lloyd, who showed the discussion groups were the importance 2014 conference and advance notice impact of incorporating fossils into of data sharing and access, and more and call for papers for September Evolutionary Distinctiveness metrics. communication across disciplines 2015 Paul Barrett invited the ecologists in the and timescales, especially in terms audience to offer ideas for deciphering The excellent, high quality presentations of integrating terminology and the diffuse coevolutionary patterns in the fossil at the recent Wilder by Design conference analytical tools used. The meeting closed record, and Carola Gómez-Rodríguez held in Sheffield covered a range of with a wine reception, sponsored by explored the relationship between climatic perspectives, as shown in the conference BMC Ecology. niche width and diversification rate. abstracts. This facilitated some interesting Bill Austin spoke about morphological Thanks to all those who attended the discussions, which raised issues and variability and functional morphology meeting and contributed with ideas and challenged thinking for both delegates in foraminifera, and was followed talks, and thanks to the British Ecological and speakers alike. Fundamental questions by Andrew Johnson who, complete Society, the Macroecology SIG, the were posed about our understanding of with scallop shells as props, discussed Palaeontological Association, and BMC the concepts, the language that we use to productivity and extinction in Plio- Ecology for providing funding. discuss them and how this is represented Pleistocene bivalves. Amy Waterson and communicated to the wider world. closed the session with a return to turtles, and the spatial dimension of Creating and designing a ‘Wilder’ macroecological change. landscape is not a simple or uniform concept. Whether on the small-scale, It was then time for the breakout urban dimension talked about by Richard discussion session. We had already Scott (Landlife) and Anna Jorgensen split the delegates into eight discussion (University of Sheffield), or on the larger groups to ensure thorough mixing rural scale of Charlie Burrell’s Knepp across time intervals and career stages, Estate, there is a range of approaches and and approached a number of delegates techniques to be applied. In the discussion to act as chairs. We asked each group of Oostvardeplassen by Jamie Lorimer
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(Oxford University) there were links to resonates with similar communities in The level of interest and enthusiasm to ideas presented by Nick MacGregor many countries, bringing into sharp focus take part in next year’s conference means (Natural England) with a description of a the need to influence economic, social we are looking at an even bigger and research project reconnecting woodlands and political considerations. These provide perhaps longer event. in a wider landscape. Both perceptions the framework in which we operate. From and approaches change over time and the University of Leeds Wildland Research The 2015 conference will examine the ‘wilder’ concept has a deep-seated Institute, Steve Carver showed how concepts of cultural severance and eco-cultural component. This needs to be developing digital mapping techniques the nature of eco-cultural landscapes recognised and used in future planning as could be a powerful tool to inform and as well as addressing critical issues both Jan Woudstra (University of Sheffield) influence policy and decision-making. He around (re) wilding. Speakers already and Ian Rotherham (Sheffield Hallam used an example from work in Scotland confirmed include Mauro Agnoletti, Peter University) showed in their presentations. taking data from the local / individual-site Bridgewater, Adrian Newton, Ted Green, Peter Taylor (Ethos / Leeds Wildland scale through to setting the context on Keith Alexander, Jill Butler, Della Hooke, Research Institute) touched on some a global scale. Chris Thomas and Nick Rob Lambert, George Peterken, Peter key themes and added both a personal- Macgregor also gave examples of the Quelch and Frans Vera. Chris and Anne- human dimension discussing ‘rewilding’ power of digital-age science, modelling, Marie Smout will be attending as guests ourselves, and a global multi-cultural and mapping techniques. of honour. perspective, championing its rich diversity. The two-day meeting closed with a panel The call for papers (oral and poster) is Chris Thomas (University of York) also discussion that brought many of the still open. If you wish to be added to took a global perspective in discussing issues together. However, there also was the mailing list or want to offer a paper human influences effecting ‘wilder’ a more fundamental discussion about the / poster or other support for the 2015 landscapes and species changes almost values we place on ‘wild’ and ‘design’ conference, then please email Christine by default through decisions made and the pluralities of meaning which this at [email protected]. in the global market place, often generates. There was talk of how this In the Bog – The ecology, landscape, with unforeseen consequences. The should be represented along a continuum archaeology and heritage of movement of biological species and the of experience. The lively debate raised peatlands ability of species to move and survive pertinent philosophical and historical in altered circumstances and under questions and called on the ideas to be 3rd to 5th September 2014 at the human influence were discussed by Jonty placed in a context of transparent and Sheffield Showroom & Workstation, Denton and Ted Green (Ancient Tree open economic, political, and social Sheffield, UK. Forum). They championed the cause of dialogues. It was suggested that this could Professor Ian D. Rotherham and invertebrates and fungi respectively both drive forward an agenda for change, colleagues are organising a major 3-day often overlooked groups but fundamental which will enable everyone to sign up to conference examining the past, present to high quality ecosystems. Some of these a ‘wilder’ long-term future at least for the and future of peatland landscapes across taxa can be heavily dependent on specific next 4,000 years! the world. The event is bringing together grazing regimes whilst inappropriate speakers and presentations from a range The paradigms of wilder landscapes and management adversely affects others. of disciplines, backgrounds and countries the interactions between nature and Paul Ardron (BaLHRI), who stepped in to look at: at the last minute for the absent Ken culture, between history and ecology, and Smith, gave a short presentation about between climate, people and nature, will • The history of human activity associated the fragility and vulnerability of the make for a continuing and rich discussion. with peatland landscapes – heaths, physical remains of cultural heritage. He moors, bogs, fens and commons; A fuller summary of the meeting spoke about historical peat cutting in will be published later together with the Southern Pennine uplands and how • The ecology and archaeology of individual papers in various publications. the archaeological remains may easily peatlands; Photographs from the conference, be damaged. This is often inadvertent, taken by Chris Senior, can be found through inappropriate habitat • The landscapes of peatlands and their at www.flickr.com/groups/syeconet. management and a lack of knowledge neglected heritage; The conference was sponsored and of the wider cultural context. supported by British Ecological Society, • The conservation management of Lois Mansfield (University of Cumbria) Sheffield Hallam University, JBA peatlands – problems and issues; and gave a presentation on the role that hill Consulting, Thorne & Hatfield Moors • The future challenges with climate farming could play in managing ‘wilder’ Conservation Forum, IUFRO, Landscape change and carbon sequestration. landscapes. She showed the rich cultural Conservation Forum, IPS, BANC, Ancient Tree Forum and the European Society heritage underpinning farming in these There will be papers relating to specific of Environmental History. areas. However, she raised the issue that small case study areas, species or suites without a real understanding of the The conference organisers intended of species as well as papers that address functioning of these communities and that the May 2014 conference would the issues at landscape or cultural levels. robust planning for the future to address help set the scene for the bigger event Speakers confirmed include: Jack Rieley, problems of an ageing and isolated in September 2015. These expectations Clifton Bain, Benjamin Gearey, Alper population, all may easily be lost as were more than fulfilled and the standard Colak, Andreas Heinemeyer, Simon declines in farming continue. This scenario has been set high for the second meeting. Caporn, Rachael Maskill, Jaanus Paal, John
22 britishecologicalsociety.org
Coll, Nicki Whitehouse, Jillian Labadz, Capability Brown tercentenary conference opportunities in different techniques, Roger Meade, Ian Thomas, Rob Rose being held in Sheffield in June of that and provide support for early-career and Ian Rotherham. There will be an year. The symposium includes a field researchers. associated field visit at the beginning of visit to the Longshaw estate on the first the conference and a poster presentation day and concludes with an expert panel Committee session on the second day. Offers of session. Speakers include Ted Green, The organizing committee currently posters and displays are still welcome but David Bullock, Paul Ardron, Carol Hobart, consists of Franciska De Vries, The space is limited. John & Doreen Bailey, Neil Barden and University of Manchester (Secretary: David Harries. [email protected]); Ellen The event is sponsored and supported Fry, The University of Manchester; by: BES, IPS, IUCN, IUFRO, ESEH, The event is sponsored and supported Mike Whitfield, Lancaster University; Sheffield Hallam University, Landscape by BES, Sheffield Hallam University, the and Sarah Pierce, Imperial College, as Conservation Forum, Thorne & Hatfield Ancient Tree Forum and Landscape student representative. Also affiliated are Moors Conservation Forum and JBA Conservation Forum. Emma Sayer, The Open University; Paul Consulting. Places are limited and pre-booking is Kardol, Swedish University of Agricultural Places are limited and pre-booking essential. More information and a booking Sciences; Tim Daniell, The James Hutton is essential. More information, the form is available from www.ukeconet.org Institute; and Dave Johnson, Aberdeen provisional programme and a booking or email [email protected] University. Richard Bardgett, The form can be found at http://www. University of Manchester, supports ukeconet.org/event/in-the-bog- the committee in an advisory role. conference/ or email [email protected]. Plants, Soils, Ecosystems com or telephone 0114 2724227 online journal club! Joint British Ecological Society besplantsoileco.wordpress.com (BES) Peatland Special Interest The Plants, Soils, Ecosystems journal club Group (SIG) Events: Workshops blog has been running for four months on Identification and Ecology of now. The idea behind the journal club Sphagnum Mosses is to highlight interesting papers in the We continue the highly successful theme field of plants, soils and ecosystems with three further workshops in 2014 (potentially a very broad topic!) and on the Sphagnum mosses. The three PLANTS, SOILS, ECOSYSTEMS stimulate discussion about the papers. workshops will take place 1) at Thorne The discussion does not necessarily have Franciska de Vries Moors in the Humberhead levels National to focus on the scientific content of the [email protected] Nature Reserve on Monday 20th October; paper – it could also look at the ways in 2) in the Derbyshire Derwent valley; and which papers have been written, or data (Franciska is on maternity leave for presentation techniques, for example. 3) around Big Moor and Leash Fen in the next few months: contact Michael Derbyshire. Places will be limited and Whitfield ([email protected]) or The journal club has attracted over 1800 pre-booking is essential. More information Sarah Pierce ([email protected]) hits from 56 countries since it started in and a booking form will be available soon for group information in the meantime) February. We’ve had to settle for less- from www.ukeconet.org or email info@ frequent posts due to other demands on hallamec.plus.com or telephone 0114 Plants, Soils, Ecosystems is one-and-a- our time, but we’re still getting lots of 2724227 half-year-old BES special interest group interest. If you want to join the discussion, on plant-soil interactions, with a focus Then, with the BES’s Forest Ecology you can always comment on the posts on biogeochemical cycling, community or get in touch on twitter using hashtag SIG Waxcaps and Allied Grassland dynamics, and ecosystem functioning. Fungi Symposium, 7th & 8th #psejclub. November 2014 at Sheffield Aims We’d also welcome suggestions for papers Hallam University, Sheffield, UK • To promote research on plant-soil to discuss in future posts. If you’d like to **Note: revised date** interactions and their role in ecosystems see more frequent posts, why not write Professor Ian D. Rotherham and through workshops, symposia, and a guest post for us on paper you find colleagues are organising a 2-day event events at BES meetings interesting? It’s great practice on critically to explore issues around the identification reviewing a piece of literature and writing and relationship of waxcap fungi (and • To provide opportunities for networking about research, as well as a good way to their allies) to historical wood-pasture and collaboration among researchers raise your profile. and parkland. This event is seen as involved in the study of plant-soil both extending the scope of previous interactions and ecosystem ecology workshops, a discussion of their role as indicators and the implications for • To serve as a platform to discuss and management of historic parklands and ‘re- share techniques, expertise, and data wilding’ landscapes. It will set the scene • To promote research across scientific for further workshops and develop one disciplines to students, facilitate training of the themes for the 2016 international
23 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:3 / AUGUST 2014
PLANTS, SOILS, ECOSYSTEMS provide opportunities to discuss how we environmental agendas, sustainable policy BULLETIN can work together to draw conclusions and land management decisions. across scales. Plants, Soils, Ecosystems not only sends Of course, Plants, Soils, Ecosystems interesting emails about job opportunities, Prices: will be present and active at this great studentships and meetings regularly to Students: £60 conference. We will organise an informal those who signed up for our email list, drinks reception/ mixer on the evening of we also compile a two-monthly Bulletin, BES members: £80 Tuesday the 2nd of December, and we are which involves everything of interest Non-members: £90 likely also organising a session – keep an to ecologists interested in plant-soil eye out for details! interactions, and is complied by our Abstract submission and deadlines: committee member Sarah Pierce. If The price of registration includes Joint BES-SFÉ Annual Meeting in you also want to stay up to date with refreshments and lunches, and a Lille, France, 9-12 December 2014. everything that is happening in Plant- conference dinner. To submit an abstract Still a long time away, but as at every Soil-Ecosystem world, sign up for the for a talk or poster, please fill out the Annual Meeting, of course Plants, Soils, newsletter! But more importantly, the form at http://bit.ly/1prDa2S. You will Ecosystem will be present this year! success of PSE depends on you, so keep also need to register via the BES website Unfortunately, our proposed symposium sending us your jobs, studentships, and http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/ didn’t make it, but keep an eye out for interesting facts. getting-involved/special-interest-groups/ our social activity, which will hopefully plants-soils-ecosystems/ The deadline for take place in an atmospheric French 2014 Activities abstract submission is 17:00 on Friday café somewhere in Lille. This is the ideal Two-day PSE-PEPG meeting ‘Carbon 22nd August, and registration closes on opportunity to get to know us and to get cycling: from plants to ecosystems’, Wednesday 17th September. involved in the special interest group, as The University of Manchester, UK, we will make plans for 2015 during this 16-17 October 2014. If you have any questions, please contact meeting. You can have your say! [email protected], and we’ll get Registration and abstract submission back to you as soon as we can. Get involved! for the joint Plants-Soils-Ecosystems and Plant Environmental Physiology We look forward to welcoming you to We are looking for regular contributors Group meeting is now open. Manchester in October! to our online journal club (see section above), and for enthusiastic people with This meeting is jointly organised with Talks will also address how global change, ideas for organising meetings, training the BES special interest group PEPG, and including climate change, affects these events, field trips, or anything else will focus on carbon cycling processes processes across scales. Registration will interesting within the field of plant-soil from the individual plant level, including open soon. Keynote speakers still have to interactions and soil ecology. Email us photosynthesis and root exudation and be confirmed, so keep an eye out for us at [email protected] if you their effects on soil C cycling processes, on twitter (@BESPlantSoilEco) or sign up are interested and have ideas about how to the ecosystem level, including plant for our email list (see below). to make the special interest group work community controls on ecosystem for you! carbon budgets. GSBI Conference in Dijon, France, 2-5 December 2014. Join us! The meeting will include three sessions, Sign up for our email list by sending focusing on carbon cycling at different The First GSBI Conference – Assessing Soil an email to [email protected] scales: Biodiversity and its Role for Ecosystem Services, is organised by the GSBI (Global Subject: BLANK Message: SUBSCRIBE 1. The fine detail: molecular and microbial Soil Biodiversity Initiative) and Ecofinders PLANT-SOIL-ECO Firstname Lastname, processes in the carbon cycle and held in Dijon, France, December follow us on twitter @BESPlantSoilEco, 2-5th, 2014. This will be a dynamic or like us on facebook. 2. The middle ground: plant-rhizosphere international meeting summarizing the interactions current state of knowledge and recent advancements in the science of soil 3. The big picture: carbon cycling at the biodiversity. landscape scale The conference will provide a venue Keynote addresses will be given by Aimée to meet and discuss current research Classen (University of Tennessee and efforts in soil biodiversity and its links Natural History Museum of Denmark), to earth processes, and to promote Lisa Wingate (French National Institute interdisciplinary collaboration. The for Agricultural Research), and Howard goal of this meeting is promote Griffiths (University of Cambridge). scientific research on the role of soil We hope the meeting will attract lots biodiversity for ecosystem functions and of interesting science (and scientists!) ecosystem services, and to integrate focusing on diverse organisms and such understanding into international processes at a range of scales, and will
24 britishecologicalsociety.org
can apply through the Group Secretary This year, our symposium took on a for BES financial assistance and support slightly different format, essentially a for student attendance. walk and talk based in the lovely and botanically interesting surroundings of The main secretary is Dr Matt Davey Castleton in the Peak District. ([email protected]) liaising primarily with the BES, and Dr Colin Osborne We based ourselves at the YHA Losehill ([email protected]) within Hall at Castleton, the sunny warm spring the SEB, both assisted by Prof. Howard certainly made for a good start to the Griffiths ([email protected]). meeting! The first evening consisted of a science quiz where we all excised our The PEP website and email discussion list public outreach remit by inviting other PLANT ENVIRONMENTAL is still popular (with nearly 300 members PHYSIOLOGY unsuspecting guests of the YHA to join worldwide this ensures a response to your in, in hindsight this wasn’t a good idea Matt Davey emails whatever time of day or night you as they scored better than some of our [email protected] send it!). Messages posted to the list are teams… automatically forwarded to all members. The Plant Environmental Physiology Messages may include research questions/ Group (PEPG) is one of the special methodology and information, discussion interest groups (SIGs) within the British and requests, news of future meetings Ecological Society and the Society for and PhD/job advertisements. To sign up Experimental Biology. follow the instructions at: http://www. jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=env- Plant environmental physiology represents physiol the study of short-term acclimation and long-term adaptation of plants to http://plantenvironmentalphysiology. changing environmental conditions. Our group.shef.ac.uk/ traditional goal has been to integrate leaf and plant- level responses to biotic and Join the Facebook page: PEPG on top of Mam Tor abiotic stress under field and laboratory The PEPG Facebook page has been a conditions. Increasingly, our focus has success, with over 200 followers from On the Monday morning we had a tour been either to set molecular physiology 14 countries http://www.facebook.com/ of the Buxton Climate Change Field in an ecological context, or to provide PlantEnvironmentalPhysiologyGroup Station hosted by Prof. Phil Grime, this a basis for scaling root and shoot level was a fantastic chance to see decent long or follow us on Twitter: @pepg_sig responses to canopy, ecosystem and term experiments and the importance region in the context of climate change, they hold in predicting and monitoring whether for crops or natural vegetation. PEPG NEWS: the effects of climate change. We then joined Dr Bec Penny from the Peak District Our remit is to: Recent events: National Park, who showed us some of • Advance and promote the science 3rd Annual PEPG Young Career the amazing archaeological remains of and practice of plant environmental Scientist Mini Symposium – Spring the lead mining industry, which result in a physiology 2014 – Sheffield and the Peak unique floral composition for that habitat. District After lunch, the sun came out and we • Integrate the plant environmental ventured up Mam Tor and down the physiology community and research ridge towards Castleton and back to the opportunities within and outside the YHA where after dinner Prof Grime gave BES and SEB an excellent talk on the history and future of plant ecological physiology. • Support, train and liaise with young plant environmental physiologists
The group holds its Annual General Meeting at the BES Annual Meeting – the PEP group is an informal group for physiologists of all ages and career stages, with as much emphasis on social interaction as on academic subjects. It is an excellent forum for meeting people working in similar fields, for socialising as well as general networking. Members interested in holding conferences, Lead Rake mining remains and vegetation meetings, workshops or field meetings Professor Phil Grime and the Buxton Climate Change Facility
25 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:3 / AUGUST 2014
The Tuesday had a different format where Matt Davey [email protected] we had a day of high quality talks by PhD and postdoctoral researchers, we even Matt Davey had time for some spontaneous 5 minute [email protected] flash talks! Colin Osborne [email protected] A huge thank you to Carla and Marj for organising this successful event – we plan Howard Griffiths on repeating the format for next year – [email protected] suggestions for nice locations welcome! Lucy Rowland – Postdoc rep EVENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR [email protected]. IN 2014… Zoe Harris – Postgraduate rep International Workshop on [email protected] Plant Environmental Physiology Marjorie Lundgren techniques September 2014 [email protected] Last year saw the reintroduction of Richard Webster the international workshop on Plant [email protected] Environmental Physiology techniques in Lisbon, Portugal. It was a huge success Carla Turner – Communications officer with nearly 100 people being involved please contact Carla with news and during the week. Due to the high global events you would like advertising demand for places on this workshop on our website, email list, Facebook we are going to repeat the workshop in page and twitter @pepg_sig carla. September 2014 – we want to make this [email protected] THE International workshop to attend if you study plant environmental physiology. AGRICULTURAL ECOLOGY Registration is now open: Barbara Smith http://www.essex.ac.uk/bs/conferences/ [email protected] pepg_workshop.aspx • Harper Adams University will be hosting the Agricultural Ecology Group We have secured funding from NERC Annual Meeting “Agro-Ecology: linking for this course! If you are a NERC PhD research, policy & practice.” We are student we may be able to provide you delighted to say that the keynote with full travel, accommodation and speaker will be Caroline Drummond, registration costs to attend this meeting, Chief Executive of LEAF. The meeting please contact Dr Tracy Lawson will be in conjunction with a student / ([email protected]) or Dr Matt Davey early career researchers day on 17th / ([email protected]) for more details. 18th September. For further information Joint SIG mini-symposium with please contact the principal organiser: the Plant, Soil and Ecosystem Dr Nicola Randall, nrandall@harper- SIG – “C cycling – from plants adams.ac.uk to ecosystems” October 2014, • There will be a social event for BES Manchester and Française d’Ecologie Agricultural See Plant, Soils and Ecosystems entry Ecologists at the BES Annual Meeting above for more detail of this meeting in Lille. Details will be posted on the Agricultural Ecology webpage COMMUNICATIONS in September and advertised on the OFFICER POSITION Agricultural Ecology Facebook group – to find us search BES AEG. After two years in post Carla Turner will be retiring as the PEPG communications • If you would like to share news about officer as she completes her PhD, she your research please do consider the has been instrumental in setting up the Agricultural Ecology SIG newsletter. website, Facebook and Twitter feeds, all News, research updates and pictures of which result in our media storms and are welcome! frenzies during our events, a huge thank you to Carla! If you are interesting in joining our PEPG steering committee as the communications officer please contact
26 britishecologicalsociety.org
OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS
ECOLOGY INSTITUTE PRIZES, the authors a chance to express their own Nominations for both prizes are invited 2014 views on important ecological issues and from research ecologists worldwide and to interpret current scientific knowledge must be accompanied by a CV, publication The Ecology Institute Prizes were founded on the basis of their own experience and list and a brief statement, explaining, by Professor Otto Kinne in 1984. The ECI insights, and to criticise freely. Thus, EE in the opinion of the nominator, why Prize is awarded to research ecologists, books differ from text- or handbooks, the person nominated qualifies for the distinguished by outstanding sustained which must review objectively defined prize. The closing date will be August 31 scientific achievements. The prize gives areas of scientific information. The ECI 2014. Nominations should be sent to the and takes: it both honours the recipient prize carries an endowment of Euro 6000. Acting Director of the Institute (Prof. Brian and requires him or her to serve science Moss, [email protected]) or, during and society by authoring a book taking The IRPE Prize (International Recognition August, to Ms Angela Fromm into account ECI’s aims, which are to of Professional Excellence) is awarded ([email protected]). improve communication of ecology and to young ecologists (not older than 40 ecological issues among ecologists and years) who have published uniquely The Institute will appoint an independent particularly to administrators, politicians independent, original and/or challenging jury to consider the nominations and and the general public. More details are research representing an important award the prizes. given on the Institute website (www. scientific break through, and/or who int-res.com/eci). The book is published in must work under particularly difficult ECOLOGY INSTITUTE (ECI), Nordbünte the series ‘Excellence in Ecology’ (EE) and conditions. The IRPE Prize carries an 23, D-21385 Oldendorf/Luhe, Germany. made available worldwide on a non-profit endowment of Euro 3.000. Tel. 04132/7127, Fax 04132/8883 basis. A considerable number of books are distributed free of charge to libraries In 2014 the Terrestrial ecology prizes E-mail [email protected] in Third-World countries. EE books offer will be awarded. Internet: www.int-res.com/eci
27 David Harding 1938-2014
David John Louis Harding was born in Dublin on 18 February 1938. His father was a meteorologist and his mother, who had a Cambridge Ph.D, taught. David went from Repton to Queens’ College Cambridge, where he studied zoology. He then served for two years in the R.A.M.C. at Milbank, London, and studied for his PhD at the University of Nottingham. He married Rose Abbott early enough in April 1964 for them to celebrate their Golden Wedding this year. He then worked at the University of Nottingham and East Malling Research Station before, in 1967, joining the staff of Biological Sciences of the technical college that later became the Polytechnic, Wolverhampton. He soon made his mark, playing a prominent role in the Department and nationally in the British Ecological Society, notably in the Education Committee.
