yale environmental n e w s The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies spring 2008 · vol. 13, no. 2

Greetings from New YIBS Director Jeffrey Park see page 2 News from the Director of YIBS By Jeffrey Park RoseRita Riccitelli I was honored last autumn to be asked to serve as the Director of Yale’s faculty positions in Ecology & Evolutionary search for extraterrestrial life. An interdepart- at present, and a substantial public outreach Institute for Biospheric Studies by President Richard Levin and Provost Biology, and each year awards Gaylord mental hiring initiative in the broad field of effort has been proposed for the center. The Donnelley environmental postdoctoral fellow- microbiology has been presented to the Dean final form of the proposed institute is subject Andrew Hamilton. ships to researchers in the biodiversity of both of and the Provost. Establishing a to many uncertainties. At this stage of plan- our present world and in the geologic past. multi-departmental faculty cluster in the newly ning, however, one thing is clear: YIBS will play I have had the great benefit of succeeding That was 2004. This is 2008 and the stakes we YIBS seeded a faculty position in Geology acquired laboratories of Yale’s West Campus is an important role if the Yale Climate Institute Derek Briggs, whose able leadership of YIBS face are larger. The twin pressures on global & Geophysics, maintaining Yale’s leading one possible outcome of this effort. becomes a reality. has given me momentum and guidance for agriculture exerted by the developing world’s scholarship in how climate and atmospheric Biospheric studies at Yale serves broadly The Winter/Spring 2008 semester has the future. To a large extent, the change in hunger for meat and the developed world’s greenhouse gases are related together in earth based intellectual and societal goals, but an been an exciting one for YIBS, full of opportu- YIBS leadership has been marked by continu- thirst for biofuels has raised the prospect that history. So-called “green” technology softens even broader set of goals was articulated this nity. I thank RoseRita Riccitelli for smoothing ity in its activities: the Donnelley postdoctoral millions of people might need to give up eat- the impact of economic growth on the natural year by Yale faculty across a dozen depart- the leadership transition for me, and whose fellowship program, support for graduate ing, period. world. YIBS has seeded faculty positions in ments and schools. As of this writing, a pro- new title of Assistant Director properly reflects students in YIBS-allied departments, the lively Acknowledging the environmental chal- sustainable engineering, water resource man- posal to create the Yale Climate Institute (YCI) her role in keeping the Institute humming with symposia sponsored by the Center for the lenge is not the same as addressing it. There agement and green architecture. Ecological is being prepared for the Provost. The creation activity. Study of Global Change, the isotope measure- is no way to turn back the calendar to a time disruption will influence the spread of disease of YCI is motivated by the recognition by Yale’s RoseRita is ably supported by Daniele ments and genomic sequencing of the Isotope in which 9 billion human beings lived on pathogens; YIBS seeded a relevant faculty climate scientists, biologists, economists and Dugre-Martin, Senior Administrative Assistant. Center and ECOSAVE lab, respectively, and Earth in a sustainable manner. Such a time position in the School of Epidemiology and policy scholars that the impending impact of Thomas Lovejoy, the chair of the External the ever-tasty sandwiches served at the Friday has never existed. Instead, we must innovate, Public Health. The impersonal dynamics of the human-induced climate change is perhaps the Advisory Committee, has been a consistent YIBS lunch seminars. The global environment adapt and adjust. The enormous scope of the natural world are not the only factor to con- greatest challenge of all time to human inge- source of intellectual and moral support. outside Yale is far from static, however, and environmental challenge informs the proper sider; societal impact is also malleable. YIBS nuity. Strategies to mitigate or adapt to climate Together we look forward to an interesting YIBS will respond to, and hopefully anticipate, role of biospheric studies at a great university has seeded faculty searches in environmental change could be needed too soon to accept future for YIBS. its changes. like Yale. We must understand how life and anthropology, with a focus on the societal the usual intellectual separation of science and American society faces interlocking our planet interact in order to develop sensible impact of globalization, and in demography, policy research within the University. YCI pro- challenges in the 21st century, and it is not policies for managing our own ever-expanding because population pressure catalyzes envi- poses a bold reorganization of Yale’s natural assured success in confronting any one of role in the natural world. Developing new