the bulletin InFocus

A Smooth Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) in the waters off Lizard APRIL 2017 Island on the Great Barrier Reef Contents in Australia. Tridacna gigas have been studied at Lizard Island for more than 25 years, both in Officers and Council terms of reproductive for the year 2016-17 Regulars and population dynamics. The President: Sue Hartley Welcome | Alan Crowden...... 4 population density in some places President Elect: Richard Bardgett Vice-President: Rosie Hails President’s Piece: Speak Truth to Power | Sue Hartley...... 5 (e.g. Watson’s Bay, ≈200 clams/ha) Vice-President: Andrew Pullin Fighting sexism with soapboxes | Nathalie Pettorelli and Seirian Sumner...... 7 is amongst the highest recorded Honorary Treasurer: Tom Ezard anywhere in the world. Council Secretary: Adam Vanbergen Combating the invisible enemy: implicit bias, data collection and the Teaching Honorary Chairpersons: Excellence Framework | Elva Robinson...... 9 Zoe Davies (Meetings) Alan Gray (Publications) What is the future of peer review in ecology? | Alice Plane...... 11 Will Gosling (Education, Training and Careers) BES Journals Survey...... 13 Juliet Vickery (Public and Policy) Rosie Hails (Grants) Ordinary Members of Council Retiring Diana Gilbert, Jane Hill, 2017 Iain Stott Dawn Scott, Markus Eichhorn, 2018 Lindsay Turnbull BES Annual Meeting 2016: All the news from Liverpool including Peter Brotherton, 2019 Award winners, Press roundup and Minutes of the AGM...... 16 Yvonne Buckley, Nina Hautekeete BES Photographic Competition 2016 | Amy Everard...... 28 Cristina Banks-Leite, 2020 Helen Roy, Peter Thomas Remembering Ecology in your Will – Take the 1% challenge | Paul Bower...... 37

Bulletin Editor: Alan Crowden Policy update: tackling the challenges and opportunities of Brexit | Ben Connor...... 38 48 Thornton Close, Girton, Cambridge CB3 0NG Supporting ecology in Africa | Markus Eichhorn and Paul Bower...... 40 Email: [email protected] Engaging with the BES | Joanne Griffin...... 42

Associate Editor: Lauren Ratcliffe RainDrop has landed! | Jessica Bays...... 43 Email: [email protected] Special Interest Group News...... 44

Book Reviews Editor: Of Interest to Members...... 52 Books to be considered for review should be sent direct to the Bulletin Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management | Sally Hayns...... 90 Editor at the address above Publications News...... 92 Publishing in Book Reviews ...... 95 the BES Bulletin The Bulletin is published four times a year in March, June, August and December. Contributions of all types are welcomed, but if you are planning to write we recommend you contact one of the editorial team in advance to discuss your plans (Bulletin@ BritishEcologicalSociety.org).

Material should be sent to the editor by email or on a disk in Word or rtf format. Pictures should be sent as jpeg features or TIFF (*tif) files suitable for printing at 300dpi. Importance of field stations for ecological education and research Dominic J. McCafferty...... 54 Design: madenoise.com Print Management: Do we argue enough in ecology? | Roger Cousens...... 58 H2 Associates (Cambridge) Ltd. Exploring in Chile Cover photograph: David J , winner of the BES photocompetition Helen Roy, Audrey Grez, Tania Zaviezo, Peter Brown...... 62 2016. For more information see p28. What are the forthcoming legislative issues of interest to ecologists and conservationists in 2017? | William J. Sutherland et al...... 66

Thoughts of a Southern Mediterranean Ecologist | Tarek Mukassabi...... 76

Support for a BES food policy | Ben Phalan...... 78

Palmer Newbould 1929 – 2016 | Dicky Clymo...... 80

A Sense of Place | John Wiens...... 82

From Our Southern Correspondent | Richard Hobbs...... 86

Exhibition and Sponsorship Opportunities at BES Meetings...... 100 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:1 | April 2017

The British Ecological Society is the oldest ecological society WELCOME in the world, having been PRESIDENT’S PIECE established in 1913. Since 1980 it has been a Registered Charity limited by guarantee. Membership is open to all who are genuinely interested WHETHER THE NEWS in ecology, whether in the SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER British Isles or abroad, and membership currently stands at about 5000, about half IS REAL OR FAKE, of whom are based outside the UK.

The Society holds a variety of meetings each year. The LIFE GOES ON Annual Meeting attracts a wide range of papers, often by research students, and includes a series of informal specialist group discussions; Alan Crowden | Editor | [email protected] whereas the Annual Sue Hartley | [email protected] Symposium and many other smaller meetings are usually This bumper issue contains so much programme, which provides small grants more specialised and include comment about Brexit, President Trump, to ecologists who might otherwise invited speakers from around Reliable data and the accurate presentation and interpretation of and the current vogue for distaining the struggle to fund some very exciting and the world. advice of experts that I’m not even going innovative projects (p40). Proceedings of some of these scientific evidence are the lifeblood of ecology, but at the moment to highlight where these topics arise; I meetings are published by Moving on to the excellent feature articles fear indignation and disbelief will be a the Society in its Ecological there are serious challenges to the very idea of objective facts. regular feature of Bulletin articles for the in this issue, Dominic McCafferty sings Reviews book series. The foreseeable future. the praises of biological field stations Society distributes free to on p54. Roger Cousens lists some of all members, four times a In an issue which is definitely not fake the drawbacks of scientific meetings year, the Bulletin which contains news and views, news, we begin with an uplifting article on p58 – we’ll all recognise some of the I’m writing this just after a self- Communication is our business as suggested, live in a culture “where meeting announcements, avowed climate change denier has scientists – as my old boss when I was it’s pitched as a triumph of democracy from Nathalie Pettorelli and Seirian drawbacks he describes, but to offset a comprehensive diary and Sumner on the background to their award- the moaning Roger offers one solution many other features. In been inaugurated as President of USA. working at the Centre of Ecology and that everyone can claim authority and winning work on Soapbox Science (p7), he’s found to make meetings more addition the Society produces Donald Trump has tweeted that “the Hydrology used to say “if you haven’t anyone who claims that actually there followed immediately by Elva Robinson on interactive, enjoyable and productive. The five scientific journals. The concept of global warming was created communicated the results, you haven’t is an objective truth is condemned”? Journal of Ecology, Journal some of the subtle ways in which gender comprehensive annual legislative scan by and for the Chinese in order to make done the experiment”. Speaking at of Ecology, Journal US manufacturing non-competitive” meetings and conferences, writing If this is indeed the case, I believe bias affects career progression (p9). from Bill Sutherland and colleagues is of Applied Ecology and (and that’s rather more polite than papers, reports and policy-briefs (and as ecologists we need to speak out The search for impartiality, fairness and on p66. Functional Ecology are against it. Ignorance is not a virtue, sold at a discounted rate most of his tweets on the subject!). blogs these days!) and discussing balance is a key task for our publications expertise is not dead, we cannot all team, and on p11 Alice Plane reports on If ever you arrive at a BES meeting and to members. Methods in The previous incumbent of the White our ideas and experimental findings Ecology and Evolution is free have our own facts, nor is everyone’s a workshop on the future of peer review, are tempted to complain about having had House is on record as stating “reason with our peers is what we do. We are a difficult journey, I refer you to the article to BES members. The Society and science matter”; a marked contrast lucky to be working in institutions and opinion of equal value. That’s not being held during the last annual meeting also supports research and on p76. Libyan ecologist Tarek Mukassabi in approach to scientific evidence and organisations, and with colleagues, arrogant or part of the “liberal elite”, (an article followed on p13 by some ecological education with grant but it is suggesting that people who is a regular attendee at the annual aid. Further details about the its communication, leaving aside even who value such discussions and who encouraging results from a survey on have years of research training might users’ opinions of the BES journals). meeting, and aided and abetted by Peter Society and membership more obvious contrasts in politics! recognise that it’s through such debate Thomas, we managed to persuade Tarek can be obtained from the and challenge that hypotheses are be better placed to interpret complex The BES Annual Meeting is the to write an eye-opening account of life as Executive Director (address I’ll leave the politics there. Instead I rigorously tested and reliable truth scientific evidence than someone who inside back cover). cornerstone of the Society year, and pp16- an ecologist in a war-torn country. want to focus on how we communicate emerges. The scientific method is clear has not. Professor Brian Cox summed 27 are devoted to a whole range of articles The Bulletin circulates amongst ourselves and with others and we (usually!) argue nicely. this argument up very well in a recent on the 2016 meeting in Liverpool, with Sadly we lost Palmer Newbould last year; exclusively to members of about ecological science and its interview: “Being an expert does pictures of people and events, news of Dicky Clymo’s tribute to an influential the British Ecological Society. application. How should we approach But increasingly public discourse it not mean that you are someone with It carries information on our award winners, a roundup of media ecologist appears on p80. One of Palmer’s that task when there are increasingly not following that approach. Maybe it a vested interest in something; it many contributions to the life of the BES meetings and other activities, urgent issues we need to speak out never did – after all it was in 1943 that means you spend your life studying coverage, and – try not to burst with comment and other topical excitement – the minutes of the Annual was to suggest the creation of a regular items. Unsigned commentaries about (climate change and the novelist George Orwell described something. You’re not necessarily right General Meeting. newsletter to keep members up to date are the responsibility of the loss amongst many others), but when the propaganda around the Spanish – but you’re more likely to be right than with the work of the Society. I hope you Editor and do not necessarily we live in times where experts are civil war by saying “the very concept someone who’s not spent their life Last year the Society appointed Paul enjoy The Bulletin. represent the views of the mistrusted, or, potentially even worse, of objective truth is fading out of the studying it”. So it’s time to be proud Bower as Fundraising and Development Society. everyone armed with a smartphone world”. But at a time when the Oxford of our training and expertise, and call Manager and Paul outlines ways in which A limited company, registered and access to Google feels they can English Dictionary names “post-truth” out lies, which is what alternative facts members can help in a couple of articles in No. 1522897 and be an expert? So this month’s i-word as the word of the year and Donald actually are of course, when and where in this issue. Members are reminded that a Registered Charity No. is information – how do we make Trump’s spokesperson has recently we see them. it is possible to remember the BES in 2812134. Registered Office: sure our voice as ecologists is heard, introduced us to the bizarre idea of Charles Darwin House,12 Roger But just checking facts and challenging your will (p37) and, more immediately, Street, London WC1N 2JU and, more importantly, recognised “alternative facts”, these do seem to be we are encouraging members to consider as authentic, in the cacophony of unusually tough times for facts, truth lies may not be enough – it’s a little donations to swell the funds we have opinions, soundbites and tweets? and evidence-based analysis. Do we, bit dry and dull for this soundbite age! available for the Ecologists in Africa as a recent article in a UK newspaper We need to get much more effective

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Awards at spreading the truth by using some to be confident in our integrity and Andreas Leadsom MP, Secretary of the passion and emotional appeal one way to help this is to be sure of State for the Environment, Food that works so well for those who want that our publications and associated and Rural Affairs, emphasizing the to spread lies. This was the subject of peer review system are as unbiased importance of the recommendations of Fighting sexism Professor Mike Begon’s lecture at the and effective as possible, and that the Environmental Audit Committee BES annual meeting in Liverpool last our interpretation of the data we regarding the environmental December. It’s a difficult issue – how present is accurate and appropriate. implications of Brexit. We said in our do we communicate our message to The Society’s journals have a well- letter that we represented 17,000 with soapboxes people who have their head turned by deserved reputation for integrity members – how nice if it had been campaigning slogans like “take back which give us a head start. Our many many more. There is strength in control” and “make America great system of peer review is central to numbers but much more so if they are again”? Maybe we need to get smarter that integrity of course – I’m sure large ones! Learned societies have a with our vocabulary to challenge these I’m not alone in finding it difficult to vital role in standing for objective facts superficially attractive, but grossly over- fit in reviewing papers, but it’s more and the value of evidence, so please simplified messages, more effectively. important than ever that we try and join up now and help us do that. But we also need to challenge the support each other in this way. I’m Nathalie Pettorelli & Seirian Sumner very idea that complex issues can be going to try harder! In the eighteenth century, the reduced to a simple choice between yes Society of Friends, often known as and no, and to keep pointing out that Social media and the lightning fast way Quakers, charged themselves with We have launched a new annual award, Equality and Diversity Champion, effective solutions to issues like climate information spreads across the internet an undertaking: “Speak Truth to change are unlikely to be simple, quick are often held responsible for the Power”. I think that’s an excellent or popular. problems I’ve been discussing. In 1976, summary of what we are called to which recognises an individual or group who have campaigned to highlight the then British Prime Minister James do as a response to these unusual But why is any of this the business Callaghan said that “a lie can be half times. As ecologists concerned for our of ecologists – why don’t we leave way round the world before the truth planet and the species we share it the importance of equality and diversity and worked to make a difference or it to others, perhaps those more has got its boots on” – that’s truer with, we are called to challenge those comfortable with media engagement than ever in this online era, but we can with the power to implement more served as an inspiration to others. or public discourse to take the lead? use the same means to help the truth sustainable approaches. As scientists Well, for a start, accurate information catch up. We need to be ready with our committed to the search for knowledge is what we spend our time and energy rebuttals and get them out there fast! and to evidence-based interpretation The first recipients of the award with less than 20% of STEM trying to obtain – rigorous collection One way we can do this is to speak out of facts, we are certainly called to are Seirian Sumner and Nathalie professors in UK academic institutions and analysis of data critical to the in blogs and on twitter, but we need to speak the truth. We face significant Pettorelli: here’s why they launched being women. science of ecology, so there can be no turn our outrage into effective action challenges in terms of the scale of Soapbox Science. compromise here and we cannot stay not just lonely rants – speaking out current environmental problems, as What are the reasons for this ‘leaky quiet when people misuse our findings together will be more effective than well as in terms of how those are being Seven years ago, we co-founded pipe’? One of the most cited reasons or try and undermine the truth about single voices. presented to the public at the moment. Soapbox Science, a public outreach for women ‘leaking’ out of the issues as important as climate change. To respond effectively we need to platform for promoting women science career ladder is that these But this shouldn’t make us aggressive That’s where learned societies like be the sort of people who speak out scientists and the science that they crucial years often coincide with the or rude – we simply “stick to the facts the BES can help. We can support clearly and with confidence. do. Why did we do so? Our motivation preferred time for starting a family. and civil dialogue”, as the founder you in speaking out through the work was driven by a series of personal This can make short-term postdoctoral of , Jimmy Wales, wrote of our policy team: you can be the I’ll end where I began – with Donald experiences and realisations acquired positions abroad, long hours in recently in a piece about the best ways expert who explains the facts to UK Trump’s inauguration as US President. over our years as PhD students and the lab, time away from home for Chantal Nobs, nuclear physicist to challenge so-called fake news. In the politicians at Select Committees. If you He said during his inauguration speech early career researchers, namely: (1) fieldwork, and intensive networking words of a recent newspaper editorial are reading this you are likely to be a “Now arrives the hour of action”. there are fewer and fewer female role at conferences unattractive to women qualifications are identical. And that’s on the same subject, we should “be member already, but encourage people That’s one thing he got right! So let’s models available in science as you in particular. But this is only part of not all: denial of the contribution civil, but unrelenting”. We won’t back to join the BES –we need to speak out speak truth to power, loudly and progress up the career ladder; (2) the issue: stereotype threats, lack of woman scientists in research down and we won’t fall silent. together, including joining our voice together, and let’s do it now. sexism in science is alive and kicking, of female role models and implicit has been well-documented, while with that of with other like-minded if you allow yourself to notice it; (3) bias are also factors. The problem female scientists have been shown to But however nicely we argue, societies and organisations. When the science stories are mostly told by lies both with the public’s opinion earn less, to be less likely to be listed speaking out will bring a reaction – BES met the Minister for Exiting the EU males; (4) celebrated science heroes of what a scientist looks like and as either first or last author on just ask the climate scientists from before Christmas, we were joined by ain’t that the truth are mostly males. with unconscious biases within the a paper, to be less likely to review the Tyndall Centre at the University the Zoological Society of London, the academic system. For example, a 2015 and write comments on papers Our personal experiences reflect the of East Anglia, or those working at Campaign for Science and Engineering, L’Oreal for Women in Science/UNESCO published by prestigious journals; state of play: in both the United States the Environmental Protection Agency the Royal Society of , the Royal public survey revealed that the and to be less likely to be asked to join and European Union men and women in the USA, or any of the scientists Society for the Protection of and majority of Europeans between the editorial boards. working on genetic modification the Wildlife and Countryside Link (See tend to be equally represented in ages of 18-55 still describe a scientist when that was the centre of media also p37-8). This made our message many undergraduate and graduate as a man. Recent research moreover Admittedly, the roots of the problems attention. We can expect to be in the much more convincing and powerful. science programmes, with men shows how academics (both male and can actually be traced to the wider firing line! So we have a responsibility We also recently joined with Institution generally being underrepresented female) are guilty of unconscious or society itself. After all, we live to make sure we build trust in us as of Environmental Sciences, the in biology. However, as you climb implicit gender bias: female applicants in a society where parents are a – part of the anti-expert Landscape Institute and the Chartered the academic ladder within Science, for academic positions are assessed disproportionately encouraging their sentiment abroad at the moment Institute of Ecology and Environmental Technology, Engineering and as weaker candidates than their male sons over their daughters to pursue derives from a lack of trust. We need Management to write to the Rt Hon Mathematics (STEM) subjects the counterparts, even though CVs and a career as an engineer or a scientist, proportion of women plummets, and where kids are mostly drawing

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education scientists as men. The career cost of parenthood is still disproportionately carried by women around the world, with, for example, few working men Combating the opting for shared parental leave in the UK despite the recent legislative changes. Sexism is also not just found in science: it’s in sport, in the invisible enemy: entertainment industry, in business, on social media: it’s literally everywhere. implicit bias, data collection and In the face of all this, we wanted the Teaching Excellence Framework Soapbox Science to achieve something we felt was needed: to inject positivism over doom; to promote inspiration over difficulties and Elva Robinson | , UK | @Elva_Robinson hurdles. Despite national initiatives, such as the Athena SWAN Charter which aims to improve gender Our daily lives are full of judgements If we are all subject to implicit bias, that everything is going well, and equality in science within the and decisions, many trivial, some then why the focus here on bias in TEF-gender-related concerns are academic arena, the heart of the weighty. We collect information undergraduates? Student evaluations misplaced. But should we take such battle indeed lies in changing cultural from many sources to inform our of teaching quality are to form a major data at face value? As I see it, if we Dr Veronica Fowler, virologist perceptions of who a scientist is. The actions, and inevitably, much of this part of the new Teaching Excellence start with the assumption that male paucity of female role models at the from the Science Technology Facilities example, one parent told us that information comes from our prior Framework currently being rolled out and female lecturers are, on average, top of the food chain in the scientific 5 Council (STFC) have allowed us to the best part for her had been the experience and personal thought- in the UK . Eventually, the TEF aims equally good at teaching, then we can workforce, and the lack of diversity expand our initiative since 2014 reaction of her daughter, who saw patterns and assumptions. Implicit to include subject-level assessments interpret equal student evaluation in the science media only further and employ an event coordinator to a female scientist in person for the or unconscious bias arises when we of the teaching at all universities, scores across the genders in (at least) reinforces the stereotype that STEM support any local teams interested first time; in London, a school pupil are unaware that these personal, and these assessments will affect three ways: subjects are for men. With Soapbox in bringing Soapbox to their part of at a told us it had led him “to believe and often irrational, interpretations how much universities are allowed Science, we wanted to show society 1 The students don’t have implicit the UK or internationally. This year, that women can also excel and attain are influencing our judgements and to charge students for their courses. (and possibly reassure ourselves!), decisions1. We are all subject to some The TEF will take a range of measures bias. This would be great news, but this grant has also allowed us to start success in such a complex field”. 2 that it is possible for a woman to have 2 is highly unlikely . the new “Soapbox: Art & Science” Because getting involved with gender degree of implicit bias , and certain into account, including ‘teaching a successful career in science; that initiative which will see Scientists equality initiatives is so rewarding, biases, such as associations between environment’, which could encompass 2 The students have implicit bias, many of these talented scientists do collaborate with artists to bring their we would encourage any person who maleness and scientific ability, can equality and diversity activities – but but don’t let it affect their teaching some really cool research and live not work to UK arts festivals. is passionate about diversity and its lead to practices promoting inequality it is clear that student evaluations evaluation scores. This would also be far from your home; that there is more 3 importance in society to get engaged and unfairness . are to play a significant role. Student great – and is also highly unlikely 4. than one path to success for women What incentives could be driving the and set up new ones. The more evaluation scores already contribute in science. Implicit biases manifest themselves hundreds of women who are willing initiatives we have that open dialogue to staff promotion applications; 3 The students have and express to give up their precious time to be a from early childhood onwards – when the evaluations have financial implicit bias in favour of male staff, Our idea was simple: challenge on gender equality, the better: Soapbox speaker or local organiser? this is not a problem restricted to implications for the whole institution, but the scores come out as even, the perception of who scientists don’t think that your efforts would be Surely, their career would be better traditionally influential decision- it is likely they will be taken even because lecturers tune the effort are by putting female scientists on too small. served by spending the time writing makers. Undergraduate students more seriously. Potentially, this could they put into student experience. soapboxes on busy urban streets an ERC grant (whilst they can!), or And so our Soapbox ‘baby’, has fled demonstrate implicit bias against lead to hiring and progression policies Remember – feedback scores are to chat about their science with tweeking the perfect text for that first the nest: it has grown beyond our female lecturers when they evaluate that favour staff who generate the mostly about subjective experience, passers-by, while promoting the author submission to Nature? The wildest dreams in 6 years. We are teaching quality. Studies from both best student evaluation scores – even not learning gain4. visibility of female scientists and 4 number of women who volunteer to blown away by the enthusiasm and France and the US have shown if those scores are biased against equality in science careers. Soapbox take part speaks in volumes: Soapbox support that we, our speakers, and that student evaluation scores are female lecturers (and potentially other The third interpretation above does Science is sustainable, cheap, highly Science brings together that part of local organisers have received over significantly influenced by gender – for underrepresented groups*)6. not require conscious deliberate reproducible, flexible, and with a the STEM community, which is full of the years: the momentum is incredible example online instructors believed to action by lecturers – most lecturers simple aim: inspire people who never people relentlessly pushing for change and the appetite for Soapbox in the be female received lower scores than Do student evaluation data suggest are aware of where their student normally get exposed to science. So and developing ingenious transferable STEM community never ceases to instructors believed to be male. Even such bias is a genuine concern in the evaluation scores sit with respect to far, over 350 inspirational women in solutions to advance the gender amaze and delight us. We were on something as apparently objective UK? As part of the Athena SWAN those of other members of staff, and science have taken to their Soapboxes 7 equality agenda. This feeds us with overjoyed therefore, to gain the as the speed of return of student work, initiative , equality and diversity most lecturers are also aware that since 2011 and that number is set to optimism about the years to come, recognition of the BES as recipients US students rated male instructors as data are collected by universities putting extra effort into providing pass 500 this year. 2017 is indeed an for the expansion of the Soapbox of their first Equality and Diversity more punctual – when work was in on a range of activities, including detailed feedback to students, exciting year for us, with 21 events community globally, and the future Award. This recognition and support fact returned equally promptly. The student evaluations of teaching and additional resources and support scheduled across 6 countries. This level of diversity that could be found will help Soapbox go from strength bias was so strong, that in some cases whether they differ between male and increases student evaluation scores. success could not be possible without in the STEM community. to strength as it expands across the female teachers producing better female lecturing staff. Equal student So if student evaluations are actually the hard work of the local organising globe in 2017. Thank you BES! And learning gain were rated lower than evaluation scores across the genders expressing some interaction between teams in each location, who work 4 Every year, Soapbox moreover brings we look forward to seeing lots of BES less effective male teachers . seem at first glance to be an indication student expectation (implicit bias) and tirelessly to establish and sustain a us stories of how the public reacted members at Soapbox events around Soapbox Science event in their city. to our events, which never fail to the country this summer! Two large public engagement grants touch us deeply: in Newcastle, for * While the primary focus of this article is gender, most of these points apply at least as much to other protected characteristics such as ethnicity and disability, and indeed to other judgements we may make unconsciously about appearance, accent etc.

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publications marking oral presentations – or less formally, when we think back through the good talks we’ve seen to find ideas for keynote or invited What is the future speakers. When evaluating talks, posters, CVs, when interviewing candidates, when writing references or peer feedback, when giving advice of peer review in and in many other contexts… we can all benefit from critically assessing our own decision-making and (tactfully) that of those around us. ecology? Progress is made when we recognise that implicit bias affects us all. Take a few minutes to have a look at the Alice Plane | Assistant Editor, British Ecological Society | [email protected] Harvard Implicit Association Tests – the results might surprise you, and might help you look again at some Peer review is critical to the research At our Annual Meeting in December, feedback or evaluation scores and process, but has also been the our Publications Team held a A diverse range of opening student experience (which doesn’t references for my whole life, as question what they are really telling us. subject of much ongoing criticism workshop in the form of a panel correlate well with effectiveness of insidious as they are ubiquitous– such perspectives was provided and debate (Smith 2006). How the debate to discuss some of these teaching4,8] then it is not unreasonable as a “charming”10 children’s book ‘The process of peer review is changing issues. It was a lively debate between by the panellists to suppose that female lecturers Little Red Engine and the Rocket’, References with new advances in technology, a panel of experts, chaired by Jane Hill could find themselves putting more which though published in the 1950s, Allen Moore, Editor in Chief of Ecology 1 Frith, U. Understanding unconscious bias. 2015 how we ensure quality, fairness (Chair of our Publications Committee), effort into the student experience, to is still in print and widely available in The Royal Society; https://royalsociety.org/topics- and Evolution explained how he set and impartiality in peer review and an audience who had lots of great compensate for the disadvantageous public libraries telling our children that policy/publications/2015/unconscious-bias/. up the journal to provide an ‘author- (Lee 2013), how we reach the next questions in unexpected topic areas. implicit bias. “A scientist is a man who finds things 2 Raymond, J., Sexist attitudes: Most of us are friendly’ review and publication generation of reviewers and how out about the world”. biased. Nature, 2013. 495(7439): p. 33-34. The workshop provided an opportunity process. Allen questioned whether a There is no straightforward way to we acknowledge or reward review 3 Moss-Racusin, C.A., et al., Science faculty’s to seek the views of our community paper that has already been through distinguish between these three While the effects of life-long effort (Warne 2016) are topics subtle gender biases favor male students. on peer review, as well as gathering the peer review process at one journal differing possible interpretations, or conditioning may be unsurprising, we Proceedings of the National Academy of widely discussed by the scientific suggestions for how we could improve really needs to start at the beginning to test our initial assumption of equal don’t need to be fatalistic about their Sciences, 2012. 109(41): p. 16474-16479. community. Many peer review or make changes. The audience were for another journal. competence. Hypothesis testing impact. There are things we can all do, models and experiments have 4 Boring, A., K. Ottoboni, and P.B. Stark, engaged participants in the peer here is tricky – we can’t blind test for to reduce the impact of the invisible Student evaluations of teaching (mostly) do not emerged across scientific disciplines Patricia Morse, Managing Editor of review process. Many were currently gender effects if our teaching is face enemy, implicit bias: measure teaching effectiveness. ScienceOpen with the aim of improving the review American Naturalist, a journal which Research, 2016. serving on editorial boards of journals, to face, and teaching is so variable process, but they often lead to more recently changed from single-blind to while others were early career and unique that assessing effort and 1 Be cautious: We should take student 5 Department-for-Education, Teaching questions than answers. double-blind review, gave an overview researchers, wanting to find out more comparing between staff would be evaluation scores as a measure of Excellence Framework: year two specification. of her experience with this model. 2016. about peer review. almost impossible. So, while we do the student in question’s subjective Nate Sanders, Senior Editor of Journal need to support data collection, we experience. Student experience is 6 Holroyd, J. and J. Saul. Will the Teaching of Animal Ecology, talked about the must also avoid complacency about important - but doesn’t necessarily Excellence Framework be sexist? 2016 The Guardian; https://www.theguardian.com/ importance of all ecologists being what it might mean. measure teaching effectiveness. higher-education-network/2016/apr/04/will- involved in making sure that the best So we should exercise caution in the-teaching-excellence-framework-be-sexist. Is anyone free of implicit bias? I’m our interpretation and usage of science, wherever it may come from, certainly not: for example, when I took such scores – and indeed of any 7 Equality-Challenge-Unit. Athena SWAN is published and the review process Charter. [cited 2016; http://www.ecu.ac.uk/ one of the Harvard University Implicit evaluation process that is not equality-charters/athena-swan/. should ensure that this happens. Association Tests9, I was disappointed blind to gender or other protected Andy Robinson, Senior Vice President to find out I had a moderately strong characteristics. 8 Johnston, A.N., B.H. Massa, and T.H.J. Burne, Digital lecture recording: A cautionary tale. and Managing Director, Society bias towards associating men Nurse Education in Practice, 2013. 13: p. 40-47. Services at Wiley emphasised and science (versus females and 2 Be informed: Awareness of bias 12 9 Project Implicit. https://implicit.harvard.edu/ the significance of peer review in humanities). On reflection, this is can decrease its effects . BES now implicit/takeatest.html. making published literature different hardly surprising – while I am now in offers unconscious bias training to all from freely available web content, a relatively diverse work environment, BES staff, committee chairs, editors 10 Amazon. Product Description for ‘The Little and SIG secretaries, and we can all Red Engine and the Rocket’. 2016 Nov 2016]; highlighting the importance of the my composite experience of scientific www.amazon.co.uk. 1 integrity of peer review. He also environments has been one of male access the Royal Society’s resources 11 Johnston, A.N.B., H. Massa, and T.H.J. Burne, recognised the need for a more efficient prevalence – indeed, arguably more so and take the Harvard Implicit 9 Digital lecture recording: A cautionary tale. process where millions of hours per than for my colleagues: for example, Association Tests . Nurse Education in Practice, 2013. 13(1): year are spent on peer review. when I worked in a Computer Science 3 Be vigilant: While most Bulletin p. 40-47. department, I was usually the only readers are past the stage of filling 12 Lindsey, A.P., Explaining for Whom, How, Elizabeth Moylan, Senior Editor, female in the room. Everyone else in the National Student Survey, we When, and Why Diversity Training Works. Research Integrity at BioMed Central there was seeing a better gender Psychology Department, George Mason discussed increasing transparency in do give feedback on talks, whether University, 2016. PhD. balance than I was. I’ve also been that is in the formal sense of judging peer review and how it can be made experiencing gender-biased cultural student presentation prizes or more open and accountable. Elizabeth