He did a great deal of fieldwork with the students, locally in the Wyre Forest and Hilton, and further afield in the Gower Peninsula and many other places. He was particularly pleased when his daughter Sarah studied for an ecological degree at the Polytechnic. He supervised research at both M.Sc. and Ph.D level. David was an effective and entertaining teacher. His erudite humour made the depth of learning he brought to the classroom accessible and enjoyable for all his students. He was profoundly interested in education; an enthusiastic member of the Institute of Biology who helped promote the effective teaching of biology in the schools, colleges and universities of the Midlands.
David was especially interested in mites and in the terrestrial caddis Enoicyla pusilla. He was also very good at drawing: one of his best shows a caddis larva on a pine needle in the first of our woodland texts Ecology of Woodland Processes (Edward Arnold, 1982). This acted as basis for Functional Ecology of Woodlands and Forests by Packham, Harding, Hilton and Stuttard (Chapman and Hall, 1992).
A great family man, he and Rose did a great deal with their four children. David had a lively interest in local affairs, contributing much to the churches in Albrighton and Boningale. He had a lifetime love of church architecture and was an active member of the local Historical Society and the University of the Third Age.
David continued to be active after he retired, keeping up his academic interests in the Woodland Trust, Wildlife Trust, Field Studies Council and the Royal Forestry Society. He did a great deal of gardening and painting the house inside and out, while he and Rose travelled extensively. In 2013 his health deteriorated, however, and on 29 April 2014 he died of heart failure in the Hardings’ new home in Wellington, Shropshire, where a well-attended remembrance service was held at All Saints Church on 15 May 2014. There are very many people working the fields of ecology and conservation who remain grateful to him. His was a very productive and worthwhile life and we are all grateful for it.
John Packham and Ian Trueman
28 britishecologicalsociety.org
Finding the right words: A study of how and why we communicate our science with non-peers. An invitation to participate in a survey.
Peter Levi / University of Wisconsin-Madison [email protected]
“So, what do you do?” the man timely article, outlining several excellent from graduate school. As early-career next to me asks as the final strategies for communicating our work scientists, we all had an interest in and among non-peer groups. some experience with communicating passengers board the plane. our science to non-peer groups, but While we all may acknowledge a need we also recognized the potential risk “Well, I study the gains in to communicate science more effectively that such activities might interfere with ecosystem services from in order to increase the understanding other obligations necessary for career stream restorations in urban of ecological processes among the success (e.g. publications, research). catchments.” As I say it, I general public, fewer of us actively seek From our conversations we developed engagement opportunities beyond our wonder: ‘Ecosystem services – some informal hypotheses: for instance, peer group. This begs many questions. we suspected that ecologists with should I have used a different Who among us are communicating research topics that receive frequent phrase? Will that mean their science to non-peers most often media attention, such as climate change anything to him?’ – graduate students or late-career or species extinction, may have more professors? What groups are we opportunities to discuss their work and/ “Like water quality and fish?” communicating with – the general public or find it easier to do so since the public he asks, after a pause. or policy-makers? What is our motivation has at least some awareness of the issue. to communicate, considering that such Our conclusions were merely speculative, “More or less,” I respond, and engagement is often an “extra” on top and we collectively wondered, what if we we swap fishing stories while of our other work-related commitments? could share this conversation with hundreds These are precisely the questions that my of other ecologists around the world? It we wait for takeoff. colleagues and I seek to answer in our was from these conversations that this current research. international survey stemmed. I have been trained to have a one-minute “elevator speech” ready to deliver in We are conducting a survey on the The survey will be available through moments like these, when I find myself science communication patterns, September and we would greatly talking about my work with non-scientists. styles, and expectations of ecologists in appreciate participation from you and But despite the preparation, my mind various positions, including government your colleagues, so please share the link always races as I search for the right agencies, non-profits, academia, and freely. We will analyze the results and words to describe it – trying to avoid both industry. Whether you communicate prepare a manuscript promptly following jargon and oversimplification. your science with individuals or groups the close of the survey, and will provide regularly, occasionally, or not at all, we a summary of our findings to the BES It’s becoming clearer that I’m not would greatly appreciate ten minutes of and other ecological societies. For more alone. The importance of effectively your time to assess how and why we as information, please contact one or both communicating our research, and even ecologists engage (or not) with others of the principal investigators: Peter science more broadly, has become a about science. To take the survey, please Levi ([email protected]) or Paul Kemp more frequent topic among ecological follow the link below: ([email protected]). Our research societies, academic institutions, and https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ and recruitment materials were approved research centers. The number of seminars, science_communication by the University of Hawai’i Internal workshops, books, and journal articles Review Board on 07-June-2014 and made on the subject has grown by leaps and The aim of our research is to shed light possible with funding by the National bounds in the past decade. For example, on the trends of science communication Science Foundation (#OCE08-12838). the numbers of articles on science among ecologists. When my colleagues We look forward to your responses communication in Nature and Science and I met at the Ecological Dissertations to inform our current state of science have increased from 3 to 14 per year from in Aquatic Sciences (EcoDAS) symposium, communication and contribute to the the 1990s to the present decade. In the we were nearly finished with our doctoral growing call for more public engagement. June Bulletin, Peter Thomas provided a degrees or just a few months removed
29 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:3 / AUGUST 2014 NOT JUST SPEEDY – SUPERSONIC! BES
Emma Sayer / Associate Editor of the Bulletin / University of Lancaster @panemma
Have you ever wondered about the power behind the throne that is the BES journals? The journal editors have a tough job and a lot of responsibility when they make decisions about the quality of research papers – we await their decision emails about submitted manuscripts with equal dread and impatience.
SPEED INTERVIEWS WITH THE BES TIM COULSON My favourite (own) paper… JOURNAL EDITORS. PART 1 Journal of Animal Ecology It is always the one I am currently I wanted to feature the journal editors @tncoulson working on. But of those published in the December issue of the Bulletin – probably my 2010 one in Journal and, as they tend to be incredibly busy The best thing about of Animal Ecology. I’m not saying that people, I sent them ‘speed interview’ being an editor… because JAE is the journal I edit. questionnaires with no specific deadline, Getting to read so much good cutting I sent it there as I believe editors just a request to send it back at their edge research in my field, and working should send their best work to the convenience. I hoped that five or six to promote animal ecology. journal they work for. editors would find the time to respond before, say, October. Little did I know How I find the time… PHILIP STEPHENS that this little request would reveal one Insomnia. Journal of Applied Ecology of the reasons why the journals are so @PS_Applied_Ecol successful: the editors interviewed on the The next big thing… following pages all responded within 36 We are on the verge of understanding The best thing about hours (the first response arrived within an the genomics of animal speciation in being an editor… hour) – that’s a whole new level of speed the wild. I think that will be incredibly Seeing so many emerging ideas and and efficiency (especially for the Bulletin). exciting. I hope Journal of Animal Ecology novel results ahead of their publication. In the event, there’s been such a great gets to publish the very best of this work. response from the editors that we’re How I find the time… A good reviewer is… going to give you two instalments, with I’m still learning about that – but it Part 2 to follow in the December issue. Anyone who writes a review that is clearly appears that sleep is overrated! aimed at helping the authors improve I asked the editors: their manuscript. A few reviewers seem The next big thing… to think it is their job is to find fault with • What’s the best thing about being I’ll resist the temptation to rave about the paper: they can be overly critical a journal editor? what I’m working on! I’m very excited and claim minor issues are major ones. by the journal’s new ‘Policy Directions’ • How do you find time to read all A reviewer’s job is to identify ways in papers. I’m hopeful that they’ll lead to those manuscripts? which the manuscript can be improved. ecologists having much more direct Errors, alternative interpretations or • Any ideas on the Next Big Thing impact on environmental policy – and recommendations for different analyses in your field? that could make a very big difference. do not need to be highlighted with • How would you characterize a critical prose; they can be identified A good reviewer is… good reviewer? with helpful language. We all get papers Incisive, constructive and – most rejected, and none of us enjoy it. But a importantly, well supported. It’s very • Which of your own papers do you rejection from the editor with a helpful like the most (and why)? difficult to deal with reviews that tell you review is easier to cope with than a ‘no exactly what they think of a manuscript Here’s what they had to say – a whole thanks’ with a kick in the teeth. but don’t really give you the science that issue early and ordered by shortest underpins that opinion. response time:
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My favourite (own) paper… the best test of whether a review is a good How I find the time… There are different reasons to like review is whether you’d be happy to see it Honestly, now I’m (mostly) retired from different papers. Curiously, something published with your name attached. the academic day job, for the first time which means the most to me (perhaps in my life I have enough time to do the for personal reasons), is a short letter My favourite (own) paper… job properly. I can’t remember how I published in TREE (assuming I’m allowed The one I’m working on just now of managed when I had to work for a living to mention something that isn’t in J. course! Though with my editorial hat on, as well. Applied Ecol.!): Stephens, P.A., Pretty, J.N., Wilkin & Sheldon (2009) Current Biology & Sutherland, W.J. (2003) Agriculture, 19, 1998-2002, is a good example of The next big thing… transport policy and landscape how constructive refereeing led us to I’m going to pass on that. I’m an editor, heterogeneity. Trends in Ecology and uncover a novel pattern that wasn’t not an oracle. Evolution, 18, 555-556. apparent when we submitted the paper. The current system of agricultural A good reviewer is… subsidies favours large landowners, NATHALIE PETTORELLI One who has good advice on all the promoting their continued growth and Journal of Applied Ecology questions I want answered. Such as, undermining heterogeneity. It’s an issue @Pettorelli is this an interesting question? Are the that will become more topical as land results exciting and/or novel? Is the paper sparing vs. land sharing permeates debate The best thing about technically sound? How can the paper be about the agricultural landscape. being an editor… shortened? (almost all manuscripts are You get to keep up with all the new cool too long). If there are problems, can they BEN SHELDON studies, both inside and outside your be fixed or not? That’s a good reviewer – research focus! Being an editor is a great the perfect reviewer also gets their review Journal of Animal Ecology in on time. @Ben_Sheldon_EGI way to garner new ideas on possible ways to develop your own work. My favourite (own) paper… The best thing about being an editor… How I find the time… The best moments in science are when I can expand time – but don’t repeat you find out that what everyone believes Seeing such a range of research at is wrong. So it would have to be the the cutting edge of Animal Ecology, this, mutants do not want to be discovered yet. recent paper showing that water- and helping that research to reach a impermeable seeds are all about avoiding wider audience The next big thing… predation, not – as everyone has assumed How I find the time… I don’t know what it is, but I know some for the last 100 years – about regulating the timing of germination (New Late evenings and weekends! Actually, of the characteristics it will have: it’s Phytologist, 2013, 198, 496–503). some bits of an editor’s role – checking going to be inter-disciplinary and/or on progress of reviews, correspondence it’s going to involve some form of new with the journal – fit very well into those technology. JANA VAMOSI little gaps of time one has between Methods in Ecology A good reviewer is… all-too-frequent meetings. and Evolution Fast, providing constructive comments, @jvamosi The next big thing… with a good ability to gauge the Autonomous data collection and manuscript with regards to the journal’s The best thing about experimentation – combining remote niche and scope. being an editor… sensing and bio-logging with smart, Reading exciting and novel manuscripts. My favourite (own) paper… interactive, devices – are technologies Meeting new people. that are going to open new horizons The next one to come of course! I get in animal ecology within the next 5-10 way more excited by the research to How I find the time… years. In terms of research questions, I come than by the research I’ve done. I find it can be done quickly as long as I think an understanding of how we can concentrate. Vast quantities of coffee help. integrate across scales in ecology (spatial, KEN THOMPSON The next big thing… temporal, phylogenetic) is developing Functional Ecology and will further blur the boundaries Geospatial bioinformatics and/or between ecology and evolution and The best thing about coevolutionary dynamics of interacting behavioural research. being an editor… trophic levels. The opportunity to see A good reviewer is… A good reviewer is… lots of brand-new stuff is great. But the A good reviewer reviews in the same nicest thing is steering a really interesting, I like reviewers that concentrate on way that they would like their own exciting, innovative manuscript through getting at the ‘bones’ of the manuscript work reviewed: promptly, fairly and to publication. Even better, then seeing it (taking care to understand what question constructively. Although reviews remain go on to have a big impact and get lots the authors were intending to address) confidential and – at the reviewer’s of media attention. and then respectfully consider whether discretion – are usually anonymous, I think the approach was appropriate.
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My favourite (own) paper… My favourite (own) paper… A good reviewer is… Heilbuth JC. 2000. Lower species richness When I look at my past papers, I often One who carefully and concisely explains in dioecious clades. American Naturalist attach a story or experience to them. the strengths and weaknesses of the 156: 221-241. This might be about the people I worked manuscript and clearly indicates what with, or simply the place where the revisions need to be done to make it It was my first paper and I remember the work was done. With this in mind, my acceptable for publication in our journal. heady rush of discovery that I had what it favourite paper was a study that I did took to be a scientist. with David Wardle and Lars Walker on My favourite (own) paper… patterns of nutrient limitation in long- I’m usually most excited by the work I am RICHARD BARDGETT term chronosequences, which was currently doing, but if I had to choose Journal of Ecology published in Science in 2004. The study one of my older papers it would probably involved a journey to some of the most be one that I published in Science about The best thing about amazing places on Earth with some 20 years ago with my PhD student Sarah being an editor… great people. I learned more during this Moore. It uses a meta-analytical approach You get to read some of the most up to study than during any other that I have to look at the parasitism cost of sexual date and exciting literature in ecology, done. Wardle, D., Walker, L. & Bardgett, selection in wild mammals. The reason I and also get to meet with many of the R (2004). Ecosystem properties and like it is that the basic idea for the paper authors. It is also great to work with a forest decline in contrasting long-term was conceived over coffee ten years team of Editors, Associate Editors, and chronosequences. Science 305, 509-513. previously when I was a young post-doc BES staff who are committed to keeping at Cambridge Zoology chatting with my the Journal, which is steeped in history, at KEN WILSON peers. When I became an independent researcher, I set this meta-analysis as a the forefront of its field. Journal of Animal Ecology short exercise for one of my new PhD @spodoptera007 How I find the time… students. After about 3 years of hard work Like everything, it is about prioritizing The best thing about and many detailed analyses, we produced time. I mostly do my editorial work first being an editor… a manuscript that has since been cited many times. thing in the morning. But, in general, I Getting to see some really cool ecology try to deal with Journal issues as quick as before everyone else! I can to avoid them building up. Even just a few days away from Journal work can How I find the time… lead to quite a build up, but of course Good question! It’s tricky because we this is sometimes unavoidable. are all really busy people. But usually the job is a pleasurable one because you are The next big thing… reading about interesting research, so I For me, a fascinating new area of will often do it at the weekend or at the research is the study of eco-evolutionary start or end of the working day before responses of underground communities or after doing some less interesting to environmental change, and how administration. this impacts community dynamics and ecosystem functioning. The next big thing… I am really interested in the potential A good reviewer is… for new molecular approaches to Someone who is clear in his or her revolutionise how we do all aspects recommendation and gives good of ecology. For example, human reason why. microbiome studies using next- generation sequencing methods are starting to reveal interesting interactions between gut microbes and their hosts, and I think there is great potential for it to do the same for studies of wild animals. People doing excellent work in this area should, of course, send it to Journal of BES Animal Ecology!
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Do you really Rant think it’s a ‘major Reason& paradigm shift’?
Emma Sayer / Associate Editor of the Bulletin / University of Lancaster @panemma
It’s now almost two years since the first make sense – and yet many of us will Buzzword (ˈbʌzwɜːd) Rant and Reason graced the pages of the have heard something along those noun (informal) Bulletin, so I suppose it’s about time that lines during the last departmental pep I joined in with a rant of my own. I think talk. A lot of the buzzwords we use, I’ve also provided a ‘reason’ (at least in like the ones in that dreadful sentence, a word, often originating part) but if any of our esteemed readers have been borrowed from corporate in a particular jargon, wish to give a more comprehensive jargon. A colleague recently sent me a response, please send it in for the next document for comment that contained a that becomes a vogue issue… that is, if you can find anything similar number of buzzwords in a single word in the community good to say about buzzwords. paragraph; without really saying much at all the author had managed to include as a whole or among a I find buzzwords a daily but fairly minor ‘linkages’, ‘platforms’, ‘capability’, particular group. annoyance – anyone who listens to BBC ‘stakeholders’, and ‘sustainability’; Radio 4 first thing in the morning must ‘integration’ was mentioned three times be prepared to be showered with terms in two sentences. The text read like a such as ‘robust’, ‘sustainable’, ‘legacy’, marketing pitch but left you clueless ‘hardworking families’, etc. before about what you were being sold. they’ve even had breakfast. The constant use of these words and phrases is so Buzzwords trickle down from institutions evident that the BBC website publishes to individuals, via management meetings an annual list of the 20 most overused and strategy documents, and end words in the media [1]. Recently, while up being used (no, NOT ‘utilized’) in sifting through a pile of manuscripts and proposals and papers. But it’s not just proposals, I felt I could easily compile corporate jargon that has infected a similar list for ecology just by picking science. The definition of ‘buzzword’ words out of the first few paragraphs from the online Collins Dictionary of each document. By the end of the (above) actually gives “Biodiversity was day, I was ready to scream at anyone the buzzword of the Rio Earth Summit” using terms such as ‘major paradigm as an example. Some of our own terms shift’, ‘impactful’, ‘innovative’, or ‘poorly mutate into buzzwords when they understood’ – and so the seeds of this become particularly popular. I made an rant were sown. appeal via twitter for the most-hated buzzwords in ecology and was surprised “At the end of the day, we incentivize at the number of people who confessed and empower researchers to add to disliking words they often used value to their deliverables using Big themselves. ‘Ecosystem services’ was Data, whereas going forward, we by far the most frequently mentioned, should synergise and show enterprise followed by ‘resilience’ and ‘biodiversity’; initiative to produce robust, cutting- ‘tipping point’, ‘sustainability’, edge, dynamic science with impact”. ‘multidisciplinary’, and ‘rewilding’ also There are 13 buzzwords/-phrases in got a few mentions. that single sentence – it shouldn’t even
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Figure 1. Trends in keyword usage in books on climate science; dots represent word data from the Google Ngram database, lines represent two alternative social diffusion models to predict word use; from [5].
So why does this happen? And why proposals are a great example for the they had reached some threshold of do we keep on using buzzwords? use of buzzwords in science to create popularity [4]. A later study used a social Many buzzwords start out as innocent an association with something that is diffusion model to show that public words that accurately describe a perceived to be important, topical or usage of climate science keywords rises specific property or characteristic (e.g. novel. For instance, I may be interested and falls in a remarkably predictable, ‘robust’, ‘dynamic’) or encompass a in studying pollination because I love mathematical way [5]. complex concept in a simple term (e.g. bees and the whole system is simply ‘ecosystem services’, ‘thinking outside fascinating. But I need funding. I realize So the trouble with buzzwords is given in the box’). We (mostly) understand that pollination is regarded as an the very definition of the word: “a word, them and they help us communicate important ecosystem service, which is often originating in a particular jargon so we use them again and again, which a currently a hot topic… I need to get that becomes a vogue word…” they’re causes ‘semantic stretch’. Semantic people to care about my research, and just fads; they get overused, misused stretch happens when people over-use I know they care about biodiversity and and, after a while, dropped again. We an idea or concept because it produces ecosystem services, so I put my research create our own buzzwords by selecting a desirable reaction. The first person in that context in the hope that this will specific terms over others in an attempt to use ‘thinking outside the box’ had a improve its chances of being funded†. to better communicate our science or cool concept in mind – and it sparked A colleague even once told me that he emphasize the relevance of our work. interest. People repeated the phrase combs through NERC’s science strategy But buzzwords won’t make a lasting to recreate that reaction, and as it gets for current buzzwords and makes sure he impression, and using them constantly repeated more and more, it becomes gets as many of them into his proposals won’t help your ideas to stand out from ‘stretched’, diluted, and starts to lose as possible, because this alone forms an the crowd. meaning [2]. According to the responses association between his research and to my entirely unrepresentative and what NERC wants to fund – in other REFERENCES unscientific twitter-appeal, many fairly words, he was making his proposal 1. http://bit.ly/overusedwords2013 ‘buzzword compliant’††. common terms from ecology are 2. Heath C. & Heath D. (2008) Made to Stick – perceived to be buzzwords when they Why some ideas take hold and others come are ill-defined or used in the incorrect Apparently, using buzzwords might also unstuck. Random House Publishing, London. context. This misuse combined with help you get cited [3], although it’s not 3. Times Higher Education, August 2008. overuse will hasten and worsen semantic entirely clear whether it’s the actual stretch. It also ultimately defeats the use of buzzwords that help people find 4. Bentley R.A. (2008) Random drift versus purpose of the buzzword: instead of your papers or because you are really selection in academic vocabulary: an improving communication, we start working on an up-and-coming topic. evolutionary analysis of published keywords. PLoS ONE 3(8): e3057. using the same term to mean different An evolutionary analysis of published things. keywords showed that there is clear 5. Bentley R.A. et al. (2012) Word Diffusion and non-random keyword selection in Climate Science. PLoS ONE 7(11): e47966. We also use buzzwords because the science. ‘Fashions’ in keywords could be best way to make people care about identified by a sharp rise in the frequency FOOTNOTES something is to form an association of keyword use after the first notable † Apologies for using pollinators as an example, between something they don’t yet care mention (e.g. a highly cited paper) but many of them do make a buzz… and then a rapid decrease in use after about and something they do [2]. Grant †† I kid you not, look it up.
34 BINGO Ecology buzzword bingo for your entertainment during the BES-SFE Annual Meeting 2014 in Lille; upon completion, please tweet ‘BINGO’ to @panemma.
Ecosystem Resilience Biodiversity Sustainability services
Paradigm Robust tipping point Synergy
Multi- Rewilding Dynamic Big data disciplinary
Natural Utilize Up-scaling Stakeholders Capital BES BULLETIN VOL 45:3 / AUGUST 2014
Non-intervention Rant v intervention – Reason& but balanced? I think not.