ronmental impact. and social scientists around the four themes them. We wish to maintain economic activity knowledge relevant to this problem is the prin- at levels that satisfy basic needs and desires, cipal goal of YIBS. American society faces interlocking challenges to retain healthy natural environments outside YIBS supports faculty-hiring initiatives the “built” environment, and to use natural across Yale’s departments and schools to in the 21st century, and it is not assured success resources in a manner that is sustainable facilitate research and scholarship in many in confronting any one of them. enough to keep the game going into the 22nd topical areas. YIBS seeds faculty positions century. At the turn of this century it was still across the University by offering salary sup- In addition to the hiring initiatives of the of (1) environmental dynamics and climate his- possible to believe that Earth’s natural envi- port for five years to each new YIBS professor. past decade, the Faculty Council last year tory, (2) climate change mitigation, (3) climate ronment was a sideshow to the main arenas Each year members of the Faculty Council and authorized YIBS to seed a faculty position in change adaptation, and (4) energy resources. of human endeavor: business, technology, the External Advisory Board of YIBS discuss geomicrobiology, the symbiosis of microbial In early March a workshop was held to assess culture, political activity and war. As I write new research opportunities at their respective life within the Earth system. Initiated as a part- the range of climate-related research currently this, a shift in perception is occurring as food meetings. This deliberative process has done nership between the departments of Geology performed at Yale. The range is surprisingly and energy shortages remind us of our two- much to rejuvenate the study of organismal & Geophysics and Ecology & Evolutionary large, from climate effects on disease-vector way interaction with our planet. If motivated biology on campus, and has grafted new Biology, this corner of biospheric studies soon ecology to novel photovoltaic polymer tech- only by personal desires and market forces, research subfields onto existing departments attracted support from other Yale depart- nology to policy ideas that meld free-market a society tends to deplete its environmental and schools. ments. In addition to the Molecular, Cellular & concepts with environmental protection. The resources unthinkingly. In an Environmental YIBS faculty positions have been allocated Developmental Biology department and Yale’s workshop showed that Yale has a sufficient Studies seminar I taught with John Wargo, we to address a wide variety of biospheric con- School of Medicine, stakeholders include mix of faculty research to initiate a credible examined how overfishing in Atlantic waters, cerns. To preserve biodiversity in locations the Chemistry and Astronomy departments, multi-disciplinary effort in climate studies. cover: Squinting Brown Bush Butterly, Bicyclus anynana. facilitated by advances in trawler technology, touched by human activity, one must under- Photo by Kathleen Prudic. See page 25 for article. motivated by the potential use of microbes Some critical research areas, such as biofuels refrigeration and supermarket marketing, has stand how biodiversity sustains itself outside for innovative chemical synthesis and by the and marine biology, are lightly covered at Yale forced millions of people to give up eating cod. human intervention. YIBS has seeded several

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Hendy, Gaylord Donnelley Postdoctoral Environmental Associate, Department of Ocean and Climate Forum Geology & Geophysics, Marine biodiversity Oceanographic Institution) discussed physi- atmosphere. Niklas Schneider (University during the Cenozoic: assessing the response of cal processes occurring in the Arctic Ocean, of Hawaii) and Annalisa Bracco (Georgia clams and snails to global paleoenvironmental including those that led to an unprecedented Tech) discussed the role of the Pacific and and biogeographic change n Jay Ague, Professor, loss of perennial sea ice in the Arctic during Indian oceans, respectively, in global and Department of Geology & Geophysics, Exergy, the summer of 2007. local climate and weather patterns. Finally, energy, and sustainability n Julie Zimmerman, Harry Bryden (University of Southampton) Jennifer MacKeanon (Scripps Institution of Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering and Fiamma Straneo (Woods Hole Oceanography) gave a thorough overview of and at the School of Forestry & Environmental Oceanographic Institution) concentrated on mixing processes in the ocean that supply Studies, Designing tomorrow n David Tank, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation energy to the ocean meridional overturning. Postdoctoral Associate, Yale Peabody Museum (AMOC) and deep-water formation in the The central piece of the evening program, of Natural History, Lecturer, Department of Climate change caused by increasing con- northern high