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This summary was put together for our Annual Meeting in December. A full report of the survey results will be available later in the year. Thank you to all our Reviewers and Editors. The success of our BES Journals survey journals would not be possible without the hard work of all of our authors, reviewers and Editors. was keen to see more experiments Nate discussed the great interactions how guides such as the BES Guide to to improve peer review and most between reviewers and authors Peer Review are fantastic resources importantly, the availability of the that can happen when reviewers for early career researchers. All data behind these experiments. really engage with the data behind a participants agreed that it is important paper. He felt that there are missed for senior researchers to encourage The main discussion covered opportunities for readers when the their students to review, putting them conversations between reviewers and forward for reviews if they decline and a huge range of themes authors that take place during peer holding group review sessions, which review never emerge after publication. we also strongly encourage. Our Journals team aim to offer a professional, ethical and high-quality Key themes discussed included: How do we integrate pre-registration into Elizabeth suggested that peer review peer review service by soliciting constructive reviews and delivering fast current publishing practices? Should of the ‘living article’ online could be data be available to reviewers? When the next step (Shanahan 2015). Open and how should we make reviews peer review, where reviewer reports turnaround times. available to readers? How do we are published online, allows readers to make the best use of a researcher’s see the conversation between authors time given that most are already and reviewers, as well as encouraging In September 2016, we surveyed our Choosing where to submit a paper authors and reviewers to find out how overstretched? Finally, how do we transparency of the system and high The most important reasons are: they rate our service. review best provide support and training and quality and constructive reviews. • The reputation of the Journal harness the enthusiasm of the next generation of reviewers? On the topic of encouraging new and • The relevance of Journal content early career researchers, Andy raised • The quality of peer review Allen made the case for giving more the need for everyone in all parts of • The Journal’s audience credibility to the review process the review process to be involved a ge people invited who either • The impact factor of the Journal through pre-registration, where the in training the next generation of 15,000 Pe rc ent hypothesis and experimental design reviewers. There is more work to be reviewed or submitted a paper for one for a piece of research are submitted done to engage younger reviewers of the five BES-owned journals in the before the research is carried out. If, for and reviewers from all over the world. last 3 years. example, an unexpected result is then Andy gave the example that there discovered, this could be addressed are twice as many papers published Peer review responses and explained in the paper, leading to by Chinese authors as the number of 2,000+ • Most prefer in-depth review (for an honest and transparent account of Chinese reviewers (Warne 2016). We novelty, importance and scientific the scientific process. However, there need to continue to find new ways to soundness) (over 80% prefer) were concerns, in particular about the engage with this emerging network Stay involved and learn more • More people prefer double-blind over pre-registration process giving busy and support it. Satisfaction single-blind review (62% vs. 42%) ecologists more work. We are pleased to find that overall ■ Very satisfied ■ Somewhat There was a lot more discussed by unsatisfied • Peer review only for scientific Patricia highlighted the importance the panel on the day and a video of satisfaction with the submission, ■ Somewhat satisfied ■ Very unsatisfied soundness (74%) is ranked highly of mentoring new reviewers and the whole session is now available publication and review process is ■ Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied and shows similar results to on our website. high and 79% of respondents are likely to submit to us again. ‘option to transfer reviews’ (64%), It is clear that although there are possibly indicating authors’ positive already a lot of initiatives, experiments Areas for improvement: experiences with Ecology and and resources in place to improve the • Additional options to help authors Evolution peer review process, we still have to communicate their work Production • Open (33%) and post publication a long way to go to further engage • Further reduce time taken to review (20%) review models are not popular with different groups and to make the peer review system more efficient. Please let us know your thoughts and

suggestions by continuing the debate a ge Reviewer Rewards on Twitter using #BESPeerReview. Submission Pe rc ent Top choice: Clarity of communication in the submission system Information on the final decision on References the paper (95% prefer). Lee, C. J., Sugimoto, C. R., Zhang, G. and Cronin, 91% satisfied B. (2013), Bias in peer review. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci., Other popular rewards: 64: 2–17. Clarity of guidelines • Access to other reviews of the Shanahan, D. (2015) A living document: on the Journal website paper reincarnating the research article. Trials, 16:151 • Feedback on usefulness/quality Smith, R. (2006). Peer review: a flawed process at 91% satisfied of their review the heart of science and journals. Journal of the Ease of use of the Royal Society of Medicine, 99: 178–182. ■ Very satisfied ■ Somewhat • Discount on Open Access for a future submission system ■ Somewhat satisfied unsatisfied submission to the Journal Warne, V. (2016) Rewarding reviewers – sense ■ Very unsatisfied or sensibility? A Wiley study explained. Learned 88% satisfied ■ Neither satisfied • Acknowledgement on Publishing, 29: 41–50. nor unsatisfied the Journal website © Stephen Plaster

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Annual meeting The British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2016

Kirsten Parris provided the Amelia Simpson took the last day Mike Begon got the conference off Alan Crowden | Editor | [email protected] entertainment at the conference Christmas jumper theme very to a lively start with his introductory dinner by reprising her Science Slam seriously. We are going to miss remarks. winning role as Russell the Growling Amelia, who has moved on to a new By the time this Bulletin lands on grass frog. It’s all right, she’s back in job and who will be greatly missed the desks of our members it might Australia now. by all of us who have attended the be a bright and cheerful springtime excellent events she has managed in the UK. (Apologies for seasonal professionally, but with a sense of fun. inappropriateness to our members in tropical, Southern hemisphere and polar regions). The Tweeters, At the Society AGM, President Sue Hartley said bloggers, emailers and gossips all the right words, just not necessarily in the have all long ago had their say on right order. Hazel Norman was on hand to ensure the 2016 BES Annual Meeting. The that all the constitutional niceties were observed. BES Meetings Committee has met Networking, posters and exhibits. to discuss both delegate and staff feedback from the meeting, looking at ways to make 2017 event even better. So as the poet wrote ‘The Moving Finger writes: and, having Someone spent ages arranging these writ, moves on…..’. Thus it only cakes and you lot just came along and remain for me to show a few images wolfed them down. The 150 pattern from the meeting. marks the anniversary of the coining of the term ecology. (There was also a baked item marking Hazel Norman’s 21 years at the BES; but there are only so many cake images I can handle without a foray to break my diet. Again.)

Games and bean bags strategically placed around the exhibit hall added to the relaxed atmosphere.

Alison Hester delivered the The Nature Conservancy’s newly 12 months in Ecology lecture, appointed Chief Scientist Hugh Note to self: when commissioned by providing a fascinating and Possingham delivered the closing Richard English to take photos of the entertaining insight on the lecture on the last afternoon. It new BES branding, best not to enrage year gone by. provided a lesson on how to hold an A friendly seasonal welcome him by cutting the Society off the The Barn Owl pulled them in again Anne Chao delivered a audience spellbound without resorting in the conference venue. British Ecological tablecloth. this year. thought-provoking BES Lecture. to visual aids. Great job.

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Congratulations also to award winners not featured here; Yadvinder Malhi (Marsh Award for Climate change Research), Ali Burkett, Nick Loughlin and AND OUR AWARD WINNERS WERE... Victoria Burton, joint winners of the Public engagement award, and Elton Prize winner for 2015, Jonathan Pruitt.

Diana Wall and Charles Godfray Bridget Emmett, winner of the The Marsh Award for Ecology Jordi Bascompte and Pedro Jordano Keith Kirby received the BES Award Julia Blanchard was the winner were awarded Honorary Membership Marsh Award for Climate Change was given to Lynne Boddy for received the Marsh Book of the for exceptional service to the Society of the Founders’ Prize of the BES, the highest honour that her exceptional contributions to Year Award the Society gives the study of fungal ecology

Nathalie Pettorelli received the new Emily Nicholson was highly Yuuya Tachiki received the Harper The Journal of Applied Ecology Brian Steidinger recived the Kim Calders was given the Robert Equality and Diversity champion prize, commended in the Equality and Prize for the best paper by an early named Dustin Ranglack winner Haldane Prize 2015 for his paper May Prize 2015 for his paper in which she received jointly with Diversity Champion category. Emily career researcher in Journal of Ecology of the Southwood Prize 2015 in Functional Ecology Methods in Ecology and Evolution Seiran Sumner for their inspirational is the proud mother of three young Soapbox Science boys as well as being a senior lecturer in quantitative ecology at Deakin University in Australia. She is actively involved in developing the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems and writes inspirational blogs with tips on dealing with career interruptions, parental leave, and more

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Annual meeting Highly Commended Best Student Runner Up Student Prize Winners 2016 Poster Prize Winner Each year we call on a diverse group of judges to select winners for our Anne Keymer Prize for Best Student Talk Winner Runners Up and Best Student Poster Prize. With 150 entries for both talks and posters, the judges had their work cut out! To enter, applicants must be a current student presenting work on their research project, or recently have completed their studies and be presenting work that was completed when they were still a student. If presenting a poster, entrants must be the first author and have undertaken the majority of the work of the project.

Both talks and posters are scored on categories Alessandra Kortz including; visual style, scientific content, originality Svenja Kroeger University of St Andrews Catherine McNicol of research, response to questions, and effectiveness University of Aberdeen Habitat structure mediates of communication. Charlie Outhwaite Sarah Nelms Sara Mynott Cumulative reproductive the impact of an invasive The Effects of Pine Marten Centre for Ecology Plymouth Marine University of Exeter Winners receive an honorarium of £250 and runners up costs on current species in a biodiversity Reintroduction on Grey & Hydrology (CEH) Laboratory, University receive £100. Due to the high standard of presentations reproduction in wild yellow- hotspot Squirrel Populations in of Exeter Does climate change alter we have also selected a number of highly commended bellied marmots The other taxa behind the Wales anti-predator defences? With Anne Magurran individuals. State of Nature 2016 report: Investigating microplastic With Julien Martin (University of St Andrews) With Stuart Bearhop Exploring the results from trophic transfer in a marine With Stephen Widdicombe Our judges were incredibly impressed with the (University of Aberdeen), (University of Exeter), biological records top predator (Plymouth Marine exceptional standard of presentations across the board Jane Reid (University Jenny Macpherson (Vincent Laboratory), Martin Stevens and we are pleased to announce the following winners. of Aberdeen), Daniel With Gary Powney (CEH), Wildlife Trust), Robin Gill With Tamara Galloway (University of Exeter) Congratulations to all this year’s winners and thank you Blumstein (University Tom August (CEH), (Forest Research), (University of Exeter), to our judges whose time and effort makes this possible! of California), Kenneth Nick Isaac (CEH) Robbie McDonald Brendan Godley (University Armitage (The University (University of Exeter) of Exeter), Dan Jarvis of Kansas) (Cornish Seal Sanctuary), Is biological control of Penelope Lindeque Reproduction is costly, thus invasive grey squirrel The Anne Keymer Prize (Plymouth Marine successful reproduction (Sciurus carolinensis) Laboratory) for best Student Talk in one year may reduce populations possible by reproductive success the pine martens (Martes This prize is named in memory of Anne Keymer, who subsequent year. However, martes)? Recent studies in Highly Commended was one of the first winners of this previously unnamed reproductive costs may Ireland suggest martens prize in 1981. She went on to a career of great distinction, also accumulate over the negatively impact grey before passing away from cancer in 1992 at the age of 36. reproductive lifespan of squirrel populations. Anne was a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal individuals. I investigated Here, we investigate this of Animal Ecology and more generally was an exemplary whether reproductive interaction, exploring scholar, teacher, and citizen of her discipline. In naming frequency and litter sizes potential mechanisms this prize after Anne, we recognise an ecologist early in across all previous years behind this relationship. Marianna Chimienti their career who embodies, to a remarkable degree, the affected female yellow- Translocated pine martens University of Aberdeen Johanna van Paassen qualities and values we stand for. and resident grey squirrels bellied marmot reproductive University of Aberdeen probability and litter size Taking movement data were tracked using GPS in the current year. Whilst Ashley Lyons to new depths: inferring loggers and telemetry to Potential role of phosphorus there was no evidence for Edge Hill University prey availability and patch examine habitat preference, in carbon sequestration in reproductive costs from one home ranges and any upland ecosystems? Spider community profitability from predator Martin Jung year to the next, I found spatial interactions. Thus responses to contrasting foraging behaviour that females which had far it appears squirrel home With Sarah Woodin grazing management (University of Aberdeen), both reproduced frequently With Thomas Cornulier ranges are contracting Lasting influences of past in upland calcareous Andrea Britton (James and weaned large litters (University of Aberdeen), where pine martens are land-surface conditions on grasslands Hutton Institute), Lorna in previous years were Ellie Owen (RSPB), Mark present. Further analysis species assemblages less likely to reproduce With Paul Ashton (Edge Bolton (RSPB), Ian Davies is ongoing into the survival Street (University of again. Female long-term Hill University), Ian Powell (Marine Science), and site residency of grey With Pedram Rowhani Edinburgh), David Johnson reproductive history thus (Edge Hill University), Anne Justin Travis (University squirrels as well as further (University of Sussex), (University of Aberdeen), affected their current Oxbrough (Edge of Aberdeen), Beth Scott behavioural and dietary Jörn Scharlemann Andrew Coupar (Scottish reproductive success. Hill University) (University of Aberdeen) observations. (University of Sussex) Natural Heritage).

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Annual meeting Implementing PRESS ROUNDUP a New Press Strategy All being well by the time the Bulletin lands on your desk, our new full time Press Officer will be in post or, at least, very nearly in post. Becky has done great things for the BES and in appointing a full-time Press Officer we are in effect doubling the capacity we have for press related activity. Our Press Officer will work across the full range of our journals and other activities to Becky Allen raise the profile of ecology and ecological science. The growing role of the Press Officer reflects the expansion of our journals, policy and public engagement With the impending arrival of a new Press Officer at the BES, work, not to mention the growing size of our annual meeting, symposia and special Becky Allen presents her last report on media coverage of the interest groups. Our future press work will science presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting. • Increase the number of press releases issued by the BES for papers published in our journals • Increase support for authors of papers From shrinking reindeer to squid and national newspaper in the UK – from It was a joy to help bring so much and liaise with press officers in other chips and from Time magazine to the The Sun to the Daily Telegraph. It ran ecology to a wider – and worldwide – institutions to communicate the great Times of India, our press work for the in the BBC’s news bulletins on Radio audience: we got coverage in Europe, research that’s happening BES annual meeting got acres of great 4, FiveLive and the World Service, Asia and Australasia; more than 300 media coverage in December 2016. and was syndicated across the US items in all; reaching a readership of • Increase the support and resource we – from the Sacramento Bee to the millions in publications with an ad have for promoting meetings, symposia We had a bumper crop of papers to Wichita Eagle. value worth thousands. and the science presented through these work from, in the end picking the events. latest results from Professor Steve The same day, John’s research So I am leaving the BES press office Albon’s monitoring of reindeer in featured across the BBC – from BBC on a high note. Over the past 15 years • Provide more media training and build Svalbard, Dr John Pinnegar’s work Breakfast to Farming Today, as well we’ve established a great reputation a community of spokespeople from the on a warming North Sea and what on ITV and in The Sun, The Guardian, with science media across the globe, membership who are able to synthesise, that might mean for our fish suppers, Daily Telegraph, The Indie, Daily Mail and it’s this firm foundation that a comment on and engage the media with as well as a paper by Dr Penelope and Daily Mirror. new full-time press officer will build ecological science. With this in mind, Whitehorn on neonicotinoids and on, guided by a new strategy that please do get in touch with us if you their impact on ’ buzz On Tuesday and Wednesday, Karen will tell you about below. would like to join the expertise database pollination, and the Natural History Louise, Mark and Piettro took up or you are interested in media training Museum’s Dr Louise Ashton on what the baton. We had several reporters It’s been a pleasure helping so many the global tower crane network is at the meeting – the BBC’s science BES members communicate their • Identify those areas of underrepresented telling us about the last biotic frontier correspondent Vic Gill came to find ecology to a wider audience. And policy-relevant ecology topics and – the forest canopy. out more about tower cranes, New while a few of them have grumbled develop proactive projects that seek to Scientist interviewed lots of BES at having to turn up at Sky TV at 6am, highlight the importance of these areas We also served up stories on Dr Mark members, and Volker Mrasek of almost without exception they’ve Goddard’s carbon capture gardens on German Public Radio – who was enjoyed working with the media and • Work more closely with the Science urban brownfield sites and Dr Pete resident in our press room throughout found value in doing so. Media Centre on those areas of science Ianetta’s pioneering work turning the meeting – seemed particularly that are controversial or more likely to be peas into beer. keen to record a beer story. The public is fascinated by science “wilfully misinterpreted” and it funds science. The media still The stories were picked up by radio, Pete helpfully arrived in the press helps shape public opinion and can • Communicate ecology and its relevance TV, newspapers and online media office with a six pack of his Tundra ale change our behaviour. So I hope at local, national and international levels across the world. Few journalists can and despite having forgotten to pack that – through the BES press office – Everyone is welcome to get more involved resist a reindeer story in the run up to a bottle opener, the pair successfully ecologists will continue to tell their and further details will be made available Christmas, so as the meeting kicked popped the top off several samples stories and make their voices heard. online as we go through the year. off on Monday morning our press – all in the name of recording some coverage got off to a great start with ‘atmos’ for the radio package. Karen Devine, External Affairs Manager Steve’s work covered in almost every

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Annual meeting 4 The report of the 5 To elect Officers of Council of the Society Council Secretary The Council nominees for four Officer posts were as follows: 36th Annual The Council Secretary, Dr Vanbergen, Present Officers Retiring Date Council Nominees presented his report to the AGM. President S. Hartley 2017 He noted that the Society had been Past President W. Sutherland 2016 General Meeting very active in the last 12 months, President Elect R. Bardgett delivering much towards the 2015- 2019 Strategic Plan. The Society Vice President R. Hails 2017 minutes continued to have a world-leading Vice President A. Pullin 2017 publishing portfolio supported by a well-respected editorial team. As well Council Secretary A. Vanbergen 2018 as ensuring that excellent research Honorary Treasurer D. Purves 2016 T. Ezard continued to be published in the Honorary Chairpersons of Committees Retiring Date Council Nominees Society’s Journals, the team had run a number of initiatives including Meetings Z. Davies 2018 debates on data archiving. The Policy J. Vickery 2016 J. Vickery Society continued to have impact on Publications A. Gray 2016 J. Hill The minutes of the AGM held at 10:00 After 6 years as treasurer, it was with which is placed in the long term ecological research in Africa through Education, Training W. Gosling 2017 on Tuesday 13th December 2016 in much sadness that Dr Purves was endowment fund that will one day its grants schemes supporting African and Careers Hall 1, Area and Convention Centre moving aside to be replaced by put the BES finances on a completely ecologists. The Scottish Policy Group continued to be active and keep Liverpool, Monarchs Quay, Liverpool, Dr Ezard. Dr Purves used the secure footing. The motion to accept these changes to the Officers of the Society was strong connections between policy Merseyside L3 4FP. opportunity to thank Dr Ezard publicly proposed by C. Thomas, seconded by L. Turnbull and carried by a majority Although this overall picture has not makers and ecologists in Scotland. for the enthusiasm he had shown in with no votes against. taking on this new role, attending changed since Dr Purves became 1 Minutes of the The BES had also been active in multiple meetings over the last treasurer, in fact the Society has many outreach events during the 35th BES AGM 6 months or so to get up to speed. increased greatly in scope, and been year. We obtained a Silver Medal at Based on what we have seen so through many changes during that the RHS Chelsea Show for our stand 6 To elect Ordinary Members 8 Any other business The minutes of the 35th AGM held far, Dr Ezard will have no trouble time. When he first visited BES HQ, on pollinator ecology and we also ran on Tuesday 15th December 2015 keeping up with the role, and will it was a small, crowded building in of Council Professor Sue Hartley, thanked a successful programme of activities in the Pentland Suite, Edinburgh soon be introducing his own ideas and Putney. Today, we are part owners of the members of Council who were at Glastonbury music festival. Our Three Council members were retiring International Convention Centre, The approaches, to the great benefit of the two large buildings near Kings Cross, retiring; Professor Sutherland, outreach work in schools continued at the end of their term of office and Exchange, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE, as BES and ecology more broadly. with fantastic conference facilities Dr Gray, Dr Purves, Dr Lewis, Dr Sayer there was an election to choose three published in the Bulletin Vol 47:1 pp30 in house. We have substantially and the Summer School this year and Dr O’Callaghan. – 31, were presented to the meeting. Dr Purves reminded the AGM about increased the amount we spend on included A Level students from from the five nominations. A ballot the overall shape of the BES finances, every one of our activities, in some low socio-economic backgrounds was held and tellers were appointed. Professor Hartley also noted that in The motion to approve the minutes which will be familiar to some. It was cases hugely. For example, we have to promote diversity. The BES has The following people were elected as 2017 there would be a planned refresh was proposed by M. Eichhorn, fair to describe this overall picture as increased spending on special interest developed a wide range of career Ordinary Members of Council: of the Strategic Plan and there would seconded by R. Marrs and carried by one of sustained growth. The Society groups from £18,000 per year in 2010, support and training programmes, Dr C. Banks-Leite, Dr H. Roy and be an opportunity for the membership a majority with no votes against. carries out several different kinds of to £145,000 pounds per year now. including the Summer School, to Dr P. Thomas. to contribute their views. activities, all of which we consider very We have added a highly successful help ecologists establish themselves 2 The Accounts for the year important in their own right. There new journal to our stock – Methods in and develop a successful career. We 7 The appointment of the There was no further business and the are activities on which we simply Ecology and Evolution – and taken a hope to expand that work, and work meeting was closed. ended 31 December 2015 spend money. The main ones are our leading role in still another – Ecology in other areas, through fundraising Auditors for 2016 and the The Accounts for the year ended research grants, as well as our work in and Evolution. We now use long- for more activity and to that end Auditor’s remuneration 31 December 2015, as published in education and policy. Then, we have term financial planning, routinely we appointed our first Fundraising the Bulletin Vol 47:3 pp 59-84, and activities on which we spend some making financial projections out to and Development Manager in 2016. The AGM agreed to delegate authority summarised in the Annual Review money, but which also provide some 2020. Similarly, we are currently Supporting the next generation to BES Council for the appointment of were presented to the meeting. income, with the balance between part way through a 5-year strategic of ecologists, helping ecologists the auditors and their remuneration. income and expenditure depending on plan, which seen every part of our through difficult career stages and The motion to approve this was The motion to approve the accounts the activity. Activities in this category operations reinvigorated. This long- increasing funding for Africa will be proposed by R. Marrs, seconded by was proposed by E. Sayer, seconded include the Annual Meeting, our term approach has been aided by fundraising priorities. P. Brotherton and carried by a majority by O. Lewis and carried by a majority symposia, and special interest groups. the fact that our publishing is now with no votes against. Professor Dr Vanbergen thanked BES staff, with no votes against. Similarly, our membership section based around 5-year contracts with a Hartley, BES President, noted that Trustees, Committee members, produces the Bulletin, but also receives guaranteed minimum income. Council had appointed new auditors, SIGs and members for all their subscription fees, and makes a small Haysmacintyre, through a competitive 3 The reports of the contributions to the work of the profit overall. Finally, we have our work Dr Purves thanked the BES staff, led tender process. BES. He encouraged all members to Treasurer and the Auditors in publications, where we spend a by Hazel Norman, who he thought get involved with the Society and large amount, but gain back a lot more. were really unusual in their ability The Honorary Secretary presented the participate in our work. The net result of all of this, is that we to run things professionally day to accounts on behalf of the Treasurer. are able to run, each year, at a surplus, day, whilst always being enthusiastic about change.

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Annual meeting Annual meeting Up Goer Five at our The BES Science Annual Meeting Slam 2016

Jessica Bays, Engagement Officer and Kirsten Parris [email protected]

At this year’s Annual Meeting, we A number of presenters rose to the present inside them. We are sure that In December we hosted the BES this event, I provided the following If you have a great idea for a Science decided to add a new element to challenge and delegates were asked the way we did this, can help people Science Slam as a fringe event at the short (max 80 words) explanation Slam entry, or an alter-ego you want our poster presentations. Using the to vote on their favourite description. doing same things in coming years. Annual Meeting. Throughout the of my motivation for entering: to channel, get in touch with Jessica incredibly successful Up Goer Five We are pleased to announce Tuomas The problem is that we can’t say for night, we saw five brave ecologists “I am passionate about science to find out more about plans for our initiative, we invited presenters to Aivelo from the University of Zurich, sure if this finding is caused by the take to the stage to entertain an communication and love finding new Science Slam in Ghent. summarise their research using just is our first Up Goer Five winner. acts between the small things or if audience in Liverpool’s premier ways to tell ecological stories that 250 of the thousand most common it is because some other reason we comedy venue. Compered by the resonate with people everywhere. I English words! Trouble makers can haven’t looked at. hilarious Sam Avery, the evening also like to dress up, sing, share poetry featured everything from Barry White and imitate frog calls in public. The [Editor’s note: For any readers who, change the crowds We asked Thomas how and a dancing antelope, to audience Science Slam will provide a fabulous like me, live in deep ignorance of within small participation and internet dating. Go opportunity to do all of these things in the modern world, the Up Goer Five he found the challenge… online to view the footage now (www. just eight minutes!” And it did. initiative was stimulated by an online Animals have many much smaller britishecologicalsociety.org/besslam) magazine xkcd which attempted I found writing Up Goer Five Participating in the BES Science Slam living things inside them, and these to describe the blueprints of the description surprisingly easy. Whilst After a tense clap-off, between Rosie was one of the most terrifying yet can be good or trouble for the animal. Saturn V moon rocket using only a it took a while to get started, with a Woodroffe and Kirsten Parris, Kirsten ultimately enjoyable experiences We do not know well how these list of the thousand most commonly lot of trial-and-error as the vocabulary (aka Russell the growling grass frog) I’ve ever had at a conference; it was Russell the Growling grass frog (aka smaller things live together, whether used English words. Apologies for is rather limited, when I found the was crowned the winner, read more certainly the most memorable! My Kirsten Parris) won the BES Science they help or fight each other. In any the interruption if I am the only BES right mindset, the text flowed easily about Kirsten’s experience below: fellow participants – Mahasweta Saha, Slam and triumphantly reprised the case, they form crowds in which member who did not know this] onto paper. I am learning German Moya Burns, Rosie Woodroffe and performance during the Gala dinner single things act with each other. at the moment and there are a lot of There I was, in a cold and rather dingy Zac Baynham-Herd – did a wonderful the following night. space behind a red velvet curtain, in We studied free animals living in similarities in doing Up Goer Five and job of communicating their science the basement of an old warehouse trees in a far away place surrounded learning a new language: I need to through the medium of comedy, ably in Liverpool, dressed as a rotund by water. These small animals are make myself understood with a very encouraged by our host Sam Avery frog, bouncing around to keep warm close to us in our family tree. We limited vocabulary! It was a useful and the enthusiastic and appreciative (and calm) while I did some vocal followed the same animals for two exercise to think of new ways to crowd. A special thanks to Jessica warmups. I was waiting to take to the years. We figured out the living present my work and it does help you Bays and the BES Roadies team for stage as part of the BES Science Slam small things inside animals, crowds to focus on the key results. organising this event. Without them, 2016. Why had I ever thought that this they make up and the relationships Russell the growling grass frog would I am quite proud with the end result, was a good idea? Was it too late to between each other. The living things have remained as a vague idea on the as it actually describes my research change my mind? Would I remember were recognized in a new way: by outskirts of my imagination – and now quite well. There are a number of the words to my songs? Would anyone looking at the letters within their cells he’s alive on YouTube. expressions which might not be quite think I was funny? Just like Harry and seeing if they match between so clear; Madagascar is ‘a far away Potter before he faced a Hungarian each other. The relationships place surrounded by water’, mouse Horntail in the first task of the between the small things were lemurs are ‘close to us in our family Triwizard Tournament, the waiting studied with several different ways, tree’ and DNA sequences ‘the letters part was definitely the hardest part of some of which were new. within cells’! But then again, ‘the the #BESSLAM experience. We found that the small trouble small trouble makers within animals’ When I had applied to participate in makers within animals like different is definitely right! crowds. In fact, even though they The inspiration for this new initiative can be almost same, they still live has come from xkcd, Theo Sanderson with different crowds. The animals and Chris Rowan & Anne Jefferson. Tuomas Aivelo explained less than we expected on Our first Up Goer Five winner which small things or crowds are

26 27 BES Bulletin VOL 48:1 | April 2017 feature BES Photographic Competition 2016 Each year we welcome members to enter our ever-popular Photographic Competition. This year we had over 250 images submitted, covering all aspects of ecology. We also introduced an exciting new category, Up Close and Personal, celebrating the intricacy of nature using close up or macro photography.

Our judges had a difficult task, but About Photography… the field station every hour or so, but we were pleased to exhibit the it was extremely difficult to focus on following winners at our Annual I remember that my parents were the bird before it flew off to the next Meeting in Liverpool. Congratulations mortified when I spent all my savings flower. Even when I managed to take to all our winners and many thanks on a second-hand Nikon F when I a photograph, the bird was usually to our judges! was about 15, but I have been taking facing the wrong way (I have many photographs ever since. Photography, pictures of humming bird bottoms). Overall winner combined with my interest in natural Out of hundreds of shots, this was history developed into a career in the only one where everything came David J. Bird teaching and research in animal together. It was taken with a Nikon University of the West of England physiology, ecology and conservation. D800 with a 300mm f2.8 lens handheld Now I have retired, I have more time at 1/1000sec, f8, ISO 360 Cuban Emerald humming bird to enjoy photography and I have just achieved my ARPS (Associate of the About my research… The Cuban Emerald humming bird Royal Photographic Society) for a (Chlorostilbon ricordii) is found only in panel of natural history images taken I completed my PhD on lampreys in Cuba and the Bahamas. This species in Cuba. Western Australia and postdocs at feeds on many native and cultivated Bath University on fish endocrinology. that rely on these birds for About the Image… I recently retired from the University pollination. They fly so fast that of of the West of England, Bristol, where hundreds of images taken over several I have run field trips to the Isle of I was involved in fish ecology and weeks, this was the only sharp image! Youth, off the coast of Cuba for many the effects of pollution in the Severn years to enable undergraduates to Estuary. I have also spent time in study tropical ecology. The picture Indonesia surveying freshwater of a Cuban Emerald (Chlorostilbon fish and I am presently analysing ricordii) was taken on the last trip. data, collected in Cuba, on the I noticed that the humming bird ecophysiology of Anolis lizards. would visit the same bush outside

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Overall Runner-up Overall Student Winner David Costantini Leejiah Dorward Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research You are old, Father William Chatting A Gynanisa minettii caterpillar Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) mate stands out from the thorny bushes it for life. They breed on the ground and is feeding on in village land around both sexes share incubation duties. Ruaha National Park, Tanzania. Its This photo taken in Svalbard shows bright, pale skin and reflective white that vocal communication between spots make it unmissable under mates is very important to coordinate torchlight at night. parental efforts in order to achieve a successful reproduction.