Keith Alexander / [email protected]
A RESPONSE TO MARKUS EICHHORN Hypothesis – the high forest hypothesis – closed canopy conditions. Long periods AND KEITH KIRBY’S EXCHANGE IN a hypothesis that has never been properly of closed canopy oak-hazel forest are a THE DECEMBER BULLETIN tested and which never fitted the facts. biological impossibility. So clearly the Rackham wisely states that conservation palaeo-ecological hypothesis of closed Markus Eichhorn (BES Bulletin December should be based on practical observation canopy conditions is incorrect. Forcing 2013, or 2014 as the far-sighted Contents rather than unstable theory. Both Bulletin facts to fit untenable hypotheses is not page has it) claims that ‘Leave it alone’ is writers come from the same side of only a trait of vegetation ecologists and the best approach to forest conservation the argument but one is apparently palaeo-ecological vegetation ecologists management, that we should ‘leave the more extreme (ME) than the other however. Palaeo-entomologists have trees to it – after all, they had coped (KK). In reality both have been active developed their own hare-brained perfectly well before humans turned in promoting the Tansley Hypothesis as hypotheses in order to be consistent with up.’ This is a very quaint view, perhaps reality and have worked hard to convince the Tansley Hypothesis. We are expected more of a faith than science. He forgets people that it is actually fact. This is story- to believe that the presence of saproxylic that ‘nature’ today is not the same thing telling at its most inventive, expecting beetles such as Dryophthorus corticalis and as it was pre-people. His mantra has all readers to suspend disbelief and not Prostomis mandibularis in those same peat the characteristics of a faith or religion, question the new reality. To me, the facts deposits which yielded the oak and hazel rather than scientific understanding. are the starting point and hypotheses pollen support the hypothesis, whereas in Where is the rational objective scientific should be developed which are consistent reality they strongly refute it. Both species argument? As Keith Kirby points out, the with all the facts not just a narrow require large girth tree trunks containing eradication of the mega-herbivores was selection. Ecology is supposedly multi- large volumes of decayed heartwood. We a major perturbation – would natural disciplinary but most ecologists study know from modern ecology that closed processes today result in the same thing vegetation and plants, and largely ignore canopy conditions do not produce such that natural processes in prehistory other aspects. The Tansley Hypothesis trees. One has only to visit a former wood achieved? And shouldn’t conservation has never actually fitted the botanical pasture site that has been left ungrazed ecology be looking forwards rather than facts let alone the wider ecological ones. for decades to see that the developing backwards? However he is not correct in So why do people persist with blind young growth overtops the older wood- suggesting that unmanaged high forest faith in its accuracy. For this does seem pasture trees and kills them. Trees with would benefit ‘dead wood beasties’. He is to be about faith rather than reality, all large volumes of heartwood decay will a proponent of that other faith, the high very unscientific. have re-trenched, the crown will have forest hypothesis. naturally reduced for physiological The basic Tansley Hypothesis is that reasons linked to ageing processes. Much of ecology sometimes seems to the natural vegetation cover of what is As I clearly remember George Peterken be led by hypothesis, with the facts at now Britain was closed canopy forest announcing at the Royal Agricultural best ignored, if not denied. Hypothesis is before humans began to open and Society of England’s Ancient Trees the reality, not the facts, it seems. While clear it for agriculture. Palaeo-ecological Conference in the 1990s, ancient trees hypothesis testing is an important aspect studies have shown that the pollen are a creation of the cultural landscape of ecological science, ignoring the facts record from this period was indeed as trees could not achieve those ages should always be unacceptable. Reading dominated by trees, especially oak and under closed canopy conditions. But Markus Eichhorn’s ‘rant’ and Keith Kirby’s hazel. There is a serious problem here unfortunately he was relying on the ‘reason’ was very interesting given that however as both oak and hazel are Tansley Hypothesis as fact. In reality, both come from the school of what light demanding species and appear the sub-fossil beetles demonstrate that Oliver Rackham refers to as the Tansley incapable of sustaining themselves under ancient trees were actually a widespread
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feature of the early forests and so those seriously – too late, missed the boat! While Markus just said ‘leave it alone’ forests cannot have been closed canopy. They go through the motions of ‘testing’ Keith brought in the phrase ‘re-wilding’. Peterken was right that closed canopy the new hypothesis with the objective This has become the word for large scale forest and ancient trees are mutually of defeating it. They do not test the two restoration of natural processes, though exclusive, but he had the cause and effect competing hypotheses in parallel, to it is undefined and often misused. As back to front – the presence of ancient identify the strengths and weaknesses, a part of the ‘re-wilding’ movement trees in the early forests, as evidenced by so that all of us can hear both sides of the for some time I have tried to come up the sub-fossil beetle fauna, demonstrates debate and form our own independent with better words or concise definitions that they were not uniformly closed opinions. They do not examine them but have failed miserably. ‘Re-wilding’ canopy but in reality a mosaic of different in open debate with both groups of is not about looking back, trying to tree densities. Even the pseudo-scientific supporters equally represented. But are re-create some pre-human nirvana or stories of ‘gap-phase dynamics’ do not we not scientists? Do we not thrive on prehistoric landscape. It is about large fit these facts and are merely a sub- developing and testing new hypotheses? scale ecological restoration and re- hypothesis of the Tansley hypothesis, Since when has an unsound hypothesis establishing natural processes with no based on observations on how artificially become a religion, dependent on the (or minimal) intervention. I believe that maintained closed canopy systems faithful to worship it and to fight in its current conservation is, as Markus states, operate. defence, irrespective of the intellectual ‘inherently conservative’. It is always cost? I find it frightening that more than looking backwards trying to preserve I haven’t yet mentioned Frans Vera’s a decade later, the Tansley disciples some chocolate box image of British (or hypothesis – that large herbivores are the are still blindly defending an untenable more correctly, English) wildlife. We look drivers of vegetation structure (Grazing hypothesis, still promoting it as the back to the early days of conservation Ecology and Forest History, CABI, 2000) ‘truth’ in our universities. Yes, Tansley to see what we are trying to re-create – as I am aware that many ecologists was a hero of the early days of ecology, – a suite of species based on pre-war are brain-washed into dismissing it out but that does not mean that his words agricultural practices. The rosy image of hand, without even reading it. His should be treated as gospel. Knowledge of England ‘before the fall’. The species review of the development of the Tansley and understanding develop. Was ‘Rant & common then were only such due to Hypothesis is the most interesting and Reason’ written to amuse the disciples or around 100 years of agricultural practice informative that I have read anywhere. to stimulate a response? – of post enclosure, early industrial, Here is a much more credible hypothesis agricultural landscapes. These are the about the dynamics of natural vegetation A FURTHER COMMENT ON ecosystems of our folk memory, present – credible because it accepts that large DECEMBER’S ‘RANT AND REASON’ when conservation began to emerge herbivores eat vegetation and therefore into the mainstream thoughts and which have an influence on its development. Mick Green developed the 1949 Act and much of our We know that large herbivores were [email protected] statutory framework. present throughout the post-glacial period, before trees colonised and December’s Rant and Reason raised some I believe that Ian Rotherham (March while trees supposedly dominated the important issues. I am fully with Markus Bulletin) is fundamentally wrong landscapes – to ignore their influence is when he shouts ‘leave it alone’ –we have when he equates ‘re-wildling’ with naïve in the extreme: as George Peterken intervened for far too long, failed to stop ‘abandonment’. As I have stated above, it rightly points out, that in their absence biodiversity losses and spent a lot of is not about looking back, nor is it about closed canopy woodland develops. But scarce cash on fairly useless gardening. separating humans from Nature – it is they were not absent of course! Vera’s I also agree with Markus that Nature is quite the opposite. It is all about looking hypothesis provides a much closer an ‘unbounded liberal spirit’ and that forward, restoration and re-acquainting consistency with all of the facts – the where we can we should ‘walk away, urban humans with wild nature. predominance of oak and hazel pollen and watch from a distance’. in the sub-fossil record are a key factor I agree we live in a cultural landscape in his ideas. Interestingly, unbeknown Keith, in his response, is also correct. We – one formed by millennia of human to him, his hypothesis also fits the facts live in a cultural landscape that has been intervention. But it is not a static elucidated by the palaeo-entomologists – highly managed for centuries. We have landscape and is not one to be preserved once their own unsound hypotheses pushed nature so much to the margins in aspic while species disappear. I have are dismissed. that we probably have to, at least for lived in rural Wales all my adult life. I live now, carry on with some intervention in a rural ‘community’. It has changed So we have the interesting situation to maintain, in many areas, those small beyond recognition since I came. The where the old unsound hypothesis is so pockets where we have allowed nature mixed farming of sheep and cattle, long-established that it has evolved into to remain. with some crops and vegetable patches ‘fact’ in the minds of its disciples, despite at many farms, has moved to become its failure to fit the real facts. It has Getting the balance right is all important mainly large-scale sheep ranching. I become so engrained in their minds that and as Keith states we should be looking cannot see anything ‘traditional’ about they have based their careers on it, so to “push back the boundaries of where farming where sheep are round up by that any modern alternative hypothesis we intervene” even if in some cases we ATV as much as dogs, feeding is with is too late on the scene to be regarded do not always go for non-intervention. big-bale silage, and the area is dominated
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by large areas of mono-culture ryegrass. The economic argument put forward by Ian also does not stand up. Farming or other land uses is not the main economic driver of many rural communities. When I first moved here I used to pop round to my neighbour, Rachel, and buy milk and yoghurt from her dairy. You may well now be buying products from ‘Rachel’s Dairy’ in your local supermarket – products now produced in factories run by a multi-national.
Ian is also fundamentally wrong when he states that ‘abandonment’ will lead to a ‘plethora of degraded, species poor, secondary successional endpoints’. No evidence is given for this viewpoint and it goes against the evidence in many areas I have seen. I can take you to many places across Wales where grazing, especially sheep grazing, no longer occurs for a variety of reasons. Without exception these ungrazed or lightly Hidden within forestry plantations there grazed areas have improved beyond all Editor’s note: both Keith Alexander are bogs that haven’t been managed hope. The structure and diversity of the and Mick Green fell victim to a or grazed for decades. These are some communities has developed and a wider malfunction in the operation of the of the best, most diverse looking bogs number of species are present. As George [email protected] I can find. These and other examples Monbiot states, why should be expect email address earlier this year. Keith show that ‘conservation grazing’ can our ecosystems to thrive when eaten to wrote his piece as a response to the be a contradiction in terms and that death by ‘Mesopotamian ruminants’!. articles in the December issue before communities can thrive outside of human Ian Rotherham’s response in March, (and especially agricultural) control. I can take you to a hill grazed by a while Mick wrote his piece more recently small flock of ponies, where trees have having read both issues. Our apologies grown up on the ‘Ffridd’ slopes (bracken Large-scale restoration of natural to both Keith and Mick for the delay in slopes of Wales) and in areas that were processes is not a threat to wildlife, bringing their opinions forward. mainly dominated by Molinia bilberry is nor local communities or economies. It now establishing itself in the tussocks cannot be forced – it will only take place and is out-competing the unpalatable under sympathetic ownership, but there grass. Overall the wildlife is thriving must be a move in subsidies to enable it compared with the ‘sheepwrecked’ hill to happen where it is wanted. There are next door. The Ffridd is full of tree pipits, many areas of Britain, especially in the willow warblers, redstart and the like. uplands, where farming is, and is likely On the blanket bog plant communities to continue to be, uneconomic. It is only are thriving and a hen harrier was maintained by subsidy. Why should that seen recently. subsidy not be directed to restoring more natural ecosystems? I acknowledge that On another site, where there appears to in the crowded lowlands there may be be no grazing, vegetation has been quick fewer opportunities, but initiatives like the to re-establish itself, despite the slow National Forest and the Great Fen Project nature of change in the uplands. I can are already moving forward. now walk through the site and see plants in flower – a rare sight a few years ago. There will always be cultural habitats, Alpines not recorded in places for over such as hay meadows, Rhos pasture 100 years have suddenly re-appeared – or coppice woodland, that are both presumably repressed by grazing though valuable for their diverse wildlife as well hanging on out of sight under other as for their human connections. Nobody vegetation. Evidence of small mammals is is asking to ‘abandon’ these, or other everywhere and bumblebees are feeding valued pockets, but isn’t it time we at on the blossoms. least tried to let Nature have the upper hand where we can?
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FROM OUR SOUTHERN CORRESPONDENT
Richard Hobbs / University of Western Australia [email protected]
In July this year, I will have been in Western Australia for 30 years, or exactly half my lifetime to date. This milestone caused me to reflect on what on earth happened.
When I travelled here in 1984, it was to New Zealand and singing “Kookaburra jobs were like hen’s teeth. (As an aside, take up a 5 year position with CSIRO to sits in the old gum tree”, wondering the where do expressions like this come work on a new programme focusing on while what on earth a kookaburra was. from? Wictionary helpfully explains that the ecology of fragmented ecosystems. It was only after I’d finished my PhD in hen’s teeth are an “example of a non- I ended up staying with CSIRO for Aberdeen and was having a jolly time existent phenomenon, as birds do not 16 years, then moving to Murdoch in California as a postdoc that Australia have teeth”. Interestingly, they provide University for the next 9 years and came on the horizon as a potential as a synonym “rocking-horse shit”, ending up in my current position at the destination – largely because there because this comes “from the expression University of Western Australia from 2009 appeared to be jobs there. ‘rare as rocking-horse shit’, based on on. I’ve thus had the luxury of changing the observation that rocking horses do jobs several times but staying in the same I probably owe my self-imposed exile not produce feces”. Amazing what you city – and indeed the same house – for to the colonies to former British Prime find when you’re scanning the web the past 25 years. Minister Margaret Thatcher. The cutbacks while thinking what on earth to write she initiated to higher education for the BES Bulletin). Anyway, whether Some may say this shows a degree of funding were just getting underway as I hen’s teeth or rocking-horse shit is the indolence, but my excuse is that when it’s completed my PhD at the University of operational expression, either was very come to making decisions about whether Aberdeen. How universities fared at this apt for academic jobs in the UK in the to take opportunities to move elsewhere, time varied greatly, depending in part early 80s – a non-existent phenomenon the alternatives have rarely stacked up. on how the university executive dealt indeed. I’m guessing there must have Western Australia has proven to be an with the issue. Aberdeen seemed to deal been some around, but none that I amazing place to be an ecologist – a huge with it incredibly badly, and I have vivid seemed qualified to apply for. state, covering a third of Australia, with recollections of taking part in protests, an amazing Aboriginal heritage, biological including an occasion with staff and Hence, in the latter half of my postdoc, I diversity and array of ecosystems, students lining the route taken by the found myself applying for advertised jobs juxtaposed with an impressive array of senate procession and watching in silence in many far flung corners of the Empire human impacts, threats and management as the university hierarchy paraded past: and beyond. I applied for several US challenges. I frequently whinge about chilling stuff. Students were revolting positions as well, and mostly got polite the depressing state of politics in WA and across the country, as they often had “Thanks, but no thanks” replies. One Australia as a whole – and that is certainly been in the past: in my undergraduate memorable response from a university centre-stage at the moment – but it years we protested about all sorts of in one of the southern states came remains an amazing place to live and to things, including nuclear disarmament on a postcard with the statement at work as an ecologist. and the Vietnam war. Anyway, the upshot the bottom “XX University is an equal of the cuts for the department where opportunity employer that welcomes Eric Bogle, a Scottish-born folk singer I did my PhD was a rapid decline in women and other minorities”. I hope who’s lived in Australia most of his the numbers of staff and postgraduate things have improved by now. Anyway, life, wrote many fine songs – some students in what had been a thriving amongst the trickle of adverts in the thoughtful, some angry and some area. At that time, I had the good fortune back of Nature and Science (this was hilarious (including the classic “Nobody’s to do a postdoc at Stanford University pre-Internet, remember), was a position moggie now” about a cat that was with Hal Mooney. My implicit assumption as a plant ecologist with CSIRO Division run over by a truck). He produced an had been that, at the end of my 2 years of Wildlife and Rangelands Research album called “The Emigrant and the at Stanford, I would return to the UK and (as it was called then – names change Exile”, reflecting the double-edged find a university position somewhere. frequently in CSIRO) in Perth, Western sword of electing to live somewhere Australia. I applied for this along with all different from where you grew up. I Either Maggie Thatcher had a covert the other applications I was sending off have to confess that I never thought for operation specially designed to keep at the time and only began to wonder a minute that I’d end up living much of Hobbs out of the UK, or her cutbacks where on earth Perth and Western my life in Australia. As a lad growing up were part of a larger plan. Whichever was Australia were when it looked like they in Scotland, the closest I got to thinking the case, it was blatantly obvious in the might want to give me the job. about Australia was having a pen-pal in early 1980s that research and academic
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And the rest, as they say, is history. I flew Other things have changed for the better got up Australians’ collective noses is the to Australia in July 1984, stopping first in too. When I first worked at CSIRO, I way in which it completely overturned a Canberra to sign the forms and get my was part of a Division with 125 research raft of pre-election promises – clearly the forehead stamped at head office. My first scientists – of whom a grand total of 5 case even though the PM and Treasurer day in Canberra was spent wandering were women. Our WA lab was comprised continue to deny that any promises around the town looking at the parrots entirely of male researchers, although were broken – and is seen as unfairly and cockatoos in the trees and seeing a there were several women in admin and targeting vulnerable sectors of society. platypus in the headwaters of Lake Burley support positions. I’m happy to say that The budget and other moves by the Griffin. My first evening in Canberra was women are far from a minority in my government indicate a clear policy of spent wandering around the town centre research group at UWA now – in fact erosion of environmental programmes looking for a restaurant that was open the exact opposite. And from being a and safeguards (including those relating (things definitely have improved now – relatively small and isolated outpost that to climate change), a downplaying of although I don’t think there are platypuses few had heard of and even fewer visited, the role of science in decision making, in Lake Burley Griffin any more). Then on we now have people from all over the “redirection” of research funding – and to Perth, which I had eventually found on world visiting and collaborating in trying radical changes to funding of higher a map. Indeed, Fremantle, the port city of to understand the weird and wonderful education. Not particularly promising Perth where I now live, was well and truly ecosystems we have here and comparing directions – and certainly not the kind on the map by this stage because those them to other parts of the world. And, of stuff you’re looking for to help with pesky Aussies had won the America’s Cup truly, we need all the help we can get. the things ecologists are interested in. the previous year, ending the total US It’s become clear, as I’ve discussed earlier And students are revolting again after a dominance of the famous yacht race and in the Bulletin, that the ecosystems and lengthy period of quiescence. rendering Fremantle the venue for the species here do differ in significant ways next competition. from those found elsewhere, particularly So, it’s been an interesting journey in the northern hemisphere. So, concepts from my first bemused steps into the Perth at that time had the definite feel of and management prescriptions devised biological wonderland and weird outpost being a very, very long way away from in other parts of the world don’t that was Western Australia 30 years ago everything else. The only local beers were necessarily apply here or at least have to the present day. I’ve learned a lot quaintly named “Swan” and “Emu” and to be modified. Indeed, many of the along the way, and things have changed both were equally awful. Pre-email and complex management conundrums now mostly for the better. Whether we can internet, the only links with the outside being encountered have arisen from the muddle through the current political world were Australia Post, expensive inappropriate transfer of management mess remains to be seen – perhaps I’ll phone calls and telex machines. Most practices from elsewhere. Hence, figuring end up being an Abbott exile back in an people didn’t really seem to care much out the ways in which ecosystems independent Scotland! about the outside world anyway – well, it and species do differ is essential to the took such a long time to get there, really. development of effective management – Things have definitely improved in these but also feeds into attempts to broaden regards too. Little Creatures and other and generalize understanding of basic craft breweries have greatly improved ecological processes. And while the the beer situation. Perth remains the underlying biology may differ in subtle most isolated capital city in the world, but important ways, the challenges but more efficient transport and the facing Western Australian ecosystems internet age has rendered it much more are similar to those found in many other connected. The isolation is partly the parts of the world. I hardly need to list cause of the amazing biology of the these – climate and land use change, state, particularly the southwest. It also development, fragmentation, invasive CSIRO Wildlife & Ecology, Western Australian lab affected the science in interesting and species and so on. sometimes weird ways too. Some things research staff plus Chief of Division, Brian Walker, at a science retreat on Rottnest Island, ca 1988. in WA appeared to happen with little But perhaps the biggest challenge relates No sign of “women or other minorities” there. regard to what was going on elsewhere: to my ongoing whinge about our political for instance the system of vegetation leaders. As a Thatcher exile, I’m now mapping for the state, devised in the perturbed to see our current government 1970s, is amazing both for the extent of pushing an agenda strongly reminiscent work undertaken by its originator, John of the Thatcher era. The Washington Post Beard, and for its completely idiosyncratic newspaper recently commented that approach. But in other ways, the isolation our latest Prime Minister, Tony Abbott and difference from the rest of the is “quickly becoming one of the world’s world also engendered a questioning most hated prime ministers” (http:// of current dogma and approaches that www.washingtonpost.com/ 22 May led to different perspectives – that in 2014), after the government “unveiled a turn pushed ideas in new and exciting draconian austerity budget that analysts directions. As connectivity with the rest of call the most extreme and least popular Kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos manglesii, one the world improved, so the intermixing of of the past four decades in Australia”. The of the multitude of endemic plant species in these different perspectives was enhanced. budget itself is pretty grim, but what’s southwestern Australia.
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In Defense of Footnotes
John Wiens / Oregon State University [email protected]
I like footnotes. I think it goes back to my childhood. Both of my parents were professors in the humanities. Most of the books that surrounded me were about art, literature, philosophy, history, and language. They were full of footnotes. Aside from the science fiction that I bought, I don’t recall there being a single science book in the house.
When I went to college, I focused on commentary, digressions, or opinions, Such “wandering footnotes”8 are largely English literature, continuing to read rather like the sotto voce asides that figure absent from scientific writing. Here, heavily footnoted texts. It was only in so prominently in many of Shakespeare’s however, the prose of Stephen Jay Gould my third year of studies that my earlier plays.5 This is what gives footnotes provides a refreshing exception. In his interest in birds re-emerged. I switched their particular value and makes them massive synthesis of evolutionary theory,9 to major in Zoology and started down more than just another way of citing Gould used standard scientific notation the road to becoming a scientist, only to sources. The really interesting stuff is (author, year) for reference citations and discover that those discursive footnotes often in the footnotes. One cannot fully parenthetical clauses (or sentences, or I had learned to love for their interesting understand the progression of Sir Karl entire paragraphs) to embellish a point. digressions, commentaries, and Popper’s thinking in The Logic of Scientific His infrequent footnotes, however, speculations were nowhere to be seen. Discovery6, for example, without reading provide delightful and astute asides. In a his footnotes. Legal arguments, which footnote dealing with controversies over Such footnotes are generally frowned rely on precedents to a greater extent the unit of selection in Darwinian theory10 upon in scientific journals and books. than most other areas of scholarship, (p. 598), he observes, “I don’t think that They disrupt the text, rather like speed often contain copious footnote references mere personal stupidity underlies my bumps or detours in the flow of scientific to previous case law. But here, also, the puzzlement – or rather, if so, the mental prose. Curious readers will wonder asides and digressions in footnotes can limitations must be largely collective, what’s behind those little numbers and be extraordinarily important, leading because other participants share the pause to look, while others will ignore some to suggest that “the most eagerly same struggle and express the same them and miss any nuggets they might studied parts of Supreme Court opinions frustrations.” He then goes on to wonder contain. If they are lengthy,1 they clutter are the footnotes.”7 if this reflects an underlying wiring of the page with small type.2 They may the human brain to deal in dichotomies. also express opinions, which, as we all Other footnotes refer to his grandparents know, are dangerous and by definition “I would argue instead (p. 684) or to his graduate (p. 1231) or unsubstantiated. They have no place in undergraduate (p. 1290) experiences. scientific writing. that by banishing In fact, whether and how footnotes are I would argue instead that by banishing footnotes and leaving used is one of the clearest demarcations footnotes and leaving no room for between writing in the sciences and personal viewpoints, scientific writing no room for personal in the humanities – scientists avoid is itself diminished. Although footnotes footnotes; humanists embrace them. in literature, history, and the arts viewpoints, scientific At one level, this distinction may simply were initially used to demonstrate the writing is itself reflect differences in the cultures of thoroughness of scholarship3,4, they soon sciences and the humanities, reinforced took on the additional role of providing diminished.” by the conventions of publication
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11 12 in scholarly outlets. We become be jeopardized? Would the use of FOOTNOTES habituated to the mode of referencing footnotes further blur the line between 1 As some tend to be. The prize for the longest in our respective disciplines—scientists, science and advocacy? footnote on record apparently belongs to the for example, are more likely to be jolted 165-page entry that John Hodgson, a 19th by the intrusion of footnotes into a text These are not easy questions. They are century British vicar and antiquarian, wrote than are those in the humanities, who not confined to footnotes. The avenues in the History of Northumberland; if you’re scarcely notice the skipping back and for communicating science are rapidly really interested, see Creighton (1891), or look forth. More deeply, however, there may diversifying through online journals, it up on Wikipedia. [Bowing to convention, be fundamental differences in the way blogs, podcasts, TED talks, Twitter, and I’ve assembled full citations at the end of scientists and humanists think (or are the like. this essay rather than including them in the footnotes.] One has to wonder, even with a trained to think). Scientists tend to think But I still like footnotes. footnote much less lengthy, whether it is linearly, from cause to effect, theory to possible to go back to pick up whatever flow of hypothesis to test. Footnotes, especially thought was interrupted—as you’re probably digressive ones, represent a shift in wondering right now. thought. They seem symptomatic of “Footnotes, by 2 disorderly thinking, something to be Worse yet are endnotes, which force the reader avoided in scientific writing. Perhaps providing a way to to flip to the end of the paper, chapter, or entire book to find the information, which (to humanists think differently, pursuing separate opinions, make things worse) may list citations in the a thought and then thinking of other order in which they appear in the text rather related things, in a process more closely speculations, and than alphabetically, creating even more of a resembling a fisherman’s net than a digressions from challenge. See Science or Nature for examples. taut line. This is the stuff of footnotes. 3 By shunning footnotes, scientists are Grafton (1997). deprived of an outlet for their interesting the mainstream of 4 Scientists do this too, by citing obscure or thoughts, opinions, and asides. foreign references or, more often, the works of a scientific text, their close colleagues (or potential reviewers). I realize now that, by my (over)use of allow those opinions, 5 See Hirsh (2003). footnotes, I may have had an effect opposite to what I intended, distracting speculations, and 6 Popper (1959). you from my main point. Footnotes, by 7 Balkin (1989). Balkin devoted most of a providing a way to separate opinions, digressions to 45-page paper originally published in the speculations, and digressions from come forth.” Northwestern University Law Review to the the mainstream of a scientific text, lasting impact of a single footnote (known allow those opinions, speculations, in legal circles as “The Footnote”) written and digressions to come forth. These REFERENCES by Justice Harlan Fiske Stone in 1938 to an “tangentia” come from thinking Balkin, J.M. 1989. The Footnote. opinion in United States v. Carolene Products, about the science, adding a twist or a Faculty Scholarship Series. Paper 287. http:// which had to do with interstate shipment of a novel interpretation, or pointing out digitalcommons.lawyale.edu/fss_papers/287. product containing skimmed milk. a relationship that may be the seed of 8 Creighton, M. 1891. Hodgson, John (1779-1845). Horowitz (2011). innovation. They should not be lost or In Lee, S. Dictionary of National Biography 27. 9 suppressed. Gould (2002). At 1,433 pages and 5.0 London: Smith, Elder & Co. pounds, it is scarcely light reading, despite There is, of course, some risk in allowing Gould, S.J. 2002. The Structure of Evolutionary its readability (Gould wrote in the first person such tangentia to intrude into scientific Theory. The Belknap Press of Harvard University throughout). writing. When we read a paper in Press, Cambridge, MA. 10 Interestingly, Darwin did not use footnotes a scientific journal or a chapter in a Grafton, A. 1997. The Footnote. A Curious History. in On the Origin of Species (published in science book, we expect that what we Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. 1859), although he did in other works, such read has an empirical or theoretical as Journal of Researches into the Geology Hirsh, J.E. 2003. Shakespeare and the History and Natural History of the Various Countries foundation and the work has followed of Soliloquies. Fairleigh Dickinson University appropriate scientific methods. This is Visited by H.M.S. Beagle, under the Command Press, Madison, NJ. of Captain Fitzroy, R.N. from 1832 to 1836 what peer review is supposed to assure. Horowitz, A. 2011. Will the e-book kill the (published in 1839) or The Descent of Man, But now, if opinions and speculations footnote? The New York Times, October 11, 2011. and Selection in Relation to Sex (published are allowed to creep into footnotes, can in 1871). their inclusion in the main text be far Popper, K.R. 1959. The Logic of Scientific 11 behind? Would such footnotes call into Discovery. Basic Books, New York, NY. A clear signpost of Snow’s Two Cultures (1959). question the credibility of the science in Snow, C.P. 1959. The Two Cultures and the the main text? Would the role of science Scientific Revolution. Cambridge University 12 Leaving aside the question of whether science as an objective arbiter of policy disputes Press, Cambridge, UK. really does play this role.