latitudes, responsible for trans- which included dinner and a discussion of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Inferring pro- centrations of greenhouse gases in the atmo- porting large amounts of heat from low lati- these topics among the forum participants, yibs/esc friday noon seminars cesses from patterns–three scales and tales using sphere has become a matter of grave concern tudes to the northern Atlantic. In particular, Dr. was a talk by Kerry Emanuel (Massachusetts plant phylogenies n Alison Galvani, Assistant The Yale Institute for Biopsheric Studies (YIBS) continues its sponsorship of the weekly YIBS/ESC for our society. To understand the mechanisms Bryden described the great progress made so Institute of Technology) focusing on the role of Professor, Epidemiology & Public Health, The Friday Luncheon Seminars. The seminars are held in the Class of 1954 Environmental Science and effects of this climate change we need to far in monitoring the strength of the AMOC tropical cyclones for climate and especially for epidemiological game theory of influenza vaccine Center (ESC) during the fall and spring semesters. The Spring 2008 featured the following list of look at different key components of the climate with the array of instruments of the RAPID the ocean general circulation. n William Piel, Associate Director, Yale Peabody speakers and topics: system—one of these critical components is program—a joint program between American The forum was well attended by students, Museum of Natural History, Tools for phyloinfor- the world ocean. Measurements and observa- and European scientists. postdocs and faculty from the Department of Julie Newman, Director, Yale Office of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, The tail of two matics n Larry Gall, Head of Computer Systems tions indicate that the ocean is already chang- Agatha de Boer (University of East Anglia) Geology & Geophysics and other Yale depart- Sustainability, Institutionalizing Sustainability: fish: ecological implication of phenotypic varia- Office, Curatorial Affiliate Yale Peabody ing. Significant variations in ocean tempera- talked about the role of the Southern Ocean ments. Moving from Theory to Practice at Yale n Michael tion in alewives n William Schlesinger, Director, Museum of Natural History, Leveraging access tures are observed at depths reaching 1000 in climate, and in particular about the mecha- Donoghue, Director, Yale Peabody Museum Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, to the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History: meters. There are reports on the slow-down of nisms by which ocean processes can regulate of Natural History, G. Evelyn Hutchinson New York, Balancing the global nitrogen cycle n informatics approaches in the collections. the Gulf Stream over the last several decades. the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, James Saiers, Professor of Hydrology, School The upwelling of cold water off the coast of Developing intersections between phylogeny of Forestry & Environmental Studies, History For an updated schedule, please visit the YIBS Web site www.yale.edu/yibs/ESC_Seminar.html California failed in 2005 for the first time dur- and ecology n David Post, Assistant Professor, and hydrology of the florida everglades n Austin ing the period of regular observations, with detrimental effects on fisheries. Changes in the properties of El Niño and climate shift of migration, politics and population seminar series PMOD/Switzerland made a presentation Shindell from NASA/GISS concluded the meet- forum on solar variability the late 1970s are other examples (during the The Interdisciplinary Bioethics Center and the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies (YIBS) co- entitled “Solar Irradiance Variability During ing with a presentation entitled “Effects of and climate change last three decades, we have experienced the sponsored a seminar series, Migration, Politics and Population, during the winter/spring semester. the Last Three Solar Cycles: Observations and Solar Variability on Regional Climate: Models Under the sponsorship of the Yale Institute most intense El Niño episodes in more than a There were six seminars in the series: Mechanisms.” Dr. Stuart Jordan, emeritus and Observations.” for Biospheric Studies (YIBS) Center for the century). Senior Scientist from the NASA/Goddard The presentations, all uniformly informa- Study of Global Change, a Forum on Solar The Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies Space Flight Center, made an after-dinner tive and stimulating, can be found on the web Stathis Kalyvas, Arnold Wolfers Professor of Michael White, Professor of Sociology at Variability and Climate Change was held at (YIBS) Center for the Study of Global Change presentation entitled “The Role of the Sun at www.yale.edu/yibs/Solar%20Variability%20 Political Science at , presented Brown University, presented The New American Yale University on March 28 and 29, 2008. presented an Ocean and Climate forum on in Global Warming.” Professor Sarbani Basu Program/. War and Population