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Category 1: Ecosystems Category 2: Whole Organisms and Communities and Populations

Winner Winner

Roberto García Roa David J. Bird Museo Nacional de Ciencias University of the West of England Naturales, CSIC Buffy flower bat Three-for-one A Buffy flower bat (Erophylla Trophic cascades form the skeleton of sezekorni) emerging from a cave in diverse ecosystems. The interactions Cuba. Every individual photographed that shape this ecological balance had their tongue sticking out, occur in all type of organisms. This perhaps to direct their echolocation picture illustrates an example of calls? In other species this function this, in which a mouse hunted by is performed using a nose leaf. To a common barn-owl attracted the capture the bats in flight required attention of multiple wasps. an infrared trigger and multiple flashguns.

Student Winner Student Winner

Ciara Stafford Sandra Angers-Blondin University of Manchester The End & Université Laval A caterpillar’s back has erupted with In the green shade parasitoid pupae. Meanwhile, it is This grey heron (Ardea cinerea) has being systematically punctured by a found a peaceful green oasis perched wasp- around 40 minutes after this in a weeping willow in the Royal was taken, all that was left was a Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. shrunken skin. You can see a drop of haemolymph accumulating on the caterpillar’s head. Taken in San José de Payamino, Orellana, Ecuador.

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Category 3: Category 4: Ecology in Action Ecology and Society Winner

Winner Dom Cram Peter Steward University of Leeds Anti-poaching in action Death by a thousand cuts Anti-poaching rangers inserted an identifying tag into the horn of Lilongwe’s rapidly growing his young white rhinoceros bull population creates a huge demand (Ceratotherium simum). Vets and for fuel wood which has created rangers also recorded data about unsustainable pressure on the enormous animal’s health and Dzalanyama Forest, a haven for growth. The data collected will help biodiversity. The forest is also the ecologists understand white rhino catchment for Lilongwe’s water populations, and how best to combat supply and solutions are urgently the threat of poaching. needed to address conflicting uses of this natural resource before it is lost.

Student Winner

Patrick Wright Vincent Wildlife Trust & University of Exeter Bechstein’s bat conservation in action This Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteinii), one of Britain’s most elusive mammals, is about to take flight after being caught in a harp trap and receiving a ring on its forearm as part of a PhD project with the Vincent Wildlife Trust and the University of Exeter. Student Winner Leejiah Dorward University of Oxford Collateral Damage Livestock remains are often poisoned in retaliation for carnivore attacks on livestock around Ruaha National Park in Tanzania. It causes widespread ecological damage by indiscriminately killing a variety of non-target species. Here carcases of a bateleur eagle and two white-backed vultures await autopsies to discover the type of poison used.

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fundraising Category 5: Up Close and Personal Remember Ecology in Winner

David J. Bird University of the West of England Your Will – Take The Spider and morning dew The spider, Agelena labyrinthica, is 1% Challenge commonly found on low vegetation, but it can be difficult to see because it is very sensitive to vibration and quickly withdraws to its tubular Paul Bower | Fundraising and Development Manager | [email protected] retreat when disturbed. This individual was observed early one morning when its platform web was covered with morning dew. In the last issue of the Bulletin I promised that we would build on the success and impact of the Parkyn and Jackson legacies by putting in place measures to make it easy for our members to remember ecology in their Will.

You can now start the process and The new section of the website also • We will never intrude on your privacy Student Winner investigate whether leaving part gives background information on the by telephoning you, unless you of your estate to the BES is the four main types of bequests that are explicitly ask us to do so and we will Ciara Stafford right option for you by visiting the typically left to charities including a never ask you about the size or type University of Manchester Membership section of our website residuary bequest. This is a gift of a of legacy, unless you volunteer that Efficiency and going to the Remember Ecology percentage of your estate following information; in Your Will page: the distribution of specific gifts to your A colony of caterpillars methodically www.britishecologicalsociety.org/ family and payment of any debts or • We will always keep your intentions makes its way through the most membership-community/remember- expenses. private, we will keep your personal palatable parts of a leaf in the ecology-will/ data safe and we will never pass it on Ecuadorian Amazon. San José de We do not offer legal advice or to another organisation or individual; Payamino, Orellana, Ecuador Here you can learn about the impact recommend legal practices. The only that legacies have already made to advice that we do offer is that you • We understand that circumstances the lives and careers of ecologists, should take the advice of a full qualified change and there may be a time sometimes with the gift of a relatively legal professional when making a Will. where you need to take the BES out small amount of money. With that in mind, we have included of your Will. If you do decide to take links to the Find a Solicitor services us out of your Will you are under no obligation to inform us. I could not have attended INTECOL of the United Kingdom’s three law societies on the website. without the help of the Parkyn travel At a time when natural systems are We have also created two short forms: under increasing pressure and the bursary which enabled me to present value of evidence is being questioned, my first paper at an international • A template codicil in case you have it is more important than ever to meeting as an early PhD student. It already made a Will and wish add a support ecology and the important gift to BES; work that we do. helped me make new connections, access other funding and network • An entirely non-binding confidential That is why we are asking members, Entering the Competition expression of intentions form which and indeed anyone who is passionate with some brilliant people. The will help us keep a record of your about ecology and the importance of The competition is open for all members to apply and is great way to promote bursary made a tremendous impact on wishes and how you would prefer scientific research, to consider making both your photography and the research you are involved in. my research and had a transformative your gift to be spent. a residuary gift of 1% of their estate to help secure the future of our discipline. The Overall winner wins £750, the overall runner-up wins £250, and the student impact on my scientific career. Thank If you decide to make the BES a winner wins £100. We would also like to thank the Oxford University Press and you to BES and of course thank you beneficiary of your Will, we will ensure Cambridge University Press for kindly sponsoring £40 worth of book vouchers to that you are in control of every aspect For more information talk to: category winners and student category winners, respectively. to Dr Parkyn. of the process. With that in mind, we Paul Bower have created our Legacy Promise and The next round will open later this year, so watch this space! Further details can Dr. Priyadarshini Chakrabarti Tel. +44 (0)207 685 2537 University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India a 12 Point Code of Conduct which [email protected] be found on the BES website: www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org/Photocomp includes these three key commitments:

36 37 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:1 | April 2017 policy policy post-Brexit. In September, workshop report on our website at and the Landscape Institute, as well in partnership with the Zoological www.britishecologicalsociety.org/ as pan-science organisations such Society of London, Wildlife and brexit-workshop. as the Campaign for Science and Policy update: tackling Countryside Link, the Royal Society of Engineering. Biology and the Campaign for Science The results of the workshop will and Engineering, we welcomed help to inform the work of our An uncertain year ahead? over 200 attendees, including key new Brexit Policy Working Group, the challenges and policymakers, to hear speakers from made up of both Policy Committee As the process of leaving the BES President Sue Hartley to Sir John representatives and other members. European Union starts to unfold, a Beddington address the challenge of The Group will give extra support to huge number of questions for the Making Brexit work for Ecology and the External Affairs Team as we tackle environment and science remain opportunities of Brexit the challenges and opportunities of Conservation. unanswered. Will the Government’s Brexit, and will be developing a work “Great Repeal Bill” effectively transfer In November, we presented our plan during early 2017, including European environmental legislation Ben Connor | Policy Manager, British Ecological Society priorities and concerns directly the production of a series of briefing into UK law? How can we achieve [email protected] to Government in a meeting with papers on key issues. There will be a the Prime Minister’s aspiration Robin Walker, Minister for Exiting number of opportunities for members of continued collaboration with the European Union within the to get involved in this work, so please European partners on major science As I write, the Government has just released a simple, two clause newly created DExEU, who stated get in touch with any ideas – we are initiatives outside the single market? that he was “determined that the always keen to hear from you, and it What will the replacement for the UK will maintain our proud record is vital that we represent the views Common Agricultural Policy look like? Bill that will shape the political and policy landscape in the UK for on environmental science and and expertise of our diverse range of Addressing all of these questions conservation after leaving the EU”. members as effectively as possible. requires the input of ecologists and Finally, we submitted extensive ecological science. In these times of the rest of this year and many to come. evidence to the influential House We will also continue to build relationships with other organisations change, it is vital that we seize the of Commons Environmental Audit opportunity to inform the debate, The European Union (Notification of Committee’s inquiry into the future of to amplify our messages, and will be Withdrawal) Bill empowers the Prime working on joint projects with other and I look forward to working with the natural environment following the members in 2017 to do just that. Minister to trigger Article 50 referendum, and were called to give environmental learned societies and of the Treaty on European Union, oral evidence to the Committee, with professional bodies, including the To keep up to date with our work and formally start the process of Sue Hartley answering MP’s questions Chartered Institute of Ecology and on Brexit during 2017, visit www. leaving the EU. With the passage on topics ranging from rewilding to Environmental Management, the britishecologicalsociety.org/brexit of the Bill looking secure, the two- land use policy. The Committee’s Institution of Environmental Sciences and follow us on Twitter @BESPolicy. year window for negotiating a new report, released in January, made relationship between the UK and the extensive use of our evidence and EU could have opened by the time called for a new Environmental you read this article. Protection Act to maintain current Without doubt, Brexit will dominate standards. our policy work in 2017. The UK’s decision to leave the European Plans for 2017 Union brings about the possibility of the most substantial changes to Brexit was never far from people’s lips our environmental policy framework at our 2016 Annual Meeting, and we in a generation, whilst also placing held a packed workshop on Monday British science in a state of profound lunchtime to give members an uncertainty. There are major risks, opportunity to share their views and identify key priorities, challenges and but also opportunities in this period © Scott Edwards opportunities for the year ahead. Key of change, and it is important that the People, Politics and the Planet ecological community makes itself discussion topics included the chance heard by engaging proactively with to develop a better replacement for the the debate. ecological evidence and that UK Over the last few months we have Common Agricultural Policy; the need science is protected from the potential been working, often in collaboration to maintain levels of protection for adverse effects – in terms of funding, with others, to promote these species and habitats, tackling invasive Our engagement collaboration and movement of people messages to decision-makers. Back non-native species and how the UK with Brexit in 2016 – of leaving the EU. Underpinning in July, with the Sibthorp Trust and could establish itself as a world-leader these priorities is the recognition that the Royal Geographical Society (with in marine policy. Cross-cutting themes We have identified three overarching global ecological issues demand a IBG), we hosted People, Politics and included emphasising opportunities priorities that have shaped our collaborative, international response, the Planet: Any Questions, offering for improved policies, the importance engagement with Brexit since the and that we are, and will remain an an audience of over 400 people the of working collaboratively with referendum: that existing levels of inclusive, international society open to first post-referendum opportunity to other stakeholders, the problems of environmental protection are retained all – as demonstrated by our Ecology question leading politicians, including continued policy uncertainty, and the Representatives from the BES and other science and or improved; that any legislative Across Borders joint Annual Meeting Defra Minister George Eustice, on need to find narratives that speak environment organizations meet Minister Robin Walker changes are informed by the best this coming December. the future of UK environmental to people’s values. You can read the at the Zoological Society of London

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GRANTS Measuring the value of Sustainable timber use in Limpopo aquatic ecosystems in Nigeria SUPPORTING Given the field based nature of ecological studies, The grant provided me with the opportunity to carry much of the expense is in excursions. This grant ECOLOGY out my own ecological studies, and in addition I was enabled me to carry out my field work by catering able to support my under-graduate student in his for almost all my travel needs. The grant also Meeting local stakeholders to discuss utilisation and conservation of trees final year on the project. I also received travel funds enabled me to procure equipment, collaborate with IN AFRICA enabling me to network and develop valuable skills spatial ecologists who deal with geographic data, Markus Eichhorn | University of Nottingham, UK with peers in the USA, which would not have been and to hold meetings with local stakeholders. Paul Bower | Fundraising and Development Manager, British Ecological Society [email protected] possible without support from the BES. Dowo Gregory (edited from original) Prince Emeka Ndimele A grant in 2015 to Dowo Gregory, a PhD student at Most ecologists can trace the For this reason, the net benefit of We welcome donations from the University of Zimbabwe, supported a project Nigeria is a rapidly-developing country, with major beginning of our careers to a small investing in an early-career researcher members to this well-established examining resource utilisation in the Great Limpopo growth over recent decades in both the population and grant that allowed us to make the first in the developing world – what programme, which are guaranteed Transfrontier Conservation Area. Transfrontier economy. This is leading to ever-increasing pressures steps towards independent research. economists would call the marginal to make a difference to the careers conservation areas present particular challenges for on aquatic ecosystems in the Niger delta, a region of It’s easy to forget, when you’re gain – is much greater than elsewhere. of fellow ecologists in Africa. You management due to the many agents involved and high biodiversity, as well as one that is rich in mineral praying to the grant fairy for funds That first step towards an independent could consider making a donation their conflicting interests. Discussions can often resources. Local people depend heavily on aquatic to expand your group, that the most research project, a publication, or leaving a gift in your Will to the exclude the people who live within them, depend on habitats for their livelihoods, but poor regulation has important grant you ever received and recognition for your skills and BES and designate it to our work them for their livelihoods, and have the greatest role to often led to their contamination with crude oil and was probably only a few thousand experience, is harder to obtain. in Africa. We hope to introduce the play in their protection and maintenance. pounds. Perhaps, like me, it was from ability to make recurring donations heavy metals. the BES. Perhaps, like me, you also The BES has run the Ecologists as part of your membership, but Mopane woodlands in this region contain a high This project collated information on the distribution spent it on travelling overseas to in Africa programme since 1998 for now our current donations page diversity of trees, providing a range of non-timber of flora and fauna in three localities within the work with colleagues from another to provide this first step for allows you to donate up to £500 or as forest products including fruits, fibre, firewood and delta region, along with their uses and economic country. Those of us from the UK, or our colleagues in developing little as £5 to this or any of our four traditional medicines. The most pressing concern values. Pollution levels were monitored monthly for other developed countries, will know African countries. We choose to major funding streams: at present, however, is a shortage of timber for a year. Combined with mapping, this allowed for that there are plenty of small pots of concentrate on Africa because, www.britishecologicalsociety.org/ construction. Communities at the edges of national quantification of the economic impacts of oil spills, funding around for those who just by doing so, we can focus our membership-community/donate-now parks often find their harvesting rights have been and therefore the appropriate compensation that local need a plane ticket and a few pieces resources more effectively. Every curtailed, leading to illegal extraction and interference communities should receive when their livelihoods are of equipment. year the Society invests £63,000 with conservation objectives. Finding a sustainable impacted by the activities of multinational companies. in grants to African ecologists, solution to this problem requires integration of the The end result was a management tool, enabling Such opportunities are not as but even with this geographical If you have contacts with a trust, needs of locals with the goals of government agencies. stakeholders and decision-makers to balance economic readily available to ecologists in restriction, we are overwhelmed by foundation or corporate body Doing so would strengthen cooperation between all development with conservation and sustainable use of the developing world. Ecologists demand from passionate, talented who are committed to building stakeholders and thereby the viability of the park as aquatic resources. This was the first attempt to map there have already overcome a large African ecologists. The number of capacity in Africa and might like a whole. the value of such ecosystem services in this region. number of hurdles: access to higher applications has almost doubled in to partner with us, then please get education and research infrastructure, three years. In the last funding cycle This project examined use of hardwoods for firewood in touch. This would help us help In the process, there was a flow of information from lack of equipment, political and we received over 100 applications but and construction poles, creating an agent-based model us make more grants available researchers to the local communities. For example, social contexts that are often hostile were only able to fund 6% of them, of the socio-ecological system. From local people, to those African ecologists who recognition of the values of mangrove ecosystems to ecological agendas (or even the while 20% scored over 80% in their the project collated records of personal experience submit high quality proposals led to a reduction in their harvesting for wood fuel. syllabus), and the challenge of reviewer assessment, and were likely of the woodlands, their many values, and how they but with current limitations on Awareness of the impacts of pollution, and the costs finding a scholarship or paid position. to be fundable. had changed in the recent past. Through quantifying funding would not quite make that local communities bear, incentivised them to Cash for collecting data, buying rates of wood extraction and current biomass, the Applicants must be a scientist and the cut. To discuss legacies or report and document pollution incidents. equipment, paying research assistants external links please contact: project projected harvesting rates and their impacts for or travelling to remote field sites is citizen of an African country that is communities surrounding the national park. hard to find. Ironically, for a young categorised as either a low or lower- Paul Bower researcher in Maputo or Mombasa, the middle income economy by the World [email protected] The research combined participatory methods, field can effectively be further away Bank. They must have at least a + 44(0)20 7685 2500 including local communities at all stages, with than it is for a colleague in a First Masters-level qualification, and be sophisticated modelling tools. This type of World university. African ecologists working for a university or research We are working towards interdisciplinary study lies at the forefront of modern continue to be grossly under- institution in Africa. Applicants can a world inspired, informed and conservation research, utilising best scientific practice represented, even in the research request up to £8000 for research influenced by ecology. Help us whilst ensuring local ownership of the process and published from their own continent. within Africa, plus a further £2000 to make that possible in findings. The impacts will be felt not only through for travel to make wider connections Africa, and to leave a legacy of academic publication, but in the influence on and use facilities. Successful independent African ecologists – Zimbabwe’s new forestry policy, and in the information applicants also receive two years and colleagues. provided directly to local residents and stakeholders. of free membership.

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Engagement and outreach Ecological Continuity Trust Engaging RainDrop has landed! with the BES

Karen Bacon uses Pollinator Top Trumps to engage Year 13 students with ecological ideas

Joanne Griffin | PhD student | University of Liverpool, UK Jessica Bays | BES Engagement Officer | [email protected]

Having assembled from various I am used to communicating my work We are thrilled to have established capacity to support additional and locations around the UK, warming to academics back in my University a new long-term experiment (LTE), future experimental use. ECT Competition: up with hot drinks in a pokey central department and at conferences. at Wytham, Oxfordshire. RainDrop a London Starbucks, we play our Entertaining a room of A-level new RAINfall and DROught Platform, RainDrop adheres to the Drought Can you think long-term? favourite game: ‘Who’s Poo?’ We busk students, however, was a pretty successfully completed its first Net experimental protocol, thus a little differently to most people. When terrifying prospect. When I asked field season in 2016 and has been contributing to a global network of We want to see more researchers you check out the next BES Annual if anyone had heard of the term established in partnership with sites assessing terrestrial ecosystem using the UK’s long-term Meeting (you know you want to), be ‘symbiosis’ some students nodded their Oxford University (Andy Hector), sensitivity to drought. Adjacent to experiments (LTE). To encourage sure to keep your eyes peeled for it. It head with a vague look of recollection the Open University (David Gowing), the site is an Environmental Change the next generation of scientists will change your life. whilst others shook their heads. Using the Patsy Wood Trust and the British Network monitoring site, which has to think about how they might examples such as corals, the bobtail Ecological Society. been collecting meteorological data use these resources in their As a BES Roadie, I’ve received squid, nitrogen-fixing bacteria in since 1992. own work, we are hosting a public engagement training, helped The development of a new LTE, PhD student and early career roots and deep sea tube worms, Having now completed its first field develop busking activities and had I got the students on board with the capable of investigating multiple researcher competition. the opportunity to attend music drivers of change simultaneously, season we are now inviting researchers Joanne Griffin and Arron Watson concept. Explaining the use of fruit and institutions to consider how they Sponsored by Global Change festivals and science festivals across playing ‘Whose Poo?’ in a Starbucks flies and their symbiont to study has been on the agenda of the ECT the country. The goal being to better for some time, and it is fantastic to might use the site to progress their Biology, entries are welcome from (other coffee shops are available) host-shifts was a little trickier, I was scientific studies. Please get in touch any country in the world. Your my science communication skills and nervous that this was where I might see this objective realised. Using inform people outside the world of state-of-the-art equipment and to discuss potential projects and entry will be judged by a panel Now back to our London ‘Poo Game’ lose them. To my surprise, I was science on diverse matters such as cutting edge knowledge the platform opportunities for collaboration. of esteemed ecologists, with the trip. The Windsor Fellowship has bombarded with questions. From ecology, and the research I conduct for will investigate grassland resilience winners in each category to win collaborated with the Royal Society the development and maintenance of The Ecological Continuity Trust is my PhD. to drought. £100 cash. to provide a mentoring scheme for symbioses and coevolution to the nitty a registered charity formed in 2008 These activities are great for Year 13 Black students living or gritty techniques I used to achieve Through the installation of rainshelters by esteemed members of the British To enter the competition, you engaging people and spreading the studying in Greater London, who my work and collect data, these measuring 5mx5m RainDrop imposes Ecological Society. need to submit a short research are studying STEM subjects. This students were the most inquisitive proposal which incorporates the word of ecology, however, there treatments of +50% and -50% rainfall We work to secure long-term field is where we, the BES Roadies, come and enthusiastic audience I have ever use of a long-term experiment are communities that we are still over the growing season. These experiments for the use of future into the picture. We were given a one had. It was an enormous pleasure to (6 years or longer). The struggling to reach. As stated in treatments are complemented by generations. Visit our website to find hour slot to communicate ecology spend time with them. If I haven’t experiment in the proposal may the British Ecological Society report procedural controls (with rainshelters out more: to the students. Jessica opened the persuaded them that parasites and be an existing LTE, or one that ‘Making Ecology for All’, members that allow unimpeded rainfall) and EcologicalContinuityTrust.org, or session with a brief introduction mutualists are just about the coolest you would like to see established. of BAME (Black, Asian and Minority unroofed ambient controls. These are contact Jessica our Engagement Officer to the BES and the importance of things to study, then at least they will Ethnic) community are significantly each replicated five times across the ([email protected]). less likely to be in a STEM profession science communication. We then have left the session with a broader platform and the design currently has when compared to White counterparts. split the cohort into four groups and understanding of the term ecology. I In 2010/11, BAME individuals made up took one group each to demonstrate hope that we will continue to engage One of the new rainshelters 16.7% of all biological science students. our busking activities. Karen got to with a diverse range of communities in at the long-term experiment This is an underrepresentation when play ‘Pollinator Top Trumps’, Arron the BES and look forward to reuniting site at Wytham, Oxfordshire compared to both the total for all STEM had ‘Who’s Poo?’ Jessica was on the with the Roadies for more science subjects, 20.1%, and for all subjects, ‘Mushroom Game’ and I demonstrated communication. the use of taxonomic keys using the 18.4%. There are no excuses for this If you would like to become involved ‘Festival Animals’ busk that we took to gap; in the 21st century I am appalled with the BES Roadies, please see Wychwood festival back in June. The that recent figures published by the upcoming public engagement and students rotated around the different Higher Education Statistics Agency training events on our website: activities before reconvening in the reveal that no British University is www.britishecologicalsociety.org/ seminar room where I then gave a employing a Black academic in a senior engagement management role. This must change. short talk on my research.

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SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

Lee Brown. Nessa OConnor and Becca Kordas [email protected] Secretary: Luca Borger @BES_aquaeco After an active and successful Other committee members: programme last year, we are planning Samantha Patrick; Theoni a myriad of new and exciting activities Photopoulou; Jonathan Potts; in 2017. As of January 2017, the Garrett Street; Marie Auger-Méthé; Luca Borger Garrett Street BES Aquatic Group committee has Hawthorne Beyer; Hamish Campbell a new member. Michelle C. Jackson @BES_Move_SIG from Imperial College London has There’s a new SIG on the block! started as our new SIG treasurer. At the last BES Annual Meeting Welcome Michelle! in Liverpool we launched a new Special Interest Group on Movement Announcing a new BESAG Early Ecology with a packed reception Career Researcher Award event. Movement Ecology is a rather The British Ecological Society Aquatic wide-ranging and cross-disciplinary Group (BESAG) will award this prize field, comprising all aspects of to one distinguished early career organismal spatial movements, from scientist at its annual meeting. The bacteria, to fungi, to seeds, to large award will be made in recognition of animals, and is well represented with excellent research, as demonstrated publications in all BES journals. We by first-authored publications in are a group of biologists, ecologists internationally relevant journals, Samantha Patrick Marie Auger-Méthé and mathematicians and our aim with to a scientist who is no more than the SIG is to act as a central forum to 8 years after the start of their PhD and attract researchers, from within and working on a relevant area of marine outside the discipline of ecology and and/or freshwater ecosystem science. biosciences, and provide opportunities for discussions. For example, we The winner will receive the award will organise workshops to clarify at the BESAG annual meeting conceptual and methodological which is usually held between July- misconceptions of general interest, September in London. They will be or guide the development of novel invited to present their research in a research, especially interdisciplinary keynote speech as part of the annual research combining technical, meeting. Conference fees, travel computational, and theoretical and accommodation expenses are developments. In addition to the BES Theoni Photopoulou Hawthorne Beyer covered, and the winner will receive a SIG site, we have set up a Facebook commemorative plaque. page (https://www.facebook.com/ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ Self-applications will not be accepted; FORTHCOMING EVENTS BESmovementecology/) and a Twitter besag-meeting-on-temporary-rivers- nominations (of no more than 1 side account (@BES_Move_SIG) – see also Join us for the BES Aquatic Group and-streams-2017-tickets-31193440420 A4) should be made by colleagues the hastag #movePubs for movement- Annual Meeting on 14th and 15th of or collaborators. It is expected that The hastag associated with the event related publications. An email list September 2017, at Charles Darwin the nominator will discuss the is #BESAG_NTU and a Blog will follow soon, which House in London. Registration application with the nominee, in order we hope will function to stimulate coming soon! The meeting will feature an invited to provide a summary CV (maximum discussions and debates – everyone keynote presentation from Dr Thibault 1 side A4) giving details relevant to The BES Aquatic Ecology group is will be welcome to suggest and Datry (IRSTEA, Lyon, France), whose the award criteria above. Nominees also pleased to announce another contribute posts! We are planning to research focuses on intermittent river must be members of the British Temporary Stream Workshop at organize a workshop later this year, ecology, with a particular emphasis Ecological Society. Nottingham Trent University, Clifton so stay tuned. In the meantime, we on how flow intermittence influences Campus. The workshop will take place are looking for interested students aquatic and terrestrial community and Please email nominations for the 2017 on Thursday April 6 2017 and you (undergraduate and graduate) to join metacommunity dynamics at multiple round to Lee Brown (l.brown@leeds. can register for the meeting at this our team, so do get in touch with us. spatial and temporal scales. He chairs ac.uk) before June 1st 2017. Eventbrite website: Jonathan Potts Hamish Campbell the EU COST Action Science and

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Management of Intermittent Rivers The second day of the meeting now have more than 1800 followers on Great conversation and discussion evolving interactions and collaborations and Ephemeral Streams (SMIRES) and included sessions in both marine Twitter (@BES_AquaEco)! followed, with many people joining Citizen science ‘Research between so-called ‘amateur’ and previously led the IRBAS project on and freshwater ecology. The first us for our annual social event. For Derby’ (aka Hackathon) professional scientists. More details will biodiversity in intermittent rivers. session on Management, Conservation For the latest news, future meetings the first time this year we shared be announced in due course. and Ecosystems Services included and job advertisements you can our social with the Plants, Soils 25 - 27 May, Oxford, UK Our second keynote speaker is presentations about invasive species, follow us on Twitter: @BES_AquaEco and Ecosystems SIG as well as the (provisional date) DISCOVER ‘LOST WOODS AND Dr Petr Paril (Masaryk University, Brno, ecological resilience, fisheries and (#Thursdayjobday), on Facebook: BES- SIG. With a fantastic FreshWater Watch is an Earthwatch Czech Republic). Petr will present the even ducks. In the second session Aquatic Ecology Group and you can turn out, we enjoyed an evening ‘SHADOWS’ IN THE PEAK DISTRICT global citizen science project which BIODROUGHT project, an extensive on Methods, Monitoring and Models join our mailing list by emailing Ronni of good food, beer and cross-SIG has so far collected over 17,000 data Central European research initiative we learned about trophic structure ([email protected]). You discussion tucked away in the Black Summer 2017, Peak District, UK on water quality across more than using taxonomic and functional in marine ecosystems, the impacts of can also find us on the BES website in Lodge Brewery. 30 cities (https://freshwaterwatch. This event is to celebrate and to share aspects of aquatic macroinvertebrate flow on stream macroinvertebrates, “Membership & Community”, “Special thewaterhub.org/). If you are an early ideas on a citizen science project, communities as bioindicators of recent and how the loss of marine fauna can Interest Group”. In another first, this year the SIG career researcher (<10 years post PhD) running for 3 years so far, discovering dry phases in temporary rivers and alter carbon sequestration in coastal hosted a public outreach event at with an interest in citizen science ‘Shadow Woods - a search for lost streams. The BIODROUGHT method sediments. It was also refreshing the FACT cinema in Liverpool. A and a background in freshwater landscapes’ in the Peak National has developed metrics based on to hear about the diverse uses of mixture of ecologists and members ecosystems then you may wish Park. The implications of this project perennial and intermittent bioindicator environmental DNA. The thematic of the public came together for the to attend the FreshWater Watch for understanding past and future taxa, selected species traits, and topic sessions on Disturbances and sell out event. A screening of The ‘Research Derby’. The Research Derby woodland and forest landscapes are community composition to indicate Stressors and on Multiple Stressors Thing was opened with a fascinating (or hackathon) is a 24 hour ‘pressure- far-reaching and there are links across the occurrence and extent of dry and Ecological Surprises dominated introduction on the real parasites and cooker’ style research event whereby the UK and elsewhere in Europe. phases; these metrics provide useful the final day of the meeting. Overall, pathogens that inspired it by the participants are i) introduced to This will be a celebratory event tools for the practical management of we left the BES Annual Meeting with Dr Susan Withenshaw of the Bethany Levick the dataset and theme, ii) brainstorm with 1) workshops to recruit & train freshwater resources. new ideas, new friends and excellent University of Liverpool. Many [email protected] data sources and complimentary community science volunteers, 2) contacts. Thanks to all the amazing people joined us from outside the data sets and, iii) are then split into work with citizen science volunteers speakers we had the pleasure to meet The BES Annual Meeting at the conference, who took the opportunity groups to focus in on a research to help close the information gaps, 3) Call for contributions during the meeting! end of 2016 brought together to start some great conversations avenue with the aim of presenting completion and update of the data- individuals and research from across with Susan about parasites, and Oral papers and posters preliminary findings in a paper format based species distribution maps and the broad spectrum of disease the “science of the movies”. One Opportunities to Get Involved at the end of the 24 hour period. The to evaluate using Ellenberg Indicator Those interested in contributing ecology, featuring 2 thematic topics attendee was even inspired to put Derby will take place in Oxford, with values, and 4) a project report with a paper or poster should email If you would like to suggest themes (“Shortening the hyphen in eco- on their own event: a screening of a provisional date set for the 25th interpretation and management Judy England (judy.england@ or topics for discussion for future immunology” and “Worlds within Die Hard with an introductory talk on to 27th May 2017 (accommodation recommendations for stakeholders, environment-agency.gov.uk) by meetings please contact Nessa worlds: Host-microbe interactions Information Security. The SIG would provided). Anticipated cost to attend an education pack, flier, key cards and Friday 28th February 2017 with a O’Connor ([email protected]) or in nature, health, and agriculture”), love to run a similar event again, so will be £50 to non BES members and an app. and more. For more details 200-word abstract, including the Lee Brown ([email protected]). and many fantastic talks and posters ideas for parasite-inspired films on a £25 to members. Numbers will be and booking: http://www.ukeconet. title and the names and institutions The BESAG is an active network of spread throughout the programme. postcard please! limited to 24 participants. To register org Email: [email protected] of the contributing authors. aquatic ecologists whose interests A body of excellent scientific content your interest or to ask any questions, tend to overlap other SIGs and we was shared, with research ranging please email Ian Thornhill (ithornhill@ are keen to develop cross-cutting from symbionts to wildlife Learning the science earthwatch.org.uk). RECENT EVENTS activities. BESAG is growing and so is pathogens, with speakers from across from the citizens our following on social networks - we the whole career spectrum. BES Annual Meeting in Liverpool Connecting with the Crowd Autumn 2017, Newcastle The BES 2016 Annual Meeting 16 June, London, UK This is a one day workshop turned programme was crammed with talks (provisional date) upside-down: all the talks and in aquatic ecology, starting with the Co-Secretaries Helen Roy and workshops are decided by, focused projects and platforms first plenary talk on fisheries and Michael Pocock on and run by citizen scientists. This abound, involving over one million marine food webs. Fisheries ecology citizenscience@britishecological is an opportunity to learn about how citizen scientists in the analysis or was a central topic of the whole society.org citizen science is perceived, and interpretation of images and data meeting. The first thematic topic why people choose (or not!) to get Coming up in 2017 we have a range online. This conference will showcase session on sustainable fisheries had involved. Rather than focusing on of events building on the success of the latest tools, technologies and a lot of very good speakers, including surveys, check-boxes and interviews, the past few years. More information approaches available to engage and Julia Blanchard who received the we hope to work collaboratively with on all these will be circulated via collaborate with diverse audiences BES Founders’ Prize this year. On active citizen scientists from across a looking for a job in AQUATIC ECOLOGY the JISCmail group. The JISCmail online. We will share lessons learned, Monday evening a large group of range of projects, and learn together group is free for anyone to join to and to explore collaborations with aquatic ecologists met in the pub The how we can improve both the #Job, #Postdoc, #PHD, #Internship... we give you hear about citizen science events and social researchers and how crowd- Baltic Fleet. We would like to thank experience and the science for future the freshest job offers in marine & freshwater projects (from the BES and elsewhere) sourcing can impact ecology. This to everyone who joined us and to projects. We are looking for as many and begin discussions – in order to one-day conference will follow the congratulate the team “The Swimming ecology every Thursday at 11am. citizen scientists and organisations subscribe go to www.jiscmail.ac.uk ‘Constructing Scientific Communities’ Lamb Bananas” for winning our great to be involved as possible, so please and search for BES-CITIZENSCIENCE. dissemination event. Constructing pub quiz. The quiz was organised by contact [email protected] for @BES_AquaECO #Thursdayjobday Scientific Communities: Citizen Science our ECR representative Billy Hunter. more information. We have a number Tag us to share your job offers in the 19th and 21st Centuries is an of partially- or fully-funded places for Arts and Humanities Research Council citizen scientists to get involved. funded programme which explored the