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The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management
Sally Hayns MCIEEM / Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management T: 01962 868626 / Enquiries @cieem.net / www.cieem.net
CIEEM AWARDS 2014 Interest and the impact on important David Hill of The Environment Bank populations of protected species by won the award for the Most Influential At the end of June over 150 CIEEM creating an accessible landscape-scale In Practice article for his article members and non-members gathered nature reserve in collaboration with the “Biodiversity Offsetting” which appeared at the Birmingham Botanic Gardens to local community including 10km of new, in the September 2013 edition of celebrate CIEEM’s new-look Awards. well-managed access for walking and the magazine. The In Practice Award The event was hosted by broadcaster cycling. highlights a contributing article which and comedienne Helen Lederer . is clear, concise and engaging in style Chris Baines gave an entertaining and The Medmerry Managed Realignment and which shows a detailed awareness of thought-provoking keynote speech Scheme also won the Tony Bradshaw the subject matter and any surrounding which reminded us all of the importance Award, offered in honour of CIEEM argument and debate. of celebrating good ecological and co-founder and former CIEEM and environmental practice. BES president, the late Professor William Bond, Managing Director Tony Bradshaw. This award is only of environmental restoration and CIEEM Fellow Dr Keith Kirby was presented to exceptional projects which creation company Alaska Environmental awarded the annual CIEEM Medal demonstrate fulfilment of criteria for two Contracting , won the Outstanding in recognition of his contribution to or more Best Practice Awards and set a Professional Award which recognises driving forward woodland conservation high standard for industry practice. exceptional achievements of a CIEEM in the UK. Regarded by his peers as the member who, throughout their career, ‘oracle on woodlands’, Kirby’s career The other joint winner of the Best has been committed to delivering has spanned nearly forty years. Dr Kirby Practice Award for Practical Nature consistently high standards of currently works at Oxford University Conservation was the River of Life knowledge, skill sharing and leadership in the Department of Plant Sciences floodplain restoration project at in the field of ecology and environmental where he has been at the forefront of Shillingford in Oxfordshire. This management. ground-breaking policies in woodland collaboration between the Environment monitoring and assessment. Agency and The Earth Trust has Octavia Neeves, an ecologist working transformed a species-poor area of for engineering consultancy Atkins The joint winner of the Best agricultural land into a matrix of wetland Global, won the Promising Professional Practice Award for Practical Nature habitats fringed with wildflower-rich Award which recognises exceptional Conservation and the outright lowland meadows whilst maintaining the achievements of a CIEEM member in winner of the Best Practice Award overall productivity of the site for arable the early stages of their career. Octavia for Stakeholder Engagement was and pastoral farming. was nominated by colleagues for her the Medmerry Managed Realignment attention to detail and excellence in the Scheme in West Sussex. The Scheme is DTA Publications, an environmental field of ecology which has benefitted the largest managed realignment of the planning consultancy, was the winner both large-scale projects and internal open coast in Europe. The project, led by of two Best Practice Awards for communications. the Environment Agency and supported Innovation and Knowledge-sharing by the RSPB, joint venture partnership for the development and publication of Jonathan Pearce, a graduate from Team Van Oord, engineering group the Habitats Regulations Handbook. DTA Oxford Brookes University, won the Jacobs and built asset consultancy EC Publications designed the handbook for CIEEM Student Projects award in the Harris, has culminated in the building regular revision to enable subscribers Postgraduate Projects category for of 7km of new flood embankments to keep up to date with the fast-paced his paper “Biodiversity Offsetting in designed to be resilient to sea level changes in fieldwork, methodologies Oxfordshire: an assessment of challenges rise for the next 100 years. The project and case law in EU and UK Government and opportunities”. included planned mitigation for the loss environmental legislation and policy. of freshwater Sites of Special Scientific
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Scott Mackenzie, a recent graduate in Environmental Management at Northumbria University won the CIEEM Student Projects award in the Undergraduate Projects category for his dissertation studying different types of land use in Northumbria National Park and the variations this causes in invertebrates’ presence in its upland streams.
The NGO Impact Award was won by the RSPB for the Great Bells Farm Habitat Creation Project on the Isle of Sheppey. Working in partnership with the Environment Agency the RSPB has created 160 hectares of new freshwater wetland habitat on arable land using cost saving methods and resources. The project is already seeing a positive increase in figures of breeding wildfowl and wading birds with renewed presence of gadwalls, mute swans, shovelers and avocets. Numbers of breeding lapwings have now exceeded the threshold of supporting a viable population and there has been more than double the number of breeding oystercatchers.
Finally the Corporate Achievement Award was won by the University of Greenwich for its work in developing Biodiversity Action Plans for three of its campuses. Bee hives have been installed across three of the university campuses which now produce honey sold in campus shops and bee populations are monitored by students. Areas of meadow have been created and plans have been developed with the Forestry Commission to create woodlands on the university estate.
Congratulations to all our winners and a big thank you to our Awards sponsors Ove Arup, Atkins, The Environmental Partnership, Green house Graphics and McParland-Finn Ltd.
AUTUMN CONFERENCE This year’s Autumn Conference will be at the University of Edinburgh’s John McIntyre Conference Centre on the 11th and 12th November. The theme of the conference is ‘Progress in Effective Habitat Restoration, Translocation and Creation’. Further details are available at www.cieem.net
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PUBLISHING NEWS Journals Update
Erika Newton JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY “IN Assistant Editor THE PRESS” www.journalofappliedecology.org [email protected] The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology @JAppliedEcology published a press release on a paper (bit. We’ve recently published several ly/1g2u5KI) published in issue 102:4 by interesting review articles; Tuck et al. Lindsay Banin and colleagues entitled www.journalofecology.org “Tropical forest wood production: a undertook a meta-analysis to review @JEcology the impacts of organic farming on cross-continental comparison”. This paper is free to access on Wiley Online biodiversity (Land-use intensity and the META-ANALYSIS IN PLANT ECOLOGY effects of organic farming on biodiversity: Library. – SPECIAL FEATURE a hierarchical meta-analysis. Issue 3, 746- 755) and found that organic farming has In July (issue 102:4) the Journal published ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA positive effects on biodiversity compared an exciting Special Feature exploring the ANNUAL MEETING 2014 with conventional agriculture. The use of meta-analysis in plant ecology. The Several members of Journal’s editorial authors also highlight that much of the Special Feature consisted of 6 papers, team will be at ESA, including Executive current research has been undertaken in which sought to advance the use of Editor David Gibson and Managing the developed world and more research this statistical tool in plant ecological Editor Andrea Baier. They look forward is required in tropical and sub-tropical research. Guest Edited by Lorena Gomez- to both meeting and catching-up with areas. Continuing on the agricultural Aparicio and Chris Lortie, this collection North American readers and authors. theme, Edmondson et al.’s recent of papers is free to access. paper (Urban cultivation in allotments WELCOME TO THE EDITORIAL BOARD HOW MUCH OF THE WORLD IS maintains soil qualities adversely The Journal would like to welcome Liesje WOODY? affected by conventional agriculture. doi: Mommer (Wageningen University), 10.1111/1365-2664.12254) shows that Journal of Ecology will publish a Future Alison Power (Cornell University) and high-yield food production on allotments Directions paper in issue 102:5 by Akiko Satake (Hokkaido University) to the can occur without degrading soil Richard FitzJohn et al. entitled “How Editorial Board. quality. A news article by Ken Thompson much of the world is woody?” The featuring this paper was also published in paper is already available online on Wiley JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY & the Telegraph online on 28th April. Online Library. SOCIAL MEDIA The past few decades has seen rapid When the authors tried to answer “how Don’t forget to follow the Journal online developments in satellite and remote much of the world is woody?” they via Twitter (@JEcology), Facebook and sensing technology which could found it very difficult to solicit the data Google+. If you would like to contribute aid biodiversity monitoring and they required from existing databases. a guest post to the Journal of Ecology blog environmental management. Pettorelli Nevertheless, the authors established (http://jecologyblog.wordpress.com/) et al. (Satellite remote sensing for applied that 45 – 48% of plants around the then contact the Editorial Office via ecologists: opportunities and challenges world are woody. As a consequence [email protected] with your doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12261)review of finding it so difficult to draw this proposal. the prospects of satellite remote sensing conclusion these researchers have sought Have you attended a conference over the for ecological applications from an to make all of the data associated with summer that you would like to review for interdisciplinary perspective. The review their paper archived and free to access so readers of the Journal’s blog? If so, please article also discusses the current barriers that others can reproduce their results. also contact the Editorial Office. to the applications of these resources and The availability of their data is also in ways to overcome them. accordance with the British Ecological Lauren Sandhu Society’s data archiving mandate, which NEW ASSOCIATE EDITORS Assistant Editor came into effect as of 6th January 2014. [email protected] We are delighted to welcome a large To adhere with the authors’ agenda, the group of new Associate Editors. We’ve paper is also free to access to promote been joined by Silke Bauer, Claudia open science and reproducibility. Visit Bieber, Yong Cao, Sarah Diamond, the Journal of Ecology blog http:// Jeremy James, Ralph Mac Nally, Peter jecologyblog.wordpress.com/ to read Manning, Henrik Sterblom, Gavin more about the authors’ motivation to Siriwardena, Tadeu Siqueira and Lara make their results reproducible. Souza, and we warmly welcome them to the journal team.
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We are also excited about an upcoming Our latest FE Spotlight in Issue 3 was VI, put together by another of our AEs, by Clinton Francis on “Road noise and Stuart Piertney, on molecular ecology. signal divergence via developmental www.journalofanimalecology.org plasticity in an arthropod” and was @AnimalEcology PRESS inspired by a recent paper from Ulrike PERSONNEL We have had a number of papers Lampe et al “How grasshoppers respond to road noise: developmental plasticity After interviewing a number of generating attention in the news recently. and population differentiation in acoustic excellent candidates for the role, we Most notably, the paper by Catherine signalling”. Ulrike Lampe was the 2012 are pleased to announce that Jean- Jones and Mark Brown on the factors Haldane Prizewinner for Functional Michel Gaillard (CNRS, University of underlying the invasion success of Ecology, and this work is a continuation Lyon, France) has joined Ken, Tim exotic bumblebees in the UK. The study of the research described in her award and Ben as a Senior Editor of JAE. caught the attention of BBC News and winning paper. We also have a new Jean-Michel has broad interests across the Independent, among other news video online: Massive armature trumps evolutionary and population ecology, outlets, and also has an accompanying over running stag beetles (http://youtu. although he is particularly interested interview with the first author on the JAE be/R5TxMP71Ynw), produced by Jana in elucidating evolutionary processes soundcloud page. In addition, a paper Goyens, Joris Dirckx and Peter Aerts on and life history strategies in vertebrates linking Monarch butterfly declines to their recent paper: (Goyens J, Dirckx, using comparative analyses. As well as habitat loss by Flockhart et al. generated Aerts P, Costly sexual dimorphism in being a prolific reviewer for JAE, Jean- quite a buzz in North America. Cyclommatus metallifer stag beetles, Michel brings extensive previous editorial Peter Livermore Functional Ecology 10.1111/1365- experience from his previous roles on Assistant Editor 2435.12294, along with our latest Oecologia, Ecology Letters and American [email protected] podcasts from Alan Knapp and Robbie Naturalist. We are excited to have him Wilson (https://soundcloud.com/ on board, and are looking forward to his besjournals/sets/functional-ecology-1). input in developing the journal. New to the editorial board www.functionalecology.org CONTENT are Emma Sayer and Markku @FunEcology The latest issue (July; 83, 4) opens with Larjavaar. Emma Sayer will our AE Tom Webb’s In Focus article Functional Ecology has appeared in the already be familiar from highlighting the paper ‘The marine press recently, with our paper on the her work with as a Council diversity spectrum’ by Dan Reuman adaptation of birds to chronic exposure member, her involvement and colleagues, in which the authors to radiation at Chernobyl (Galván, with various special interest construct a mechanistic model of how I., Bonisoli-Alquati, A., Jenkinson, groups (including Forest diversity varies with body mass in marine S., Ghanem, G., Wakamatsu, K., Ecology, Tropical Ecology and ecosystems and test it using widely- Mousseau, T. A., Møller, A. P. (2014), Plants, Soils and Ecosystems), available data on the communities living Chronic exposure to low-dose radiation her public outreach work in all of the world’s coastal seas. Further at Chernobyl favours adaptation to as part of last year’s Festival highlights of the issue include the paper oxidative stress in birds. Functional of Ecology and, of course, her role as ‘Niche filtering rather than partitioning Ecology. doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.12283) associate editor of the Bulletin. Emma’s shapes the structure of temperate forest being covered in a number of places, research focusses on determining ant communities’ by Fowler et al. and including Nature, the BBC, The how interactions between above- and ‘Behavioural and physiological responses Economist, the New York Times, Die Welt belowground processes affect ecosystem of limpet prey to a seastar predator and and Gizmodo. This paper was published function. Her work includes a wide range their transmission to basal trophic levels’ in Issue 4, along with a new Review piece of tools borrowed from biogeochemistry, by Manzur et al. from Grace et al, “Causal networks clarify plant, soil, and microbial ecology, so she productivity–richness interrelations, is also intrigued by the methodological VIRTUAL ISSUES bivariate plots do not” and a Perspective and scaling issues involved in multi- from Rezende et al “Tolerance landscapes Following on from our highly successfully disciplinary research. Markku is based in thermal ecology”. virtual issue on food webs compiled by at the University of Helsinki, Finland. Eoin O’Gorman, Simon Leather produced His research initially focussed on the a VI showcasing the journal’s recent forest ecosystems of the North but more history in insect ecology to coincide recently, has looked at tropical rain with National Insect Week 2014. forests, which contain such great diversity of woody stem structures. We look Bombus hyponorum, forward to working with both of the over recorded as new to the coming years. Britain in 2001 Jennifer Meyer Assistant Editor [email protected]
The stag beetle Cyclommatus metallifer features in a new video (see text)
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METHODS IN THE NEWS BES PUBLICATIONS TEAM A few Methods papers have been picked The current BES Publications team are www.methodsinecologyand up by the press this summer. Michael pictured below. Catherine Hill is currently evolution.org Beckmann and colleagues from the on maternity leave. @MethodsEcolEvol Helmholtz Centre for Environmental WELCOMING OUR NEW SENIOR Research (UFZ) used existing UV- radiation data to draw new conclusions EDITOR Andrea Baier, about the global distribution of animal We’re delighted to welcome Jana Vamosi Deputy Head of and plant species. Steven Le Comber and Publications on board as our new Senior Editor. Jana colleagues from Queen Mary University is a biodiversity scientist examining London demonstrated how the maths the macroevolution, macroecology, that underpins geographic profiling, a community ecology, and conservation tool used by the Metropolitan Police biology of plants at the University of and FBI, can be adapted to target the Calgary. Recently, she has taken an control of infectious diseases, including Liz Baker, interest in the conservation of ecosystem malaria. Using data from an outbreak in Deputy Head function. She often incorporates Cairo, they showed how the new model of Publications phylogenetic approaches to questions could use the addresses of patients with pertaining to the evolutionary ecology malaria to locate the breeding sites of of plant-insect interactions. Frequently the mosquitoes that transmit the disease. bridging different subfields, her research Cameron Turner and colleagues from repeatedly necessitates the adoption of the University of Notre Dame published Peter Livermore, new techniques. the first detailed investigation of just Assistant Editor, Journal how small (or big) environmental DNA, of Animal Ecology or eDNA, particles really are, and their results provide important guidance for all eDNA monitoring programs (methodsinecologyandevolution.org/ news). Erika Newton, Assistant Editor, VIRTUAL ISSUES AND SPECIAL Journal of Applied FEATURES Ecology We’ve recently put together a couple of freely available Virtual Issues. ‘Top Methods in Ecology and Evolution’ highlights our most popular Jennifer Meyer, papers to date, and showcases the Assistant Editor, diversity of topics covered in MEE. Functional Ecology ‘Ecological statistics are methods too’ shows the range of statistical issues that have been covered so far (methodsinecologyandevolution.org/ virtualIssues). Keep an eye out for our Samantha Ponton, upcoming joint Special Feature with Assistant Editor, METHODS BLOG the open access journal, Ecology and Methods in Ecology Evolution, on ‘Modelling Demographic and Evolution There have been a few interesting pieces Processes in Marked Populations: added to the Methods blog recently; Proceedings of the EURING 2013 Pat Backwell discusses ‘Is fieldwork analytical meeting’. essential?’; David Warton tells us why it’s Lauren Sandhu, an exciting time to be doing statistics Samantha Ponton Assistant Editor, in ‘Some stats methods are like Rick Assistant Editor Journal of Ecology Astley – best left in the 1980s’; and coordinator@ Mick McCarthy talks about his paper methodsinecologyandevolution.org published in MEE on ‘Joint species distribution models’ (methodsblog. wordpress.com). Kate Harrison, Assistant Editor
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The book reviews are organised and edited by BOOK REVIEWS Peter Thomas and Sarah Taylor
In the Californian chaparral, natural ecology of hole-nesters It is a tour de force, beginning contrary to prediction, species before rushing into artificial with characteristic clarity: ‘This did not habituate to human box programmes. book is about bird numbers, and disturbance. The authors Simon Bates about why these numbers vary hypothesize that in biomes in the way they do, from year where habitat is extensive, to year or from place to place.’ species sensitise to disturbance, It is a fascinating distillation of whereas in small habitat the scientific literature, rendered patches, e.g. a wetland, species all the stronger by the author’s have no choice. But more own interpretation of others’ testing is needed and the findings. Throughout, the text is authors hope that the chapter enlivened by accessible graphs stimulates collaboration and superb photographs, with between behavioural ecologists concluding remarks neatly and wildlife managers. closing each chapter.
Avian Urban Ecology: As somebody who read The final chapter is a timely Behavioural and Rosemary Jellis’ Bird Sounds stocktake on the current state and their Meaning as a kid, I of knowledge, with piercingly Physiological Adaptations was fascinated by the chapters simply views on correlative Edited by Diego Gil & Henrik on vocalisation. Just what is the versus experimental evidence on Brumm (2014) Oxford mechanism for a reduction in Bird Populations population changes, density- University Press, Oxford. species diversity in noisy areas? Ian Newton (2013) The dependence, mortality that £75.00 (hbk) One study of House Sparrows New Naturalist Library, populations can withstand, and ISBN 978-0-19-966157-2 found that a decline in fledging HarperCollins, London. territorial behaviour. The book success could be due to reduced begins by paying homage to £37.50 (pbk) parental feeding when noise £55.00 (hbk) David Lack’s influential book ISBN 978-0-19-966158-9 masked the communication ISBN 978-0-00-742953-0 The Natural Regulation of Those that tuned into between parent and chick. £35.00 (pbk) Animal Numbers (1954), and ‘Autumnwatch’ on BBC However, urban Silvereyes sing ISBN 978-0-00-752798-4 ends by reminding us why television last year may have slower, with fewer syllables, studies of bird numbers are a higher frequencies and Weighing in at 586 pages this is scientific necessity. This is an helped with some neat citizen a blockbuster of a book by one science in the ‘cheese versus more trills than rural birds. exceptionally important review – This flexibility, learnt across of the world’s super heavyweight stimulating, comprehensive and apple’ bird table experiment. ornithologists. Ian Newton is a Valentin Amrhein calls for more generations, makes them good clearly written. urban adaptors, able to adjust to truly remarkable scientist (and of this to find the answer to former President of the BES) who Des Thompson whether we should feed birds the low frequency hubbub of humans. has the exceptional ability to year round, or just in winter. write simply whilst marshalling It’s helpful to know; in the UK, A minor criticism is that the evidence drawn from a massive enough bird food is sold to feed index is of limited value and it’s literature (well over one 30 million great tits, when the a pity there is no glossary, e.g. thousand publications cited actual population is 2 million! just what is ‘Rosenthal’s fail-safe in this book). This, his ninth This book is laid out in four number’?! That aside, this book book, is concerned with factors parts, with a reference list after will appeal to students in search governing animal populations. each chapter. Part 1 considers of a challenge, and the authors The 20 chapters deal with the challenges of urban living, offer a range of hypotheses population regulation, food focusing on artificial lighting that need testing. However, supplies, nest sites, predation, and bird feeding. Part 2 covers practitioners will learn much parasites, competition, behaviour (habituation to too, especially from the case interactions between limiting disturbance, anti-predator studies. In particular, work by factors and between predators response, impact of noise on Renée Duckworth explains how and resources, weather, climate, vocal communication), and nest boxes placed 200m apart hunting, and pesticides and physiology (reproductive favoured the Western Bluebird other pollutants. phenology and disease over its sister, the Mountain transmission). Part 3 deals with Bluebird. Co-existence is more evolutionary processes, whilst likely when boxes are placed Part 4 is a series of well-chosen at low density. Thus it’s really case studies that synthesize the important to consider the book very nicely.