Movements on January 24. Immigration: Success or Segmentation? on The meeting was convened by professors Karl April 11 and 12, 2008. Convened by profes- from Yale spoke on “Helioseismic Evidence In summary, although at the present time February 28. Turekian, from the Department of Geology sors Karl Turekian, Alexy Fedorov and Steve Uli Mayer, Professor and Chair of the of Changes Inside the Sun.” Professor Juerg global warming is likely dominated by the & Geophysics, and Sabatino Sofia, from Sherwood of Yale University, the forum fea- Department of Sociology at Yale University, Khachig Tololyan, Professor, Department of Beer, Eawag/Switzerland, spoke on “Long-term increase of the concentration of greenhouse the Department of Astronomy. Scientists tured nine distinguished speakers from the presented Life Courses In the Transformation English at Wesleyan University, presented The Solar Variability and Evidence for Solar Forcing gases, that was not the case for the past, and from the , Canada, France, US and UK who discussed topics relevant of East Germany—the Contribution of Social Armenian Diaspora on March 6. from Paleoclimatic Records.” Dr. Gerard solar irradiance variations have played signifi- Switzerland and the United Kingdom made to these issues. Steve Griffies (Geophysical Demography to the Study of System Disruption, Matthew Connelly, Associate Professor in the Thuillier from CNRS/France described the cant roles in past climate changes. However, 10 presentations covering observation and Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ) on February 7. Department of History, Columbia University, PICARD space mission. Michael Schlesinger, despite the dominance of current greenhouse theory. Professor Paul Charbonneau from the and David Marshall (Oxford University) talked Jasmina Besirevic-Regan, Dean Trumbull presented Unnatural Selection on March 27. University of Illinois, addressed “Has the Sun gases, it is essential to understand the role of University of Montreal presented “A Novel about challenges and progress made in the College and Lecturer in Ethnicity & Migration Changed Climate?” Professor Gabi Hagerl all natural climate drivers (mainly solar chang- Semi-empirical Model for the Total Solar understanding and modeling of the ocean with and Sociology, presented The Ethnic-Cleansing For a listing of future seminars relating to population from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland es and volcanic eruptions) to properly calibrate Irradiance.” Professor Sofia from Yale pre- a hierarchy of models of different complexities, of Banja Luka: National Homogenization, and demography, please visit the YIBS Web site at spoke on “Estimating the Solar Contribution climate models and obtain robust estimates of www.yale.edu/yibs sented a theoretical work describing the “TSI from simple conceptual models to state-of- Political Repression and the Emergence of a to Surface Temperature Changes over the last climate sensitivity to greenhouse warming. Variability Produced by Structural Changes the-art general circulation models (GCMs). Bosnian Muslim Refugee Community on Few Centuries: Was it the Sun, Greenhouse of the Solar Interior.” Dr. Claus Frohlich from Mary-Louise Timmermans (Woods Hole February 21. Gases, or Volcanoes?” Finally, Dr. Drew 4 yale environmental n e w s yale environmental n e w s yale environmental n e w s 5 f a c u l t y n e w s

conferences , s e m i n a r s , s y m p o s i a

Evolution and Medicine: Fresh Insights from Recent Interactions

Two symposia organized at Yale, in February and April, brought together leaders from evolutionary biology and medicine to examine issues that touch both fields. The symposia may lead to innovations in the Yale College curriculum and have helped to put evolutionary medicine on the strategic planning agenda for the University, a process that should begin this fall. National Geographic Explorer Television Films in Yale Reproductive Ecology Laboratory The Yale Symposia on in Health and disease. The evolution of the Y chromosome of HIV makes vaccine development difficult at Disease were designed to address a broad was the focus of David Page from MIT. Carole the same time that it illuminates the reasons Last November a film crew from National NGE interviewed Professor Richard of their full day visit was rounded out filming range of biological questions and concerns. Ober from the University of Chicago discussed for the evolution of sexual reproduction. You Geographic Explorer (NGE) television descend- Bribiescas and Dr. Stephanie Anestis of the hormone assessment methods in the lab. How much should doctors know about evolu- the evolution of HLA genes, and Paul Turner will see how simple changes in the hospital ed on the Reproductive Ecology Laboratory Department of Anthropology regarding their tion? Would those who knew a substantial from Yale addressed the evolutionary ecol- management of antibiotics can put the brakes (REL) in the Class of 1954 Environmental research on testosterone, behavior, and human Preview clips are available on the lab website (http:// amount