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of Science website of their careers before answering In the coming year the SIG is (http://pintofscience.com). questions from the audience. A couple co-organising four events: of standout points included: PhDs Our more academic events this year aren’t the only route to a career in • Another expert collaboration include a two-day symposium on conservation- experience counts for so workshop titled Correlative & Microbial Pathogens of Plants and much; and apply for jobs even if you demographic SDMs: reconciling Animals at Charles Darwin House, don’t meet all the criteria, if you meet theory to support decisions, run run jointly with Plants, Soils, and some-give it a go! in collaboration with ARC-CEED Co-Secretaries Rachael Antwis and Ecosystems SIG, and the Parasites Nick Goulding and held 27th-31st March at The Mike Whitfield (@mgwhitfield) Xavier Harrison and Pathogens SIG. We will also host quantitative@ University of Melbourne. @BESPlantSoilEco [email protected] a Methods Workshop for postgraduate Coming up britishecologicalsociety.org @BES_Microbial and early career researchers @BES_QE_SIG • A joint workshop with the Plants-Soils-Ecosystems is a special Starting in February there will be Agricultural SIG: Data integration interest group for people interested Now we’ve found our feet as a special to learn how to analyse large a two-stage consultation, “What’s The SIG hosted two events in the datasets associated with microbial in R on 4th May 2017 at Somerville in plant-soil interactions, plant and interest group, 2017 is set to be a busy the point of conservation science?”, latter half of 2016. The first was a College, Oxford soil ecology, and biogeochemistry. and exciting year for the Microbial ecology studies. This will be run in at the University of Brighton. The workshop on point process models Ecology SIG! conjunction with the Quantitative first meeting (February 1 and 2) will at the Statistical Ecology Conference • A methods workshop on Analysing Ecology SIG, and as part of this we be an opportunity for conservation in Seattle in July. The workshop next-gen sequencing data for Winter Ecology Meeting We have joined up with the highly will be producing a Microbial Ecology practitioners to identify what evidence brought together researchers working microbiome studies, run jointly with successful Pint of Science public Virtual Issue with the BES Methods in they want and need and to identify on different aspects of point process the Microbial Ecology SIG in June 6 – 7 April 2017, Lancaster University, engagement forum to showcase Ecology and Evolution journal. research priorities. The framework of models to identify key areas of 2017 in Cambridge UK some of the best microbial ecology We are also currently discussing other practitioner wants and needs mapped research and kick-start collaborations Winter is coming. We’ll be descending research being conducted nationwide. out at the initial meeting will then to work on them. You can find out • Sponsorship of one of the BES’s On Wednesday 17th May we events tied in with other BES SIGs, and 2017 symposia: The Macroecology on Lancaster, north of the wall, for a we are of course open to suggestions be presented at a second workshop more about ecological point processes spring meeting with a decidedly chilly will hold simultaneous events in held later in 2017 (date TBA) for both and what we covered in the meeting of Alien Species, 25-26 July 2017, four cities in the UK, including from our members and non-members Durham University theme. This meeting will be all about alike (but why not join us?!). Please academics and practitioners. Outputs report on our SIG blog (link below). the challenges and opportunities that Cambridge with Professor Peter from the first meeting will form The second was a one-day meeting Convey from the British Antarctic feel free to drop us an email at More details of each of these events winter presents in our research. We’re microbial-sig@britishecologicalsociety. the basis of discussions during the on the challenges and opportunities will be posted on the BES website interested in cold climate research Survey speaking about microbes in second, to hone, enhance, clarify and of analysing citizen science data, extreme environments, Dr. Otti Croze org if you’d like to discuss events or - keep an eye on our social media (arctic tundra, alpine, etc.) as well ideas that would be useful to you and take forward key issues. Following held jointly with the Royal Statistical channels for updates. We’re always as seasonal research in temperate from the University of Cambridge both consultations, a new practical Society and the International explaining how swimming microbes other members. keen to hear suggestions for future landscapes, including shoulder guide will be published covering Biometric Society in Cambridge in meetings, or where we can sponsor seasons – an aspect that is often source nutrients and find mutualistic all aspects of integrating science October. This meeting was well partners, and Dr. Ellen Nisbet, also meetings planned by other groups. overlooked. Our keynote speaker will into conservation action. For further attended by a mix of statisticians, If you have any requests of ideas of be Gareth Phoenix (@GarethPhoenix), from the University of Cambridge, information and to book please contact ecologists and conservation talking about using the remnant ecological topics with a quantitative from the . The the event organisers at Mark@ert- practitioners, with plans to begin a bent, please get in touch! (contact outcome of the meeting will be a chloroplast in Plasmodium as a drug conservation.co.uk forum to continue the discussion. target. In Birmingham, we will hear details below). We recently welcomed perspectives or opinion piece, and talks from Dr. Tim Overton (University On March 3, PhD students and As ever, we had a great time at the Rob Salguero-Gómez and Tom August attendees will have the opportunity of Birmingham) about microbes in post-docs are then invited to 2016 Annual meeting in Liverpool, to the SIG organizing committee. If to be co-authors. polymer production and recycling, and attend “Establishing a career in where we ran several events. On the you’d like to be more involved in the Nathalie Pettorelli SIG too, please drop us a line! By the time you read this, the deadline Professor Laura Piddock (University of [email protected] conservation science”, a BES/ZSL Sunday we held a pre-conference for submitting abstracts will have Birmingham) discussing antimicrobial @BESConservation early careers event to be held at workshop jointly with Methods You can get information on passed, but if you’re quick you can resistance. In Manchester, speakers London Zoo. Through a combination in Ecology and Evolution and the upcoming events, news on all things still register to attend the meeting! include Dr. Jenny Rowntree Annual Meeting of talks and activities, attendees Macroecology SIG on best practices quantitative, and get in contact with Check out our website, Twitter feed (Manchester Metropolitan University) will receive advice and training on for code archiving. The event was the SIG committee via twitter or Facebook page for more information talking about soil/ plant microbial We kicked off the 2016 Annual a range of topics including funding well attended and featured break- (@bes_qe_sig), facebook (facebook. (see below). interactions, Dr. Chloe James Meeting with a social mixer- thank opportunities, interviews, publication out sessions on Git/GitHub (run com/besquantitativeecology), on (University of Salford) discussing the you to the new members who signed and knowledge dissemination as well by Tamora James), reproducible our blog (besquantitativeecology. PSE at BES2016 microbial ecology of chicken farms, up and stopped by for a chat! The as guidance on career paths outside of research in R (Laura Graham) and wordpress.com), or via email and Professor Jon Lloyd (University springboard session, co-hosted by the academia. Sessions will be facilitated code publication and citation (Mike (quantitative@britishecologicalsociety. We had a great time at last year’s of Manchester) explaining his work Conservation Ecology, Citizen Science by the great and the good from DICE, Croucher). These were followed by org). Please do get in touch! Annual Meeting. Have a look at our on the bioremediation of nuclear and Agricultural Ecology SIGs, was a UCL, BES and ZSL. Tickets for BES/ a discussion on the way forward for Storify for the highlights: waste. In our final city ofEdinburgh , hit. Members from each SIG formed ZSL members and students are £15 code archiving in journals. Dominic storify.com/BESPlantSoilEco/plants- Sarah Heath from the University into four teams and, over a beer or (£25 full price). To book your place, Bennett ran a Wikithon for our soils-ecosystems-at-bes2016 of Edinburgh will talk about the two, designed an event that they then please email [email protected] Quantitative Ecology Documentation little-known and algae in pitched to the other teams before site and plenty of new documentation Your SIG committee: the oceans, and Dr. Tony Gutierrez and tutorials were begun in this votes were cast. The lunchtime early • Ellen Fry (Secretary) (Herriot Watt University) will explain session. If you would like to careers event went also down well. ([email protected]) his work on oil bioremediation. We Guest speakers Juliet Vickery (RSPC), contribute, please visit http://qedoc. • Mike Whitfield (Deputy Secretary) will also have an exciting microbes- Mike Morecroft (Natural England), wikidot.com. Finally, we had our joint ([email protected]) based quiz in all cities! If you are Camille Parmesan (University of mixer with the Macroecology SIG, interested in coming along, please Plymouth) and Ali Birkett (Lancaster which was so well attended that the • Tom Crowther book tickets directly through the Pint bar tab ran out within an hour! University) gave potted histories • Rosanne Broyd

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• Jessica Clayton Upcoming events: with IPS, RSPB, and other major land- The study will focus on the Peak researchers wishing to acquire reissued book, ‘How to Make a • Franciska de Vries managing partners. National Park uplands and on Thorne or develop field skills and gain Wildlife Garden’. There will also be a Wood Meadows & Pastures: May Moors National Nature Reserve in experience in peatlands research. This launch of Ian’s book ‘Shadow Woods • Michael van Nuland For more details and booking: the lowlands. The project will utilise is a unique event and numbers will – the search for lost landscapes’, and 23-24 2017. A 2-day conference http://www.ukeconet.org in Sheffield, as part of theWilder ‘ the on-line learning and research tool be restricted. Details will be available of a major new book on European Plants-Soils-Ecosystems Tel: 0114 272 4227 developed with BES support. shortly but email Ian (below) and woodlands edited by Ian Rotherham, Visions’ programme [see Forest Email: [email protected] Ecology SIG – for full details]. With check www.ukeconet.org and the Alper Çolak and Simay Kirca, and with Bulletin For more details and booking: Peatlands SIG page for updates. a major chapter by the late Oliver partners including South Yorkshire The Healing Harvest of the http://www.ukeconet.org Plants-Soils-Ecosystems Biodiversity Research Group Ancient Peatlands, Autumn 2017, Peak Rackham, plus George Peterken, Frans Tel: 0114 272 4227 On-line ID and training guides: Also, Vera, and others. communicates interesting Tree Forum, Woodland Trust, National Park Email: [email protected] don’t forget our on-line identification opportunities in the worlds of Natural England, Hagge Wood An event organised in partnership guides on sphagnum mosses, on The partners include South Yorkshire plant-soil interactions, ecology and Trust, JBA Consulting and others History in the Cumbrian Bogs: waxcap fungi, and on deer species, Biodiversity Research Group Ancient biogeochemistry to its members via the conference will consider the with colleagues at the National Trust Autumn 2017, Cumbria National Park to engage the public, researchers, with much more to follow shortly: Tree Forum, Woodland Trust, Natural social media and the mailing list. We potential of wood meadows and & Solway Firth www.ukeconet.org England, Hagge Wood Trust, JBA also compile a bi-monthly Bulletin, wood pastures in conservation as managers, and other stakeholders in peatland landscapes and their We have a very special event with Consulting and others the conference featuring news, jobs and studentships a part of a new ‘Wilder Vision’ for For more information generally will consider the potential of wood hand-picked by committee member the future landscape - led by the ecological histories in the Peak District Cumbria Boglife and other partners as please email Ian Rotherham on area. The meeting will focus on part of our citizen science and public meadows and wood pastures in Jessica Clayton. To receive the work of Professor George Peterken. [email protected] conservation as a part of a new ‘Wilder Bulletin, sign up to our mailing list – This places future landscapes into a the little-known uses of harvests of engagement work with BES Peatlands sphagnum and other materials for the SIG to bring people to the peat bog Vision’ for the future landscape - led by details below. valid framework of historical ecology the work of Professor George Peterken. and brings together key experts to WW1 and WW2 war efforts, raising and the peat bog to the people - with people’s awareness of the peatlands a variety of key partners - the event This places future landscapes into a Join us! exchange ideas and best practice. valid framework of historical ecology The event will provide a platform and of the profound implications of will engage the public, researchers, this exploitation for present-day site managers, and other stakeholders and brings together key experts to Sign up to our mailing list by to launch a new national initiative management. in peatland landscapes and their exchange ideas and best practice. sending an email to listerv@jiscmail. with the aim to conserve or create ecological histories in Cumbria The event will provide a platform to ac.uk; subject: BLANK; message: a wood meadow / wood pasture For more details and booking: and surrounding areas. Through launch a new national initiative with SUBSCRIBE PLANT-SOIL-ECO in every parish. The intention is to http://www.ukeconet.org raising awareness of the history of Alan Jones the aim to conserve or create a wood Firstname Lastname. ensure that such future conservation Tel: 0114 272 4227 exploitation we will consider issues @BESForests meadow / wood pasture in every aspirations are underpinned by good, Email: [email protected] parish. The intention is to ensure that Follow us on Twitter robust, ecological science. The scope and challenges for future restoration. @BESPlantSoilEco, like us on Facebook such future conservation aspirations of the work is at this stage national Shadow Woods and Ghosts on For more details and booking Wood Meadows & Pastures www.facebook.com/ are underpinned by good, robust, but with potential implications peatland landscapes: March 2017 to http://www.ukeconet.org BESplantssoilsecosystems and check 2-day conference, 23 – 24 May in ecological science. The scope of the Europe-wide, and we already have November 2017, various locations Tel: 0114 272 4227 out our website, including the blog Sheffield as part of the ‘Wilder work is at this stage national but partners in a number of countries. with project based in Sheffield and the Email: [email protected] and journal club: besplantsoileco. Visions’ programme; [with Peatlands with potential implications Europe- We expect participants in the launch Peak District wide, and we already have partners wordpress.com. from a wide area and the results Climate change and blanket bog SIG and partners]. This is a project to involve university in a number of countries. We expect to be disseminated to an extended impact: with the Climate Change SIG Our 2-day international conference participants in the launch from a wide audience. The ‘vision’ is related to researchers and students working with community citizen scientists to This exciting 1-day day seminar / will examine issues of the area and the results to be disseminated the ‘Wild Thing’ event which had conservation and creation of both to an extended audience. The ‘vision’ is representatives from around 20 discover the lost ‘Shadow Woods’ and workshop to be held at University to analyse the palynological evidence of York on 28th March will debate wood meadows and wood pastures. related to the ‘Wild Thing’ event which countries. For more information see With Professor Chris Baines we will had representatives from around 20 the Forest Ecology Group section for relevant landscape change. and will address issues relating Partners will include University of the blanket bog and future climate consider aspects of habitat creation countries. The project involves: which follows. and community engagement, and Plymouth, University of Bradford, scenarios. [See the Climate Change 1) Launch event and workshops to For more details and booking: and Sheffield Hallam University, Peak SIG for full details and updates]. with Professor George Peterken we Professor Ian Rotherham will address both conservation and develop ideas and a basic toolkit for http://www.ukeconet.org National Park and the National Trust. community volunteers. Peatlands@britishecologicalsociety Tel: 0114 272 4227 Early career development event for creation. The landmark event will @BES_Peat Email: [email protected] For more details and booking: peat bog specialists - Peatlands of also examine the influences of Dr 2) Recruiting & training project http://www.ukeconet.org Britain, past, present and future, Frans Vera and of the late Professor community ‘champions’ Following a very hectic 2016, the PEATLAND for BIRDS: Issues & Tel: 0114 272 4227 plus methods and techniques in Oliver Rackham in transforming Peatlands SIG and partners offer a full Opportunities in Re-constructing Peat Email: [email protected] peatland research: with Manchester our understanding and attitudes 3) Researcher and practitioner range of events and activities for 2017. Landscapes in uplands & lowlands – A Metropolitan University and partners. towards these wonderful and iconic conference to share and disseminate We closed with a two-day seminar major conference in Sheffield, Red Deer - The grazing mega-fauna Date a week around July 17th (to be landscapes. key information, ideas, and good on peatlands, their exploitation 6 – 8 September 2017. of peatlands: March 2017 - December confirmed), Cors Focho (Borth Bog) in practice on establishing and managing for energy and the implications for 2017, based in and around the Ceredigion, west Wales. Relevant to key debates on the wood meadows and wood pastures understanding climate change and This will be a significant national Peak District history of the British and European mitigation issues. This will be more and international conference as The British Ecological Society countryside, the topics will be 4) Networking with locally-based This citizen science project is part fully reported at a future date. a cornerstone of our longer-term Peatlands Special Interest Group, important in helping shape our ideas stakeholders such as parish councils programme ‘Wilder Visions’ and of our ‘Eco-science in the Park’ in collaboration with Manchester of wilding or (re-wilding), and of our across England leading to a major international research to involve and engage local Metropolitan University and Natural core theme of ‘Wilder Visions’. The conference and congress. The focus people in recording and studying the Resources Wales, are hosting a multi- event will be chance to celebrate 5) Establishing potential here will be on the management and behaviour of our largest native land disciplinary short-course suitable George Peterken’s volume ‘Meadows’, demonstration sites and partners mammal - now spreading rapidly re-construction of peatland habitats for PhD students and early career and of Chris Baines’ updated and 6) Event to showcase the research for birds and other wildlife. This is on peatland habitats across the UK.

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OF Interest to members Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data using Canoco 5

Course tutors | Jan Lepš and Petr Šmilauer

Applications are now being In-depth lectures and practical • Course participants are expected to accepted for this course, to be held sessions cover the following topics: bring data from their own projects at the Faculty of Science in Ceske and will be given time to apply Budejovice, Czech Republic, from • Classical ordination methods (PCA, methods mastered during the 23 January – 3 February 2018. This DCA, PCO, NMDS) course to their own datasets. The popular course, offered regularly • Constrained ordination methods course lecturers will provide one-to- since 1997, focuses on major modern (CCA, RDA), including partial one assistance for such analyses. approaches to the analysis of analyses, permutation tests of The course follows the structure of multivariate data, and is specially multivariate hypotheses, variation designed for researchers and our book Šmilauer & Lepš (2014): partitioning, principal response Multivariate Analysis of Ecological students in all fields of ecology and curves, and working with conservation. Data using Canoco 5, second edition, functional traits Cambridge University Press. • Tuition on the efficient use of Further information about the course Canoco software and correct can be found at http://regent.jcu.cz interpretation of ordination and you are also much welcome to diagrams; all practicals are run address any enquiries to the course with Canoco 5 manager, Petr Šmilauer, at his e-mail: [email protected] findings to national funders such as For more details and booking: major research reports and published the Heritage Lottery Fund. http://www.ukeconet.org/ papers. A volume of workshop papers woodmeadowspastures.html is about to be produced. This landmark event comes at a time of colossal challenges for nature Tel: 0114 272 4227 The research has major practitioner conservation – with globalisation, Email: [email protected] impact as it informs the planning and climate change, and economic conservation processes with regard austerity just a few of the issues. As Raising Awareness of Ancient to ancient woodlands - presently a part of the overview of the themes under threat because of a lack of an of the conference, Ian Rotherham Woodland Indicators and the appropriate evidence base to inform will present a review of the ideas underpinning science their designation. The intention is to stimulated by the works of Frans develop and disseminate best practice Vera, the late Oliver Rackham, and of Spring and summer 2017, South guidance. George Peterken in driving forwards Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire our understanding of ‘Woods’, ‘Wood For more details: Meadows’ and ‘Wood Pastures’ in This project is responding to a request www.ukeconet.org landscape evolution. The presentation from national partners and a number Tel: 0114 272 4227 will review the impact of Vera’s of universities to provide support on Email: [email protected] ideas and how these can fit into the use of botanical indicators in the robust frameworks of ecology, and of assessment of ancient woodlands. ecological and social history. This will The work is in part a result of a Forest address issues of historical derivation Ecology SIG project from several and continuity in landscapes, and of years ago and the on-going research ‘futurescapes’ and ‘Wilder Visions’ – findings from the detailed evaluation understanding the past to inform the of the uses of botanical indicators. present and to guide the future. The initial research resulted in several

52 Importance of field stations for ecological education and research BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:1 | April 2017

Dominic J. McCafferty | Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment (SCENE), IBAHCM, University of Glasgow, Rowardennan, UK [email protected] networking have been identified (ILTER) network (www.ilternet.edu) as critical areas for attention but are providing coordinated activities References the future appears to hold real across continents, but of course there Baker, B. (2015) The way forward for biological opportunities for field stations to is always the need to do more. We field stations. BioScience, 65, 123–129. contribute to key environmental are supporting a global concern for Goulder, R. & Scott, G.W. (2016) Conflicting There cannot be many ecologists who have not spent time in a field station, issues (Baker 2015). environmental monitoring, research Perceptions of the Status of Field Biology and and education on a scale we often Identification Skills in UK Education. Journal of As ecologists we may underestimate only associate with other scientific Biological Education, 50, 233–238. the importance of field stations on the either as a student, researcher or while teaching field-courses. disciplines. Now that is a valuable Maitland, P.S. & Hamilton, J.D. (1994) Glasgow scientific stage. Tydecks et al. (2016) resource for us to fully use, enjoy and University Field Station at Rossdhu, Loch suggest that “the global network of promote for the future of ecology. Lomond: the first British University Freshwater biological field stations constitutes an Field Station. Hydrobiologia, 290, ix–x. environmental infrastructure worth Mauchline, A.L., Peacock, J. & Park, J.R. (2013) possible to link field stations with above US$1.3 billion per year, which FORTHCOMING The Future of Bioscience Fieldwork in UK Higher their parent organisations. Even in is comparable with the annual budget Education. Bioscience Education, 21, 7–19. Antarctica, field stations have 24/7 of CERN (approx. US$1.2 billion in We agree with Dominic that field National Research Council. (2014) Enhancing communication via satellite and 2014).” This really puts our biological stations are an important resource the Value and Sustainability of Field Stations researchers can be flown directly field stations and the work they for ecologists and other field and Marine Laboratories in the 21st Century. National Academy of Sciences. to bases and remote field camps. undertake into perspective. A number biologists; Markus Eichhorn will These current developments and of bodies, such as The Organization be contributing a series of articles Tydecks, L., Bremerich, V., Jentschke, I., Likens, infrastructure support field skills of Biological Field Stations (OBFS) on individual field stations in G.E. & Tockner, K. (2016) Biological Field Stations: A Global Infrastructure for Research, training that are essential for future (www.obfs.org) and the International future issues. Education, and Public Engagement. BioScience, careers in ecology and for long term Long Term Ecological Research 66, 164–171. monitoring of natural ecosystems. Despite conflicting reports of declines in field work skills in science education (Goulder & Scott 2016), in Field stations on Loch Lomondside the last decade biological field course provision in UK universities appears Similar to many field stations Centre for Ecology and Dr Dominic McCafferty is a Senior to have remained stable and indeed throughout the World, field based the Natural Environment (SCENE) Lecturer at the Scottish Centre there was optimism from institutions research and teaching on Loch was completed in 2014 at a cost for Ecology and the Natural that fieldwork would continue to Lomondside developed post-WWII of £7.2 million. Today SCENE is Environment (SCENE) www.gla. The term ‘field station’ conjures up org) centres and long established be an important feature of degree when in 1946 field laboratories were an integral part of the Institute ac.uk/researchinstitutes/bahcm/ epic images of spartan field huts bird observatories. Sadly, we have programmes (Mauchline, Peacock assembled from ex-army huts on of Biodiversity, Animal Health researchfacilities/scene/ at the in polar regions or bamboo shacks lost some stations along the way & Park 2013). This is good news for the west shore of Loch Lomond at and Comparative Medicine at the University of Glasgow. Details of within the rainforest, lit by gas lamps, but thankfully their contribution to field stations in the UK and further Rossdhu (Maitland & Hamilton 1994). University of Glasgow and has a the MRes Ecology & Environmental and with microscopes and collecting ecological science lives on. afield. However, these are financially Pioneering studies were undertaken wide portfolio of research in aquatic, Biology bursary scheme for students jars alongside primus stoves. Yes, challenging times and biological on sediments, zoo-benthos, plankton terrestrial and applied ecology. Its who wish to study at SCENE can these are still to be found and In 2016-17 we are celebrating 70 field stations are being encouraged and fish of Loch Lomond. The first geographical location and modern found at: enjoyed, but today many successful years of environmental education to modernise and communicate research on biting midges and teaching and residential facilities www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/ biological field stations have moved and research on Loch Lomondside more effectively their mission to feasibility of control measures in create a unique educational bahcm/study/msc/mres_accom/ with the times and provide state of (inset box) and at an anniversary policymakers, funders, the public and Scotland were also undertaken here. environment for field courses and Some of the information in this the art facilities for research such as this, I cannot help but even their own universities (National In 1964, the University Field Station workshops, as well as hosting PhD article is based on a recent blog at: and teaching. reflect on the important role of field Research Council 2014). Funding, was built on the current location on and Masters students. https://naturallyspeaking.blog/2016/ stations in ecology. Buildings and leadership, ICT infrastructure and the east shore of the loch. Its current 12/07/back-to-the-future-scene/ There are reported to be more technology have developed over redevelopment, named the Scottish than 1,200 biological field stations the years but in many respects our currently in operation in 120 field stations continue to function as countries, stretching from the Arctic they have always done, providing to the Antarctic (Tydecks et al. 2016). residential and teaching facilities A large proportion of field stations for students of all ages and locations were set up after World War II, and for pioneering scientific research. more than a third are currently They have a shared outdoor and linked with universities. They environmental ethos and welcome occur in all major biomes including colleagues and visitors from across terrestrial, freshwater and marine the World. That mix of close-knit ecosystems, with a majority located community, hard work, and scientific in protected areas. Throughout endeavour (and of course good the UK we are fortunate to have food) make them memorable places a number of important university to live and work. The information Field station Images: The first field station at Rossdhu in 1946, the University Field Station built in 1964, and research stations, as well as an age has, however, transformed south of Rowardennan and today the Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment (SCENE) outstanding network of Field Studies communication and provides remote which was completed in 2014. Photographs © SCENE Council (www.field-studies-council. access to the internet making it