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edition of The Golden Eagle interesting account of how (2010). ‘Sumptuous’ is how one social, economic, environmental distinguished and sometimes and technological factors have cantankerous ecologist created today’s global disease described this book, and I ecology. Some aspects of this wholly agree with him. Students are familiar, for example the of birds of prey will find this way in which the transition to book deeply inspiring. settled agriculture increased the range of human disease. Des Thompson The contemporary rise of antibiotic resistance, impact of globalisation on disease transmission and increased contact with wild disease vectors through habitat destruction and bush-meat are familiar topics. Enter the Realm of the I was less conscious of the way Marine Conservation: Golden Eagle in which hygiene transformed Science, Policy, and David H. Ellis (2013) Hancock the control of disease before Management House Publishers, Canada the rise of pharmacology; even before disease causality was G. Carleton Ray & Jerry $60.00 (hbk) understood. Nor was I conscious McCormick-Ray (2014) Wiley ISBN 978-0-88839-704-1 of the fact that most pandemics Blackwell, Chichester. £90.00 are syndemics (the aggregation (hbk) Written, edited and compiled by of two or more diseases in a ISBN 978-1-118-71444-7 David Ellis, this remarkable book population) due to the higher £34.99 (pbk) has more than one hundred impact of emerging disease on ISBN: 978-1-405-19347-4 accounts of golden eagles. Just populations which already have short of 500 pages, the book An Unnatural History of compromised health. So far as As the final chapter of this is a treasure trove of superb Emerging Infections emerging disease pandemic photos, drawings, paintings impressive work notes, it is still Ron Barrett & George J. threat is concerned we are “all in all too commonly held that the and lore on these great birds. it together” and the incubation There are modern accounts as Armelagos (2013) Oxford oceans are too big to pollute, too University Press, Oxford. of disease amongst the health productive to deplete, and too well as some historical writings compromised young and old of by Seton Gordon, Desmond £30.00 (hbk) out-of-sight to justify expensive the poorer parts of the world are actions. The authors set out to Nethersole-Thompson and ISBN 978-0199608294 a ticking bomb. Adam Watson – three of 48 display the folly of this view. contributors. Microbes are the ultimate critics As the discipline of ecology In the hope that a whole- of modernity – what a thought matures one of the important The book is divided into 18 systems approach may lead provoking opening line for a lessons is that while for many chapters, each having up to nine to a better understanding book. Despite mid-20th century grand challenges we do not have essays. The chapters cover a of the complexity of marine hubris about the conquest all the answers, nonetheless diversity of topics ranging from ecosystems (which, in turn, may of all infectious disease, the ecological insights form part of the basics of ecology, to eagle lead to greater appreciation of spectre of emerging disease, multidisciplinary solutions. This intelligence, pioneer naturalists, the imperilled futures facing whether it be SARs or Bird flu is writ large in the pages of this field methods, hunting with so many of them), the authors remains one of the great global book and although not aimed trained eagles, and the eagle start by reviewing many of concerns. Barrett and Amelagos specifically at an ecological in legend and literature. The the recent advances in our tease out how across prehistory readership, there is much to standard of writing is high understanding of the oceans and history our modification interest an ecologist in a very (Seton Gordon should be and their inhabitants. The first of nature has influenced the readable style. compulsory reading for students chapter is a timely reminder emergence, re-emergence of natural history!), and some John Hopkins of the history of conservation and at times conquest of of the observational essays are and of how our awareness of disease; hence the reference to nature writing at its best. It is the growing problems on land “unnatural” in the title. a book which offers some heart were extended first to the stopping moments, and some In the 20th century coasts and then to the vastly of the photos and paintings pharmacology came to more complex oceans. Three are supreme. Keith Brockie’s dominate our thinking about areas of concern are then painting of a golden eagle flying diseases and their control. distinguished: primary issues over Ardnamurchan, with Rum By taking an historical (loss of biodiversity, invasions in the background, is peerless, perspective the authors of of non-native species, diseases and featured on the cover of this book are able to weave and behavioural changes, and the late Jeff Watson’s second together a more complex and habitat destruction), secondary issues (human activities such as
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overfishing, mineral exploitation, throughout the narrative and major vegetation groups and material: maps, photographs, eutrophication, pollution and it is appropriate to consider ecosystems plus an annotated diagrams and tables; mostly coastal development) and how a resource once thought list of extant monitoring sites, in colour this complements tertiary issues (unintended both inexhaustible and free to and the value of such research an informative text. Given the consequences such as degraded all has become a battleground for the formulation of policy length and quality of production water quality, hypoxia, and in conservation. There is a and management. The last the price is reasonable and there the effects of climate change). companion website with emphasises the need for co- are lessons for the management An excellent chapter reviews additional resources, primarily operation between the education of ecosystems far beyond mechanisms for conservation figures and tables from the text. sector, industry which includes Australia’s shores. (essentially the different forms agriculture, forestry and mining, of legislation and management Ian Lancaster as well as various cultural Antoinette Mannion options available for the groups. There are nine data marine environment). There chapters each concerned with is a detailed discussion of specific types of ecosystems: marine systems and how they tropical rainforests, tall and work (useful revision for any temperate eucalypt forests, oceanography students), and savannahs, deserts, tussock a review of the natural history grasslands, chenopod and of marine organisms (again, acacia shrublands, heathlands, generalised by systems rather and alpine ecosystems. Each than by taxonomic groups). chapter details the distribution, The final chapters (probably composition, dynamics and the most useful part for most threats to ecosystem health. practitioners and policy-makers) Land clearance has been one review a number of case studies of the most widespread causes providing opportunities to of ecosystem decline but consider real conservation Biodiversity and direct and indirect changes to issues and possible solutions. Environmental Change: water and nutrient availability, These include estuarine Monitoring, Challenges firewood collection and restoration in Chesapeake Bay and Direction alterations to fire regimes Evolutionary on the American east coast, are significant. There are also Edited by David Lindenmayer, Biomechanics: Selection, sea mammal conservation in biological issues, notably Phylogeny, and Constraint the Bering Sea between Alaska Emma Burns, Nicole Thurgate invasive and usually alien plant and Russia, tropical island & Andrew Lowe (2014) CSIRO species along with introduced Graham K. Taylor & Adrian conservation in the Caribbean, Publishing, Collingwood. pathogens and animals (rabbits, L.R. Thomas (2014) Oxford sustaining biodiversity in an £96.95/AU$120.00 (hbk) deer and cane toads spring to University Press, Oxford. £60.00 island archipelago – in this ISBN 978-0-643-10856-1 mind) and livestock grazing. (hbk) case the Isles of Scilly off the Moreover, there are instances ISBN 978-0-19-856637-3 Such is the concern about UK mainland, cooperative where native animal populations £29.95 (pbk) management in the Gwaii environmental change and have increased sufficiently Haanas Marine Conservation biodiversity loss in Australia that to disadvantage others and ISBN 978-0-19-856638-0 CSIRO scientists with academics Area off British Columbia, create an imbalance. The long Evolution provides an account of coastal marine conservation involved in the Long Term term data have enabled the Ecological Research Network how organisms have faced and in South Africa, and the identification of species which solved the complex of demands problems of multi-jurisdiction (TERN) have collaborated to are particularly vulnerable document long-term ecological placed upon them by their conservation off the coast of to change. In addition, case environment. Such demands Patagonia. The final chapter datasets for Australian studies of conservation and ecosystems. Such data sets, are often conflicting and can summarises the present states restoration projects linked be solved only by trade-offs of the three most prominent and there are 35 core sets, have with TERN are presented. been collected over time spans to maximise overall survival areas of marine conservation In the concluding synopsis potential. Biomechanics, activity: fisheries, coastal ranging from a few years to 88 there is emphasis on the years with most having been according to the authors, is an management and Marine actual and potential impact of area in which it is particularly Protected Areas. established in the 1990s. As environmental change, with well as making the data public, appropriate to study the emphasis on results which physical constraints within This is a complex and multi- the objective is to highlight the were only made possible dimensional work which value of monitoring programmes which evolution can operate. through long-term monitoring. They illustrate this by reference combines much basic, which facilitate management The lessons the programme traditional, marine biology with in a changing world. The to pendulum clocks, which may presents for the management vary in size but which operate modern insights into ecology, four introductory chapters of carbon, fire, grazing, feral management and conservation. deal with the design of long- on a fixed relationship between animal populations and native the pendulum length and its There is something here for all term monitoring studies, the vegetation are also presented. students of these disciplines. Australian context including period. This physical feature Throughout this book there is constrains the ‘design space’ A strong historical trend runs a general review of Australia’s an abundance of illustrative
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of the clock. All aspects of the the UK but may be less aware using the landscape makes for biological world are similarly of the situations elsewhere in some fascinating insights that constrained by physics, whether the Himalayas, Switzerland, are probably often overlooked the transpiration rate of a tree Austria, Spain, Poland and the by many ecologists focussed on or the energy budget of a flying Czech Republic, which provide the flora and fauna of a site. We bird. The authors illustrate interesting case studies in Part need to think more broadly and these constraints by the use II of the book showing that this these authors show us why. of specific examples analysed is indeed a global problem. Part in detail, such as the motion III is almost entirely devoted to David Walton of a gibbon, whether swinging, English examples of the history walking, or running. The and use of landscape commons pendulum model also provides ranging from Cornwall through an illustration of scaling, York and Sheffield to North West shown by the relationship England showing that despite between body mass and the Parliamentary Enclosures in metabolic rates in mammals. the 19th century some valuable There is also an historical, or fragments were retained. Parts phylogenetic element to the IV and V are both concerned evolution of biomechanical with initiatives and how we need systems, and this is examined Cultural Severance and to act to avoid further losses. in relation to the scaling of the Environment: The Whilst the new approaches of wing area in birds. Among Ending of Traditional and organisations like the National the 10,000 or so living bird Customary Practice on Trust show great promise species there is considerable Commons and Landscapes Rotherham concludes that we variation in flight mechanisms, Managed in Common need a difficult political shift in which have involved extensive planning and in the way we as morphological variation Edited by Ian D. Rotherham ecologists see landscapes. This based upon little anatomical (2013) Springer, Dordrecht. is not simply a problem of how Ecology of Plant-Derived £117.00 (hbk) modification. Wing area is to manage the New Forest but Smoke: Its Use in Seed positively related to body mass ISBN 978-94-007-6158-2 a more general problem of how Germination and to wing span, although we value and understand what I This book comes with an phylogenetic factors come into would call secondary landscapes Lara Vanessa Jefferson, impressive build-up of more play, as in the auks, where wing – those historically changed Marcello Pennacchio & Kayri than 15 years of meetings and area is small for the associated and used rather than those Havens (2014) Oxford University collaborations unpicking the body mass. In their final protected as national parks – Press, New York. £40.00 (hbk) effects of disconnecting people chapters the authors develop in a world driven by climate ISBN 978-0-19-975593-6 from their cultural landscapes further the study of wing change and changing land use and environmental resources. After an interesting preface structure and the aerodynamics practices. As we increasingly We are all familiar with Hardin’s on the wider cultural uses of flight and other uses of wings urbanise the disconnection ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ and of smoke (from smoking in birds, such as underwater between people and the land this book attempts to put a tobacco, to incense and its use feeding. Bird ecologists will grows, allowing planning to be great deal of disturbing flesh in creating love charms), the undoubtedly find much to primarily driven by economic on that concept with examples books gets down to the nitty stimulate their thinking in this considerations rather than by a from several countries, although gritty of reviewing the role section where questions of wing more holistic understanding of with a heavy UK bias. The idea of smoke in the germination structure are related to issues land use. of common ownership and of seeds. For hundreds if not such as soaring, pelagic flight, therefore common stewardship thousands of years, in many speed hunting, and migration. The volume joins a considerable of terrestrial resources sits parts of the world, it has The book is aimed at graduate literature on historic landscape very poorly with the current been known that treating the and research level readers. management but seems ethos of global markets and seeds of some species with It condenses a considerable to be the first to focus on short-term profits. Surely, you heat and/or smoke improves quantity of theoretical and the problems of commons. might expect, conservation germination. As explored in practical research data into Authored by an eclectic mixture initiatives anywhere would the introduction, a large body a very small space, resulting of university academics, take into account the historical of evidence accumulated as in a dense, and somewhat those directly concerned with cultural framework which is so to which species responded challenging text. landscape management such often the primary shaper of the as English Heritage and Natural but it wasn’t till 2004 that the Peter Moore modern landscape but for many England and individuals with primary active ingredient of it would seem the eco-cultural a specialised knowledge of smoke was identified – a water is less important than the specific areas, it provides a soluble butenolide named ecological. BES members will, strong case for the eco-cultural karrikinolide (in honour of the I am sure, be familiar with the dimension. The blending of Australian Nyungar Aboriginal continuing efforts necessary history and cultural change word for smoke). The rest of the to protect the commons in with the changing economics of short introduction explores the
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possible evolutionary origin apparent adaptive benefits of of this reaction and how this cannibalism where it occurs. interacts with and overcomes The book is quite a dense read dormancy. and is sparsely but strikingly illustrated (the picture of a The next 250 pages catalogue male polar bear carrying the known responses to smoke head of a yearling that he’d of 1,355 species across 120 killed and eaten will doubtless families. Not surprisingly, alter some opinions regarding many Mediterranean-type their ‘cuddly’ nature). There is, plants require smoke in various however, a ghoulish fascination degrees but other plants of in reading page after page of fire-prone environments do the intricate (and, as the subtitle not. This may because they says, darker) details of species’ have other fire-related triggers natural history. such as the heat pulse of the fire itself or fluctuating post- The book is certainly interesting Essential Readings in fire temperatures as in many but I was unclear about its Wildlife Management and members of the Ericaceae. intended audience. The detail Conservation But there are some surprises Animal Cannibalism: the is arguably excessive for a Edited by Paul R. Krausman such as willowherb or fireweed popular audience but the lack Dark Side of Evolution & Bruce D. Leopold (2013) (Chamerion angustifolium of cross-cutting analysis could David Soulsby (2013) 5M John Hopkins University Press, – still called by its old name be frustrating for behavioural Publishing, Sheffield. £25.00 Baltimore. £26.00 (hbk) Epilobium here) where smoke (hbk) and evolutionary biologists. actually inhibits germination. Soulsby is neither an academic ISBN 978-1-4214-0818-7 ISBN 978-0-9555011-6-6 Since it is an invader of open nor a biologist, and the book What a clever idea – a book areas, of which burnt areas are Typically, animals compete does little more than document which gathers in one volume 42 just one type of opening, you more fiercely with members the available evidence. Perhaps of arguably the most influential might expect it to be neutral of their own species than with that is its specific appeal: it papers published on wildlife but not inhibited. There’s a individuals of other species. presents an impressive platform biology, and at an affordable PhD for someone. The book Sharing resource requirements, from which biologists could price for 682 pages. Published is fully referenced and has they are also likely to come build to answer some of the in association with The Wildlife comprehensive indices of into contact with members of questions prompted by the Society, this book is a joy to scientific and common their own species more often book. These include questions have. Well, it has to be with plant names. than with other animals. Given about the ecological drivers classic papers by Aldo Leopold and phylogenetic origins of While this may not be a book that all animals need a ready (Wilderness as a form of land supply of nutrients, it would programmed matriphagy; use; The conservation ethic; and you’d necessarily want to fork questions about kin recognition out for, unless you have anorak- not be surprising to find that Wildlife in American culture), cannibalism is very widespread. and its importance (or Garrett Hardin (The tragedy ish tendencies like me, this otherwise) in cannibalistic is a mine of information that This new volume shows that of the Commons), Robert T. cannibalism is, unquestionably, species; and questions about Paine (Food web complexity should be in your nearest library. the role of pathogens in limiting When you have a need for this a very common phenomenon. and species diversity), Graeme the incidence of cannibalism. Caughley (Mortality patterns information on a species, you Animal Cannibalism is an For anyone seeking to can be pretty certain it’ll be here. in mammals; Rate of increase; extraordinary undertaking. answer questions about this and Bias in aerial survey), Ric Peter Thomas Stretching to well over 400 unappealing but widespread Charnov (Optimal foraging, pages (excluding references), aspect of natural history, I the marginal value theorem) it is no surprise that it took suspect this book will represent and E.O. Wilson (The biological the author a quarter of a a major and enduring resource. diversity crisis). century to compile. The book is split into two parts, covering Phil Stephens Organised under four invertebrates and vertebrates, headings (Our philosophical respectively. Each part is further roots; Animals, ecology and split into chapters, covering populations; Habitat; and major taxonomic divisions. In Human dimensions) the book each chapter, Soulsby begins is a beguiling read. Why? with a general outline of the Quite simply because as you taxon, and then summarises skip from one paper to the the documented evidence next, each reproduced crisply for cannibalism within that from its original journal, you taxon. Where possible, he are reminded of your first also gives an account of the encounters, in my case in
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bustling College and University The once remote Lower Mekong The arrangement of text has libraries. The standard of writing Region of Vietnam, Laos and also been modified to enhance is excellent – not just because Cambodia, which falls in the clarity, but sometimes this has of the scientific narrative, but Indo-Burma Biodiversity resulted in the unfortunate in large measure due to the Hotspot and has pockets of omission of some citations from easy and accessible style of extremely high endemism, is the references at the end of the writing. The papers are light on being threatened by foreign book. The addition of a set of jargon, and free of the clutter of transport investments and excellent colour photographs, reference burdened sentences a rapidly expanding human mainly of different peatland that essentially tell you the population. The region has been types and their vegetation, is a ground is under your feet and the focus of various aid and very helpful development that the sky is above your head. conservation projects over the will assist students unfamiliar By and large these are years in an attempt to avert with these habitats to gain elegantly written papers change, but no real assessment a better impression of these espousing classic ideas. has been made to see if these remarkable landscapes. But interventions are succeeding. the main piece of textual Each paper is preceded by This edited collection uses a accretion is the final chapter couple of paragraphs about the systematic review approach to on climate change, and a very impact of the papers (I would evaluate the effectiveness of The Biology of Peatlands appropriate one in view of the have liked more, but I’m sure conservation projects in terms (2nd ed) development of interest and the editors would retort that the of their monetary investment Håkan Rydin & John K. Jeglum research in this area in the papers speak for themselves!). and biodiversity protection, and (2013) Oxford University Press, eight years that have passed Forty years ago The Wildlife addresses the urgent need for Oxford. £56.25 (hbk) since the first edition. There has Society published Readings in science to inform the practice been extensive debate in recent ISBN 978-0-19-960299-5 Wildlife Conservation, so it is of conservation. The book is years concerning the impact of timely that we should have this divided into four parts: part £26.21 (pbk) climate change on peatlands, beautifully produced book – an 1 introduces the concepts of ISBN 978-0-19-960300-8 and the converse effect, the elegant cornucopia of the some evidence-based conservation potential impact of peatland of the best ideas and writing and sets it in the context of the Producing a second or changes on climate. The authors in ecology. Students should be Lower Mekong Region. Part 2 subsequent edition of a text describe the complexity of inspired and deservedly spoilt deals with ‘experiences from the involves both revision and interactions between raised by this unique collection of gilt field’ in the different regions of accretion. Revision is needed atmospheric temperature, edged papers. Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, if past ideas or theories have peat decomposition, methane proved inadequate, or if the Des Thompson detailing the types of projects production, and fire frequency, that have been undertaken and presentation of those ideas and the consequences involving the lessons learnt. For example, can be improved or clarified. the addition of carbon to the the Tiger Conservation Project Accretion is necessary when atmosphere. They also consider which commenced in 2003 in new data or concepts must be the impact of increased nitrogen Nam Et-Phou National Protected added to the former account. deposition on the composition Area, which highlights the Here, the authors take both of peatland vegetation and problems of wildlife crime going approaches. They have retained the resultant changes in underground. Part 3 analyses their basic structure from the carbon sequestration from the conservation and development first edition, covering peatland atmosphere. The factors are so initiatives, with two chapters habitats, the diversity of life diverse that no current model specifically addressing REDD. they contain, physiological can be regarded as fully reliable, Part 4 attempts to learn from adaptations of peatland but the account, and indeed the these experiences and closes organisms (with particular entire book, serves a valuable with the cautionary tale of the emphasis on Sphagnum, purpose in drawing attention to now extinct Javan Rhinoceros of course), soil features, these fascinating yet neglected in Vietnam. The key message stratigraphy and peatland ecosystems. This is certainly the of the book is that without the succession, the historical best currently available book on evidence from experience in the archive of peat, hydrology, peatland ecosystems. global variations in peatland Evidence-Based field, conservation will fail to inform policy and science and types, productivity, conservation Peter Moore Conservation: Lessons vice versa. This book will be of and restoration, and finally from the Lower Mekong interest to anyone interested the relationship between this Terry C.H. Sunderland, Jeffrey in, studying, or practising habitat and climate change. Sayer & Min-Ha Hoang (2013) conservation biology and The early chapters have been Earthscan from Routledge, resource management. revised by the incorporation Abingdon. £85.00 (hbk) of recent research, which Sarah Taylor has often clarified, and ISBN 978-1-84971-394-8 sometimes complicated, the interpretation of past findings.