be more effective in saving lives and ogy of viruses. Ajit Varki from the University on the evolution of drug resistance. Similar Science Center (ESC) for a full day of filming evolution. Bribiescas discussed how testoster- pantheon.yale.edu/~rgb25 ) under the ‘Media’ sec- reducing suffering than those who knew little of California, San Diego, described how the changes in cancer chemotherapy could pro- tion. Downloads of this episode should be available for its episode entitled “Testosterone Factor,” one and other hormones affect risky behaviors or nothing? Would providing medical students genetics of hominid evolution is a Rosetta long the lives of many cancer patients. You on iTunes in the near future. The REL is the core lab- which aired on February 13, 2008. The focus of in human males and how they augment repro- with a rigorous background in evolutionary Stone for understanding human disease. will learn why evolutionary biologists are con- oratory facility for the Center for Human and this episode was on the effects of testosterone ductive effort. Anestis focused on her research Reproductive Ecology, a Yale Institute for Biospheric biology improve health enough to justify the The symposia were organized by profes- cerned about the massive use of imperfect on male behavior in humans as well as other on dominance and aggression in chimpanzees Studies sponsored research center headed by costs? Are evolutionary insights primarily sors Stephen Stearns and Paul Turner in vaccines, vaccines that do not make the entire and organisms. The evolutionary as well as the methods by which researchers Professor Bribiescas. important in research or are some of them Yale’s Department of Ecology & Evolutionary host population unavailable to the patho- significance of these associations was also of are able to collect samples for hormone analy- also helpful in the clinic? Should Yale be build- Biology and Durland Fish, Charles Lockwood gens. They think, with good reason, that an particular interest. sis in a non-invasive manner. The remainder ing strength in this area—and, if so, then and Stephen Malawista in the Yale School of unwanted byproduct will be the evolution of should it be through teaching, research, in the Medicine. They were attended by many Yale more virulent pathogen strains. Imperfect vac- School of Medicine, or in Yale College? faculty and students from both sides of cam- cines should definitely be used, for they can The symposia made clear that evolution pus, as well as scientists and physicians from save millions of lives, but their consequences has been particularly effective in providing as far away as Edinburgh and New Mexico. should be understood and prepared for. You insights into infectious diseases, reproduc- The current interaction between evolution will come to understand how evolutionary tive medicine, human genetics and cancer. and medicine can be compared with a simi- conflicts between the parents over the amount Paul T. Anastas, Professor in the Practice of individuals in honor of their special achieve- Sebastian Bonhoeffer, from the ETH Zurich, larly productive cross-fertilization of ideas that to be invested in the child have produced, as Yale’s Anastas Green Chemistry, was honored on May 4 by ments in support of scientific research. discussed HIV evolution; Carl Bergstrom, from occurred fifty years ago when physicists took byproducts, some of the dangerous symp- the Council of Scientific Society Presidents “I am honored and pleased to present the the , Seattle, shed up biology and contributed to the revolution toms of pregnancy, including dangerously Honored with its Leadership in Science award for found- award to Paul Anastas,” said Council President new light on the evolution of antibiotic resis- in molecular biology. New perspectives bring high maternal blood pressure and maternal By Janet Emanuel ing the field of “Green Chemistry.” Martin Apple, “for his strategic and bold vision tance. How pathogens evolve in response to new insights and approaches. Since this inter- diabetes, as well as intriguing suggestions into Known as “the father of green chemis- and pioneering initiatives that created the glob- vaccines was the subject of Andrew Read, from action is comparatively recent, its relevance the causes of retardation and mental disease. try,” Anastas has worked to develop the field al green chemistry enterprise, for his break- Pennsylvania State University. David Goldstein, for some parts of the medical enterprise, such These insights, and many more, await you at over the past 17 years. He joined the Yale through research that created economic incen- from Duke University, spoke about pharma- as surgery, is not yet as clear. As one evolu- the Web site. faculty in 2007, where he serves as Director tives to reduce industrial waste, for leading cogenomics. Ruslan Medzhitov, from the Yale tionary biologist put it, “I absolutely want my The symposia were made possible by of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green the U.S.A. to sponsor the Presidential Green School of Medicine, addressed the evolution