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FEATURE sided, argument) rules. I have often also bestow individuals with influence too large and you have to wait for wondered why there is such an by deferring to them as “authorities” the roving mike and thus don’t get absence of multi-sided D in modern in their fields, inviting them to be on to speak until the topic has moved DO WE ARGUE ENOUGH ecology and in science more generally. committees and to populate small on. The same is true for sessions Do we not want frank and open D? workshops and think-tanks. with insufficient speakers, where we If you believe the answer to this is designate time at the end as “general “yes”, then I beg to differ. If we want The emphasis in our conferences, discussion” – which ends up as mostly IN ECOLOGY? the benefits of really great D’s, we workshops, scientific journals and questions for the last speaker. have to be more pro-active and to try web sites is overwhelmingly the some very different approaches. one-way presentation of completed Break-times at conferences are often research to a passive audience, with little better. Once we have queued minimal D. Conferences are simply up for tea, coffee or food (seldom cold The status quo not designed to engage us in D, either drinks for the non-addicts), how do D features very little in the internal in venue design or in programming. we find someone to talk to? More communication structures that we There are many reasons for having often than not, we head for someone Roger Cousens | University of Melbourne, Australia | [email protected] have built around science. In these conferences: to find out about new that we already know – and probably times of social networking, it seems techniques, ideas and results; to already share opinions with – and somewhat anomalous that we proceed communicate, and receive feedback just “catch up”. The superstars or harder to accept the umpire’s decision think things over more carefully on, our own ideas and advances; to the person who has just given a The case for more debate if the umpire is also a player, as my before they respond. A view has been in such a restrained way, avoiding open criticism, with its potential to be stimulated by thought-provoking really interesting talk, are already At home we love to have a good children found out!). expressed that the very words debate cause offence and embarrassment presentations from our peers; to meet surrounded and it can be difficult argument. – though with my son an and argument are too focussed on I have taken this attitude into to either “side” through the stigma new scientists; and, don’t say it too to join in. We may look for another argument often degenerates into the winning and losing and that what my career, on both scientific and of appearing in public to be wrong loudly, for catching up with old friends lonely-looking person; or we just cop Monty Python sketch and may go on we need is more discourse. This management issues. A former boss or naive. The ownership of ideas and having a jolly good time! out completely and go look at the longer than “the full half hour”1. My may have semantic merit. In many once referred to me as our group’s has become – perhaps has always posters...... If you haven’t yet given son was a keen debater at high school walks of life debate has become all But, we sit for up to 4 or 5 days in general irritant and stimulus! So been - highly personal and protective. your talk (and someone always has to and has since trained debating teams about taking sides, winning and rooms devoid of sunlight and rapidly often a good debate on a scientific And the scientific community be on in the final session), not many and adjudicated competitions. He can losing, right and wrong; and there depleted of oxygen. We rush in and topic opens my eyes to things that is, at least superficially, built on people come up to you as a stranger. run rings around me logically and has may be palpable (not just egotistical) out of rooms to hear (often only part I had never thought about, I had politeness, inclusiveness and trust, Even now, after almost 40 years done from an early age. We tend to rewards for winning and penalties for of) talks in parallel sessions that misunderstood or for which I was not confrontation. When D does occur, in science (and in the BES), I find think of a debate as something that losing, even in scientific debates. An are often poorly synchronised and unaware of important data. I am it is usually highly constrained by some large conferences a very lonely is healthy: far better to pull an issue effective debate, to me, does not need too far apart. If the speaker does grateful (truly!) for being shown editors and reviewers and involves experience, though I still manage apart and to explore differences, and to have a winner: knowledge and not run out of time, they may get to why I was wrong (though we all get few participants – although the print to get to know a few new people. evaluate the evidence to support understanding – and the rate at which answer a short question or two, but a kick out of being found to be right medium has the advantage that the Dedicated poster sessions are meant any contrasting views, than to these are achieved – will be enhanced there is no time to get into a detailed all along!). arguments are well thought through to allow people to meet a researcher suppress differences of opinion, allow from the critical examination of an discussion or a really good argument. first and clearly articulated. It also and discuss their work. Unfortunately, disagreements to fester and even issue from more than a single angle. The seats are arranged in a way I recognise, however, that people lacks that sparkle of spontaneity that these sessions may double-up as a become personal. Even if no resolution So, I do not really care what we call it: that discourages interaction among with valuable views often shy away can make real-time D fun and even social function: at some meetings they is reached, at least you have put your we just need to do it more often and the audience. After lunch, we try from open public debates: some exciting, in comparison with the slow- have started to make you earn stickers point of view (though it is so much we need to find ways of achieving the desperately to concentrate or even to people lack confidence or need to motion D via our journals. for a free drink at the bar by talking beneficial outcomes. stay awake; we may sneak out early to poster presenters. Although this when we have had enough (after In my view, debate/disputation/ Our current system can, in reality, be might encourage people to attend, far from polite and inclusive, with its making sure that we know when/ how much does it increase meaningful discourse/discussion/dialogue/ where our friends are meeting to go dissent (let’s just call it the D thing – anonymity and - often - a lack of the D – especially as it increases the noise right to reply (to funding committees out for dinner). We cannot relocate level? Poster areas may be so cramped noting that here it represents all the outside the presentation rooms to find good D things and excludes bad D’s and to journals) to incorrect or with people eating and drinking (or downright nasty comments, making someone to chat to, to initiate some earning stickers) that it is difficult to such as dogma/despotism/denial/ D, because modern venues have little discombobulation/doodlesack) among it potentially susceptible to bias, get to the posters. censorship, coercion and the casual seating (perhaps to coerce practitioners should be a central people into giving deserved attention Special meetings on single topics part of ecology. The cut and thrust entrenchment of dogma - as was the case when our BES journals to those who have toiled over every are certainly better at achieving D. of argument and counter-argument, slide and sentence). Laudable though Especially those that allocate time for with views challenged by logic and outlawed the Replacement Series experimental design in the 1980s. the objective of filling the audiences “break out”, small-group discussions. evidence, would seemingly ensure might be, it suppresses useful D Unlike conferences, such Ds are that ideas are thoroughly aired, True, the gifted (and bullish) speakers and spontaneous thinkers can exert and potential collaborations. Panel often focussed ahead, on research criticised and either developed discussions at conferences, when challenges, directions and actions, effectively or promptly rejected. The great influence in poorly chaired Ds, while the shy or inexperienced are attempted, are seldom successful and rather than past research. Many of D thing (and even self-D) played become merely question and answer the best workshops are organised a crucial part in the exploration of inhibited, but such influence already occurs in other settings. Gifted writers sessions. The panel is isolated on by research centres or organisations, ideas and knowledge by the ancient the stage and everyone else is in where attendance is by invitation. If philosophers. But we have relegated of journal articles and invited speakers chosen for their oratory prowess can parallel lines facing them; there may you are neither a superstar nor well- oral debate to a minor component be too many people, so that most are connected, you will probably not be Footnote be highly persuasive even if their of modern science, where the not actively involved, or the room is there. Thus it can be hard for outsider 1 Anyone puzzled by the Monty Python reference: please google ‘Argument Clinic Monty Python’ written word (and written, one- evidence and substance are weak; we

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early-career researchers (ECRs) feel (or to be deliberately provocative). take on a role, to assume ownership of to join in. Commonly, workshops It also takes time to learn the art of the meeting; everyone is listened to. are structured as mini-conferences D’ing, a skill that most scientists have with most time given to timed not developed. Then finally, you need some luck. It presentations. was our good fortune to discover Mike Secondly, you need the right venue, Williams, an innovative facilitator who There are opportunities for using as unlike a conference venue as has worked pro bono to help us to social media for ecological D, thus possible: big windows, comfortable discover and to try out very different avoiding travel and accommodation armchairs and sofas, and in inspiring ways of doing things – and saving us costs. They also potentially reach location. For us that means mountains from failure. We have been lucky to a very large audience with a much and wildlife: so far Montana 2012, find enough people prepared to commit broader spectrum of background, Spanish Pyrenees 2014, Alberta 2016, four days for a “mere workshop” (or experience and ideas than would Argentinian Patagonia in 2018. You perhaps we have enough contacts be attracted to a conference. Simply need to have the venue to yourselves, and friends to exploit their goodwill). having a blog or a chat site, however, with accommodation and meeting The fact that so far there have been no does not necessarily achieve spaces together, and no passengers. punch-ups, however, is not a matter significant outcomes, especially in of luck: it is because of the way we the absence of orchestration and a Thirdly, you need to pay special design the entire workshop package. conductor. The social interactions that attention to ways of developing social develop when people come together interactions and confidence as rapidly We still get comments that there are in person are much more important and effectively as possible. You do too many meetings and that traditional in achieving an effective D. They can not need to thrust “team building” conferences remain the priority for also result in a greater likelihood of exercises down people’s throats; you scientist’s time and money. Even lasting collaborations and life-long take a more subliminal approach, though we are offering something friendships. How do we inject more D making sure that activities are quite different. Perhaps one day the designed in a way that automatically tables may be turned? So, for now, we The paper review process, though into ecology? enhances these things. For example, avoid clashes with more important potentially involving D, is confidential, instead of trying to force people things (i.e. major conferences). In 2012, a small group of us decided to confined to the handful of individuals to concentrate after lunch in a Sweeteners are important: everyone run international four-day workshops involved and distinctly one-sided. darkened, airless room, we go walking has a chance to get their name on at on applied plant ecology topics, The journal will do you a favour together – what we call “free-range” least one journal paper; we find funds designed specifically to achieve really by publishing your paper if it is workshopping. We clear our heads at to subsidise ECRs; we keep costs good D. Something was seriously considered “good enough” and of the same time as discussing ecological down; and we have fantastic locations. missing from our ecological lives and interest to a sufficient proportion of (and non-ecological) topics, spotting The reality is that most attendees have we wanted to do something about it. their readers. One negative review birds and plants, taking photos and to fund themselves, as it is difficult Three workshops later, and with a from a person who misread your text getting to know each other. Our to get funding for small international fourth in train, and we reckon we have or who does not share your view light-hearted soap-box sessions are events (to date just two small national hit on a pretty good thing. Responses is enough for an editor to reject. designed to encourage more way-out societies have helped out). from attendees have been outstanding; Frustratingly, there is no opportunity ideas and views. No one is allowed to we even won an award in 2016! to reply on contentious issues if your give a paper or poster; there are no If anyone wants to help to put the “D” back into “Doing” ecology, we would paper is rejected out of hand (and Rather than try to fit D into a format paid-for invited speakers and one third love to hear from you: my email is certainly not to a wider audience)! to which it is simply not suited, we of attendees must be early-career [email protected] Or when someone else’s poor paper started from scratch. What ingredients researchers. Everyone is expected to gets published. Radical ideas, worthy do you need to do to achieve forthright, starting points for some great D, only constructive, multi-directional get published once you have found exchange of views and ideas amongst the funding to gather new data, a group spanning different cultures model or conduct meta-analyses (the and different levels of experience? proliferation of the latter concerns You cannot just put strangers in a many ecologists, but refrain from conference room for a couple of hours taking on the modern dogma). Review – or on a teleconference - and say “Go! papers summarise past research – Start D’ing!” from one person’s perspective - and future directions may be proposed, but There are (at least) four keys to again rarely openly debated. We rely success. Firstly, you need time. If on the issues, views and biases slowly you want open D among strangers, it percolating through the research takes time to reach a point at which community through the editorial filter. everyone becomes comfortable and Funding agencies set broad directions, is able to engage without feeling increasingly prescriptive in the applied threatened, inadequate or any of the sciences, which we must accept as other things that hold us back. You rules of the game: there is no D on have to get to know and respect each whether these are the right directions! other. Only then will all participants be prepared to say what they really

60 61 Exploring citizen science in Chile BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:1 | April 2017

Helen Roy | Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UK | [email protected] Audrey Grez | Universidad de Chile and Directora de Kauyeken, Chile Tania Zaviezo | Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile The excitement of was Peter Brown | Anglia Ruskin University, UK evident through many wonderful projects ranging from focussing on single species to those encompassing hundreds of species. There is only Chile has incredible appeal for ecologists. one species of native Bombus dahlbomii in Chile and it The Andes extend alongside the Eastern edge is threatened by introduced species including . The initiative Salvemos Nuestro Abejorro of Chile and essentially render it isolated (https://salvemosnuestroabejorro. wordpress.com/) engages people from the rest of South America. Celebrating shared enthusiasm for bats in monitoring this exquisite bee. Moscas Florícolas de Chile is a citizen science initiative run entirely Not surprisingly the landscapes of this Over the last decade we have all been Chile; The Faculty of Agronomy and through FaceBook with the aims of highlighting the diverse and long and narrow country are extremely corresponding and working together Forestry Engineering of the Pontificia Delving into the important life histories of flies with diverse and the biodiversity even more through our shared passion for Universidad Católica de Chile; Anglia sweepnet samples. specific focus on flies visiting flowers. so. The species list for Chile includes ladybirds (and other insects!). A few Ruskin University; NERC Centre for Spot the harlequin The organiser of Moscas Florícolas around 31 000 species and about 37% years ago, we began collaborating on Ecology & Hydrology) to host a one- ladybird? of these are endemic. Justifiably Chile a research project funded by Fondecyt day workshop on citizen science. Its de Chile described the importance is considered a global biodiversity (http://www.conicyt.cl/fondecyt/) and objectives were to: of evaluation and the ways in which hotspot. But Chile is situated in the led by Audrey and Tania both based he seeks feedback on the project “Pacific Ring of Fire” and consequently in Santiago, Chile. This provided • Provide an overview of citizen from the volunteers contributing prone to major perturbations such as Helen and Peter with a unique science and its benefits and observations. The harlequin ladybird earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. opportunity to visit Chile to work limitations is a widely distributed non-native species in Chile. It dominates many However, it is anthropogenic factors alongside Audrey and Tania. Citizen • Share examples of current initiatives habitats alongside a number of (the usual contenders: habitat science is seen as emerging approach in citizen science for biodiversity other non-native ladybirds. Chinita destruction, climate change and for environmental research in Chile in Chile invasive non-native species) that pose and so we were delighted to receive arlequin (http://www.chinita- the greatest threat to biodiversity in some additional support from the • Build and facilitate citizen science arlequin.uchile.cl/) is an initiative this country; indeed the forest fires British Ecological Society (alongside interactions within Chile and which engages people in recording currently raging through the central our other sponsors: FONDECYT between Chile and the United harlequin ladybirds across the length zones of Chile are having devastating (project 1140662); Kauyeken Kingdom and breadth of Chile. The research effects on habitats including national Association; Doctorate in Agricultural publications emerging from Chinita parks and reserves. and Veterinary Sciences, University of We were joined by 31 participants arlequin admirably highlight the with a range of occupations and value of citizen science. backgrounds, including people related to Universities, Colleges, Enthusing about citizen NGOs, the Ministry of the Contributing science initiatives in Chile Environment, the National Forestry ladybird records to Corporation (CONAF) and the the citizen initiative Meeting inspiring researchers at the University of Chile Chilean Navy. It was inspiring to Audrey Grez’s research group hear about the range of current citizen science activities in Chile. Global initiatives such as eBird and A number of overarching For example Cequa (http://www. iNaturalist were enthusiastically themes emerged through the cequa.cl/cequa/ ) a foundation based represented but there were also day. The importance of effective in Patagonia provides training to many national and regional communication in connecting people tour guides and rangers to encourage initiatives described. Birds seem with nature and with citizen science visitors to engage with a number to be universally popular with initiatives was discussed. It is not of citizen science initiatives. The people but it was saddening to hear simply enough to post a webpage way in which people work together that bats in Chile are not held in and expect people automatically to to achieve so much was evident the same high regard. However, it join in. There is a real need to help throughout the day. There are many was incredible to hear of the way people gain the necessary confidence barriers to overcome if the potential in which researchers are trying to to get involved. Getting to grips with of citizen science is to be realised change perceptions through the the incredible diversity of species in Chile but there are also many Program for the Conservation of Bats is a challenge for scientists and opportunities. Most importantly there in Chile, with a lively communication conservation practitioners but for is a wonderful community of people campaign (including FaceBook volunteers it can be overwhelming. committed to ensuring the future of https://es-es.facebook.com/ The commitment to providing training wildlife and their habitats in Chile. MurcielagosChile/) but coupled with and educational opportunities to recording through iNaturalist. volunteers and mentors is incredible.

64 65 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:1 | April 2017 policy Conservation and sustainable reference to illegal wildlife trade, Sanctuary, which was once again use of wildlife was adopted at the UN Biodiversity not successful at the meeting of the Conference in Mexico. At the upcoming International Whaling Commission. What are the forthcoming legislative In October 2017, the 12th CoP to the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Further, progress was made on issues Convention on the Conservation of Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity such as collisions between whales and Migratory Species of Wild Animals and Ecosystem Services Plenary in ships, ocean sound, marine debris and will be held in Manila, Philippines. March in Bonn, Germany, Member whale watching. Lastly, the Scientific issues of interest to ecologists and Next to reviewing implementation States will conclude discussions as to Committee was asked to screen the of the Strategic Plan for Migratory whether a thematic assessment on the existing research studies on the Species, Parties will look at relevant sustainable use of wild species will be contribution of cetaceans to ecosystem decisions and listing proposals passed undertaken. functioning. At the next meeting, in conservationists in 2017? at the 2016 World Wildlife Conference. 2018, a key agenda item will be the This conference, held in September/ Whale conservation and setting of aboriginal whaling limits, October 2016 in Johannesburg, South management which are set in six year blocks. William J. Sutherland, Eleanor Burke, Andy Clements, Ben Connor, John Martin, Clive Mitchell, Africa, was the largest ever meeting Kathryn A. Monk, Katharina Rogalla von Bieberstein and Des B.A. Thompson | [email protected] of the Convention on International At the 66th annual meeting of the The wider marine agenda Trade in Endangered Species of Wild International Whaling Commission in Fauna and Flora. Amongst several October 2016 in Portorož, Slovenia, The issues of anthropogenic Ecosystem restoration achievements, a number of animals achievements included a resolution underwater noise and marine debris This paper covers our seventh GLOBAL and plants were brought under the calling for parties to work together to also featured on the agenda of the UN assessment of the forthcoming The international community has Climate change and biodiversity convention’s trade control regime. prevent the extinction of the critically Biodiversity Conference. Regarding legislation that we consider to widely considered the issue of The CoP also adopted resolutions on endangered vaquita, agreed plans for marine debris, a decision urges have likely consequences for the Following the historically rapid entry ecosystem restoration within different crosscutting issues related to illegal new Bycatch Mitigation Initiatives, Parties to take appropriate measures environment or for ecologists. We into force of the Paris Agreement fora. The 13th CoP CBD adopted a wildlife trade, such as corruption and and the first formal recognition of to prevent and mitigate the potential again review issues of a global under the UN Framework Convention short-term action plan on ecosystem reduction of consumer demand for the overall benefits that whales adverse impacts of marine debris on scale, those in the European on Climate Change on 4 November restoration as a flexible framework threatened wildlife and their parts, as bring to the oceans. It was also marine and coastal biodiversity and Union (EU), and those in the 2016, a focus of the Marrakech to promote restoration of degraded well as cybercrime and traceability. the first time that cooperation with habitats. The decision also welcomes United Kingdom and constituent Climate Change Conference held natural and semi- natural ecosystems. other organizations was tackled as the UN Environment Assembly countries. later the same month was on its The action plan is intended also to be In addition, a significant achievement a separate agenda item and that Resolution on marine plastic litter implementation. Parties agreed taken into account in the preparation was the adoption of a non-binding NGOs were allowed to participate and microplastics, adopted in May We have often been told that to develop a ‘rulebook’ by 2018, of the thematic assessment on land recommendation on closing domestic both intersessionally and during the 2016, which calls on Member States this paper is useful for policy delivering amongst others transparent degradation and restoration being markets for commercial ivory trade meeting. A controversial issue was the to establish and implement necessary makers desiring a review of the global accounting of emissions undertaken by the Intergovernmental where it contributes to poaching or issue of special permit (also known as policies, regulatory frameworks and issues on the horizon, as well as reductions. Generally, developing a Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity illegal trade. This recommendation ‘scientific’) whaling. A resolution was measures on the topic consistent for researchers wishing to learn common and transparent framework and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The follows a motion on closure of domestic adopted to improve the review process with the waste hierarchy. In this either how their results may for countries to describe and report assessment was requested by the UN markets for elephant ivory by the IUCN by the Commission. Special permit context, some commentators even be used or their work may be on their efforts is one of the key Convention to Combat Desertification World Congress held in September whaling was also addressed by the push for the development of a new affected by changes in legislation. challenges ahead. Regarding the and will be delivered to the 6th IPBES 2016 in Hawaii. Following the IUCN World Conservation Congress international agreement on plastics Plenary in early 2018 for approval. As An overwhelming change on the development of Nationally Determined Johannesburg conference, a decision in September 2016 in Hawaii, as as part of the chemical and waster is the case with the already adopted horizon is the referendum decision Contributions as stipulated by the on bushmeat and sustainable wildlife well as the establishment of the cluster of environmental treaties: The assessments on pollination, the of the UK to leave the EU, which Paris Agreement, a decision of management, which also makes long-disputed South Atlantic Whale Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (and assessment on land degradation and was discussed speculatively in the 13th Conference of the Parties restoration will generate the evidence the last scan. This has enormous to the Convention on Biological base for policy-making across all the consequences, however, further Diversity (CoP CBD, held in in Rio Conventions: the UN Framework speculation at this stage would Cancun, Mexico in December 2016) Convention on Climate Change, be premature given there are noted the importance of ensuring the UN Convention to Combat so many uncertainties over the integrity of all ecosystems, Desertification and the Convention on the nature of negotiations. The including oceans, and the protection Biological Diversity. Amongst others, election of Donald Trump as of biodiversity, recognized by some the draft chapter on responses to President of the USA is, at the cultures as Mother Earth, and noting avoid land degradation and restore time of writing in early February, the importance for some of the degraded land assesses different showing signs of having global concept of “climate justice”, when institutional, policy and governance ramifications for the environment taking action to address climate responses. Ecosystem restoration and and science. change.’ Uncertainty regarding the Paris Agreement’s implementation their policy responses will also feature The legislative scans of previous nevertheless remains with regard to prominently in the regional and global years (Sutherland 2011-16) are the potential withdraw from the Paris assessments on biodiversity and freely available on the British Agreement by the USA, following ecosystem services, due at the end of Ecological Society website. Issues Donald Trump’s inauguration as 2017 and 2018, respectively. described in those scans are not president. repeated here.

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Minamata) conventions. The three Following Habitat III, the CoP CBD decision to one on this subject matter member states must act between 2021 increasing bioenergy production are a Multiannual Financial Framework conventions will have their next triple adopted a decision promoting the was adopted, focusing on digital and 2030. Ensuring land and forests significant concern. (MFF) of the European Union Conference of the Parties in April/May understanding of health biodiversity sequence information on genetic are kept in good condition has been this year in Geneva, Switzerland. linkages, including with regard to resources. The decision commissions recognised as having an important These files are going through the so Discussions on the post-2020 MFF of human settlements. a fact-finding and scoping study role in averting climate change. called “Codecision” process and will be the EU are starting. This is a six-year The Port State Measures Agreement to assess the extent and the terms Their role is to become increasingly negotiated by the European Parliament budget plan, which sets maximum entered into force in June 2016 to The next World Urban Forum, and conditions of the use of digital important for stopping global warming and the Council during 2017. amounts of money to be spent on combat illegal fishing. It requires organized and convened by UN- sequence information on genetic due to the need to remove CO2 from various priorities, including the fight foreign vessels to submit to Habitat every two years as a non- Common Agriculture Policy “Fitness against climate change, biodiversity resources, including with regard to the atmosphere, so called “negative check” initiative inspections at any port of call and for legislative technical forum, will take the Nagoya Protocol on access and emissions”, in order to meet the 2˚ and sustainable management of port states to share information on place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia benefit-sharing. target, let alone the 1.5˚ target. This As part of its Regulatory Fitness and natural resources. The current MFF, violations. The European Union is a in February 2018. The Forum will have important implications for Performance Programme, the EC geared towards achieving growth and party to the treaty. will have a thematic focus on the the future of land use and biodiversity. established the “REFIT Platform” in stimulating innovation, will not allow implementation of the New Urban EUROPE the EU to meet its environmental Amongst other issues, plastic Where decarbonisation is advanced in May 2015 “to advise the Commission Agenda. An international conference Better implementation of the energy sector, the land use sector, on how to make EU regulation more targets because of other priorities. The pollution, overfishing and destructive on cities and climate change will be EC is expected to consult the public fishing practices will feature environmental legislation especially agriculture, is only just efficient and effective while reducing held in 2018 to further develop the starting. The European Commission burden and without undermining and make a proposal for the next MFF prominently on the agenda of the scientific understanding of climate As part of its ‘democratic change’ before the beginning of 2018. The upcoming UN High-Level Conference estimates that by 2050 the agriculture policy objectives” (i.e. to provide change and cities, in support of priority under the 2017 work plan, the non-CO2 emissions need to be below advice on how to improve the proposal will then be discussed by to Support the Implementation of the implementation of the Paris European Commission will include the European Council, and adopted Sustainable Development Goal 14 in 2005 levels; based on current policies effectiveness and efficiency of EU Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, an ‘initiative on implementation and this target would be missed by a legislation). Set up in 2015 as part of around 2020. Environmentalists June 2016 in New York, co-hosted by and the Sustainable Development enforcement’, which will focus on are increasingly focussing on the the Governments of Fiji and Sweden. long way. The second proposal is the the Commission’s better regulation Goals. environmental compliance assurance Effort Sharing Regulation, which sets agenda, and chaired by EC First issue, with most of the discussion The Conference aims to catalyse in Member States; what this means in revolving around whether to ask and scale up implementation of Additional developments under the our binding annual greenhouse gas Vice-President Frans Timmermans, practice remains to be seen. However, emissions targets for Member states the Platform is composed of high- for environmental protection to be Sustainable Development Goal 14 on Convention on Biological Diversity a recent Commission Communication financed through other policies, such conservation and sustainable use of for their non-emissions trading scheme level experts from each Member Under the theme of mainstreaming on this subject suggests greater use sectors, these include transport, State including representatives from as the Agricultural and Fisheries oceans, seas and marine resources. of the Network for the Implementation Policies, as is the case now – the so- The conference will contribute to biodiversity for wellbeing, the 13th buildings, agriculture and waste governments, businesses, and civil CoP CBD adopted a comprehensive and Enforcement of Environmental management and together account for society organisations. called “mainstreaming approach” – or the follow-up and review process Law (comprising member-state separately, which could allow better of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable decision on mainstreaming of almost 60% of total EU emissions. To biodiversity within and across environmental regulatory officials) to ensure that the land use sectors make In late 2016, the Platform adopted control and more efficient use, but Development by providing an input improve member state inspection and an opinion recommending that the some argue would result in poorer to the high-level political forum on agriculture, forestry, fisheries, a fair contribution to achieving the aquaculture and tourism sectors. enforcement systems. It seems likely EU’s climate targets these regulations EC undertake a strategic review or integration. sustainable development. In 2017, the that the Commission will now pursue ‘fitness check’ of the CAP as a matter high-level political forum will be held Importantly, the decision encourages need to ensure that the EU is on track Fitness Check of the Birds and Parties to consider amending or a non-legislative route to improving to meet the long-term climate goals, of priority. The opinion was supported in July in New York, reviewing Goal 14 implementation and enforcement, unanimously by business and civil Habitats Directives and some other goals. developing new national policies, promote sustainable land use and legislation and/or administrative with the 2014 draft inspections are in line with achieving the EU’s society members of the Platform The Fitness Check of the Birds and The urban environment measures, in particular with a view instrument seemingly sinking without biodiversity goals. but opposed by the majority of Habitats Directives concluded at the to modifying those that may have trace. The Communication also government representatives. end of 2016 with the publication of the At the UN Conference on Housing adverse implications for biodiversity, suggests a streamlined complaint In late 2016 the EU published proposals Consultants’ Final Report and a Staff and Sustainable Urban Development procedure at European Commission for how it should progress with the As part of its 2017 Work Programme, or to fostering new developments on the EC committed to consulting widely Working Document from the European (Habitat III) in October 2016 in Quito, specific topics, such as promoting level, with a focus on dealing transition to a low carbon society Commission, both confirming that the Ecuador, a global legislative conference with systematic breaches of EU out to 2030. These proposals include this year on the “modernisation and sustainably sourced goods and simplification” of the CAP in line with Directives are fit for purpose but that held every 20 years, the UN’s member services. Furthermore, it was agreed environmental law. Depending on how revisions to the Emissions Trading additional action is needed to address nations adopted the New Urban this is implemented, this could lead to Scheme, renewable energy and energy opinion of the REFIT Platform. The that at the next UN Biodiversity results of this consultation process, poor implementation. The Commission Agenda. This global road map to Conference in 2018, in Egypt, these strategic cases being handled efficiency legislation, as well as new has therefore confirmed that it will address urbanization is a non-binding and resolved more efficiently. legislation on governance of the EU. to be launched in early 2017, will be will consider mainstreaming of the first step in the process towards a develop an Action Plan to correct the document, which will guide policies biodiversity in the following sectors: However, the proposals published in deficiencies in implementation of the over the next 20 years with the goal 2030 climate and energy framework 2016 are unlikely to result in countries Communication on the future of CAP energy and mining, infrastructure, post-2020 (this should be published Directives identified by the Fitness of making cities safer, resilient and manufacturing and processing The EU climate and energy framework delivering enough renewable energy Check. The Action Plan is expected to sustainable and their amenities more and efficiency improvements for the before the end of the year). This will industry, and health. builds on the 2020 climate and consist of an options paper of five set out a series of concrete measures inclusive. The agenda sets out a host energy package and is in line with EU to meet its commitments made such as holding regular meetings with of general goals, such as development Parties also recognized that the at the Paris Climate Summit in 2015. scenarios, which will range from the the longer-term perspective looking status quo to radical reform. It will mayors and other local authorities to of sustainable and compact cities implementation of the 2030 Agenda towards 2050. The framework covers Additionally, there are insufficient assess implementation challenges that do not harm the environment for Sustainable Development environmental safeguards in place be followed by an impact assessment many areas but the following are of process between April and August and help Member States take the and redevelopment of informal provides a major opportunity for the significance for nature. in the proposed legislation to ensure necessary corrective action. Moreover, settlements with the participation of mainstreaming of biodiversity and thus that the pursuit of renewable energy and then the publication of a proposal in September to November 2017. the Commission has proposed that residents. It was criticized by some urge countries to integrate biodiversity In early 2016 the European does not negatively impact on wildlife. the Action Plan will, ‘design, in commentators that the conference did in the implementation of all relevant Commission presented two proposals Strategic spatial planning for energy Legislative proposals will likely follow in early 2018. partnership with Member States and not deliver a clear actionable roadmap Sustainable Development Goals. as part of the framework. The proposal infrastructure seems likely to be relevant stakeholders, appropriate for its implementation aligned with on ‘Land Use, Land Use Change and needed to avoid conflicts. Furthermore, Deriving from the deliberations on implementation guidelines for regional the ongoing implementation of the Forestry’ sets out the accounting rules the global biodiversity impacts of ever- actors, reducing unnecessary burdens Sustainable Development Goals. synthetic biology, an additional and the targets that determine how