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know the area well. Whether production of a freshwater body. you’re interested in individual Cole’s research has focused plant species, or in seeing how on the role of bacteria in the the communities fit within the carbon cycling of these bodies. wider landscape, there will be The production of carbon something here for you. The love dioxide by a lake (its ‘ecosystem of the area comes through in respiration’) may exceed its the writing and there are even gross primary production, which three suggested itineraries ‘for is only possible if bacteria (or getting to know the flora of the some physical factors, such as Dolomites’. A wonderful book to UV radiation) are tapping the become lost in. dissolved carbon entering the Peter Thomas system and generating carbon dioxide. In this book, Cole sets out to demonstrate that a lake does not behave like a mini- ocean in its carbon cycling, Plant Life of the but is strongly influenced by Dolomites: Vegetation terrestrial sources of carbon. He The Ornaments of Structure and Ecology begins by describing general Life: Coevolution and Erika Pignatti & Sandro Pignatti models for the relationships Conservation in the Tropics between terrestrial and limnic (2014) Springer, Heidelburg. Theodore H. Fleming & W. John £135.00 (hbk) ecosystems in terms of their carbon economies, including Kress (2013) University of ISBN 978-3-642-31042-3 flow rates, reservoirs, respiratory Chicago Press, Chicago. This large book of over outputs, and the storage of £87.50 (hbk) 750 pages represents the carbon in sediments. He comes ISBN 978-0-226-25340-4 to the conclusion that roughly accumulated wisdom of the £35.00 (pbk) husband and wife team. Erika half of terrestrial net ecosystem ISBN 978-0-226-25341-1 worked with Braun-Blanquet production (that which remains and, in keeping with European after all respiratory losses in the The title of this book does not tradition, the book is based ecosystem have been accounted immediately reveal its scope around a phytosociological Freshwater Ecosystems for) ends up in freshwater and content. It is not about review of communities from low and the Carbon Cycle ecosystems. With tongue in all coevolution in the tropics cheek, he asks the question, elevation forests, through the Jonathan J. Cole (2013) but relates to the coevolution ‘Are fish made of trees?’ He human-influenced meadows International Ecology Institute, of angiosperms with those goes on to examine in some to the tops of the peaks with Oldendorf/Luhe, Germany. birds and mammals which act detail the sources and pathways particular emphasis on the €33.00 (hbk) variously as pollinators and subalpine and alpine. Each of allochthonous matter in ISSN 0932-2205 frugivorous seed dispersers. community is described using lakes and its fate, including These mutualisms are explored the same sections, dealing This is the eighteenth book the use of isotopes to trace from both ecological and with the flora, vegetation and in the Excellence in Ecology carbon movements. One further evolutionary perspectives place in the landscape. This series, written by winners of the question that could have global in this scholarly and very includes an ecological definition ECI prizes. Jonathan Cole won significance for the carbon cycle comprehensive treatment; of the community, indicator this prize in 2003, so the text is how much of this intake of which covers tropical forests, species and habitat description, has evidently experienced a carbon remains buried in the to a lesser extent deserts, in all moving then through the abiotic protracted gestation period. Cole lake sediments, and he devotes a tropical regions and mutualism and floristic characteristics, sets out the changing narrative chapter to a consideration of the coevolution across the Cenozoic. distribution (both regional of carbon cycling in lakes and factors that determine carbon and European), and what the streams that has developed over sedimentation rates. He hints The mechanisms by which future holds through succession the past 30 years or so. Prior to that emerging evidence suggests diversity begets diversity in the and conservation needs. 1980, the emphasis concerning that allochthonous carbon tropics are a main focus of the Each is accompanied by a carbon input into freshwaters was may be selectively preserved in book. For example convincing colour photograph of a typical on primary production, tending sediments when compared with evidence of phylogenetically community view and a colour to neglect or underestimate autochthonous carbon from independent evolutionary distribution map. All the major the importance of carbon from local primary production. If the convergence of features such habitat types are also headed terrestrial sources, in both book’s publication had been as flower morphology and with a detailed botanical and dissolved and particulate forms. delayed a further ten years we fruit colourations in plants ecological description. Such carbon sources are available might have had a final answer, with similar animal mutualists to bacteria that are engaged in a but even at this stage there are is presented. There are also The amount of information secondary production that may many surprises! comprehensive reviews of held here is absolutely colossal, equal or even exceed the primary ecological topics such as effect written by enthusiasts who Peter Moore of pollen limitation upon seed
54 britishecologicalsociety.org BOOK REVIEWS
set; the influence of frugivore reading for this alone. Most The authors of the 30 chapters feeding behaviour upon plant chapters also stress the need in this book are from many dispersal and establishment; for harnessing local knowledge different countries with many and the relative importance and, in some cases, describe different areas of expertise. They of specialisation versus how this has been used to aid have shed considerable light on generalisation amongst plant conservation, but not always the problems of conservation and animal partners. for long. One example is the biology in the tropics, giving movement to protect a forest extensive references. In skilful However the aspect of this book in the Indian Himalayan region editing, there has been no I found the most intriguing is of Uttar Pradesh, which was attempt to impose a uniformity the diversity of evidence that proposed for hydroelectric of style, allowing different because the Old World and New development. Initially approaches, relevant to World Tropics have been isolated successful, the movement individual topics, to be used. throughout the period in which spearheaded by Gaura Devi Highly recommended. these mutualisms have evolved, (who has been compared with there are also many striking Rachel Carson) was manipulated Janet Sprent and intriguing ecological and and discredited so that now Conservation Biology: evolutionary divergences. For the former protected valley ALSO RECEIVED example secondary succession Voices from the Tropics. is given over to hydroelectric Biodiversity Conservation in the Paleotropics is dominated Edited by Navjot S. Sodhi, Luke generation. On a more positive in Latin America and the by bird dispersed plants, but Gibson & Peter H. Raven (2013) note, the same chapter describes by bat dispersed species in Caribbean: Prioritizing Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester. a move to develop ecotourism. Policies the Neotropics; there are no £50 (hbk) The chapter on Brazil stresses hovering birds analogous Allen Blackman, Rebecca ISBN 978-0-470-65863-5 the need for ecologists and to hummingbirds in the managers to work together and Epanchin-Niell, Juha Siikamäki Paleotropics and the timelines All the books I have reviewed yet university graduates lack & Daniel Velez-Lopez (2014) for the evolution of frugivory in for the Bulletin have been experience to tackle problems RFF Press, Routledge, New York. plant functional groups (trees, educational, but this is the in the real world. Australia is the £65.00 (hbk) palms, lianas, epiphytes) are first that has left me feeling main developed country with ISBN 978-0-415-73096-9 strikingly different in various rather depressed. Nevertheless major tropical ecosystems and tropical regions. it should be read by all those in assessing the vulnerability An incredibly rich area in species and habitats but with In the final chapter Fleming who are interested in tropical of these to climate change biology and the conservations of the concept of ‘tipping points’ many conservation problems; and Kress consider the this book describes the status future of the rich diversity of its species. It attempts a global beyond which irreversible coverage of tropical ecosystems, damage tales place, is explored. of biodiversity in this region, vertebrate-plant mutualisms the main threats to it, and the and discuss how due to multiple but does not entirely succeed, Invasive aliens also feature in the partly because some invited chapter on the Hawaiian islands. policies being used to protect human impacts, not least the it with an assessment of their poignant damage of the bush- contributors felt that to express their opinions might put their Politicians in most tropical effectiveness. meat trade, extinctions may countries face a very difficult beget decreased abundance, jobs at risk. The courage of many authors who have been task; that of balancing the Multivariate Analysis of range retraction and further need to improve the living Ecological Data using extinctions in networks of openly critical of what goes on in their countries is to be standards of their inhabitants, Canoco 5 (2nd ed) mutualists. This is a book of by encouraging economic applauded. Petr Šmilauer & Jan Lepš (2014) impressive intellectual breadth development, without Cambridge University Press, and grasp of its subject and After an introductory chapter destroying the nature of its land Cambridge. £40.00 (pbk) should grace the shelves of the book is divided into and the culture of its people. every tropical ecologist, whilst two parts: the first, of four Unfortunately, corruption is ISBN 978-1-107-69440-8 many of its topics have a much sections, deals with the major rife in many of these countries. A book primarily for community wider ecological interest. It is geographical areas of the On pp 219-220 there is an ecologists needing constrained also reasonably priced. tropics, Africa, the Americas, interesting table of CPIs ordination, variation partitioning Asia and Oceania. The second (Corruption Perception Indices) John Hopkins and the use of permutation part has seven chapters on in which nearly all developing tests of hypotheses. some general considerations, countries score very low marks, such as governance and with a few exceptions such conservation, but also including as Chile, Uruguay, Costa Rica a nice discussion of the unifying and Puerto Rico. However it is topic of the importance of pointed out that Singapore (now pollinators. considered a developed country) used to be very corrupt, but Each of the chapters in the now heads the list of high CPIs. geographical section describes Perhaps there is room for hope. the incredible biodiversity of the particular country and is worth
55 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:3 / AUGUST 2014
DIARY
THE SOCIETY’S MEETINGS Conference of the Society for Conservation from: http://akademie-fresenius.de/english/ Biology – Asia Section. Melaka, Malaysia. konferenz/index.php. (meetings of the Special Interest Groups Details from: http://scbasia2014.org/. are listed on p00) SEP 1-4 AUG 25-30 29th ESCPB 2014 Congress – Changing 2014 Combining experimental and theoretical Environments and Threats to the Health of DEC 9-12 approaches to understand biogeochemical The Biosphere: Consequences for Wildlife and Joint Annual Meeting British Ecological interfaces in soil at the Goldschmidt Humans. Glasgow, Scotland. Website: http:// Society and Société Française d’Ecologie. Conference. Florence, Italy. Details from: escpb2014.com/ Grand Palais, Lille, France. Details: http:// http://goldschmidt.info/2013/ www.britishecologicalsociety.org/events/ SEP 9-10 current_future_meetings/2014-annual- AUG 31-SEP 5 Arabidopsis: the Ongoing Green Revolution. meeting/ DIOXIN 2014 – 34th International University of Bristol. Website: http:// Symposium on Halogenated Persistent garnet2014.org/ THE SOCIETY’S COMMITTEE Organic Pollutants. Madrid, Spain. Details MEETINGS 2014 from: http://www.dioxin2014.org/ SEP 14-18 Aquatic Plants 2015: 14th International SEP 09 SEP 3-5 Symposium on Aquatic Plants. Edinburgh, Finance and Management Board In the Bog – The ecology, landscape, Scotland. Website: https://sites.google.com/ archaeology and heritage of peatlands site/aquaticplants2015/ SEP TBC Sheffield Showroom & Workstation, Sheffield, Membership UK. http://www.ukeconet.org/event/in-the- SEP 14-18 Wetlands2014 – Wetlands Biodiversity OCT 07 bog-conference/ and Services: Tools for Socio-Ecological Meetings Committee SEP 4-5 Development. Huesca, Spain. Details from: OCT TBC Meeting the Challenge of a Sustainable http://www.wetlands2014.eu/ Publications Committee Urban Future: the contribution of green walls. Staffordshire University, Stoke-on- SEP 17-18 OCT 16 Trent. Details from: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/ Disease Ecology – ecosystems, wildlife PPC research/greenwall/conferences/index.jsp and human health. British Society of Parasitology Autumn Symposium, Media OCT 23 SEP 7-10 City University of Salford. http://www.bsp. ETCC (York, Brewery meeting rooms) Modern Statistical Methods for Ecology. uk.net/news-and-events/bsp-events/bsp- Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Information autumn-symposium-2014/ 06 NOV from: http://www.stat.colostate.edu/ Grants Committee graybillconference/ SEP 21-23 Biodiversity and Economics for Conservation. NOV 11 SEP 8 King’s College, Cambridge. http://www. Finance Board Ecofil 2014. Ecology of Fish in Lakes and bioecon-network.org/pages/16th_2014.html Reservoirs. Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. DEC 09 Details from: http://www.ecofil2014.wz.cz/. SEP 22 -23 Council (Lille, France) 3rd Annual International Conference on SEP 8 -12 Geological and Earth Sciences (GEOS 2014). OTHER MEETINGS 2014 7th Annual Ecosystem Services Partnership. Singapore. Website: http://www.geoearth.org/ AUG 10-15 Costa Rica. Further details from: http://www. SEP22-23 From Oceans to Mountains: It’s all Ecology – espconference.org/ESP_Conference. Arctic Sea Ice Reduction: The Evidence, 2014 Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of SEP 8-11 Models and Global Impact. The Royal America. Sacramento, USA. Website: http:// The Challenger Society for Marine Science Society, London. Website: https:// esa.org/am/. 2014 Conference. Plymouth University. royalsociety.org/events/2014/arctic-sea-ice/ AUG 14-18 http://2014.challenger-society.org.uk/ SEP 22-24 International Marine Conservation Congress. SEP 10-12 First International Conference on Formal Glasgow, Scotland. Website: http://www. EcoHCC’14 – 3rd International Consference Methods in Macro-Biology. New Caledonia. conbio.org/mini-sites/imcc-2014 on Ecohydrology, Soil and Climate Change. Details from: http://fmmb2014.sciencesconf. AUG 18-24 Tomar, Portugal. Website: http://www.ecohcc. org/ 26th International Ornithological Congress. ipt.pt/ SEP 25-26 Tokyo, Japan. Details: http://ioc26.jp/. SEP10-11 Are There Limits to Evolution? Cambridge, AUG 19-22 14th International Fresenius Conference UK. Website: http://www.nature.com/ SCB ASIA 2014 — The 3rd Asia Regional – The Biocidal Products Regulation. Mainz natureevents/science/events/20748-Are_ (near Frankfurt), Germany. Further details There_Limits_To_Evolution
56 britishecologicalsociety.org
SEP 28-OCT 3 royalsociety.org/events/2014/feedback- These workshops were very popular last year Ecological Society of Australia Annual climate-system/ and spaces are likely to go very quickly! Conference, Alice Springs NT Australia www.ecolsoc.org.au/conferences/esa-2014- DEC 15-17 Attendance at each workshop is offered annual-conference SEB EPA Symposium: Teaching and to eligible UK-based delegates at no cost, Communicating Science in a Digital Age. including full-board and accommodation in SEP 29-30 Charles Darwin House, London. More Oxford. A limited travel allowance within the Italian Society for Climate Sciences information: http://www.sebiology.org/ UK is also available. – 2nd Annual Conference. Venice, meetings/EPA2014/teaching.html Italy. Website: http://www.sisclima.it/ The following workshops are conferenza2014/?lang=en 2015 available during early 2015: JUN 30- JUL 3 Introduction to Multivariate Ecological OCT 6-8 SEB Annual Meeting. Prague. Website: Statistics: Exploring Tools for Ecologists Biogeochemical Interfaces in Soil – http://www.sebiology.org/meetings/ Towards a Comprehensive and Mechanistic Mon 12 Jan to Thu 15 Jan 2015 Understanding Of Soil Functions. Leipzig, AUG 9-AUG14 www.conted.ox.ac.uk/MES Germany. Details from: http://www. 100th Annual Meeting 2015. Baltimore spp1315.uni-jena.de/Meetings+_+Events/ Convention Center, Baltimore, MD, USA. Field Techniques for Surveying International+Symposium+2014.html. Website: http://www.esa.org/esa/?page_ Freshwater Macroorganisms and Their id=2722 Habitats: Integrating Field Surveys, OCT 12-16 Taxonomic Skills, and Hydrochemistry International World Congress in Marine AUG24- AUG29 Mon 16 Mar to Fri 20 Mar 2015 Biodiversity. Qingdao, China. Details from: ISME15 – International Society for Microbial http://wcmb2014.csp.escience.cn/dct/page/1 Biology. Seoul, South Korea. Website: http:// www.conted.ox.ac.uk/freshwater www.isme-microbes.org/ OCT 12-15 Introduction to Data Visualisation Experimental Approaches to Evolution and 2016 Mon 9 Feb to Thu 12 Feb 2015 Ecology using Yeast & Other Model Systems. Heidelberg, Germany. Details from: SEP 25-30 www.conted.ox.ac.uk/datavis http://www.embl.de/training/events/2014/ Entomological Society of America. Orlando, Insect Taxonomy and Field Sampling EAE14-01/ Florida. Website: http://ice2016orlando.org/ Skills OCT 22 TRAINING WORKSHOPS Mon 23 Mar to Fri 27 Mar 2015 New Perspectives on Climbing The Chartered Institute for Ecology and www.conted.ox.ac.uk/taxonomy Plants. The Linnean Society, London. Environmental Management runs a wide Details from: http://www.linnean. variety of workshops for professional Priority booking will be given to NERC- org/Meetings-and-Events/Events/ development. For further information and funded doctoral students (50% or greater); New+perspectives+on+climbing+plants availability see www.cieem.net or e-mail if there are any spaces left after the priority [email protected]. booking deadline of 30 October 2014 these NOV 7-8 will be made available to other doctoral Waxcaps and Allied Grassland Fungi The Centre for Research into Ecological and students, professionals and ECRs in the Symposium. Sheffield Hallam University, Environmental Modelling runs a variety of environmental sciences on a first come first Sheffield, UK http://www.ukeconet.org/event/ workshops on a regular basis. For further served basis. waxcaps-grassland-fungi/ information and availability see www.creem. st-and.ac.uk/conferences.php For more information on how to NOV 10-13 register interest, and what supporting International Conference on the Marine University of Oxford Field Techniques for documentation you will need to provide, Environment of the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia. Surveying Mammals & Reptiles. Online please visit the links above or contact us on Details from: http://www.kau.edu.sa/home_ course that can be taken for academic credit [email protected] and +44 (0)1865 ENGLISH.aspx (10 CATS points at QCF Level 7) or not for 286952. You can also follow us on Twitter @ credits. Details from http://www.conted.ox.ac. NOV 16-20 ox_environment for the latest updates from uk/ftsmr02. New Zealand Ecological Society Annual the University of Oxford Environment and Sustainability Programme. Meeting. Palmerston North, New Zealand. Further news regarding skills training Website from: http://www.nzes2014.org/page. workshops funded by the Natural Chris Thompson php?1 Environment Research Council at the Administrative Officer University of Oxford. NOV 17-21 (Environment & Sustainability) Continuing Professional Development Centre First MARES Conference Marine Ecosystem We are pleased to announce that following Department for Continuing Education Health and Conservation. Olhao, Portugal. the success of the programme, the University of Oxford Details from: http://www.maresconference.eu/ University has been awarded further funding to continue to deliver and build DEC 8-9 upon skills training at doctoral level in the Feedbacks on Climate in the Earth System. Printed on Revive 100 white offset, made from environmental sciences and management. 100% recycled waste and fully FSC® certified. Royal Society, London. Website: https:// Printed with vegetable-based ink.
57 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:3 / AUGUST 2014
THE BRITISH ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2013 together with Council’s and auditor’s reports
TRUSTEES AND ADVISORS Auditors Chairpersons of standing Committees (as at date of this Members of Council Mazars LLP Times House report) L Batty Throwley Way Finance Board: D Purves A Beckerman Sutton J Blanchard Surrey SM1 4JQ Management Board: W Sutherland R Bardgett Bankers Education, Training & Careers D Coomes: Resigned August 2013 Committee: W Gosling Barclays Bank plc M Crawley: Resigned February 2014 60 High Street Grants Committee: R Bardgett T Ezard: Resigned August 2013 Putney E Goldberg London SW11 1XB Meetings Committee: A Beckerman W Gosling Solicitors Membership Committee: A Pullin Diana Gilbert: Appointed August 2013 Stone King Sewell LLP Personnel Committee: D Hodgson A Gray 16 St John’s Lane R Hails: Resigned August 2013 London EC1M 4BS Public and Policy Committee: J Vickery D Hodgson Investment Advisors Publications Committee: A Gray Jane Hill: Appointed August 2013 Barclays Wealth G Hurst Charity Investments Team O Lewis 15th Floor 1 Churchill Place R Mitchell London E14 5HP G Mace M O’Callaghan Office bearers D Purves President: W Sutherland Appointed August 2013 Jo Randall: Appointed August 2013 P Raven Past President: G Mace E Sayer Appointed August 2013 W Sutherland Vice President: R Bardgett J Vickery Hon. Secretary: D Hodgson Executive Director Hon. Treasurer: D Purves H Norman
Principal address Charles Darwin House 12 Roger Street London WC1N 2JU
Company number: 1522897 Charity number 281213
58 britishecologicalsociety.org ACCOUNTS
Council’s report For the year ended 31 December 2013
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Statement of disclosure to auditors: The 2008-2014 strategic plan for the Society provides a framework for the The Trustees present their report and • so far as the directors are aware, there activities in the lead up to and through financial statements for the year ended is no relevant audit information of its centenary year in 2013. During 31 December 2013. which the company’s auditors are 2014 there will be a strategic review unaware; and 2. COUNCIL’S of the Society. RESPONSIBILITIES • they have taken all the steps that they Resources expended on governance = The Council of the British Ecological ought to have taken as directors in £44,767 (1% of total) Society (the Trustees and directors) are order to make themselves aware of responsible for preparing the Annual any relevant audit information and to 4. STATEMENT OF GOALS AND Report and the financial statements establish that the company’s auditors PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES are aware of that information. in accordance with applicable law The objects for which the Society is and regulations. 3. GOVERNANCE: established are to advance the education of the public in the subject of ecology Company law requires the Council to CONSTITUTION, STRUCTURE as a branch of natural sciences and to prepare financial statements for each AND MANAGEMENT OF THE advance and support research in that financial year. Under that law the Council SOCIETY field, and to disseminate the results of have elected to prepare the financial The BES is a company limited by such useful research. statements in accordance with United guarantee (Registration no. 1522897) Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting and has no share capital. As a registered The vision of the British Ecological Practice (United Kingdom Accounting charity (Registration no. 281213), it Society is to advance ecology and make Standards and applicable law). The is governed by its Memorandum and it count. Ecology is the scientific study financial statements are required by law Articles of Association. of the distribution, abundance and to give a true and fair view of the state of dynamics of organisms, their interactions affairs of the company and of the surplus Council is the supreme governing with other organisms and with their or deficit of the company for that period. body of the BES. Council comprises physical environment. At a time when In preparing these financial statements, the President, President- Elect or Past finite natural resources are being used the Council are required to: President, two Vice Presidents, Honorary at increasing rates, it has never been Treasurer, Honorary Secretary, Chair more important for human society to • select suitable accounting policies and of the Education, Training and Career understand its impact on ecological then apply them consistently; Committee, Chair of the Meetings systems (which includes systems • observe the methods and principles in Committee, Chair of the Publications intensively managed or impacted the Charities SORP’; Committee, Chair of the Public and on by humans such as arable farms, Policy Committee, and 12 Ordinary pastures and marine fisheries) and their • make judgements and estimates that Members. Council is responsible for importance in maintaining human are reasonable and prudent; nominating officer and chair posts and health. The BES’s many activities include they do so through a ballot. Nomination the publication of a range of scientific • state whether applicable UK for Ordinary Members is open to the literature, including internationally Accounting Standards have been whole membership. All members of renowned journals, the organisation followed, subject to any material Council are elected by the membership and sponsorship of a wide variety of departures disclosed and explained in at the AGM. All newly appointed Trustees meetings, the funding of numerous grant the financial statements; go through a process of induction schemes, public engagement, education which fully briefs them about their roles, work and policy work. The Society • prepare the financial statements on responsibilities and the BES. has approximately 5,500 members the going concern basis unless it is worldwide, and membership is open inappropriate to presume that the There are nine committees that report to all with an interest in ecology. Company will continue in business. to Council. These committees cover There is a small membership fee, with specific areas of work such as education, discounts for students and those from The Council is responsible for keeping meetings, publications, finance etc., and low income countries. proper accounting records which comprise Council members and, in most disclose with reasonable accuracy at any cases, ordinary members drawn from the time the financial position of the British Society’s members. Ecological Society (BES) and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with The Society has a governance document the Companies Act 2006. They are also which details the structure, terms of responsible for safeguarding the assets of reference and membership of Council the BES and hence for taking reasonable and its committees. The work of each steps for the prevention and detection of committee is supported by a member fraud and other irregularities. of staff.