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and litigation, and incentivising developed, starting with a new Baltic administration, and the objective of 2017. As currently proposed, legislation Green Paper, followed by a period of for other species, and this resulted national and regional investment in plan in 2016. The Commission’s the strategy is “to improve living banning solid microplastic ingredients consultation, with the expectation of in the issuing of a small number of biodiversity.’ The EU’s Committee of proposed plan for the North Sea may standards and economic growth by smaller than 5mm in size would come producing a White Paper by the end of licenses in 2016 for this purpose. the Regions will be closely involved in be adopted by the end of 2017. increasing productivity and driving into force in England by 1 October the year. these actions. growth across the whole country”. 2017, with Devolved Administrations SCOTLAND UNITED KINGDOM Science, research and innovation is at introducing their own legislation in In January 2017 the Natural Capital Invasive non-native species the heart of this strategy. a co-ordinated manner. The ban on Committee published its fourth The Scottish Government’s legislative report Improving Natural Capital: In 2015, the EU’s Invasive Alien Higher Education and Research Bill manufacture is expected to come into programme for 2017-18 sets out The Green Paper firms up the force on 1 January 2018, with a ban on An assessment of progress. Its main three Bills directly relevant to nature Species Regulation came into force. The Higher Education and Research Government’s commitment to spend recommendations include placing The Regulation follows a ‘Black List’ sale expected from 30 June 2018. and landscapes. The Forestry Bill Bill aims to provide the legislative an additional £4.7 billion on research the Defra 25-year Environment Plan will create a new forestry and land approach; whereby, all non-native underpinning to the Government’s and development by 2020-21, as Changes to Environmental Impact on a statutory footing with a specific species are allowed to be present and management body for Scotland. The policies to reform universities and announced in the 2016 Autumn Assessment Regulations lead institution and making it part initial focus is likely to be on the traded in the EU – unless they are research funding. At the time of Statement, which will be delivered of an overarching framework for the identified as being highly invasive. In Defra, the Scottish Government, Welsh National Forest Estate. This may be writing the Bill is at the Committee through UK Research and Innovation. development of agricultural policy extended to include other publicly- which case, they are included on the Stage in the House of Lords, where Initial proposals for investment Government, Forestry Commission from 2020. In addition, it states that Regulation’s black list. England and the Northern Ireland owned land in the future, such as it is facing substantial opposition, priorities include: improving the the Office for National Statistics has National Nature Reserves. The Islands and a number of amendments have translation of research into commercial Executive are consulting on the committed to developing national Species are included on the black list approach to implementing European Bill is intended to island-proof future by secondary legislation which the been proposed. It is likely that the outcomes; new funding streams to natural capital accounts by 2020. legislation and policies especially in Government will need to make some support local world-class research and Directive 2014/52/EU, which updates European Commission, the European Directive 2011/92/EU, consolidating The latest Climate Change Shetland, Orkney and the Western Parliament and all the Member States concessions to obtain the support of innovation clusters across the UK; Isles. A ‘National Islands Plan’ will the House of Lords, however it has substantially increasing the number the original 1985 Environmental Risk Assessment draws on the can influence. Legislation to include Impact Assessment Directive and independent evidence report of the extend the powers available to the the first 37 species on the black list not yet indicated its willingness to do of PhD and research fellowships in Islands’ councils. The Climate Change so. The Bill is currently scheduled to science, technology, engineering its amendments. The consultation Adaptation sub-Committee of the was passed in 2016. The institutions is open until 30 January 2017. The Committee on Climate Change, and Bill follows on from the 2009 Act and of the EU anticipate that the list will pass the Lords before Easter 2017 and and maths; active recruitment of will increase the emissions reduction would be expected to receive royal top international talent; new capital amendments introduced by Directive indicates that a National Adaptation be updated annually. Legislation to 2014/52/EU must be incorporated into Programme will be published in 2018. target for 2020 from a 42% reduction include up to a further 12 species on assent soon afterwards. spending; sector-specific funding over 1992 levels to a 50% reduction. to support business investment in national legislation no later than 16 the black list will come into force in The primary aims of the Bill include May 2017. Government commissioned an 2017. The exact number of additional research and development. A new Independent Review of tidal lagoons Climate change Establishing a new higher education Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund will species that will be listed is unknown. regulator in England, the Office The consultation covers proposed published by Charles Hendry in Discussions about the Climate Change Secondary legislation to specify the support technologies where the UK has amendments to domestic legislation January 2017. This report, while for Students, replacing the Higher the potential to take an industrial lead. Bill are at an early stage, with a evidence base required for species to Education Funding Council for England reflecting these changes and covers recommending that the Swansea focus on the international context be included on the black list will likely Relevant suggestions include smart, agriculture in England only, forestry, pathfinder project goes ahead to and the Director of Fair Access to flexible and clear energy technologies; (post-Paris, COP 21). A consideration come into force in 2017. Higher Education and integrating the water resources, land drainage and inform the contribution of this is whether Scotland can have a and bioscience and biotechnology. fin-fish farming in England and renewable energy source to the overall Common Fisheries Policy current seven research councils and zero-carbon economy by 2050 and Innovate UK, into a new single body: Other proposals within the Industrial Wales, and marine works in England, energy mix, recognises that very long- what this would look like; there are The Data Collection Framework of UK Research and Innovation. The Strategy Green Paper of relevance Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland- term value needs to be considered in challenges for agriculture, where 2008 is in final stages of revision research councils would no longer to ecologists and conservationists offshore. The amendments will aim assessing overall cost. emissions are dominated by biological to simplify the rules for assessing the and, when adopted, is expected to possess their own royal charters, include “greater certainty and long- Fifty-one organisations across the sources. Another issue concerns the require Member States to collect data but would become committees of UK term direction across infrastructure potential effects of projects on the roles of carbon capture and storage. environment, improve environmental environment sector came together to on ecosystem pressures, including Research and Innovation. policy, including, where relevant, publish the second State of Nature There seems to be a consensus that an unprecedented duty to report how we use and improve our stock protection, and focus procedures on targets need to be simple to motivate A number of concerns about the the environmental factors that are report in September 2016. While systematic data on seabird bycatch. of natural capital”, and delivering over half of the species studied have people and to inform clear action. The Technical Measures Regulation Bill have been expressed by Peers affordable energy and clean growth in significantly affected by projects. and MPs, including over university declined since 1970, and specialists Currently, there is an 18 month is also being revised and, following a way that can “secure the economic continue to do worse than generalists, the EC’s proposal on how, where and scientific autonomy due to the benefits of the transition to a low- ENGLAND lag between the UK and Scottish enhanced ministerial powers the Bill there are signs that some rates of loss carbon inventories, and we may see and when fishing can be done in carbon economy”. may be slowing. During the year, there sea basins (e.g. North Sea), may be presents, privatisation, the quality Much of the recent activity in England a bespoke Scottish inventory being of new providers, and the proposed Proposals to ban the use of plastic is either driven by, or covered in were two significant developments for devised. This could also include blue adopted in 2017. The proposed new species protection involving Natural Technical Measures Regulation aims link between the Teaching Excellence microbeads in cosmetics and the UK section, following the UK’s carbon, adding weight to the need to Framework and differentiated fees. personal care products referendum vote to leave the EU. The England. Firstly, a consultation on nurture this significant and important to reduce impacts on not just fish new policies for European Protected stocks but also the wider marine Environmental Audit Committee has carbon stock. Industrial strategy On 20 December 2016, Defra, in recently published its report on The Species licensing introduced a environment, aligning it with the partnership with the Scottish strategic approach for licensing Delivery is a major theme of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy On 23 January 2017, the UK Future of the Natural Environment Government, Welsh Government after the EU Referendum. A leading developments affecting great crested Scottish Government’s Climate in respect of, e.g., multiannual plans, Government launched its proposals for and Department of Agriculture, newts operating at a population scale Change Plan, published for discard policy and environmental a “modern industrial strategy”, with a recommendation calls for new Environment and Rural Affairs in legislation – the Environmental facilitated by e-DNA technology. This consultation on 19th January 2017, legislation (Nature Directives, and Green Paper, “Building our Industrial Northern Ireland set out its proposals is being trialled in southern England with 60 days for parliamentary Marine Strategy Framework Directive). Strategy”, which will be open for Protection Act – to ensure equivalent to ban the use of plastic microbeads, or better environmental protection than – the Woking Pilot. Secondly, the High scrutiny. It sets out policies and plans To implement regionalised decision- consultation until 17 April 2017. in cosmetics and personal care Court ruled that license applications for meeting Scottish climate change making under the reformed Common we are subject to while part of the EU. A more interventionist approach to products, which may cause harm in for the control of buzzards affecting (emissions reduction) targets over Fisheries Policy, multiannual plans the marine environment. A UK-wide In early 2017 Defra will release the pheasant shoots should be considered 2017-2032, as required under the for each of the sea basins are to be the economy has been highlighted as one of the priorities of Theresa May’s consultation is open until 28 February draft 25-year Environment Plan as a no differently than similar applications Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

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The new Plan replaces the earlier Environment, Climate Change and out in a Well-being Plan during ‘Reports on Policies and Proposals’, Land Reform Committee has taken 2017-18. This will then be delivered and has a more user-friendly name! It much evidence on this. There is likely through collaboration of partners at covers the period up to 2028-2032. The to be considerable scientific and public the Public Services Board and wider main emission-reduction challenges commentary on this matter over 2017. interests. Wales’ first statutory Future lie in heat (in buildings – mainly gas), Generations Commissioner has also transport (mainly cars) and land use Biodiversity and meeting been appointed – one of the first in the (especially food and farming). the 2020 targets world - and her office established. A consultation on the strategic plan for The Plan requires that 10,000ha of There is already considerable political interest in progress towards meeting the Commissioner will be undertaken peatland is restored in 2017/18, rising in 2017. to 20,000ha a year from 2018/19 to the 2020 Aichi targets for biodiversity. contribute to a target of 50,000ha by The Environment, Climate Change Environment (Wales) Act 2020 and 250,000ha by 2030. On 24th and Land Reform Committee recently January 2017 Scottish Natural Heritage took evidence from stakeholders The Environment (Wales) Act (SNH) welcomed the announcement on the publication of Scotland’s came into force in May 2016. One by Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Biodiversity – A Route Map to 2020 of the first products, as part of the Climate Change and Land Reform, First Progress Report 2015/16 - the statutory framework for sustainable Roseanna Cunningham MSP, of a first annual review of the Route Map management of natural resources, was further £8 million for the award- to 2020 and Scotland’s Biodiversity the State of Natural Resources Report winning Peatland Action initiative. Progress to 2020 Aichi Targets Interim – published by Natural Resources This has run since 2012, as one of Report 2016. There will be growing Wales at the end of September 2016. the key projects helping to deliver interest in this nationally and at the The report makes a first assessment the ‘2020 Challenge for Scotland’s UK level as we approach 2019. on the extent to which sustainable Biodiversity’. The investment enables management is being achieved. SNH to continue working with its WALES It includes an assessment of the Peatland Action partners to restore a resilience of ecosystems in Wales, the further 8,000ha of peatlands, to add Wales continues to implement its benefits that natural resources and to over 10,000ha of peatland already legislative framework for sustainable ecosystems provide and contribute restored under the scheme. Peatland management of natural resources to Well-being goals in Wales, and it restoration involves blocking vast and to strengthen efforts to tackle pulls together a risk register linking stretches of ditches, as well as other key intergenerational challenges, like the management of natural resources measures, to reduce the rapid runoff of climate change. All three landmark and ecosystems to wellbeing, now water from bare peat surfaces. This is Acts are being progressed, and now and in the future. Natural Resources good news for peatland conservation. form an interesting foundation for EU- Wales is actively seeking ideas on Exit discussions in terms of the future how to improve their assessment and Other policies in the Climate Change of Wales and its unique brand. For reporting process. Plan with implications for nature and Wales to develop sustainably, the law landscapes include woodland and was changed to put in place the key The report and its high level hedgerow planting targets (increasing elements that will enable it to happen. recommendations are now being from 10,000 to 15,000 ha per year) and considered by Welsh Ministers as associated Local Authority locational The Well-being of Future Generations they develop their first statutory strategies, renewable electricity (Wales) Act National Natural Resources Policy. A consultation on the development of generation to support low carbon heat The Act became law in April 2015 and and transport (especially onshore the policy was launched in November many of the duties came into force 2016 and closes on 13 February 2017. wind), public body contributions from April 2016. The Act strengthens (energy efficient buildings and electric The main themes covered by the existing governance arrangements policy are expected to be accelerating vehicle use), and promoting active for improving the well-being of Wales travel (walking and cycling). green growth by increasing resource to ensure that present needs are met efficiency, renewable energy and Throughout, the Plan emphasises without compromising the ability supporting innovation, delivering the co-benefits of action on climate of future generations to meet their nature-based solutions to improve change for other important areas of own needs. The statutory Public resilience and the benefits derived policy, including population health, Service Boards are now established from natural resources, and improving air quality and a sustainable inclusive and have been undertaking, during community and individual well-being circular economy. 2016, an assessment of the state of by taking a place- and landscape- well-being (as defined in the Act – based approach. The final policy is Deer management socially, economically, culturally and expected in April 2017. environmentally) in their areas. This In November 2016, SNH published state of well-being assessment will Natural Resources Wales is then a report to the Scottish Government be consulted on and a final published required to develop Area Statements on deer management in Scotland. by March 2017. This will be used to to help facilitate the implementation This has given rise to considerable identify the well-being objectives of the National Natural Resources debate, and the Scottish Parliament’s for that area and these will be set Policy. In September 2016, Natural

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Resources Wales began a collaborative carbon budgets and interim targets, commitments to create a stronger, Environmental Farming Scheme data allowed the Marine Division Sutherland, W.J., Clements, A., Crane, process with a range of stakeholders Wales reduces emissions to deliver on clearer and fairer devolution to move the conservation status of E., Pilbeam, C., Martin, J., Monk, to help agree the key steps required in its obligations as well as maximising settlement for Wales that will stand The Environmental Farming Scheme black guillemots to ‘unfavourable’, K.A., Rogalla von Bieberstein, K., the development of Area Statements economic and social benefits for the the test of time. The key measures is a key mechanism in helping meaning government is now & Thompson, D.B.A. (2014). What – from agreeing the scale at which people of Wales. Wales asked for include a reserved powers model improve the sustainability of the wider committed to restoring the species are the forthcoming legislative Statements should be produced, to expert advice from the UK Committee so that the people of Wales know countryside. This scheme is designed back to good health. issues of interest to ecologists and looking at engagement and evidence on Climate Change (UKCCC), which precisely what powers the Assembly to encourage farmers to protect and conservationists in 2014? Bulletin of requirements, and finally forms of has issued a call for evidence on has and can hold it to account, enhance the environment on their Three other marine conservation the British Ecological Society 45, 32-37 publication. This process is ongoing defining what emissions are counted important new powers for Wales farmland. This means farmers will zones are now protecting seagrass and iterative, and is designed to in the Welsh account and looking at over energy, transport and local be funded to put in place measures meadows at Waterfoot, Co. Antrim, Sutherland, W.J. Clements, ensure that end-users of Area mechanisms for delivery. The call for government and Assembly elections that will support threatened breeding fragile sea pens and mud communities A., Harper, M., Herkenrath, P., Statements have the evidence they evidence is available on the UKCCC and greater powers for the Assembly wader species, such as curlew and at Carlingford Lough, Co. Down and Margerison, C., Martin, J., Monk, need to inform more sustainable website and closes on 6 February 2017 over its own affairs including the lapwing, seed eating species, such the ancient ocean quahog at outer K.A., & Thompson, D.B.A. (2013). decisions. ability to change its name. as yellowhammer and linnet, and Belfast Lough, Co. Antrim. The latter What are the forthcoming legislative Welsh Government and clean energy important habitats, such as peatland. site, in Belfast Lough, now protects issues of interest to ecologists and Management of marine protected The scheme also seeks to address the ocean quahog. This marine clam is conservationists in 2013? Bulletin of areas of Wales In December 2016, the Welsh NORTHERN IRELAND issues of water quality, expansion considered by science to be one of the the British Ecological Society 44, 38-43. Government set out how it will use its of native woodland and options for longest-living species on our planet The seas around Wales make up devolved powers to take advantage On January 26 2017 The Northern Sutherland, W.J., Clements, A., Ireland Assembly closed for business pollinating insects. and some individuals have been found over half the area of Wales. There of opportunities Wales has to deliver to be over 500 years old. McDevitt, A.-M., Harper, M., are 128 marine protected areas secure and affordable low carbon to prepare for a snap election, which The Environmental Farming Scheme Herkenrath, P., Prichard, S., covering over 5500 square miles, or energy. This will include ensuring will take place on the 2 March. The is due to open in February 2017, 2017 will be a key year for these sites, Margerison, C., Monk, K.A. & 35% of the Welsh seas and 75% of the Wales secures transformational Assembly institutions collapsed however there are still major concerns not only because they are new, but Thompson, D.B.A. (2012). What coastline. This includes sites such as benefits from major energy projects because of a botched Renewable about the timings of applications and because Marine Division has plans are the forthcoming legislative Skomer Marine Conservation Zone in and setting ambitious and realistic Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme, and how they will benefit key species on to galvanise the Marine Protected issues of interest to ecologists and Pembrokeshire that has been a marine targets for renewables, including the resignation of the Deputy First the ground. Of particular concern are Area network through the extension conservationists in 2012? Bulletin of protected area in some form for over community energy. Minister, Martin McGuinness. While arable areas suitable for seed-eating of the European Special Protected the British Ecological Society 43, 12-19. 25 years. there is much political uncertainty, it farmland birds and wet grassland Area network. This will add a further The Welsh Government is already has been agreed that the Assembly areas suitable for breeding waders. 96 Thousand hectares to the marine Acknowledgements In its inquiry into marine policy supporting the development of low will slim down from 108 members to On both accounts the application protected area off the east coast of in Wales, the Fourth Assembly’s carbon energy projects in Wales, for 90, which means each constituency window and internal Department of Northern Ireland. This is an activity initiated by the Environment and Sustainability example, providing funding towards will now elect five, rather than six Agriculture Environment and Rural Cambridge Conservation Initiative Committee expressed concern local renewable energy projects such Members of the Legislative Assembly Affairs assessment will be too long Sutherland, W.J., Barlow, R., Clements, and carried out as a collaborative about the level of priority given as the Awel Aman Tawe Community (MLA). to be of benefit to either species in A., Harper, M., Herkenrath, P., partnership. We thank Claire Brown, to the marine environment by the Energy scheme in Swansea. Margerison, C., Monk, K.A., Robinson, The breakdown in political relations 2017. However, other options which Cordula Epple, Daniela Guarás, Kelly Welsh Government. Amongst its will benefit water quality, forestry and J.A. & Thompson, D.B.A. (2011). Malsch, Abisha Mapendembe, Corinne recommendations, the management National Development Framework between the parties raises some What are the forthcoming legislative serious questions about if, and when, rural heritage will be operational Martin, Elsa Sattout and Massimo of marine Protected Areas was The Welsh Government has in 2017. issues of interest to ecologists and Zortea for contributing to sections. highlighted as a priority area for power-sharing will be restored post- conservationists in 2011? Bulletin commenced work on the preparation election, presenting significant risk WJS is funded by Arcadia. improvement. The Climate Change, of the National Development Four new Marine Conservation Zones of the British Ecological Society, 42, Environment and Rural Affairs for the environment. Prime Minister for Northern Ireland 26-31. William J. Sutherland is at the Framework. It will be a national land Theresa May has been very clear that Committee is calling for evidence use development plan and will replace Zoology Department in Cambridge; to support its inquiry into the Article 50 will be triggered by the end After several years of detailed Sutherland, W.J., Burke, E., Clements, Eleanor Burke is European Policy the existing Wales Spatial Plan. It will of March, signalling the start of formal deliberation and extensive evidence A., Connor, B., Martin, J., McNamee, management of marine protected set out the 20-year spatial framework Advocate for RSPB, Andy Clements areas in Wales. One of the more proceedings to disengage from the EU. gathering, the Northern Ireland P., Mitchell, C., Monk, K.A., Rogalla is Chief Executive of the British for land use in Wales, providing a government has designated four von Bieberstein, K., & Thompson, specific questions focuses on how Area context for the provision of new There is real concern that an Trust for Ornithology; Ben Connor Statements, which will be developed new Marine Conservation Zones D.B.A. 2016. What are the forthcoming is Policy Manager for the British infrastructure and growth, and setting Executive may not be in place as of December 2016. These new legislative issues of interest to by Natural Resources Wales, should out how the Government’s land use to influence these wider Brexit Ecological Society; John Martin is cover Welsh seas. The consultation designations are now providing ecologists and conservationists in Senior Conservation Officer for RSPB objectives will be taken forward at negotiations. There will be vital protection for some of Northern 2016? Bulletin of the British Ecological closes on 10 February 2017. national, regional and local levels. A many environmental issues and Northern Ireland; Clive Mitchell is Ireland’s most vulnerable marine Society 47, 45–54. Strategic Direction Manager with Welsh emission accounting call for evidence started in December considerations raised throughout species and the habitats they rely on. 2016 and closes on 7 March 2017. these negotiations and without a Sutherland, W.J., Clements, A., Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 set Access is online and stakeholder functioning Executive to represent The new Marine Conservation Zone Benwell, R., Burke, E., Connor, B., Kathryn A. Monk is the Principal a legal target of reducing emissions events are being held in late January Northern Irish interests at a off Rathlin Island, County Antrim is Martin, J., Monk, K.A., Rogalla von Adviser for Science for Natural by a minimum of 80% by 2050. The across Wales. Westminster level. the first UK Marine Conservation Zone Bieberstein, K. & Thompson. D.B.A. Resources Wales; Katharina Rogalla Act provides Welsh Ministers with to have a seabird species - the black (2015) What are the forthcoming von Bieberstein is Programme Officer powers to establish statutory emission Wales Bill Before the assembly collapsed two guillemot - as its primary designation legislative issues of interest to at the United Nations Environment reduction targets and carbon budgets important environmental initiatives feature. An extension of the southern ecologists and conservationists in Programme World Conservation This was introduced by the Wales had been set in motion. Monitoring Centre in Cambridge; that will act as stepping stones Office and aims to create a stronger boundary of the designated area 2015? Bulletin of the British Ecological to ensure that regular progress is ensured that the entirety of the Society 46, 48-56. Des B.A. Thompson is Principal Wales within a strong United Adviser on Biodiversity with SNH. made towards the 2050 target. The Kingdom. The draft Bill sets out species’ foraging habitat was placed Welsh Government is establishing an in detail how the UK Government under the protection it needs. evidence base to ensure in setting the plans to deliver the St David’s Day Alongside this, long-term monitoring

74 75 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:1 | April 2017 feature Cyrenaica is a unique ecosystem on the southern Mediterranean coast in Libya, which is a complex of typical Mediterranean communities and the Sahara that lies just a hundred THOUGHTS OF A SOUTHERN kilometres south of the coastal line. A huge number of arid and semiarid plant species are found in this area, as well as many fauna species. Moreover, the marine ecosystem is MEDITERRANEAN ECOLOGIST still largely unexplored in this part of Out in the field. A tranquil scene, but heavily armed security personnel the Mediterranean. However, there can appear at any time. is a collection of more than twenty thousand plant specimens preserved Yet, research is still ongoing but permission to travel to the UK gives in the Cyrenaica Herbarium at the Tarek Mukassabi | University of Benghazi, Libya | [email protected] very slowly; we lost most of our you a great desire to get yourself University of Benghazi in Libya. This superior laboratories, glasshouses and ready for the grand journey. You collection includes all Libyan plants equipment. Moreover, doing research need to take the same trail, driving that grow wild in this area, including in open areas has become relatively a couple of hours to Al Bayda city, most of the Libyan native species. challenging. Visits by the security taking the flight to Tunis, staying Unfortunately, the university campus forces, which come from nowhere overnight and on the next day from in Benghazi is located within the when you set your quadrats out in dawn you have to be at the airport hottest armed conflict area in the city, the field, are common. As they are heading for London. In London, which and very close to the old regime’s civilians turned into security forces is the point when you incredibly army bases and compounds. Because in a very short time, they do not start enjoying your journey, you take of this, since 2014, the university understand that the richness of plant whatever appropriate transportation buildings have been in the range annual species has to be studied, or to reach the conference site. In a of artillery, which turned the whole even that the annual seed production best-case scenario, the journey for campus into a horrific battleground. by Juniper trees in a spectacular the visa takes at least a whole week It is likely that this valuable plant area in the Green Mountain can and about ₤900 for flight tickets, visa collection has been dreadfully be predicted. You have to be very fees and accommodation. Attending damaged. diplomatic and professionally the meeting adds another ₤1150, so persuasive to convince these people in total ₤2050 which, based on the that what you are doing does not present currency exchange rate in harm anyone and more specifically is the parallel market, is about 15,000 not affecting national security. If you Libyan Dinar; this is my basic net have a digital camera with you, that salary for eight months. would be an unfortunate coincidence. As well as attending the BES Since 2008, I have been a regular annual meeting, the visit is useful attender at the BES annual meeting. in bringing together the loose ends For an ecologist coming from a of ongoing projects in collaboration developing country, the annual with British researchers that could meeting is a spectacular event that not be finished over the electronic Chancellor’s building, University should not be missed out. Currently, mail. In a developing country such as of Benghazi the cost of attending such events Libya, and irrespective of the official The scientific research sector in is hugely expensive for us. There economic status, getting funding for this country, specifically in ecology, have been no functioning foreign research and attending conferences had made a few good steps at the embassies in Libya for more than two is very difficult. There are only two beginning of this century. But since years because of the consequences of restricted sources of funds, the the Arab spring uprising in 2011, the armed conflict following the Arab National Association for the Scientific everything has been disturbed and spring, and so we need to travel to Research and the University. If you the passion turned into a nightmare. Tunis in Tunisia which is the nearest are lucky enough and have good There is a shortage at all levels, even place to apply for a UK visa, and this relationships with people in authority, the essential needs for everyday journey itself is a nightmare. The you could get some funds to support life, such as electricity, internet airport in Benghazi has been closed your research projects, and otherwise connection, phone networks and even down since 2014, again because of you are on your own and usually have currency liquidity. We are still paid the armed conflict; we drive to the to pay from your own budget. But our monthly salary, which goes into nearest airport in the city of Al Bayda, regardless of the huge effort and price your account in the bank, but there is two hundred kilometres in the east, that you have to give to your research, no cash. The transitional government then take a flight to Tunis. However, the rewards of attending BES events, attempts to find urgent solutions for if you are fortunate, you successfully meeting different researchers from all all these difficulties, but it has not come back to Benghazi with a visa over the world and publishing good quite succeeded, not in all issues. stamped on your passport. Having articles makes it all worthwhile.

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OPINION to break our societal addiction to help to reshape social norms and cropland demand frequent air travel, or at least that of expectations, while addressing 2 (million km ) the privileged global minority who concerns about decisions being Support for a can afford it. Anyone who recognizes imposed on members, and I expect the urgency of the climate challenge that most BES members would should indeed back calls to halt support it. As to Mike Morecroft’s any further construction of airport call to measure the footprint of the BES food policy infrastructure, should make every BES and its meetings, please do (and effort to fly less or not at all, and include an estimate of land footprint). should support campaigns on these But don’t let that be an excuse to issues such as Plane Stupid and A delay action. Free Ride. However, pointing to one important problem does not reduce *Why “mostly”? Because the point the need to address another. There is to do what we can, and inspire others to do what they can too – not Figure 2: Global cropland demand are always way to pass the buck, and Ben Phalan | Oregon State University, USA | [email protected] flying less should not preclude efforts adhere to a rigid, difficult to achieve, under a range of scenarios for 2050, sackcloth-and-ashes level of purity. showing that vegan diets would to reduce the environmental impacts I expected to see a response to Simon points out that humans reduce the amount of cropland of the food we consume. Simon Leather’s criticism of the carbon equivalent footprint evolved as omnivores. He’s right, but required for food production, and (kgCO e per kg product) A crucial point, for me, is that decision not to serve ruminant 2 we evolved as omnivores at a time could halve the total cropland area the greatest threat to terrestrial References meat at the BES annual meeting when it would have been difficult compared to global adoption of current biodiversity today is land-use (Bulletin 47(1): 71-72), but as time to get enough nutrition without North American-style (“rich”) diets. change, not climate change. As Barnosky, A.D. (2008) Megafauna biomass has passed without one, I decided eating meat. Nowadays, we live From Erb et al. (2016). ecologists, we must be the first tradeoff as a driver of Quaternary and future to write one myself. In my view, the in a very different world, where it extinctions. Proceedings of the National to recognize the imperative to Academy of Sciences 105, 11543–11548. BES was taking a small step in the is increasingly straightforward to reduce our land footprint as well as right direction, and I would love to have a healthy diet without animal benefits of habitat restoration and our carbon footprint (Meier et al. Erb, K.-H., Lauk, C., Kastner, T., Mayer, A., see it do more. products. In fact, there is evidence Theurl, M.C. & Haberl, H. (2016) Exploring rewilding. Ecologists in the UK tend 2014). Eating less meat and dairy, the biophysical option space for feeding that switching to beans, pulses to think of the value of livestock It is well established that livestock or eliminating it from our diets, the world without deforestation. Nature and other nutritious plant-derived in conservation grazing, but how Communications, 7, 11382. production is one of the most does both. Eating local can have proteins in wealthy countries could much of the UK’s meat and dairy is damaging activities to biodiversity some benefits too, but its impact Fairlie, S. (2010) Meat: a Benign help to reduce health problems derived from habitats where livestock on a global scale. Each year, we on emissions and land use pales Extravagance. Permanent Publications. such as heart disease and cancer contribute to, rather than detract raise and slaughter tens of billions in comparison to cutting animal Foley, J.A., Ramankutty, N., Brauman, K.A., (Tilman & Clark 2014). Our dentition from, their conservation value? My of animals, and their biomass now products from the menu (Weber & Cassidy, E.S., Gerber, J.S., Johnston, M., et and gut structure have no problem back-of-the-envelope calculations vastly exceeds that of all large- Matthews 2008). I strive to fly as al. (2011) Solutions for a cultivated planet. at all with an entirely plant-based suggest it’s unlikely to be more than Nature, 478, 337–342. bodied wild mammals (Barnosky little as possible largely because diet. We would only need the about 1%. Certainly, let’s find ways 2008). Considering both pasture I care about coral reefs and future Meier, T., Christen, O., Semler, E., Jahreis, paunch of a proboscis monkey if to support and maintain that 1% (or and cropland devoted to animal generations, and I have become G., Voget-Kleschin, L., Schrode, A. & we were to eat nothing but leaves. 5%, or whatever tiny fraction it is), Artmann, M. (2014) Balancing virtual feed, livestock production occupies mostly* vegan in the last two years Even with respect to the one or but at the same time, I have found no land imports by a shift in the diet. Using a staggering ~75% of global largely because I care about birds, a land balance approach to assess the two micronutrients not adequately serious argument that a substantial agricultural land (Foley et al. beetles and the uncountable throngs sustainability of food consumption. Germany supplied by plant-based foods, there reduction in livestock numbers in the as an example. Appetite, 74, 20–34. 2011), and accounts for the bulk of other species whose habitats we is now enough added to breakfast UK would be anything but beneficial of greenhouse gas emissions from clear to produce our food. Phalan, B., Bertzky, M., Butchart, S.H.M., cereals, non-dairy milk and so on that for biodiversity. agriculture (Figure 1). The crops Donald, P.F., Scharlemann, J.P.W., vegans can meet all of their needs Of course, individual efforts can go Stattersfield, A.J. & Balmford, A. (2013) Crop which are expanding in tropical without animal products. Ethically and practically it is clear only so far. Personal sacrifices will be expansion and conservation priorities in countries by the greatest amount by that the onus is on us, as relatively in vain unless they help us progress tropical countries. PLoS ONE, 8, e51759. far each year – soybeans and maize Some argue that we need livestock wealthy, well-informed and towards radical, system-level Reijnders, L. & Soret, S. (2003) – are both major feed crops (Phalan because they can convert plant privileged western conservationists change. That’s why it is important Quantification of the environmental et al. 2013). It seems paradoxical, Ruminant material that is unfit for human and ecologists, to make the most for organizations such as BES to take impact of different dietary protein choices. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 78, but if we ate more soybeans and Other consumption. There is a role for effort to reduce our consumption of a public, evidence-based position on 664S–668S. other legumes, instead of feeding livestock raised on wastes and animal products. Doing so should not issues such as travel and food. The them to livestock and losing 90% Figure 1: Emissions per residues, and if we could reduce fall to the poor and food-insecure, value of taking a position probably Ripple, W.J., Smith, P., Haberl, H., Montzka, of the energy along the way, we kilogram of different protein- livestock farming to levels where and certainly not to those living S.A., McAlpine, C. & Boucher, D.H. (2014) lies more in how it influences the Ruminants, climate change and climate could meet human needs with fewer rich foods, from Ripple et al. the bulk of their food came from subsistence or pastoralist lifestyles ways that we – as a Society and as policy. Nature Climate Change, 4, 2–5. soybeans and keep more of the (2014). such sources, the sector would in the developing world. In my view, society – think about these issues Cerrado and Chaco intact (Reijnders fare much better on a range of Tilman, D. & Clark, M. (2014) Global diets we should be leading by example, than in the specific impacts that will link environmental sustainability and & Soret 2003). Because raising sustainability metrics (Fairlie 2010). and reduce, if not eliminate, animal- be avoided. A pragmatic way forward human health. Nature, 515, 518–522. livestock is so inefficient, eating But this argument is often extended based foods from our diet. would be an opt-out system, where Weber, C.L. & Matthews, H.S. (2008) fewer animal products would mean to “marginal lands” unsuitable for conference-goers are informed that Simon Leather writes about the Food-miles and the relative climate impacts we’d use far less land to grow crops, crops, overlooking the possibility food will be by default vegetarian of food choices in the United States. need to reduce air travel, and about not more (Figure 2). to leave these areas as wildlife (or better, vegan), unless individuals Environmental Science & Technology, 42, his admirable efforts to cut his own 3508–3513. habitat instead of grazing them, specifically opt out. That would and so dismissing the potential flying. I fully agree with the need

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Palmer Newbould war to get ecological advice noticed time. They began among the earliest and others. For his work, especially with had been won). Many, perhaps a undergraduate programmes in ecology the CNCC, he was honoured with the majority, of BES members thought that and in environmental science, though OBE in 1993. the Society should stick to science, Palmer regretted that some of the 1929 – 2016 and should not itself seek to influence NUU founders’ more radical intentions During this time too, he and Jo affairs in the world outside. They foundered on academic conservatism. contributed, hands on, to a project argued that it was impossible to have monitoring biodiversity in the Albufera official BES statements or actions that Amongst many other duties, Palmer wetlands in Mallorca. Peter John Newbould, known, even as a serendipitous help from the University was responsible for starting, and every member would agree with. But In 1999 he and Jo moved to child, as Palmer (probably after a heroic Grants Committee (UGC) Palmer supervising for years, a collection of the outside world had hi-jacked the Cirencester, back in England, for uncle), was a committed and influential became responsible for designing and daffodil species/varieties that became word ‘ecology’ and clearly did not the last 17 years of his life, to be nature conservationist, initially and late running the new course from 1960-67. the National Collection, and for planning understand it. The counter-argument closer to their three children and five in life in England, and for more than half It began as a Diploma, and in 1965 and implementing the planting of trees was that the BES was a main source of grandchildren. Palmer, with his wide his working life in Northern Ireland. He became an M.Sc. The intention was, across the campus converting those ecological knowledge, and had better range of knowledge, interests, and was generous, warm-hearted, and had and still is, to provide professional exposed windy agricultural fields into a start getting its collective hands dirty. people, became active in the local a wide range of interests in both arts training in nature conservation wooded landscape. Council agreed, reluctantly, to give the Science and Technology Society. The and science. He was plain-speaking, to students from a wide range of idea a trial, but made Ecological Affairs During this period Palmer’s advice Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Wildlife humorous, unpompous, always helpful, disciplines. For that reason the first a sub-committee so it could act only on conservation was widely sought. Trusts, and others. had considerable presence, and was intake started in September 1960 with through Council. Palmer was its first He served on the Nature Reserves universally liked and trusted. several weeks of intensive field work chairperson, and in 1974 the group was Committee, and on the Ulster Many ecologists are remembered for in half a dozen contrasting places (I ran given the power to act independently. their publications. Palmer lived a life He was born to Dorothy and Alfred Countryside Committee; both one of these weeks, at Blakeney Point). more difficult to assess. His success Newbould, in south London. His father statutory bodies, and as the Northern This emphasis on field experience, with Meanwhile the International as Acting VC in the NUU/Polytechnic worked on the edge of the cinema representative on the Irish Republic’s theory and practice of conservation Programme (IBP, 1964-74) was in merger is clear enough. But his industry, and as a boy Palmer met Nuclear Energy Board (1973-1988) and its social context still exists in the progress. It was an early example of advisory work and its effects (such as many of the famous names of the current incarnation of the course 56 ‘big science’ in biology, and sought to From 1982-84 Palmer was Acting the practical details of nature reserve time. After early schooling he won a years later. “To the solid ground of emulate the successful International Vice-Chancellor. The government acquisition, management, education, scholarship to Charterhouse. There Nature trusts the Mind that builds for Geophysical Year (IGY). Its purpose had decided to merge the NUU with and so on) are more diffuse. What he was expected to specialise on the aye.” The UCL course was followed in was to establish ‘The Biological Basis the Ulster Polytechnic (UP). The NUU one can say is that, in the opinion of classics side, but (in his own words) the next decade by five others. of Productivity and Human Welfare’, Court resisted. Palmer could see that those who worked with him, he had could not see the point of that, and though this objective was vaguer than that would probably lead to closure. By more important positive effects on after School Certificate turned to the Soon after, Palmer became active in the the IGY’s, and success was patchy. It detailed discussion, and because he conservation (particularly in Northern sciences. He had his early experiences BES. (Sheail 1987). did have three effects: it brought more was trusted, he got the Court to agree Ireland) than anybody else in the field of ecological fieldwork, first at Start money into ecology, it stimulated co- the merger, and for 1985 became the at the time. And he taught and inspired Point (South Devon), and then at Lough In 1961 he supported, in the face of Then, as was required at that time, operation among specialists, and it gave first Provost of the Coleraine campus of uncounted students, many of whom Ine. He also discovered a taste for beer opposition, the then President of the Palmer was conscripted into the army cover for scientists in ‘closed’ countries the new entity: the University of Ulster. now occupy influential positions in and cider, and formed friendships that BES, J B Cragg, in a move to start a new for National Service. For the first time, to travel abroad. But he was a reluctant administrator, conservation. lasted the rest of his life. journal, provisionally named the Journal during initial training, he met all sorts of Applied Ecology and Conservation. and in 1985 at 56 took early retirement. Palmer was the author of one of the It is fitting to remember that F.W. He then went to Balliol College (Oxford) and conditions of men. Later he was That began in 1964, though without IBP Handbooks on how to measure the He and Jo remained in Northern Ireland Oliver, co-founder with A.G. Tansley to read forestry, but realised that selected for officer training. Having the ‘and Conservation’ because some production of forests (Newbould 1967). for the next 14 years, during which he of the BES, was active in the practical the need for foresters was rapidly missed a critical Mess meeting he found members of the BES Council of the It was short and delivered on time. continued to serve on advisory bodies: application of the ecology he was diminishing, as Empire contracted, himself with responsibilities he had time considered that conservation Other similar books were long. complex, the Ulster Wildlife Trust (1985-89); helping to develop. Palmer Newbould’s so switched to Botany, graduating in not sought – a valuable lesson. Palmer was not adequately scientific. In 1963, and late. This work got him onto one chairman of the Council for Nature life was spent in that same cause. 1950. By that time he had decided that looked back on all this as wasted time together with Amyan Macfadyen, he of the UK committees dealing with Conservation and the Countryside (in he wanted to do ecological research. but quite educational. organised the celebration at UCL of the productivity, and was an early example Northern Ireland; CNCC, 1989-93). Dicky Clymo, with help from The Nature Conservancy (NC) had BES’ 70th year. In 1969 Palmer, now WHP had already reserved a post for of a lifetime of such advisory work. Some people achieve notice by a single R.Battarbee, A.C. Hamilton, been started in 1949, and the next year as BES Vice-President, instigated and him in Botany at UCL: no Interview conspicuous action, but Palmer had a Jo Newbould, P. Roebuck, Palmer won a Research Studentship chaired a working group to consider the With this record it was not surprising Panel, no HR, no Job Description, no notable influence in uncounted smaller S. Smart, D.Wilcock. from them, and moved to UCL to work future of the BES. One of the group’s to hear in 1967 that Palmer had been Person Description. In 1955 Palmer events: Whitepark Bay, Garry Bog, Ness with W.H. Pearsall (WHP). Palmer’s recommendations was that the Society appointed a founding Professor of a new returned to UCL as Assistant Lecturer Wood, and The Umbra may stand for all. References recollection of the interview was that he should start a regular Bulletin, to keep department: the School of Biological in Ecology, and in 1957 two colleagues He also represented Northern Ireland had a pleasant conversation with WHP, members informed. That innovation is and Environmental Studies (SB&ES) and I began work as his first PhD on the Joint Nature Conservation Newbould PJ (1960) The ecology of who then accepted him. now in its 48th year. in the New University of Ulster (NUU) students (though technically he was not Committee (JNCC) advising the UK Cranesmoor, a New Forest valley bog: at Coleraine, where Alan Burges I. The present vegetation. Journal of WHP’s supervision method was, yet recognised for this purpose). The same working group recommended government; and was a Trustee of the (former President of the BES) was Vice Ecology 48: 361-383 deliberately, what would now be called that the Society should form an National Heritage Memorial Fund, later Far more important was the start of Chancellor. It was a surprise though ‘light touch’. He suggested working on Ecological Affairs Committee. Palmer the Heritage section of the National the Conservation Course in 1960. Max that Palmer and a second professor, Newbould PJ (1967) IBP Handbook one or both of two peat bogs. Palmer had launched the idea informally in Lottery (NHMF/HNLF, 1993-2002), Nicholson, head of the NC, decided that Amyan Macfadyen, were to be joint number 2. Methods for Estimating the chose Cranesmoor: a valley bog in the 1963, following an initiative of the with responsibilities for both Northern they should support a postgraduate heads of the new School. This was an Primary Production of Forests. Blackwell New Forest (Newbould 1960). It was at same kind by the Ecological Society of Ireland and conservation. This allowed course for conservationists (the inspired decision. The two (and Frank Scientific Publications, Oxford. UCL that he met Jo Pugh, a fellow PhD America. This was contentious. The Palmer to become involved with a NC charter required them to Oldfield as Dean) worked together student in botany. They married battle over the Cow Green Reservoir wider sort of conservation: Mar Lodge, Sheail J (1987) Seventy-five Years in undertake education). With WHP and amicably and effectively to produce in 1954. had been lost (though in retrospect the the best School in the university at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Cutty Sark, Ecology: the British Ecological Society

80 81 Sagebrush shrubsteppe in central Oregon. The monolith (called Fort Rock) is a volcanic tuff ring, formed when molten basaltic magma rose to penetrate the mud at the bottom of the lake that covered the area during the ice ages; Wikipedia has a nice description. A SENSE of Photo © Loren Kerns

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It had occurred to me to write about out-of-the-way places in Britain that So my students and I kept going back, So we made forays into other areas. Eventually, our studies in the the mountains to sagebrush country the rise and consequences of a still retain something of what he year after year. We began by asking (in The songs of one species (appropriately, shrubsteppe ended, as all things I get the same old feelings: a release, post-factual culture. To a distressing regards as Britishness. For me, it is the fine tradition of David Lack3) what sagebrush sparrows7) were part of must.8 Most of our simple questions a calmness, an unbridled joy of number of people, “facts” don’t seem the sagebrush shrubsteppe of much factors might limit bird populations what made sagebrush such a special were only muddled by our findings. being—a sense of place. to matter any more; consistency with of the western United States, from and structure the bird community. place, so I recorded and analyzed We put most of it down to the effects beliefs is what’s important. This Wyoming to Oregon and Nevada. Here We considered competition for food, vocalizations to determine whether of environmental variation in time John Wiens threatens the very foundations of sagebrush2 often covers the land as a but found little supporting evidence. there were song dialects, as in many and space over multiple scales, which Oregon State University, USA science, its credibility, and its ability vast inland sea, extending for miles Perhaps predation on nests might cap other sparrow species. There was might account for the muddling [email protected] to influence public debate about such only to be interrupted by mountain population growth? But snakes (the variation in song structure, to be sure, but didn’t really generate testable things as climate change. ranges or (increasingly) irrigated primary nest predator on songbirds but the spatially inconsistent patterns hypotheses. Rather, our studies in fields and pastures. I well remember in many systems) didn’t occur in our of variation led me to ask whether the the sagebrush seemed to confirm But all of this is too depressing. So driving through sagebrush expanses study area, prohibited by the prospect “dialects” were instead epiphenomena one of the basic laws of ecology, that Footnotes I decided instead to write about in Utah and Idaho, decades ago, where of freezing temperatures at virtually (much to the consternation of my everything is contingent on something 1 Doubleday, New York, NY, 2015. something that is more uplifting— roadside signs proclaimed, “Sagebrush any time of year (tough going for a colleagues whose careers were built else (i.e., “it all depends”). 2 Artemisia of several species and varieties. what has been called a sense of place. is free – take some.” poikilotherm). Thinking the answer on studying vocal dialects). We joined There are places that have special I’ve often wondered why we kept 3 Lack, D. 1954. The natural regulation of animal might lie in limitations on brood sizes forces with a plant chemist to explore numbers. Oxford University Press, Oxford. meaning; places whose air, sounds, It all must have made an impression of the birds, we conducted brood-size the relations between the secondary on so doggedly trying to wrestle 4 We came up with a novel hypothesis to and beauty generate a feeling of on me, for not long afterward I began manipulations and found that, by chemistry of sagebrush, insects, and clear, simple answers from a system calmness and serenity; places that ecological studies in the sagebrush that refused to give them. Perhaps explain why clutch sizes weren’t larger, but adjusting foraging behavior and prey birds (the sparrows, once again) who the hypothesis was untestable and was never reassure one that, despite all else shrubsteppe of the northern Great selection, adults could successfully fed on the insects. We experimentally it was my stubbornness (surely I’m published. going on, in this place at this time Basin, drawn there by the little brown no longer like that?). But the longer fledge nearly twice as many young as removed insects (“defaunation”) 5 We conducted a field experiment on this, all is well. birds and the apparent simplicity of the normal clutch size.4 We delved into from some shrubs, finding that the we worked there, the more deeply too. The main finding was that the scale of the ecosystem. It seemed like just habitat relations, finding that what secondary chemistry of the treatment the sagebrush expanses gripped my the experimental manipulations was wrong, Everyone has such a place. For a New the thing a scientist starting a career heart and mind—it became my sea of although we did manage to publish the results. Yorker it may be the sounds of bustling represented “habitat” to the birds shrubs then changed, perhaps in needed to generate quick publications. 5 tranquility, my place. Following job 6 An hypothesis we rejected without bothering traffic and the smells of the Deli depended on the scale of analysis. response to removal of herbivorous to test. But the simplicity of the system was insects. We put cages around some opportunities, I moved far away, first down the street. For a mountaineer it a beguiling guise. The system only Our inability to derive clear, simple to New Mexico and Colorado and then 7 Artemisiospiza nevadensis may be a lake nestled in a mountain plants to exclude birds; the insects reluctantly yielded answers to our answers to our clear, simple questions that responded most strongly, however, to Washington, DC, and California. 8 Although not always. Bob Paine kept going cirque, mirroring the lofty, beckoning back to Tatoosh Island to study intertidal questions, and then only in fragments led some of our colleagues to dismiss were taxa not eaten by the birds. These were interesting, beautiful, and peaks. I’ve recently been reading that led to questions and more the studies as irrelevant to existing exciting places in their own ways, but systems for over 45 years, and Charley Krebs Bill Bryson’s book, The Road to Little Once again, intriguing glimpses of has been investigating snowshoe hares in the questions. theory or to suggest that the problem none was special to me. Now we live Yukon for a similar period, both drawn in part, 1 something interesting going on, but Dribbling; to him it is the allure of 6 I suspect, by a sense of place. was with us rather than the system . more questions than answers. in Oregon, and when I travel across

A singing sagebrush sparrow Photo left © drburtoni / Photo right © Ron Knight

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From Our Southern The Roe 8 road extension is part of Environmental Protection and finding the EPA was not obliged to a long-standing plan to extend an Biodiversity Conservation Act. The take its own policies into account. existing highway to provide a more wetlands and woodland are popular Let’s say that again: “the EPA was not direct route for trucks in and out of areas for recreation and habitat for obliged to take its own policies into Correspondent Fremantle Port. In addition to being a wide range of fauna, including account”. Insert suitable exclamation home to Little Creatures Brewery, Carnaby’s black cockatoo, which is here. Towards the end of the year Fremantle has a busy and active port, also listed under the EPBC act. work started on clearing bushland and most of the freight goes in and out in preparation for the road, and via trucks. The Roe Highway currently The WA Environmental Protection further legal actions initiated by the ends about 20 km east of the port Agency concluded in 2003 that it community group have so far failed. and, on the face of it, it would seem would be difficult to make the road to make sense to carry on and fill in project environmentally acceptable Added to this is the unseemly rush the gap. The problem is, however, and that it would lead to the ecological with which various environmental that the 8th stage of the highway is values of the area as a whole being management plans were assembled being routed through areas of high diminished in the long-term. However, to cover the Roe 8 project just before Richard Hobbs | University of Western Australia, Australia conservation, Aboriginal heritage and in a 2013 report the EPA concluded or even after the clearing had begun social value and has been subject to that the significant residual impacts of (https://project.mainroads.wa.gov. long-standing community opposition. the development (including clearing au/roe8/Pages/default.aspx), and I just had a quick look at the last piece of native vegetation and protected observations that the management I wrote for the Bulletin (I find this The 5km extension still leaves the remaining 15 km to the port as is, wetlands and loss of cockatoo habitat) plans were not even being adhered useful in that it prevents me repeating could be offset by a range of measures to as work commenced. It does not myself too frequently). Although and there is ongoing debate and uncertainty about how to complete including acquisition of conservation appear that the plans were open written only just over 6 months ago, land elsewhere, wetland restoration to any feedback or peer review, the article has the feel of something the link. In addition, the rationale for the road is being questioned in terms and weed control programs. In and hence their adequacy has not written a long time ago in a galaxy far, September 2015 the group Save the been assessed. This is particularly far away. It focussed on statistics in of the long-term future of the port and the eventual need for a new more Beeliar Wetlands took legal action concerning in relation to the plans for ecology, but started with observations against the EPA, arguing that the actions that form part of the offsets on the (then) pending US Presidential accessible port facility at the city’s industrial hub south of Fremantle. EPA did not follow its own policies. that were put forward to compensate elections, the Brexit poll and a Federal The Supreme Court supported this for the loss of woodland and wetland. Election here in Australia. I’m sure The initial 5 km extension cuts argument and found that the EPA The process of negotiating the terms I don’t need to comment on the through the Beeliar Regional Park, assessment and subsequent approval of these offsets was opaque, and there feelings of shock and foreboding that which incorporates the Beeliar of Roe 8 was invalid. That stopped has been no independent assessment many people experienced following Wetlands, two chains of lakes and work on the road in its tracks for a of whether the implementation the results of the US election and wetlands that run parallel to the west while, but the WA Government took plans actually meet the stipulated the Brexit poll, or on what’s been coast and Banksia woodland that has the matter to the Court of Appeal criteria. Offsets have increasingly happening since (here in Australia, just been given Threatened Ecological in July 2016, and the Court ruled become a tool of choice to ensure we ended up with the same crap Community status under the federal in favour of the State Government, that developers have to demonstrate government we had before - although some conservation outcomes to make even here we thought things couldn’t up for the environmental damage get much worse, but they since have). Protesters against a road development in Western Australia caused by the development. However, Rereading my last article, it struck were labelled as “layabout ratbags”. offsets are also increasingly seen to me that we seem increasingly to be be fraught with difficulties (Maron living in two parallel universes. In the et al., 2016) and have been called the role of migrants in the economy, endemic taxa. It’s also characterised “Faustian bargains” (Maron et al., universe inhabited by people who the performance of the NHS: all by a kind of bipolar approach to read the BES Bulletin, sound evidence, 2012). Our recent research suggests examples of issues for which there protection by our state government. that application of offset policy in statistical rigour and logical argument is clear evidence based on sound On one hand, there have been truly are key elements in people’s day-to- Western Australia has been patchy at research - evidence that assorted amazing additions to the conservation best (May et al., 2017). day existence. In the other universe, political leaders choose to ignore, estate this year with large areas of inhabited by some of our political wipe from government websites, marine parks being declared in the Why the rush to get plans completed leaders and, it appears, a significant misrepresent or even ridicule. It’s remote Kimberley region (http:// and work started? Four words provide proportion of the general public, such almost as if the Enlightenment www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-23/ the answer – an election in March. elements hardly seem to feature at all hadn’t happened. kimberley-marine-park-created- Colin Barnett, the WA Premier, has – who needs evidence when you can around-horizontal-falls/8050330). On been determined to get the Roe 8 say what you like, whether it comes Here in Western Australia, we’re the other hand, a ruckus over a major extension started and is forging ahead close to matching reality or not? Who experiencing our own little descent road extension through protected now that legal impediments have needs statistical rigour when you back into the dark ages. My part wetlands and a threatened woodland been cleared away. This is the same feel you can ignore the whole matter, of the world is characterised by community in Perth has pitted the guy who doggedly continued with never mind check to see whether the some of the most amazing ecology current conservative government a programme of shark drum lines a evidence is rigorous or not? on the planet – hyper-diverse plant against a broadly-based citizen protest few years ago to reduce the risk of communities, weird and wonderful There are worrying signs that this movement, and at the same time shark attacks on Perth beaches, even flora and fauna (see Alan Crowden’s exposed serious problems with the though a Fisheries Department report second universe is slowly swallowing frontispiece photo in the previous the first. Climate change, vaccination, state’s environmental protection laws. stated that drum lines are ineffective issue), with a healthy smattering of The Beeliar Wetlands, threatened by roadbuilding

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UPDATE

(this was the topic of an earlier So, a lot has happened between Bulletin article). The Labor opposition my writing of this article to meet party has stated that it will can the the Bulletin Editor’s deadline entire project if elected, and there and the Bulletin Editor actually have been calls to halt the clearing finalising the copy. England until the results of the election are whopped Scotland in the rugby, known. But, in the face of mounting but I won’t dwell on that. Instead, community dissent and evidence of I’m happy to provide an update lack of adherence to due process and on the Roe 8 road extension in relevant policies and procedures, the Western Australia. Since I wrote bulldozers are out and woodland is my article, there has been an being obliterated. WA Environment ongoing and persistent campaign Minister Albert Jacob stated that he against the development. was “comfortable with” the possibility Community-lead efforts included that 97.8 hectares of vegetation may ongoing protests and a citizen be cleared for Roe 8, even if a newly science effort that monitored the elected Labor government cancels environmental aspects of the the project (http://www.abc.net.au/ process and uncovered countless news/2017-01-11/wa-election-roe- instances of non-compliance with 8-no-pause-for-work-albert-jacob- the environmental management says/8176280). plans put in place by the agencies involved. Then there was the Why, you might ask, am I dwelling State election on Saturday on our little local problem in the 11 March. The opposition Labor BES Bulletin? Well, it seems that Western Australians taking direct action against a development party ran a campaign based our little local problem is being they consider ill-advised and unnecessary partly on terminating the road replicated in different ways around development – and it turns the world. And it’s symptomatic and communicating good science processes (http://theleeuwingroup. out that they romped home in of the bigger issues facing society is what we ecologists mostly do. org.au/_data/papers/), and other a landslide victory that saw as governments and corporations Accumulating evidence and feeding groups are forming to add their voice swings of nearly 20% against the entrench neoliberal policies (Mendoza, it into management and policy circles to the protests. conservative government in some 2015). Gus Speth has recently written is the way we have an impact, right? seats. The new Premier, Mark about his experience in science Well, maybe only partially right All this is a long way from quadrats McGowan, made his first order and environmental activism, and now. This is still essential but not and bird counts. But quadrats and of business the cessation of work discussed the way in which the necessarily sufficient any more. As bird counts aren’t much use in the on the road project. Significant huge advances in environmental exemplified by our little local issue middle of a freeway. May the force be clearing of valuable woodland has protection made a few decades ago of valuable wetlands and vegetation with you, wherever and however you already occurred, but some has are now being eroded. For instance, getting trampled to make way need it. been saved. And there is talk of “government agencies lose their for a road that has dubious merit, a massive restoration programme luster and their drive and become governments are increasingly able on the land that has been cleared partly or wholly captives of those they and willing to ignore evidence and already. This is being seen as a are supposed to regulate” (Speth, push agendas despite, rather than References massive victory for the community 2014). And, for environmental groups because of, scientific advice and and common sense – and, Maron, M., Hobbs, R.J., Moilanen, A., Matthews, “Major resources shift from offense environmental policies. importantly, science played a J.W., Christie, K., Gardner, T.A., Keith, D.A., part in this through academics to defending past gains” –in other Lindenmayer, D.B., & McAlpine, C.A. (2012) words, inordinate efforts need to be So, that’s why it appears essential to Faustian bargains? Restoration realities in the getting involved in the protest focussed on not losing what we’ve recognise that being a scientist does context of biodiversity offset policies. Biological movement, providing evidence got, never mind improving things. not preclude also being a citizen. Conservation, 155, 141-148. to Senate inquiries and the like. Many of my American colleagues Maron, M., Ives, C.D., Kujala, H., Bull, J.W., In the post-truth Trump era, this Maseyk, F.J.F., Bekessy, S., Gordon, A., Watson, For me, Speth hit the nail on the head recently marched in resistance to the is something to be celebrated. It with the remark: “I used to think that J.E.M., Lentini, P.E., Gibbons, P., Possingham, new regime in the US. In the case H.P., Hobbs, R.J., Keith, D.A., Wintle, B.A., & also provides hope that we will top environmental problems were of Roe 8 and the Beeliar wetlands, Evans, M.C. (2016) Taming a Wicked Problem: get through this weird period in biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse Resolving Controversies in Biodiversity global history. the government’s actions have been Offsetting. BioScience, 66, 489-498. and climate change. I thought that met with a growing campaign of May, J., Hobbs, R.J., & Valentine, L.E. (2017) thirty years of good science could citizen protest and civil disobedience. address these problems. I was wrong. Are offsets effective? An evaluation of recent Protesters were initially labelled by environmental offsets in Western Australia. The top environmental problems the government as layabout ratbags, Biological Conservation, in press. are selfishness, greed and apathy, but the protests have swollen to Mendoza, K.-A. (2015) Austerity: The demolition and to deal with these we need a include people from all walks of life of the welfare state and the rise of the zombie cultural and spiritual transformation. economy New Internationalist Publications, – including university professors. Oxford. And we scientists don’t know how The Leeuwin Group of Concerned Speth, J.G. (2014) Angels by the River: A Memoir to do that.” (http://canadiancor.com/ Scientists is pushing for more Kindle Edition Chelsea Green Publishing, White scientists-dont-know/). Conducting effective environmental protection River Junction, Vermont.

88 Photo by Gnangarra BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:1 | April 2017

The Greater Horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. Photograph from Shutterstock CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF Re-accreditations Writtle University College BSc (Hons) Global Ecosystem ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL Management Harper Adams BSc (Hons) Countryside and MANAGEMENT Environmental Management Member Network Activities CIEEM’s Geographic Sections and Special Interest Groups, led by Sally Hayns CEcol MCIEEM | Chief Executive Officer, CIEEM volunteer members, do an excellent job T: 01962 868626 / Email: [email protected] of providing an informative, and usually free or very low cost, programme of knowledge-sharing events including The next stage of this partnership It is very important not to forget talks, site visits and seminars. Although Achieving Net Gain project is to produce good practice the needs of those working in the aimed at CIEEM members they are for Biodiversity guidance on how to deliver net gain environment sector in Ireland. The often open to non-members: students in a range of development situations. decision to leave the EU has profound are particularly encouraged to attend. CIEEM has been working in It is hoped that the guidance will be implications for those working and The Member Networks also plan events recent months with the Institute published in early 2018. learning on both sides of the border and activities specifically for students of Environmental Management between the Republic and Northern including careers advice from a range and Assessment (IEMA) and the Working in partnership Ireland and for those who regularly of members working in different roles Construction Industry Research and move between the two. and sectors. Innovation Association (CIRIA) to over Brexit produce new Principles for achieving Further details on CIEEM Member Net Gain (NG) in biodiversity through As reported previously in the Bulletin, More CIEEM-accredited Network activities can be found here development (http://www.cieem. we are doing a lot of policy work degrees announced (http://www.cieem.net/events). Please net/news/364/biodiversity-net-gain- around Brexit and the implications do draw them to the attention of those eo-principles-and-guidance-for-uk- for environmental policy and Since its launch in 2013 CIEEM’s who you think might be interested. construction-and-developments ). legislation. I am delighted that we degree accreditation programme are working closely with the British has gone from strength to strength. Bat Mitigation Research Whilst No Net Loss (NNL) is Ecological Society, the Institution Designed in consultation with well supported in policy (though of Environmental Science and the employers of graduates coming into CIEEM is currently working with worryingly often not achieved), Landscape Institute in order to ensure the sector, the scheme recognises Professor Fiona Mathews and Dr going beyond this to deliver better that we maximise our resources and those undergraduate and taught Paul Lintott at Exeter University outcomes for biodiversity has been expertise in this area and produce postgraduate degree programmes and on a desk-based research project aspirational. To some extent it still is, ‘joined-up’ evidence and arguments to pathways that can produce graduates into the effectiveness of common but there is growing evidence that decision-makers. One such example with the knowledge and skills that mitigation strategies used to protect developers are seeing the importance was a joint letter to the Secretary of employers require. bat populations impacted, or likely of biodiversity and ecosystem services State, Andrea Leadsom, following to be impacted, during development We are delighted to congratulate to their ‘bottom lines’ and are setting up on the Environmental Audit in the UK and Ireland. Mitigation is the following newly accredited themselves targets of moving beyond Committee’s report on the Future of commonly used in the UK and Ireland and re-accredited programmes. NNL to NG over the next few years. the Natural Environment after the as part of the development process in Thus industry is driving the demand EU referendum. The letter provided New Accreditations order to manage adverse impacts on for evidence on how to achieve NG in support for a number of the EAC’s bats. Cumulatively it accounts for a a range of practical situations. CIEEM, recommendations as well as setting Harper Adams University significant proportion of development IEMA and CIRIA used the principles additional ideas for future policy with BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation costs associated with protecting developed by the Business and respect to land management and the and natural Resource Management European Protected Species. However, Biodiversity Offsetting Programme natural environment. there is little published research Liverpool Hope University (BBOP) as a starting point to develop evidence on the outcomes of commonly We believe that collaboration is vital if BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, 10 overarching principles for achieving used mitigation strategies to help professional bodies, learned societies MSc Ecology and Environmental net gain in the UK and Ireland. guide the developer, planning authority and NGOs with limited resources Management The principles cover topics such as or consultant ecologist and to ensure are to influence decision-makers measuring net gain, transparency, that the proposed solutions are likely effectively. We are also liaising closely University of Derby stakeholder involvement, legacy BSc (Hons) Biology, BSc (Hons) Zoology wto be effective and proportionate. and sustainability. with Wildlife Link and UKELA (the United Kingdom Environmental Law University of South Wales Further details of the research can Association). BSc (Hons) Natural History and MSc be found at (http://www.cieem.net/ Wildlife and Countryside Management bat-mitigation-strategies-research- project).