59 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:344:3 / AUGUST 20142013
5. REPORT ON PRINCIPAL publishing contract. There has been a The journals are committed to publicising ACTIVITIES modest increase in revenues from article the research they published to the widest processing charges for open access possible ecological community and to The Trustees confirm that they have articles published in the journals, in the general public. In addition to one complied with the duty in section 4 particular for Journal of Applied Ecology freely available sample issue per journal, of the Charities Act 2006 to have due and our newest journal, Methods in the journals also published 9 Special regard to the Charity Commission’s Ecology and Evolution. Our publisher has Features (collections of new articles on general guidance on public benefit. put a price adjustment scheme in place topics of current interest) and 8 journal- All trustees give their time voluntarily that as far as possible avoids charging specific and 5 cross-journal Virtual Issues and do not receive any private benefit. twice for these open access articles (a mixture of recent and older articles Details of trustees’ expenses and (once via the article processing charge collated to support other journal or remuneration are disclosed in notes 5 and once via the subscription fee); the society activities). All Special Features and and 15 respectively. scheme has already been applied to the majority of Virtual Issues were freely lower 2014 subscription prices on Journal available online either throughout the To achieve the Society’s vision of of Applied Ecology and will also come in year or for at least several months after advancing ecology and making it count, effect on the other journals, especially publication. Research published in the the BES aims to: Methods in Ecology and Evolution, when journals was also highlighted via press • Develop ecological science and 2015 prices are determined. releases and featured in a number of scientists news outlets, both print and online, such Open access continues to be a much as BBC News, BBC Radio 4, LA Times, • Improve the quality of education and discussed topic in the UK and in many of The Guardian or The Times. capacity building our authors’ and readers’ countries. The BES continues to engage in this debate Publishing also contributed to the • Promote the use of ecological science on various levels: during 2013 members Society’s centenary year celebrations at of the publications team have been the INTECOL conference: a Guide to Peer • Build collaborative partnerships involved in discussions with ecologists Review in Ecology and Evolution aimed at and publishing professionals at scientific early career researchers was produced as • Ensure financial sustainability and industry meetings, respectively; have a give-away and an electronic version of • Improve efficacy carried out a survey of the membership it has been made available free from the on this topic; have responded to open BES website; it has subsequently been The first three of these aims provide access-related policy consultations set up added to reading lists for ecology courses clear public benefits, whilst the final by RCUK and HEFCE; and, together with in several institutions. The publications three define the ways in which the representatives of other societies, are team also held author workshops Society gains greater leverage from interacting with policy makers in the UK available to all delegates on writing for its finite resources and ensures its and Europe. All journals are compliant researchers whose first language is not long-term sustainability. with open access funder mandates, in English and on maximising the impact particular with the RCUK open access of a research paper. In addition, the The BES portfolio of grants covers all policy introduced in April 2013, which journals funded audio recordings of the of the Society’s aims. It can be divided favours an author-pays publishing keynote talks of the journal-sponsored into several broad categories; research, model. Besides making articles available symposia and made the podcasts freely training & travel, outreach and support for free to all readers in line with open available via the BES Journals Podcast for ecologists in Africa. The BES funds access mandates, four of the BES channel. Individual journal apps available grants with the aim of promoting journals are included in the new Public for members and anyone with a personal ecology as widely as possible and Library Service ‘Access to Research’ or institutional subscription were also hence individual awards are generally initiative. This programme makes many launched at this meeting. of relatively small value, although many of the world’s best academic journals awards are made. available through UK local libraries and Finally, the journals issued a preprint thus grants access to research results policy allowing authors to post the 5.1 Develop Ecological Science and to those who often do not have the unreviewed version of their article on Scientists opportunity to obtain scientific papers publicly available preprint servers. Publishing – Resources Expended = via institutional library subscription, In 2013, the journals also started £1,360,282 (36% of total) e.g. students, independent researchers, recommending the archiving of the small business and the public in general. raw data that supports the conclusions Publishing plays an important role in The BES also continues to offer free presented in the articles published in the activities of the BES as it helps to online access to published content two the journals and moved to mandatory promote and disseminate ecological years after initial publication and grants data archiving at the beginning of 2014. science. It also constitutes the Society’s heavily discounted or free access to While the authors can choose the most main income source. In 2013, income institutions in developing countries via suitable repository for their data, the from publishing decreased slightly the research4life philanthropic scheme. BES is funding the archiving of data in in comparison to the previous year DRYAD, a well-developed data archive for to £2.7M, primarily due to 2012’s ecology and evolutionary biology. income being unusually high because of a bonus for renewing the journal
60 britishecologicalsociety.org ACCOUNTS
Research – Resources Expended = In 2013, the Grants Committee Although the BES charges a registration £317,875 (9% of total) recognised the importance of the fee to attend, the Society subsidises In 2013 the Society received 295 Committee’s activities being transparent events to ensure fees are low for students applications for funding across its grants and therefore, in line with similar grant and unemployed members. portfolio (excluding Training & Travel) funding bodies, made the decision to In 2013, the Society’s Annual Meeting and funded a total of 53 applications. make all grant success rates publically was subsumed into the centenary available on the BES website. The 2013 flagship event, INTECOL. The event The majority of our awards went towards success rates can be seen below. ran from 18-23 August and was funding scientific ecological research held at London’s ExCel centre and projects; we supported small projects We have awarded a number of prizes to outstanding individuals in recognition of attracted over 2,200 delegates from with new and innovative ideas as well 65 countries. There was an incredibly as larger projects which aim to help their contribution towards the science of ecology, including our annual Anne busy programme, which incorporated early career ecologists to establish an 580 posters and 1,080 talks spread independent research career in ecology. Keymer student talk prize and Poster Prize at INTECOL 2013. over 16 sessions, ranging from Marine Ecology to Modelling, Climate Change We also supported a number of to Community Ecology. The series ecologists in developing countries The BES continues to support the Gratis of eleven plenary lectures provided through our Ecologists in Africa grant. Book Scheme, the aim of which is to a backbone for the event, including This scheme recognises that ecologists in provide ecology and conservation books presentations from Sandra Diaz (Cordoba Africa face unique challenges in carrying to those from outside Western Europe, National University, Argentina), Bojie Fu out ecological research and aims to North America, Japan, Australia and New (Chinese Academy of Sciences, China), provide them with support to develop Zealand who would otherwise be unable Ove Hoegh-Guldberg (University of their skills, experience and knowledge to obtain them. The simple purpose Queensland, Australia) and Martin base as well as making connections with of this scheme is to spread ecological Nowak (Harvard University, America). ecologists in the developed world. knowledge as widely as possible. This scheme is a collaboration between the The Congress enabled the Society to As the importance of public engagement British Ecological Society (who pay for try new initiatives, including Pecha of science is emphasised within the the postage), the nhbs.com bookstore Kucha sessions (a presenter shows 20 community, the volume of Outreach (who co-ordinate and organise the images, each for 20 seconds. The images applications over the last year has distribution) and the publishers and advance automatically and the speaker increased. These grants aim to promote authors of the books (who provide the talks along to the images), speed science and engage the public with the science books for free). In 2013, our £5,000 (very short oral presentations) and an of ecology and/or improve skills in contribution to the Scheme enabled 550 integral use of social media – questions science communication. books to be dispatched to 70 countries. for plenary speakers were only accepted BES funding of £10,000 allowed 29 through Twitter (enabling people to In addition, in 2013 the BES used a young biologists from 26 European participate, no matter where they were generous legacy from the estate of the Universities/institutions, spanning 15 on the planet) and the #INT13 hashtag late Dr James Parkyn to support 42 countries, to attend Tropical Biology was so popular that it trended in Europe students from low income and lower Association Field courses in Tanzania, throughout the whole meeting. middle income countries to attend Borneo and Madagascar. INTECOL 2013. The BES matched INTECOL also provided 30 workshops the legacy, enabling us to support a Meetings – Resources Expended = throughout the week, giving delegates further 110 students, some from higher £1,017,688 (27% of total) opportunities for personal and income countries, to attend INTECOL. The exchange of ideas and networking professional development with themes The Parkyn Bursary awardees were that happens at scientific conferences included Funding, Policy, Outreach represented within a dedicated poster and field trips are vital ways in which and Technology. To ease delegates area at the meeting, allowing their work science advances and develops. through such a crowded week, the to be recognised by their peers. Society provided numerous social events in which to relax and network, those included: fieldtrips (including Kew Botanical Gardens, Millennium Seedbank 2013 Success Rates and Rainham Marshes), the welcome mixer (with line dancing!) London Grant Type Number of Number of Success Rate sightseeing tours, Special Interest Group applications awards mixers, poster and wine sessions and, the highlight of the congress, the Society’s Large research 44 6 14% Centenary party. Almost 800 people celebrated the Society’s birthday at the Small Research 74 29 39% beautiful Old Billingsgate venue by the Outreach 114 11 10% Thames; celebrants enjoyed an evening of fine food, silhouette artists, informal Ecologists in Africa 63 7 11% networking, amazing views of the capital and lots of dancing. The Society
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produced five videos throughout 5.2 Improve the Quality of The Society funded 5 A-level students the Congress, illustrating the dynamic Education and Capacity Building to participate in In2Science, a scheme range of events and enjoyment of – Resources Expended = £241,782 aimed at supporting young people INTECOL 2013. (6% of total)) from underrepresented groups to The Society supports the ecological access higher education. The scheme In addition, as part of the Society’s education of people of all ages and successfully saw one of its students centenary celebrations, meetings on aims to support ecologists at each stage accepted to HE science courses in 2014. three key topics were held around of their career development through All students were invited to attend a the UK, aimed at encouraging providing advice and opportunities for celebratory event to meet the society interdisciplinary approaches to ecological professional development and collect careers resources. Funding research: A public marine symposium in has been doubled for 2014. collaboration with Marine Alliance for In 2013 the Society produced two wall Science and Technology for Scotland charts relating to freshwater ecosystems Our successful mentoring scheme (MASTS), which formed part of the and extreme events supporting and continued in 2013. 22 participants from Edinburgh Science Festival. Held at communicating the policy work of across the world and at a range of career the National Museum of Scotland the Society to students and teachers, stages from across academia, ecological and hosted by BBC Radio 4 presenter and marine ecology, developed in consultancy and the NGO sector took Quentin Cooper, this attracted collaboration with the Marine Biological part, and were able to provide support approximately 50 delegates. Association. These were distributed free and guidance for individuals in similar of charge through existing teacher lists, situations. All participants benefitted Global Change and Biosphere education conferences and events and from specialist training, which was Interactions; a two day conference held through direct marketing to science deemed either useful or excellent by the the University of York, which also formed departments. Both wall charts are majority of attendees. Most mentoring the launch of The York Environmental supported by online and freely accessible relationships in the scheme lasted for Sustainability Institute (YESI). This had teaching and learning resources. 6-12 months, and nearly all participants an excellent international programme, felt that the experience had improved with keynote lectures from Professor Throughout 2013, the Society worked their confidence and helped them tackle Johan Rockström (Stockholm University) alongside the Society of Biology new challenges. and Professor Georgina Mace (Imperial and SCORE to support curriculum College London). Around 180 attended development with respect to GCSE, KS4 As part of the centenary celebrations the the meeting (Inc. staff/speakers) and biology and practical science. The Society Society held a competition for schools, there was good media representation. also contributed to the Department for the poetry competition being especially Education consultation on A-level Biology successful and resulting in a compilation Evolutionary Ecology of Infectious content and the concurrent Ofqual booklet, all winning entries and runners Disease, a one day conference held consultation on A-level assessment. up were invited to a celebratory at Charles Darwin House, London, The Society contributed to responses ceremony in Birmingham. Students highlighting the ways in which ecology submitted by SCORE with a focus on were invited to enjoy the winning menu impacts on the evolution of and practical science assessment and content. from the food competition as their evolutionary implications of infectious Additional specific fieldwork responses lunch for the day and those students disease with an international programme to both consultations were developed who submitted winning entries for attracting 95 delegates. The Society’s in collaboration with the Association the Radio broadcast were provided Special Interest Groups have, again, for Science Education Outdoor Science with opportunities to produce their grown and now total fifteen. They have Working Group. own broadcasts and hear them played been incredibly active in furthering through Funkids Radio. ecological research, but also In 2013, the Society invited 10 in promoting ecology to the public undergraduates to participate in the 5.3 Promote the Use of across the country. The BES subsidises Undergraduate careers scheme with a Ecological Science (policy) – these events and promotes them further group deferred until 2014, the Resources Expended = £490,088 through all of its communication group was provided with support and (13% of total) channels. The newest groups include mentoring in developing their careers The Society seeks to promote the use of Citizen Science (which launched at and were sponsored to attend INTECOL. ecological science in decision making INTECOL), Plants, Soils and Ecosystems The Society again held a very successful and provides scientific evidence to and the re-launched Aquatic group. and oversubscribed careers conference inform policy across a number of areas for 100 undergraduates. Careers that affect the natural environment. We have an even busier programme of provision was expanded to include In 2013 we have worked with policy events planned for the upcoming year. Masters students with a student scientific makers in the UK and England, and have symposium and a PhD progression increased our interaction with devolved conference. Both were well received environmental policy in Scotland. We and oversubscribed. have also taken steps to explore similar action in Wales.
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Over the course of the centenary year, on an ecological topic for MPs and Peers. the whole spectrum of our activities. Of we delivered a number of projects to Our shadowing scheme gave six early- particular importance is our continued engage policy makers, our members, career researchers the opportunity to collaboration with the Biochemical and the general public. In June, we shadow elected representatives in the Society (BS), the Society for Experimental jointly ran an evening discussion European, Welsh, and UK Parliaments, Biology (SEB), the Society for General event on natural capital with the Royal gaining a unique insight into decision Microbiology (SGM) and the Society Geographical Society. This was open to making. We will offer both of these of Biology (SoB) which co-own Charles all members of the public, attracting over opportunities again in 2014, again Darwin House (CDH) along with the 90 attendees. June also saw the relaunch at no cost to participants. A policy BES. CDH generates revenue for the BES of the Society’s Ecological Issues series, training workshop to improve members’ though the rental of spare office space first published in 1990. The newest knowledge of parliamentary processes and the hiring out of the conference document, The Impact of Extreme and the role of science within these suite. As well as running joint meetings Events on Freshwater Ecosystems, sought was run in May. Another workshop will the five co-owners continue to explore to provide a synthesis of the scientific be held in 2014, which will focus on ways of working more closely and evidence available on this topic. The communication skills to equip members expanding the hub of biological sciences document, along with a short policy with the appropriate skills to effectively that is CDH. Given the lack of space and brief, was launched in both the UK and communicate their science to the policy conference facilities since the move of Scottish Parliaments, and distributed to making process. SGM to CDH it was therefore decided a number of freshwater management in 2013 to purchase a second building, organisations. It is now available for Our policy blog has allowed us to a few moments walk from CDH. The download on our website. successfully disseminate policy updates building will be refurbished in 2014 and developments relating to ecological and will provide additional office and We responded to a number of science to both Society members and conference space. government consultations relating the general public in 2013. Over the to ecological science and the natural year, over 80 posts were published, with The benefits of joint working are also environment in 2013, which would an average hit rate of 4000 views per demonstrated by the Festival of Ecology not have been possible without the month. Our views and analysis on key organised by the BES as part of our comments and views of our members. topics were disseminated further by our centenary celebrations. We worked Our responses were evidence-based and trustees, who provided comments to with 65 organisations to deliver outreach represented the views of the ecological respected scientific publications such events to 80,000 members of the general community – some of which were as Nature. public which showcased the science highlighted by the Government in their of ecology. responses to the evidence. We have Through the Natural Capital Initiative improved our impact and coverage of (NCI), a partnership project of the BES, The Natural Capital Initiative is another consultations and policy statements by we stimulated discussion about natural great example of how the BES has come working more closely with umbrella capital at the World Forum on Natural together with others (in this case the bodies and other learned societies. Capital in November. Delegates at Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the the international ecology conference, James Hutton Institute and the SoB). Working with CIEEM and the Scottish INTECOL, in August were also able to Further details of this work can be found Biodiversity Strategy’s Science and take part in a workshop that focused on in section 5.3. Technical Group, we co-hosted a natural capital’s role in human health. one-day scientific conference for In 2014, NCI will hold a dialogue 5.5 Ensure Financial Sustainability researchers and policy makers in session on flooding, a joint event with We have a duty to ensure the long term Scotland in September. This featured the Parliamentary Office of Science and viability of the Society. During 2009 BES talks and discussions on how to deliver Technology, and a summit – Valuing our Council co-invested in Charles Darwin the Scottish Government’s ambitious Life Support Systems – in November. House to provide new office space for biodiversity strategy. Individuals were the Society, shared with several other charged a nominal fee for registration 5.4 Build Collaborative Partnerships organisations with complementary and travel grants were available for By working with others the Society can aims (i.e. the Society for Experimental students to attend to the event. We have greater leverage than working alone Biology). The building has also generated will continue to support this event in in certain areas. The Society has much to income from office leases and hire of 2014, and will also offer a policy-training offer collaborative partnerships as well as the conference facilities and this will be workshop focused on decision making in benefiting from them. There are many expanded with the purchase of a second Scotland for attendees. potential partners in the ecological and building in 2013. wider communities that could help us In 2013, we continued to offer a to achieve our vision and we will work In 2013 we continued to develop and range of training opportunities for our with such partners when it is strategically support the BES Journals to further members to engage with policy makers possible. All BES committees consider the enhance their standing so that they and the decision making process. Our possibility of collaborative partnerships remain a sustainable and significant POST Fellowship Scheme gave a PhD when developing initiatives. income stream for the Society in the student the opportunity to work with near future, despite uncertainties over the Parliamentary Office of Science and In 2013 the BES continued working the impact of open access and the Technology to produce a briefing note with a wide range of partners across world recession.
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5.5.1 Financial Management Board a year to discuss performance and significant insecurity over this major and Control general strategy. Day to day investment source of income for the Society. The During the year the BES Committees decisions are delegated to Barclays expendable endowment will allow the undertook a wide range of activities Wealth in accordance with the agreed Society to gradually accumulate funds in pursuit of the Society’s charitable mandate. The BES has spread its risk to provide greater long-term stability objectives. It is therefore necessary to as far as practicable by part owning without affecting its day-to-day activities. have budgets and clearly written policies its headquarters building and holding It is the trustees’ intention to build the about what activities will be funded and some of its reserves in long-term deposit fund to approximately £10,000,000. how, and to communicate these clearly accounts as well as in equities, bonds The income from this sum will help to all involved. and trust funds. to mitigate the possible future decline in publishing income, allowing the The Finance Committee considers We have continued to use the services Society to continue its work, and quarterly management accounts at of the Ethical Investment Research provide funds to invest in future income- its meetings through the year, with a Service (EIRIS) to provide us with generating projects. narrative provided by the Honorary information, based on a long list of Treasurer and Executive Director, as criteria and a scoring system, on the The second is that funds can be set appropriate. The narrative focuses on environmental performance of FTSE aside for specific major projects. The reasons for variation against budget. listed companies. This information is designated tangible fixed asset fund The quarterly management accounts updated twice annually and is used to comprises the net book value of fixed are also circulated to budget holders. screen out companies with the worst assets held by the Society, principally the environmental records and policies from Society’s office in London and as such Annual budgets for the following year our portfolio. This gives a more objective it is not available to meet the general are drawn up in the fourth quarter and and consistent basis for excluding running costs of the Society. This year are approved by Council at its meeting companies. Full details are available from the Society has utilised £745,164 of its in December. the Honorary Treasurer or the BES Office. Centenary fund to help fund projects A policy of this sort is consistent with and activities planned for the Festival The BES has a set of Financial Regulations the ethos of the BES and is important to of Ecology which took place in 2013 to which must be followed. These maintaining the support of members and celebrate the BES’s 100th birthday. Regulations are reviewed annually by the the wider ecological research community. Finance Committee. In 2014 we intend to review the criteria The third is to ensure that the BES can used by EIRIS to ensure that they reflect meet its operational needs and working In 2013 £443,381 (12% of resources the aims and objectives of the Society. capital requirements (the free reserve). expended) was given away in grants. These are currently £777,490 and This substantive sum requires careful 5.5.3 Financial Performance represent approximately 4.5 months management by the Society. Applications The accounts show a surplus of £227,136 operating costs, excluding third party are reviewed against specific, published (surplus of £562,627 in 2012) before operating costs and grants. The Society criteria. The BES has established a unrealised gains on investments of aims to hold between 6 and 12 months Peer Review College to review grant £255,734 (gains of £140,427 in 2012). operating costs as free reserves. The level applications. This ensures that the Council set the 2013 budget to make of reserves and the Society’s financial Society uses the most appropriately a modest loss and use funds to support strategy is regularly reviewed and experienced reviewers for each grant the wide variety of centenary celebration monitored by the Trustees. The reserves application. The only exceptions to this activities. Several factors, including policy is reviewed annually at the Finance are the Travel & Training Grants. These the repayment of a loan made to the Board meeting in September and any are reviewed by BES staff and awards BES Trading Company, contributed to recommended changes are considered are made if the applicant meets the the surplus in 2013. Total funds of the by Council in December of that year. published criteria and there are sufficient Society were £7,456,454 at the end of funds available. 5.6 Improving Efficacy 2013 (£6,973,584 at the end of 2012). We need to ensure that the Society is in 5.5.2 Investment Policy 5.5.4 Reserves Policy the best shape possible to efficiently and and Performance The Society holds reserves for three effectively deliver the Society’s vision. The listed investments held by the purposes. The first is to generate income We work within a sustainability policy to BES and managed by Barclays Wealth for its operations needs and to act minimise the environmental impact of grew by 23% to £2.4M and is in-line as a buffer against uncertainties over the Society. with appropriate benchmarks. Income future journal publishing income (the In 2013 we continued to review ways from cash investments decreased Expendable Endowment Fund). This is in which co-location with the four other reflecting the decrease in cash holdings. held as a designated fund and stands learned societies in Charles Darwin House The investment managers produce a at £4,500,000 (£4,000,000 in 2012). could provide opportunities for more quarterly summary of performance for Continuing concern over the stability effective use of BES resources. the Honorary Treasurer and Executive of academic publishing pricing models Director. The investment managers and uncertainty over the impact of the attend one meeting of the Finance global recession suggests that there is
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5.6.1 Risk Management A sustained decline in membership: Year Energy Consumption at CDH The BES has a risk register. It is The Society’s Membership Committee 2010 391,352 kWh reviewed in detail each spring by the receives regular reporting on 2011 372,939 kWh BES Committees and then approved membership numbers and trends. by Council in June. The risk register Council regularly discusses the role of 2012 394,633 kWh learned societies such as the BES in the identifies areas of risk, ranks them in 2013 407,474 kWh priority ordered according to impact 21st century and reviews the activities of multiplied by probability, states who the organization to ensure we provide 7. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS or which Committee is responsible for excellent services that are wanted and each risk, states how the risk is currently needed by the ecological community. In Details of some of the wide range of mitigated and what actions remain 2013 we used the centenary celebrations activities planned for 2014 are given outstanding. to focus work on a membership drive to under the headings of the Society’s increase membership by 1,000 people principal aims. Some of the major risk areas are: which was successful. The challenge for 2014 is to retain these new members One very significant activity for the BES A major loss in income from journals in 2014 will be the strategic review of resulting from a change in publication and turn them into long term supporters of the Society. our activities, including a detailed review models or a decrease in impact factor: of our publishing work. As the Society Income from journals is a very significant embarks on its second centenary it is proportion of the Society’s funds. There 6. THE SOCIETY’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT opportune to reflect on what we do is continued uncertainty regarding and how we do it to ensure that the publications models and the timeframe The purchase a new office for the Society organisation continues to thrive and in which this might happen. This risk in 2009 offered an unprecedented support the ecological community. Given is being mitigated in a variety of ways. opportunity for the Society to lead that we have a finite resource to work We have a reserves policy which would the way with regards to reducing our with, it is important that we ensure it provide a sufficient buffer to allow a environmental impact. Discussions with is used to the maximum effect and the gradual scaling back of the Society’s the other learned organisations lead strategic review will help us to do that. financial commitments. The Society to agreement that we should aim for a has a Head of Publications to deliver BREEAM rating of Excellent, the second Successfully growing the BES more effective and efficient journal highest possible rating and a tough membership by 30% in 2013 was a management and to ensure that the objective for a building designed and great achievement and our challenge Society keeps abreast of the latest built in 1959. BREEAM is a method of now is to convert those people into long developments in journal publishing. calculating the environmental impact of term supporters of the organisation. The internal publications team structure a building. Progress has been excellent. All departments within the Society will changed in 2012 to provide better The aim of achieving the BREEAM work together in 2014 to help achieve support for our Journals. We included Excellent rating was made fundamental that aim. an Open Access journal in our portfolio, to the refurbishment project and had Ecology and Evolution, by partnering a major influence on decisions ranging The purchase of a new building very with Wiley. This will bring very useful from how to run recycling onsite during close to CDH represents a significant expertise and understanding into the the demolition stage through to the investment by the BES so an important BES on how to run an Open Access choice of mechanical and engineering strand of work during 2014 is to ensure title. Each journal has a strategic plan solutions, selection of the final fixtures the refurbishment programme runs identifying ways in which it can increase and fittings, and the development of a to budget and time, and that the new its reputation and standing. In 2014 we staff transport plan. We were delighted resource is used most effectively. will complete a major strategic review of to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating in our publishing activities and agree a long 2010. The refurbishment of the newly 8. AUDITORS term vision for the journal portfolio. purchased property represents the same In 2013 the BES auditors were opportunity and we are again aiming for Mazars LLP. A sustained decline in attendance at the a BREEAM Excellent rating. Society’s meetings: The difficult funding This report has been prepared in situation in Higher Education could have The move to Charles Darwin House has accordance with the provisions a significant impact on the ability of created a new base line for resource applicable to entities subject to the small academics to participate in BES meetings. consumption from 2010 onwards, companies’ regime. There is now a timetable for publicity for although the increase in occupancy of BES Symposia and Annual Meetings, for the office floors to rent during 2010 This report was approved by the both the Bulletin and website, to ensure and into 2011, the second phase of Council on 3 June 2014. the ecological community is informed of construction in 2010, the significant meetings well in advance. The Annual increase in the use of the conference Professor William Sutherland Meeting will move back to its traditional suite over this time period and a Member of the Council December slot now that the INTECOL significant increase in the number of staff Congress has passed and there is much working at CDH in 2013 have influenced interest in the 2014 meeting being held electricity consumption. jointly with the French Ecological Society in Lille, France.
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Independent auditor’s report to the members of The British Ecological Society
For the year ended 31 December 2013
We have audited the financial statements Opinion on the financial statements • the trustees were not entitled to of The British Ecological Society for the In our opinion the financial statements:: prepare the financial statements in year ended 31 December 2013 which accordance with the small companies comprise the consolidated statement • give a true and fair view of the state regime and take advantage of the small of financial activities, the consolidated of the group and of the charity’s companies exemption in preparing the and charity balance sheets and the affairs as at 31 December 2013 and Report of the Trustees. related notes. The financial reporting of the group’s incoming resources and framework that has been applied in application of resources, including its Alistair Fraser (Senior Statutory their preparation is applicable law and income and expenditure, for the year Auditor) for and on behalf of United Kingdom Accounting Standards then ended; Mazars LLP (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Chartered Accountants and Statutory Accounting Practice). • have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Auditor Respective responsibilities of Generally Accepted Accounting Times House, Throwley Way, Sutton, trustees and auditors Practice; and Surrey, SM1 4JQ As explained more fully in the Trustees’ • have been prepared in accordance Date: 16 July 2014 Responsibilities Statement set out on with the requirements of the page 3, the trustees (who are also the Companies Act 2006. directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the Opinion on the other matter preparation of the financial statements prescribed by the Companies Act and for being satisfied that they give a 2006 true and fair view. In our opinion the information given in Our responsibility is to audit and express the Council’s Report for the financial year an opinion on the financial statements for which the financial statements are in accordance with applicable law and prepared is consistent with the financial International Standards on Auditing (UK statements. and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Matters on which we are required Board’s (APB’s) Ethical Standards for to report by exception Auditors. This report is made solely We have nothing to report in respect to the charity’s members as a body in of the following matters where the accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of Companies Act 2006 requires us to the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work report to you if, in our opinion: has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s members those • adequate accounting records have matters we are required to state to them not been kept, or returns adequate for in an auditor’s report and for no other our audit have not been received from purpose. To the fullest extent permitted branches not visited by us; or by law, we do not accept or assume • the financial statements are not in responsibility to anyone other than the agreement with the accounting records charity and the charity’s members as a and returns; or body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. • certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not Scope of the audit of the financial made; or statements A description of the scope of an audit of • we have not received all the financial statements is provided on the information and explanations we Financial Reporting Council’s website at require for our audit; www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate
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Consolidated statement of financial activities Incorporating the income and expenditure account
For the year ended 31 December 2013
Notes Unrestricted Restricted 2013 2012 £ £ £ £ Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income Legacy & Donations 189 - 189 10,000 Activities for generating funds Investment income 2 95,712 - 95,712 98,920 Profit on disposal of fixed assets 95,963 - 95,963 - Other income 176,388 - 176,388 48,156 368,252 - 368,252 157,076
Incoming resources from charitable activities Publications 2,788,911 - 2,788,911 2,811,432 Income from conferences 705,352 - 705,352 154,032 Subscriptions 145,343 - 145,343 150,562 Total incoming resources 4,007,858 - 4,007,858 3,273,102
Resources expended Cost of generating funds Investment management fees 2,079 - 2,079 3,175 Charitable activities Publications 1,350,282 10,000 1,360,282 1,515,024 Meetings 1,017,688 - 1,017,688 288,829 Research 317,875 - 317,875 258,005 Education 241,782 - 241,782 104,746 Policy 490,088 - 490,088 296,715 Bulletin and other services 306,161 - 306,161 192,631 Governance costs 44,767 - 44,767 51,350 Total resources expended 3 3,770,722 10,000 3,780,722 2,710,475
Net incoming resources 237,136 (10,000) 227,136 562,627 Net gains/(loss) on investments 9 255,734 - 255,734 140,427
Net movement in funds in year 492,870 (10,000) 482,870 703,054 Fund balance brought forward 6,961,599 11,985 6,973,584 6,270,530 Fund balances carried forward 13 7,454,469 1,985 7,456,454 6,973,584
All of the above results derive from continuing activities. There are no gains and losses other than those disclosed above. The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.
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Balance sheet Company number: 1522897
As at 31 December 2013
Notes Charity Group Charity Group 2013 2013 2012 2012 £ £ £ £ Fixed assets Tangible assets 8 2,176,979 2,176,979 1,777,210 1,777,210 Investments 9 4,252,769 4,252,767 4,377,411 4,377,409 6,429,748 6,429,746 6,154,621 6,154,619
Current assets Debtors 11 770,504 692,375 825,189 755,231 Cash on deposit and in hand 534,214 636,670 390,190 477,132 1,304,718 1,329,045 1,215,379 1,232,363
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 12 (278,012) (302,337) (396,416) (413,398) Net current (liabilities)/assets 1,026,706 1,026,708 818,963 818,965 Net assets 7,456,454 7,456,454 6,973,584 6,973,584
Represented by Unrestricted funds General fund 777,490 777,490 439,225 439,225 Tangible fixed assets fund 2,176,979 2,176,979 1,777,210 1,777,210 Expendable Endowment fund 4,500,000 4,500,000 4,000,000 4,000,000 Centenary fund - - 745,164 745,164 Restricted fund 1,985 1,985 11,985 11,985 13 7,456,454 7,456,454 6,973,584 6,973,584
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies’ regime.
Included in the above reserves are unrealised gains of £395,842 (2012 gains £266,864).
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.
The accounts on pages 21 to 34 were approved by the Council on 3 June 2014 and signed on its behalf by
Professor William Sutherland Member of the Council
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Company number: 1522897 Notes to the accounts
For the year ended 31 December 2013
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES Charitable activities comprise direct h) Foreign currencies expenditure including direct staff costs a) Basis of accounting Monetary assets and liabilities attributable to the activity. Support costs denominated in a foreign currency are The accounts have been prepared under have been allocated to activities based on translated into sterling at the exchange the historical cost convention as modified the average staff time spent. Governance rate ruling on the Balance Sheet date. by the revaluation of investment assets costs are those incurred in connection and are in accordance with applicable with the management of the Society’s Transactions in foreign currencies accounting standards and comply assets, organisational administration are recorded at the rate of exchange with the Statement of Recommended and compliance with constitutional and prevailing at the date of transaction. Practice, ‘Accounting and Reporting by statutory requirements. Support costs are Charities,’ published in March 2005 and allocated on the basis of time spent on All exchange differences are taken to the with the Companies Act. each activity. statement of financial activities.
b) Consolidation Grants payable are charged in the i) Operating lease The BES and its subsidiary, BES year when the offer is conveyed to the Rentals payable under operating leases Trading Company Limited, comprise recipient except in those cases where the are charged against income on a straight a small group. BES Trading Company offer is conditional, such grants being line basis over the lease term. Limited has been dormant in the past recognised as expenditure when the so consolidated accounts have not conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants j) Fund accounting been prepared. In 2013 this company offered subject to conditions which have General funds comprise the accumulated commenced trading. Consolidated not been met at the year-end are noted surplus or deficit and are available for accounts have therefore been prepared as a commitment, but not accrued use at the discretion of the Council in for the first time in 2013 and both group as expenditure. furtherance of the general objectives of and charity comparative figures have also the BES. been disclosed. The charity has taken f) Depreciation advantage of the exemption available Depreciation has been calculated to write Restricted funds are funds subject to in accordance with FRS 8 “Related off the cost of assets over their expected specific restrictive covenants imposed by party transactions” not to disclose useful lives as follows: donors or by the purpose of the appeal. transactions with its wholly owned subsidiary company. Freehold property – 2% per annum Designated funds comprise funds which on cost have been set aside at the discretion of c) Cash flow statements the Council for specific purposes. Furniture, fixtures and equipment – 25% The accounts do not include a cash flow per annum on a reducing balance basis. All income and expenditure of the BES statement because the BES, as a small has been included in the Statement of reporting entity is exempt from the The Society’s policy is to capitalise assets Financial Activities. requirement to prepare such statements purchased over £500. under the Financial Reporting Standard 1 (revised) – Cash flow Statements. g) Investments Investments are stated at market value. It d) Income is the BES’s policy to keep valuations up i) Subscriptions income: All subscriptions to date such that when investments are income is accounted for in the period sold there is no gain or loss arising. As a to which it relates. result the Statement of Financial Activities only includes those unrealised gains and ii) Other income: All other income has losses arising from the revaluation of been accounted for on a receivable the investment portfolio throughout the basis. year. Disclosure is made in note 9 of the e) Expenditure (including grants) difference between the historical cost and the sale proceeds of the investments Expenditure is classified under the sold during the year. principal categories of charitable and other expenditure rather than the type of expense, in order to provide more useful information to users of the accounts.
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2. INVESTMENT INCOME
2013 2012 £ £ Income from listed investments 43,116 44,273 Interest receivable 52,596 54,647 95,712 98,920
3. ANALYSIS OF TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
Direct Staff Other Direct Support TOTAL TOTAL Costs Costs Costs 2013 2012 £ £ £ £ £ Cost of Generating Income - 2,079 - 2,079 3,175 Bulletin & Other services 91,364 52,987 161,810 306,161 192,631 Publications 350,086 855,747 154,449 1,360,282 1,515,024 Meetings 76,490 895,430 45,768 1,017,688 288,829 Research 26,745 271,407 19,723 317,875 258,005 Education 88,589 100,439 52,754 241,782 104,746 Policy 137,275 242,190 110,623 490,088 296,715 Governance 28,662 7,580 8,525 44,767 51,350 799,211 2,427,859 553,652 3,780,722 2,710,475
Support Costs 2013 2012 £ £ Non salary staff costs 31,634 25,906 Property 153,862 38,070 IT costs 58,168 35,950 Venue Costs 7,659 9,063 Publicity 25,210 20,192 Fees / Affiliations 27,661 39,415 Office running costs 60,527 40,002 Depreciation 41,747 42,948 Bulletin 87,964 - Outsourced finance & payroll 25,057 22,851 Legal & Consultancy 16,729 18,226 Bank charges 17,434 8,927 553,652 301,550
* Support costs are allocated on the basis of time spent on each activity.
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4. GRANTS
Grants were awarded by various committees of the BES as follows: 2013 2012 £ £ Grants committee 244,025 221,247 Public & Policy committee 166,176 119,284 Education, training and careers committee 50,759 42,189 Meetings committee 23,410 12,293 Write back of grant commitments no longer required (40,989) (78,053) 443,381 316,960
Grant commitments are as follows: 2013 2012 £ £ Grant commitments at 1 January 162,590 128,487 Awards made during year 443,381 316,960 Payments made during the year (451,172) (282,857) Grant commitments at 31 December 154,799 162,590
Details of significant grant awards are detailed on the BES’s website. The majority of grants awarded are to individuals. Grants to institutions are relatively few in number and low value.
5. NET INCOMING RESOURCES is stated after charging: 2013 2012 £ £ Depreciation 41,747 42,948 Auditor’s remuneration - audit services 7,489 5,250 Operating lease payments - -
Other than disclosed in note 15 members of Council did not receive any remuneration during the year. Expenses reimbursed to 17 (2012: 18) Members of Council in the year equalled £16,849 (2012: £7,595).
6. TAXATION
The BES is a registered charity and as such its income and gains are exempt from corporation tax to the extent that they are applied to its charitable objectives. There is no corporation tax charge for the year.
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7. EMPLOYEES
The average number of employees during the year was 23 (2012: 18.9 {full time equivalents}). 2013 2012 £ £ Membership 1.9 1.5 Publishing 9.8 9.8 Conferences / Meetings 4.5 3.1 Research 0.3 0.6 Education 1.8 1.0 Policy 4.4 2.6 Governance 0.3 0.3 23.0 18.9
£ £ Staff costs during the year amounted to: Wages and salaries 684,533 668,632 Social security costs 73,083 67,011 Employer’s pension contributions 41,595 38,098 799,211 773,741
One (2012: one) employee earned £70,000-£79,999 during the year. The figures above includes 1 editor (2012: 1) retained on the payroll.
8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Furniture, Group & Charity Freehold fixtures and property equipment Total £ £ £ Cost 1 January 2013 1,910,774 56,937 1,967,711 Additions 961,210 766 961,976 Disposals (568,682) (4,319) (573,001) 31 December 2013 2,303,302 53,384 2,356,686
Depreciation 1 January 2013 148,121 42,380 190,501 Charge for the year 32,651 9,096 41,747 Disposals (49,296) (3,245) (52,541) 31 December 2013 131,476 48,231 179,707
Net book value 31 December 2013 2,171,826 5,153 2,176,979 31 December 2012 1,762,653 14,557 1,777,2108
During 2009 the charity purchased a part share (36.1%) in the freehold 12 Roger Street as its new headquarters. It shares the ownership of the building with other biological focused charities and the property is held by a nominee company on trust for the Co-owners as tenants in common. During 2011 the charity had disposed of 6.1% of the freehold in 12 Roger Street to the Society of Biology in accordance with the original plan to share the ownership of the building with other biological focused charities. This transaction resulted in a gain on disposal of £69,498. During 2013 the Charity completed the purchase of a part share (21.1%) in the freehold property of 107 Grays Inn Road. As part of this transaction the Charity disposed of a part share of its interest in 12 Roger Street, reducing its interest in that property from 30% to 21.1%. It shares the ownership of the buildings with other biological focused charities and the property is held by Charles Darwin House Limited on trust for the Co- owners. This transaction resulted in a gain on disposal of £95,963.
72 britishecologicalsociety.org ACCOUNTS
9. INVESTMENTS
2013 2012 £ £ Market value 1 January 2012 4,377,411 4,134,484 Additions 642,191 862,094 Disposals proceeds (443,543) (912,467) Net investment gain 255,734 140,427 Movement in deposits (579,024) 152,873
Market value 31 December 2013 4,252,769 4,377,411 Historical cost at 31 December 2013 3,856,927 4,110,546 Accumulated unrealised gains based on historic cost at 31 December 2013 395,842 266,865 Realised gain in year based on historic cost 128,978 92,787
Represented by: UK equity shares 828,109 724,752 Overseas equities 774,107 694,296 UK fixed interest 383,418 386,085 UK Other 411,903 138,022
Market value of listed investments 2,397,537 1,943,155 Investment in associated undertaking 300 300 Amounts held in cash 1,854,930 2,433,954 Group Total 4,252,767 4,377,409
Investment in subsidiary undertaking 2 2 Charity Total 4,252,769 4,377,411
10. SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS
The BES holds 100% of the issued share capital of BES Trading Company Limited, a company registered in England and Wales. The sole activity of BES Trading Company Limited was to organise the 11th International Congress of Ecology in August 2013. At 31 December 2013 the Share Capital and net assets of BES Trading Company Limited amounted to £2 – (2012(£1,799)). During 2009 the BES acquired 36.1% of Charles Darwin House Limited, a company set up to manage the building. During 2011 shares representing 6.1% were disposed of leaving a remaining interest of 30.0%. During this year shares representing 8.9% were disposed of leaving a remaining interest of 21.1%. At 30 June 2013 the net assets according to the audited financial statements were £1,000.
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10 SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS (CONTINUED)
2013 2012 £ £ Income and Expenditure: Turnover 735,123 - Cost of sales (622,127) - Gross profit 112,996 - Interest Received - - Net result 112,996 - Profit gift aided to parent (111,195) - Profit for the year 1,801 - Accumulated losses brought forward (1,801) (1,801) Accumulated losses carried forward - (1,801)
2013 2012 £ £ Balance Sheet: Debtors 42 64,722 Cash 102,456 80,806 Creditors (102,496) (147,327) Net Assets 2 (1,799)
Funds Share Capital 2 2 Reserves - (1,801) Net Assets 2 (1,799)
11. DEBTORS
Charity Group Charity Group 2013 2013 2012 2012 £ £ £ Trade debtors 445,891 445,935 555,925 568,084 Other debtors 46,141 46,141 70,098 75,601 Prepayments and accrued income 131,663 131,663 74,066 111,544 VAT Refund 52,932 68,636 - - Loan to trading subsidary 93,877 - 125,100 - 770,504 692,375 825,189 755,229
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12. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Charity Group Charity Group 2013 2013 2012 2012 £ £ £ £ Trade creditors 50,684 49,772 86,115 86,547 Social security & other taxes 18,148 18,148 49,003 45,557 Other creditors 11,604 11,604 7,516 7,516 Accruals and deferred income 42,777 68,014 91,192 111,188 Grants payable (note 4) 154,799 154,799 162,590 162,590 278,012 302,337 396,416 413,398
13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Fund Net gains Fund balances on Balances brought Investment Carried forward Income Expenditure Assets Transfers Forward 1/1/2013 31/12/2013 £ £ £ £ £ £ Restricted Group & Charity BEVC 111 - - - - 111 Alex S Watt Breckland Research Trust 1,874 - - - - 1,874 Policy Assistant Fund 10,000 - (10,000) - - - Total unrestricted funds 11,985 - (10,000) - - 1,985
Unrestricted funds – Charity General 439,225 4,007,858 (3,025,558) 255,734 (899,769) 777,490 Designated Expendable Endowment fund 4,000,000 - - - 500,000 4,500,000 Tangible fixed asset fund 1,777,210 - - - 399,769 2,176,979 Centenary fund 745,164 - (745,164) - - - Total Charity unrestricted funds 6,961,599 4,007,858 (3,770,722) 255,734 - 7,454,469
Unrestricted funds – Group General 439,225 4,007,858 (3,025,558) 255,734 (899,769) 777,490 Designated Expendable Endowment fund 4,000,000 - - - 500,000 4,500,000 Tangible fixed asset fund 1,777,210 - - - 399,769 2,176,979 Centenary fund 745,164 - (745,164) - - - Total Group unrestricted funds 6,961,599 4,007,858 (3,770,722) 255,734 - 7,454,469
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DESIGNATED Tangible fixed asset fund – represents the net book value of tangible fixed assets in use by the Society and therefore not available to the Council to meet future expenditure. A transfer is made each year to reflect the change in net book value.
Expendable Endowment fund – represents the value of investments that the Trustees believe they need to hold, to protect income in the longer term, in order to ensure that the society can carry out its mission and thrive. The Trustees believe the fund should be £10,000,000 in order to provide sufficient long-term income. This is because most of the society’s income is from academic publishing, the profitability of which is widely expected to begin to decline significantly within the next few years. The society has just begun formal long-term financial modelling to assess the balance of income expenditure against the risk of future income decliness.
Centenary fund – these are funds set aside to provide for projects being developed to mark the Society’s centenary year in 2013. This fund was fully utilised during 2013.
RESTRICTED Restricted funds of £ 1,985 at 31 December 2013 are represented by cash on deposit (2012 – £11,985).
BEVC: British Empire Vegetation Committee – represents amounts donated for the printing of colour plates in the BES’s journals.
Alex S Watt Breckland Research Trust – funds administered by the BES in the memory of Alex Watt to provide funding for small scale research projects aimed to enhance our understanding of the conservation of the Breckland Region.
Policy Assistant Fund – restricted donation to support a staff member to work in the policy area. The staff member was appointed in February 2013.
The Society holds €63,931 on behalf of the European Ecological Foundation. This balance does not form part of these accounts.
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14. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
Group 2013 2012 General Designated Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ £ Tangible assets - 2,176,979 - 2,176,979 1,777,210 Investments - 4,252,767 - 4,252,767 4,377,409 Net current assets / liabilities 777,490 247,233 1,985 1,026,708 818,965 Net assets 777,490 6,676,979 1,985 7,456,454 6,973,584
Charity 2013 2012 General Designated Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ £ Tangible assets - 2,176,979 - 2,176,979 1,777,210 Investments - 4,252,769 - 4,252,769 4,377,411 Net current assets / liabilities 777,490 247,231 1,985 1,026,706 818,963 Net assets 777,490 6,676,979 1,985 7,456,454 6,973,584
15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS No transactions have taken place with either Members of Senior Management Team. It is the policy of the BES that Committee members who have an interest in any grant awarding decisions must leave the room at the time the awarding decision is made.
In 2012 Richard Bardgett, the existing Journal of Ecology editor, was appointed as a trustee. He continued to be paid at the fixed editor rate and has received £5,738 (2012 £2,642) since his appointment. He has received no remuneration in his capacity as a trustee.
Emma Sayer – the existing assistant editor of the Bulletin, was appointed as a trustee. She continued to be paid at the fixed rate and has received £1,434 (2012 £347) since her appointment. She has received no remuneration in her capacity as a trustee.
Andrew Beckermann, a trustee of the BES was appointed as an editor of the Ecology & Evolution journal, in which the Society has a minority interest.
16. THE GEORGE JACKSON ESTATE As part of the George Jackson bequest the Society was left as residuary beneficiary of a revisionary bequest. The property passes to the Society upon the death of the life interest. Because of the uncertainty as to value and timing the value of the property is not included with these financial statements.
77 Photo: by Nisha Owen britishecologicalsociety.org
CONTACT DETAILS
OFFICERS: Methods in Ecology and Evolution: Edited by ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE: Rob Freckleton (Executive Editor), Bob O’Hara and President: William Sutherland Jana Vamosi, with Samantha Ponton (Assistant Editor) The British Ecological Society, Charles Darwin House, ([email protected]) 12 Roger Street, London WC1N 2JU. Editorial office: Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Tel: 0207 685 2500. Fax: 0207 685 2501. Vice-President: Richard Bardgett British Ecological Society, Charles Darwin House, ([email protected]) 12 Roger Street, London WC1N 2JU. General email: [email protected] www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org Acting Vice-President: Andrew Pullin Email: @BritishEcolSoc, www.Facebook.com/BritishEcolSoc ([email protected]) [email protected]
Honorary Treasurer: Drew Purves Biological Flora: BES STAFF: ([email protected]) Anthony Davy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Executive Director: Hazel Norman ([email protected]). Honorary Secretary: Dave Hodgson Email: [email protected] ([email protected]) The Bulletin: Membership Officer: Bill Bewes HONORARY CHAIRPERSONS: Edited by Alan Crowden Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Public and Policy: Juliet Vickery Book Reviews Editor: Peter Thomas Communications Manager: Richard English ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Education Manager: Karen Devine Meetings: Andrew Beckerman ECOLOGICAL REVIEWS: ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] Series Editor: Phil H. Warren Policy Manager: Ceri Margerison Publications: Alan Gray ([email protected]) ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] Editorial Office: Kate Harrison Policy Assistant: Cheryl Pilbeam Education, Training and Careers: Will Gosling ([email protected]) ([email protected]) Email: [email protected]
Grants: Richard Bardgett SECRETARIES OF SPECIAL Policy and Education Assistant: Katherine Maltby ([email protected]) INTEREST GROUPS: Events Manager: Amelia Simpson Agricultural Ecology: Barbara Smith Email: [email protected] ([email protected]) EDITORS: Grants and Events Officer: Amy Everard Journal of Ecology: Edited by David Gibson Aquatic Ecology: Guy Woodward and Mel Fletcher Email: [email protected] (Executive Editor), Richard Bardgett, Mark Rees and ([email protected]) Amy Austin, with Andrea Baier and Lauren Sandhu. Head of Publications: Catherine Hill Citizen Science: Helen Roy and Michael Pocock (currently on maternity leave) Editorial office: Journal of Ecology, British Ecological ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] Society, Charles Darwin House, 12 Roger Street, London WC1N 2JU. Climate Change Ecology: Mike Morecroft Deputy Head of Publications: Andrea Baier ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Computational Ecology: Matthew Smith Deputy Head of Publications: Liz Baker Journal of Animal Ecology: Edited by Ken Wilson ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] (Executive Editor), Tim Coulson, Ben Sheldon and Jean-Michel Gaillard, with Liz Baker and Peter Conservation Ecology: Tim Graham Assistant Editor, Journal of Animal Ecology: Livermore ([email protected]) Peter Livermore Email: [email protected] Editorial office: Journal of Animal Ecology, Ecological Genetics: Paul Ashton British Ecological Society, Charles Darwin House, ([email protected]) Assistant Editor, Journal of Applied Ecology: 12 Roger Street, London WC1N 2JU. Erika Newton Email: admin@journalofanimalecology Forest Ecology: Dan Bebber Email: [email protected] ([email protected]) Journal of Applied Ecology: Edited by Marc Cadotte Assistant Editor, Functional Ecology: Jennifer Meyer (Executive Editor), Mark Whittingham, Jos Barlow, Invasive Species: Helen Bayliss Email: [email protected] Nathalie Pettorelli and Phil Stephens, with Andrea ([email protected]) Baier and Erika Newton Assistant Editor, Methods in Ecology and Macroecology: Nick Isaac Evolution: Samantha Ponton Editorial office: Journal of Applied Ecology, ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] British Ecological Society, Charles Darwin House, 12 Roger Street, London WC1N 2JU. Parasite and Pathogen Ecology and Evolution: Assistant Editor, Journal of Ecology: Lauren Sandhu Email: admin@journalofappliedecology Andrew Fenton ([email protected]) Email: [email protected]
Functional Ecology: Edited by Edited by Charles Fox Peatland Research: Ian Rotherham Policy and Education Assistant: Katherine Maltby (Executive Editor), Duncan Irschick, Ken Thompson ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] and Alan Knapp. with Liz Baker and Jennifer Meyer. Plant Environmental Physiology: Matt Davey Assistant Editor: Kate Harrison Editorial office: Functional Ecology, British Ecological ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] Society, Charles Darwin House, 12 Roger Street, Plants, Soils, Ecosystems: Franciska de Vries London WC1N 2JU. Press Contact: Becky Allen ([email protected]) Tel: 01223 570016 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tropical Ecology: Lindsay Banin and Daisy Dent ([email protected])
79 BES BULLETIN VOLLooking 45:3 / AUGUSTBACK 2014
The latest visit to the Tansley archive yielded this photograph taken during the course of the Fifth International Phytogeographical Excursion in Poland, 1928. The photograph is dated 30 July 1928, and includes Arthur Tansley in the fourth row, second from left. The photograph was taken by by Edmund Massalski, Kielce, Poland. In his capacity as honorary meetings photographer the present Bulletin editor has noted in a previous issue the difficulty of getting ecologists to cooperate with group portraits. For the most part these 1920’s vintage ecologists have cooperated nicely, but note the gentleman on the left end of the middle row who could not bear to put his copy of the Journal of Ecology down for a moment. And the fellow at top right at the back needs telling to take that cigarette out of his mouth and stand up straight. It has been great fun sending Richard English scurrying to the archive to find images for the back cover, but we’d like to invite wider participation from the membership. Do BES members have old photos of themselves, their supervisors or other mentors or friends from years gone by that they would be willing to share with the Bulletin? Ideally the images would represent ecology in the past, perhaps using equipment or methods no longer in common use. A note about the location and context of the photo would be really interesting. For print purposes we need either to borrow a print or transparency, or to receive a high resolution jpeg or tif file. Please contact [email protected] with any possible contributions.