90 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:1 | April 2017

PUBLICATIONS NEWS

examines how and why years that address plant- What will the wasp plague Kathy Van Alstyne Content highlights some theories, concepts pollinator relationships In the news be like this year? New Associate (Western Washington and methods successfully (http://bit.ly/FEVIppi). Editors University), Kun-Fang Clean sweep for New research from Victoria transition to the applied BES Journals in the Cao (Guangxi University), A phylogenetic meta- University of Wellington in Journal of Animal Ecology realm and ask if some other 2016 Watson Raptor Giselda Durigan (Instituto analysis of temporal shifts New Zealand, published is pleased to welcome areas of research have more Science Prize! Florestal) and Mahesh to offer applied ecology and temperature sensitivity in Journal of Animal Isabella Cattadori Sankaran (National Centre than has yet been realised. of avian spring migratory We are delighted to learn Ecology, has revealed the (Pennsylvania State for Biological Sciences) Issue 54:1 also includes phenology by Takuji Usui, that the winner of the 2016 population of the common University), Damien Farine have joined the Journal of the ‘Forest biodiversity Stuart Butchart and Albert Watson Raptor Science wasp is amplified by spring (Max Planck Institute for Ecology editorial board. and ecosystem services’ Phillimore has recently Prize has been awarded weather, with warmer and Ornithology) and Garrett Special Feature edited by been published in Journal to a paper published in Lichens and the “health” drier springs often meaning M. Street (Mississippi State Online extras Akira Mori (http://bit.ly/ of Animal Ecology. In the Journal of Animal Ecology. of ecosystems more wasps and wasp University) to the editorial JPEforests). The feature paper, the authors show that The paper, ‘Age and stings in summer. The board. Journal of Applied Ecology For the first time, it is focuses on the potential advances in bird migration sex-selective predation study examined 23 years of has started to publish Journal of Ecology Issue possible to integrate at Functional Ecology of research in the areas phenology over time and moderate the overall data from New Zealand and ‘Spotlights’, which are 105.1 includes a Special the global scale the results welcomes new Associate of forest biodiversity and with rising temperatures impact of predators,’ from 39 years from the United groups of papers on a Feature titled ‘Dispersal obtained with the most Editors, Julia Cooke (Open ecosystem services and exhibit substantial intra- Sarah Hoy and colleagues Kingdom, which included current, important theme Processes driving plant widely used methods to University), Oscar Godoy the studies include field- and interspecific variation. examined selective the annual Rothamsted in applied ecology (http:// movement: Range shifts evaluate the “health” of (Instituto de Recursos based work from different predation by goshawks on Insect Survey. The study bit.ly/JPEspotlight). The in a changing world’. ecosystems using lichens. Naturales y Agrobiología forests as well as ecological juvenile and female tawny also found population papers are individually Assembled by Guest Editors This is the result of a de Sevilla-CSIC) and Dan modelling of tropical, owls, drawing on long-term densities for the upcoming submitted to Journal Cristina García, Etienne study now published in Crocker (Sonoma State temperate, boreal and high- data to exploit a unique year are heavily dependent of Applied Ecology and Klein and Pedro Jordano, Methods in Ecology and University). elevation forest landscapes. situation where data from a on numbers from the the Editors group them the Special Feature covers Evolution and represents a prey species were obtained previous year. together after acceptance. a broad range of research fundamental step for this over a period of Goshawk Rather than providing topics relating to dispersal indicator to be considered increase. a complete overview of ecology, from conceptual at the global scale and in the topic, Spotlights are and methodological Furthermore, the two the list of indicators of the intended to showcase advances to the study of the highly commended papers United Nations. You can the latest high-quality ecological and evolutionary were both published in the read the full press release research on a subject and outcomes. Issue 105.1 also Journal of Applied Ecology. here: http://bit.ly/2iu5ULW are accompanied by a includes the annual Harper Firstly, ‘Retrofitting of and the related article here: blog post on The Applied Review, this year written by power lines effectively http://bit.ly/2iE9fqn Ecologist’s Blog. Recent Jason Fridley on the topic reduces mortality by of plant and ecosystem Salamanders hit the Spotlights include ‘Wildlife To truly understand how electrocution in large energetics. treadmill in the name and renewable energy’ and species’ distributions birds: an example with the of science ‘Genetics and restoration’. Rounding out Functional vary through space and endangered Bonelli’s eagle’ Ecology’s 30th anniversary time, biogeographers and from Clément Chevallier Tracking animal BES Press Officer Becky celebrations - which ecologists make use of and colleagues looked at dispersal can be a tricky Allen interviewed authors included a Thematic Topic analytical techniques from the positive effect of power job, especially with of two Journal of Applied at the Annual Meeting and a wide array of disciplines. cable modification on the salamanders, that often Ecology papers for Q&A two new Virtual Issues In January, Methods in survival of the endangered only appear for a few pieces (http://bit.ly/ (Towards a mechanistic Ecology and Evolution Bonelli’s eagle. The second days in spring and whose BESQAs). John Measey, understanding of global released a Biogeography highly commended paper fragile skin can make the author of the article change ecology and 30 Virtual Issue to highlight ‘No effect of satellite implanting tracking devices ‘Counting chirps: acoustic years of Functional Ecology) this fact. It includes articles tagging on survival, impossible. To get around monitoring of cryptic - Issue 31.1 included an from a broad range of fields recruitment, longevity, this, researchers at Ohio frogs’ discusses the editorial looking back over including evolutionary productivity and social State University used acoustic technique he has 30 Years of Functional analysis, remote sensing, dominance of a raptor, a combination of DNA developed to monitor the Ecology and looking ahead disease modelling and much and the provisioning and analysis and endurance- Cape peninsula moss frog to the next 30. Issue 31.1 more. You can find the full condition of its offspring’ testing in their study – a common frog, but one also included our latest Virtual Issue, edited by from Fabrizio Sergio and published in Functional that very few people have In the Journal of Applied Special Feature: ‘Plant– Pedro Peres-Neto and Will colleagues studied the Ecology. They found seen – without disturbance. Ecology annual Editorial Pollinator Interactions Pearse, here: http://bit.ly/ effect of radio-transmitters the sexual Ambystoma Amanda Sigouin talks (54:1-6), the Senior Editors from Flower to Landscape’ ibs17mee on Black Kites and showed salamanders could keep about the importance write about the need to (http://bit.ly/FESFppi) and no effect of their use on walking four times longer of conserving less bring novel theoretical Remember – Issue 1 of all an accompanying Virtual almost every aspect of before reaching fatigue An excavated nest of common wasps, removed from the charismatic species and her advances into the applied the BES journals are free to Issue highlighting 10 papers performance of the birds. than the unisexual, all- ground in a New Zealand Beech forest. Up to 40 nests per Practitioner’s Perspective ecology fold. The article access! published over the past two female mole salamanders. hectare can be found in these NZ forests ‘Priorities for the trade of

92 93 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org book reviews VOL 48:1 | April 2017

our Publications team Reviews in this issue have been collected and edited by Alan Crowden. Catherine Hill, Head of Publishing Book Reviews Emilie Aime, Managing Editor Andrea Baier, Senior Managing less charismatic freshwater and Editor ‘providing nest boxes for of these interventions And on page 47 there are tortoise species’. birds’, ‘taking field corners without underpinning two images of the Mexico- Chris Grieves, Assistant Editor, out of management’ there evidence? Practical nature US boundary markers at the The Journal of Ecology blog has Methods in Ecology and Evolution is a simple summary of conservation has to benefit south edge of the McKinney published a review of 2016 and a the evidence, with broad from what is reported here Flats taken in 1893 (with a preview of 2017 from both Executive Kate Harrison, Assistant Editor, Ecological Reviews headings providing – we need to move on from horse and dismounted rider) Editor David Gibson and Blog overviews of interventions the body of knowledge and in 1994 (with a fence, Editor Pierre Mariotte. We have also Simon Hoggart, Assistant Editor, likely to be beneficial (in known as ‘lore’! yes a fence, not a wall) with published interesting blogs related Journal of Animal Ecology green shading) through to a caption remarking ‘…site to National Tree Week and World Soil harmful (in red shading), Des Thompson was relatively unchanged Day, as well as a review of the BES Jennifer Meyer, Assistant Editor, with quite a large number since European settlement, Annual Meeting 2016 from Associate Functional Ecology difficult to assess due to no with much the same Editor Jane Catford (jecologyblog. Erika Newton, Managing Editor evidence being found. vegetation as existed in wordpress.com). the 1800s.’ Well, that may Judgements on The first step in any research Alice Plane, Assistant Editor, change! Journal of Applied Ecology interventions were based endeavour is to wade through the on experts’ scorings of As with most Island titanic amounts of articles available to James Ross, Assistant Editor, effectiveness (size of Press books, there are become acquainted with the existing Journal of Ecology benefit or harm) and idiosyncrasies, and in knowledge. For many people, it’s one What Works in Conservation certainty (strength of this regard the book does of the most dreadful and tedious parts evidence). A substantial not disappoint! It is an of the scientific process. But what W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, amount of the background important book, with if we could streamline this step by N. Ockendon and R.K. Smith material is accessed the landscape ecologist automatizing parts of it? Automated (2015) through web links given author urging a paradigm- content analysis (ACA) gives us the Open Book Publishers, in the book, with www. changing, science-based opportunity to do just that. Find out Cambridge £29.95 (hbk), conservationevidence.com approach to pursuing how in Gabriela Nunez-Mir’s post £19.95 (pbk). The PDF is providing fuller texts and large-scale, transboundary on the Methods blog: http://bit. free to download references. It is planned conservation. The core ly/2jbdydQ ISBN 978-1-78374-157-1 (ppk) to revise the book on an The Science of Open of the book is made up annual basis, and it is free of reports on policy and ISBN 978-1-78374-158-8 (hbk) Spaces. Theory and Books to download as a PDF. Practice for Conserving research ‘experiments’, ISBN 978-1-78374-159-5 with the comment that ‘the Large Complex Systems Forthcoming Ecological Reviews (digital PDF) The 338 pages contain narratives recounting these include volumes on: enhancing the a wealth of fascinating Charles G. Curtin (2015) experiences provide an What Works in resilience of agriculture; wildlife information, and I for one intellectual road map of my Conservation? Well, Island Press, Washington. disease ecology; and grasslands was left staggered at two path of discovery.’ I’ll say! this book does, and yet 270pp £59.00 (hbk) £25.00 and global change. Keep an eye on findings. First, there is a The six chapters provide it does not even pose (pbk) our website for when pre-orders are dearth of experimental a perspective of place, the question! This is a ISBN 978 1 59726 992 6 (hbk) available. evidence to support important studies of US remarkable piece of work, the vast majority of ISBN 978 1 61091 993 3 (pbk) Southwestern rangelands providing an assessment conservation interventions. and Maine’s coastal of the effectiveness of 648 As I flicked through this Second, even for popularly fisheries, and interesting conservation interventions delightful book it was the deployed management essays on preservation, based on a distillation of pictures and diagrams that (such as bracken control, resilience and sustainability the underlying scientific initially caught my eye. creating beetle banks, of open spaces. I found evidence. Using panels First, on page 96 we have installing green bridges as the historical ecological of many experts the a ‘cod relay’ with men road crossing structures for and sociological accounts seven chapters focus on running with dead cod bats) there is either no or about landscape change amphibian conservation along the main street of extremely limited evidence especially interesting, and (highly topical), bat North Haven Island, Maine to support the practice. for landscape ecologists I conservation, bird – evidently an important So why is there so much think this is an important After a spring clean in the BES office, conservation (more cultural phenomenon. rhetoric, confidence, and book. It is sensible in we have a few Ecological Reviews than 430 interventions), Second, on page 161 a perhaps most worryingly, setting out some principles volumes looking for a good home. farmland conservation, snapshot taken in a car has staff and monetary and ground rules for If you’d like one, email Kate the control of freshwater the caption ‘Monitoring is investment in so many of adaptively managing ([email protected]) invasive species, enhancing akin to driving only with a these techniques? Why and sustaining ‘open with an idea for a future volume natural pest control, and rearview mirror in that you is this happening, with spaces’, and with 33 together with a note of the published enhancing soil fertility. For see what you have passed nature reserves and all pages of references and title you would like. Not all titles are each intervention, such as through, but not what you manner of other protected supporting notes it is well available and first come, first served! ‘creating a skylark plot’, are about to hit.’ I like that! areas subjected to so many researched. On many pages

94 95 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org book reviews VOL 48:1 | April 2017

I found myself cheering and of wooded habitats, cityscape. Surely no that the latter have been poor degree of success mays dominates food particular respect to current and disagreeing in equal are just some of the topics, ecosystem in Europe exaggerated in the context of such programmes is dishes. Traditional markets knowledge and possible measure – no bad thing for with many of the chapters comes close to matching of the ecological theory evaluated in Chapter and trade links past and causes of biodiversity a lively read. co-authored by the editors. the dynamism of an urban of the last 200 years, 6. Davis concludes present are also discussed loss. The book ends with The final two chapters are landscape, yet most colonial governments that deserts/drylands as mechanisms for crop a 45-page perspective on Des Thompson insightful: Tom Moorhouse ecologists pay scant regard and the often ineffective should be considered as dissemination beyond human rights in relation et al writing about to the unkempt redbrick policies adopted by ‘resplendent’, as they truly regions of domestication as to the plant genetic applications of effective and concrete towers and agencies such as the UN. are! On a positive front, is the role of ethnobotany resources of Mesoamerica conservation research their eco-cultural environs. In Chapter two reference this book provides a novel in sustainable ecosystem including their control by on water voles, and No words, just simple is made to the perception analysis of the world’s management in the government, industry etc Christopher Sandom and images, remind us of of drylands in the drylands. On a minor Tehuacán Valley. There and conflicts of interest David Macdonald delving the discordant pace and Classical, early Christian negative front it comprises is a chapter on plant which might arise in into ‘rewilding’, which complexity of change in and Medieval periods 292 pages of which only domestication which is a respect of future use. This is mooted as offering a our cities that wildlife and when such regions were 175 pages are text, plus reminder that Mexico has book is a tour de force. radical future for the British people cope with. considered in a generally Foreword, while the provided many crop plants The 59 contributors, who countryside. positive and intrinsic light remaining c.30 per cent are including maize, squashes, are mainly from research Des Thompson without any great need ‘notes’ i.e. observations chile and avocado, another groups in Mexico with The second volume, dealing for ‘improvement’. During and essential references. Ethnobotany of Mexico chapter on management additions from international with countryside conflicts, the Age of Exploration Marrying the two is vital and cultural imperatives scholars, provide a wealth has 15 chapters , covering from c.1450-1900 AD, in order to comprehend the Edited by R. Lira, A. Casas follows, while incipient of information in its 22 foxes (of course!), badgers the subject of Chapter many issues discussed; and J. Blancas (2016). domestication in agriculture chapters, each of which (with a very good chapter 3, perceptions began to whilst the separation New York: Springer, 576pp, and silviculture is is well referenced via on bovine tuberculosis), change; Davis suggests does not help with £159.50 (hbk) also discussed. Where footnotes. It presents American mink, brown that the combination of comprehension, the ISBN 978-1-4614-6669-7 agriculture is practised both introductory and rats, moles and, for good capitalism and colonialism detail is useful for further weeds follow and in advanced material but measure, a welcome plus the development reference. Throughout The vital and reciprocal Mexico’s case some of also asks important critical evaluation of citizen The Arid Lands. History, of desiccation theories the text maps are basic relationship between plants these have themselves questions about gaps in science. Power, Knowledge altered management but vital and helpful, and society takes many become useful species. knowledge; this makes it approaches and inspired and the few centrepiece forms and is examined in A further examination of relevant to undergraduates, Two things stand out in Diana K Davis (2016) the book: an integrated mistaken links between colour photographs are a variety of disciplines. domestication patterns postgraduates and MIT Press.Cambridge, approach across genetics, forests and deserts. All of iconic. However, the One such discipline and processes adopts postdoctoral scientists/ Massachusetts 292pp epidemiology, behaviour, these opened up prospects most important message is ethnobotany which a phylogeography i.e. researchers as well as £23.95 (hbk) ecology and many other for improvement, a form of relates to social and focuses on the traditional an approach based on policy makers and anyone disciplines; and the ISBN 978-0-262-03452-4 (hbk) what might be described environmental interactions uses of plants for various population genetics. The concerned with establishing development of practical as environmental in drylands (which purposes, including food, histories of individual sustainable development. Deserts and drylands and sensible suggestions imperialism, ensued as have a long history) medicine and religion, crops e.g. beans, squashes, To bring such a variety occupy about 41 per for resolving farmland discussed in Chapter 4. and whether or not and how those practices maize, chile peppers and of material together is cent of the Earth’s land conservation problems. Traditional practices such sustainable development have sometimes developed cotton are also considered a credit to the editors surface and are home Often these are described as nomadism, free grazing, in the twenty first century into commercial activities. in individual chapters. All though the publishers have Wildlife Conservation to circa 38 per cent of as ‘solutions’ – I’m not so and management by fire can be achieved. This Many such traditions have become significant hardly helped the cause by on Farmland. Volume 1. the world’s population. sure about that – but they were not encouraged, is a thought-provoking characterise Mesoamerica, crops though maize charging such a high price Managing for Nature on Complex is perhaps are certainly important. or were controlled in text and a welcome notably Mexico, which and cotton (Gossypium which will inevitably limit Lowland Farms the most appropriate Beyond practitioners and space and time, and, as addition to the literature has a rich cultural history hirsutum: upland cotton) access to libraries. word to describe Volume 2. Conflict in the conservation advisers, this presented in Chapter 5, on drylands. It should and a rich biodiversity. have become especially the environmental, Dr A. M. Mannion Countryside book deserves an advanced the issue of desertification be essential reading for This context is outlined significant as economic cultural and historical undergraduate readership became established as a university undergraduates in the opening chapters crops globally. The final Ed. by D.W. Macdonald and characteristics of these Asian Sacred Natural which should be inspired by matter of grave concern. and postgraduates in followed by a chapter on four chapters focus on R. E. Feber (2015) regions, and their the approaches described. This was amplified by environmental science and sources of information recent developments Sites. Philosophy and Oxford University Press, interactions in space the great drought of geography with interests which includes indigenous and concerns. One Practice in Protected Oxford £85 for two Des Thompson and time. This is the the 1930s and the later in arid and semi-arid documents known as included topic is the loss Areas and Conservation. volume set underpinning theme in drought in the African regions. codices and chronicles of of traditional ecological Edited by B. Verschuuren ISBN 978-0-19-964683-8 (hbk) Davis’ synthesis which Sahel during the 1970s Europeans as the New knowledge as exemplified Bilslands’ Bakery and N. Furuta, (2016) focuses on a political both of which resulted in Dr A. M. Mannion World was annexed by the by developments in the Paul Walton This is a superb two- ecology approach. Chapter considerable loss of life Old World in the 1500s and Tehuantepec Isthmus of Earthscan from Routledge, volume set, written and [email protected] one defines deserts and and international concern. later. Subsequent topics Oaxaca, while another is an London and New York, edited to the highest of 2015-16 drylands and the attempts Political intervention include Pre-Columbian examination of conservation 340pp, £39.99 (pbk) standards. Volume 1 has over the last few centuries resulted in numerous food systems, native edible of plant genetic material ISBN 978-1-138-93631-7 16 chapters ranging over In 36 monochrome views to promote development amelioration/improvement plants of which there are in both in situ and ex an eclectic array of studies. of a Glasgow Bakery, built and alleviate perceived programmes, many 2168 species out of 25,000 situ contexts. The issues The value of sacred sites Field margin management, in 1881 and demolished environmental problems under the auspices of the – 30,000 plant species in surrounding biosafety, for the conservation organic farming, landscape in 2015, we see the such as desertification UN e.g. the Arid Zone total, and contemporary especially in relation to of ecosystems and scale management of extraordinary diversity and and land degradation. Research Program (1951- Mayan food systems in the release of GM crops, organisms is increasingly dragonflies and damselflies, starkness of a decaying Davis argues the case 1964). The relatively the Yucatan where Zea are also examined with being recognised. This

96 97 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org book reviews VOL 48:1 | April 2017

is especially evident in Part 5 with reference but as Hugh Tyndale-Biscoe Flora of Pan-Himalaya in Asia where there is to diverse examples points out in the foreword, Volume 48(2) Asteraceae a considerable range from India, Kyrgyzstan, it is unusual for a practising II Saussurea of sites that reflect the Nepal and Oman. Part 6 scientist to write about the longstanding relationship highlights the reconciliation process of discovery and You-Sheng Chen. Editor in between Nature and or discrepancy between how it is done. All credit Chief De-Yuan Hong (2016) religion. The emphasis in spiritual/religious to Thomas Newsome for Cambridge University Press this book is on examples foundations and doing his Dad proud, and and Science Press Beijing, from IUCN’s protected conservation science over to CSIRO Publishing for 350pp areas with reference to the time and the current need having the imagination to ISBN 978-1-107-15896-2 challenges of environmental to modernise. Examples support such work. and cultural conservation, are given from Northern The second volume in a and continued religious Thailand, the Tibetan flora that is planned for governance in the light ‘spiritscapes’ (an intriguing publication in 50 volumes of intense modernisation new term) of North West spread over 80 books. throughout Asia. It emerged Yunnan, the Takht-e from the Sacred Natural Soleyman Lake in Iran, and Sites Network Project and Tuvan sites in China. The contributors – how much has 50 plus contributors. conclusion reflects on the The Red Kangaroo in ALSO RECEIVED of the original should be The introduction describes many cultural, philosophical Central Australia. An retained, is there enough the framework for analysis, and religious variables Notes by Alan Crowden early account by A. E. significant new material notably themes, national which have produced such Newsome The Domestic Dog. Its to be added, is the subject considerations, legal sacred sights and points still important enough to Thomas Newsome and Alan contexts, conservation out how they can contribute evolution, behavior merit a book at all? It helps Newsome (2016) details, the role of to conservation and and interactions with that more than 20 years custodians/religious complement government people. Second edition CSIRO Publishing, have passed, but I have to leaders, and the coupling action which is mostly Melbourne. 176pp, £23.99 Edited by James Serpell say that the new version of science with spiritual science-based. It thus (pbk) (2017) is a brilliant update. While belief. These topics are espouses a biocultural ISBN 9781486301553 Cambridge University retaining the character of then examined individually approach. The illustration Wild Equids. Ecology, Press, Cambridge 426pp, the original, it has been in six Parts. Part 1 sets out of chapters is variable but Between 1959 and 1962 Management, and £69.99 (hbk), £34.99 (pbk) expanded with the addition the Asian philosophy of each presents a useful the young scientist Alan Conservation of 7 new chapters, while protected areas, underlines reference list. This is ISBN 978-1-107-02414-4 (hbk) Newsome shot 2000 red authors retained from the Edited by Jason I. Ransom the importance of sacred both a wide-reaching and ISBN 978-1-107-69934-2 (pbk) kangaroos on the plains original, who are 20 years and Petra Kaczensky (2016) mountains and the value specialist text which brings of central Australia. more eminent than they The Johns Hopkins of world heritage status. together a broad range I should declare an interest The data collected were were, have been diligent University Press, 244pp £45 Part 2 focuses on national of authors, disciplines in this book. I commissioned published in 12 papers in updating, especially (hbk) perspectives and practical and examples; it is to be the first edition which was between 1964 and 1980, when acknowledging that aspects of conservation; followed by similar texts published in 1995, and but Newsome also worked ISBN 978-1-4214-1909-1 ideas and interpretations examples are drawn from on the Americas and the basked in the reflected on a manuscript on the have changed. As well as a A book which apparently Bhutan, India and Nepal. Arctic. glory as copies flew off natural history of the red superb new set of chapter originated from discussions The legal context and the bookshelves with the kangaroo that was initially openings from the pencil at an International Wild governance is examined Dr A M Mannion speed that a dog’s dinner for publication in book of Priscilla Barrett, the Equid Conference in in Part 3 with reference disappears off the plate. form, but which was never illustrative content as a Austria, developed into a to specific sites, notably While the largest audience finished. The manuscript whole has been improved very interesting collection Xe Champhone in Lao, turned out to be students was only discovered in and the overall design of essays on many of the the sacred sites of the taking companion animal his late father’s papers updated. If you liked the key topics of concern Donaria Kondhs tribe in courses in veterinary by Newsome’s son, who previous edition you’ll want in equid conservation. India. Forum Pekaseh in school, we also sold copies revised and edited it for the new one, if you’re a dog A very strong list of Bali, and the Pa’oh peoples at virtually every scientific publication in 2016. Sounds owner and don’t know the contributors has been site of Kakku in Burma. conference at which the a bit unpromising, doesn’t book you’ll enjoy it, and if corralled, resulting in a How development and book was displayed. I it? But it’s a little gem of you disapprove of domestic tightly edited volume that conservation can proceed probably sold copies to a book; after an unusually dogs you’ll at least be is more compact than in tandem is the subject some Bulletin readers in the informative foreword there relieved to know that there most and all the better as of Part 4 with reference days when I attended BES are 8 pages of colour plates is acknowledgement of the a consequence. If you’re to examples from Japan, meetings to man a book of 1970’s central Australia, issues relating to the impact setting out on a research Cambodia and southwest exhibit. followed by the text which of dogs on wildlife and dog programme or just curious China as well as the retains Alan’s voice (and population management. A about the current state of transboundary Kailash So how does this new he was a character in a superb update of a classic knowledge of this group, Sacred Landscape. The edition compare to the country full of characters). book. here’s the place to start. significance and roles of original? Producing a new Obviously the book is most custodians and religious edition can be a challenge apposite for those living leaders are examined for both editor and and working in Australia,

98 99 BES Bulletin british ecologicalsociety.org VOL 48:1 | April 2017 sponsorship Advertise Your Support WHAT EXHIBITORS SAY ABOUT OUR ANNUAL MEETING for Ecology - Advertise Exhibition & Sponsorship PR Statistics, a commercial training provider in the field of the analysis of ecological data, exhibited at our Annual Meeting in Liverpool in in the Bulletin December 2016. Established in 1913, we are Europe’s Opportunities largest ecological society. We offer a limited amount of advertising in ‘As a new business I was at first a little unsure each issue of our full colour quarterly as to the benefits of taking a trade stand at what Bulletin which is mailed directly to at OUR EVENTS our membership. Advertising can be booked on an issue by issue basis and would be our first scientific conference. However, substantial discounts are offered to regular advertisers. You can choose to Paul Bower | Fundraising and Development Manager | [email protected] the whole process and organisation was made supply artwork directly to us, or we so easy with the help of BES staff both during the can provide a full design service Ecology Across Borders is our Networking. Participation in a packed located in the areas of highest footfall. If you would like to reach 4,600 joint Annual Meeting organised in calendar of free events and receptions Additional furniture or increased build-up and at the conference. Everything went ecologists in 96 countries with your partnership with GfÖ (the ecological for delegates, exhibitors and sponsors. power supply can be bought directly message, please contact Paul on society of Germany, Austria and Exhibitors are placed at the heart of from the venue. extremely smoothly. +44(0)207 685 2500 or Switzerland) and NecoV (the the conference and are always an [email protected] ecological society of the Netherlands integral part of the experience at BES A limited number of display tables and Flanders) and in association with run events. costing €200 per day will be available The benefits of taking a stand at the BES Annual

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with his third year students. Part of the day’s investigations thE BullE

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This issue’s backward look comes from Sadly, the Moor House station shared the the frozen North of England, and records fate of many Nature Conservancy research participants in a field trip to Moor House stations and was closed in 1982. in 1975. Left to right in the group photo: Ken Robertson, John Grace, Richard There is a Moor House Archive maintained Hobbs, Liz Telford and Charles Flower. by CEH at Lancaster. Attempts have been The photograph was provided by Richard made to make earlier science outputs more Hobbs, who was not even old enough to accessible. An annual report, containing grow a beard when the picture is taken. research updates and meteorological He is now so old he can’t remember the reports, was produced from 1960-1984 name of the University of Edinburgh and these have been digitized. Full text lecturer on the far right. copies of these and other documents can be downloaded from the NERC Open The Moor House area of Upper Teesdale in Research Archive (NORA). England was one of Britain’s first National Nature Reserves, designated in 1952. Its potential as a research area was already apparent through the work of scientists such as Jim Cragg and Gordon Manley. In the early 1950s the Nature Conservancy oversaw the purchase of the Moor House Shooting Lodge and established a field station to act as a base for research into ecological relationships in a mountain and moorland ecosystem.