pediatrician, oncologist, internist, and ob-gyn the generous support of the Provost, the Engineering, which advances the sciences, Chemistry Challenge, and N.S.F to create the of the host-pathogen interaction; Jonathan to understand evolution, but I don’t want my schools of Public Health and Forestry & education and use of sustainable technologies. technology for a sustainable environment Pritchard, from the University of Chicago, orthopedic surgeon to take time away from Environmental Studies, the departments of The Council of Scientific Society Presidents program, for founding the Green Chemistry explained how signals of selection can be anatomy and physiology to study it. I want her Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Molecular is an organization of presidents, presidents- Institute, for preventing millions of kilograms detected in the human genome. David Haig, to understand my knee!” Cell & Developmental Biology, and Molecular elect, and recent past presidents of about of hazardous chemicals from entering the envi- from , described Prader- The talks were videotaped and can be Biochemistry & Biophysics in the Faculty 60 scientific federations and societies. The ronment, [and] for his 12 principles redirecting Willi syndrome and the evolution of human viewed at www.yale.edu/evomedsymposia/ of Arts and Sciences, the Yale Institute of combined membership numbers well over 1.4 progress on chemical frontiers to address key childhood; Chris Kuzawa, from Northwestern program.html. You are invited to have a look. Biospheric Studies, the Yale Peabody Museum million scientists and science educators in 150 21st century challenges.” University, spoke on the fetal origins of adult You will learn why the evolutionary genetics of Natural History, and Celera. disciplines. Each year the council confers its continued on next page Citation for Leadership and Achievement to

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Anastas Honored continued from previous page Study Offers New Paradigm Anastas focuses his research on the design on Ecosystem Ecology of safer chemicals, bio-based polymers, and new methodologies of chemical synthesis that by David DeFusco are more efficient and less hazardous to the Predators have considerably more influence hoppers to avoid them, roam the ecosystem environment. He has published nine books than plants over how an ecosystem func- and eat a wider variety of plants. In this milieu, and numerous papers on the subject of sci- tions, according to a School of Forestry & goldenrod thrives, ultimately nourishing the ence and technology for sustainability. Environmental Studies study that was pub- soil when its nitrogen-rich tissue decays. Before coming to Yale, Anastas was the lished in February 2008 in Science. “What’s really cool here is that different director of the Green Chemistry Institute, The findings, according to author Oswald spiders have different hunting modes, and headquartered at the American Chemical Schmitz, Oastler Professor of Population and it’s those modes that cause grasshoppers to Society in Washington, D.C., where he Community Ecology, are a “revolutionary” behave differently, which then carries down established 24 green chemistry chapters in shift in thinking on the subject. Ecosystem the chains of the community structure of the countries around the world, including China, ecologists have long held that plants and their plants,” said Schmitz. “So it’s a top-down Ethiopia, India, Japan, and South Africa. In a interaction with the soil determine the type view, and in that sense it’s revolutionary, prior position with the White House Office of and abundance of herbivores and carnivores because it’s a paradigm change in ecosystem Science and Technology Policy, he spent five in an ecosystem. Schmitz’s paper, “Effects ecology. Plants, ecosystem ecologists say, have years as the principal supporter within the of Predator Hunting Mode on Grassland an indirect effect on carnivores. My research administration for governmental programs Ecosystem Function,” shows that the opposite shows that carnivores have an indirect effect related to the environment. is true. on plants.” Anastas holds joint appointments at Yale “Most ecosystem ecologists think that the Schmitz said that the study’s underlying in the School of Forestry & Environmental supply of nutrients in plants determines who principles can apply to larger ecosystems, Studies, the Department of Chemistry, and the can live up in higher trophic (feeding) levels,” such as Yellowstone National Park, and have Department of Environmental Engineering. said Schmitz. “This study shows that it’s the implications for conservation policies. “If elk He received his B.S from the University of top trophic levels determining how the plants are facing cougars, which are ambush preda- Massachusetts and his Ph.D from Brandeis interact with the soil.” tors, they’re going to change where they are on University. In a three-year experiment conducted in the landscape. Whereas when elk face wolves, Among his numerous awards are the 14 enclosed cages at Yale-Myers Forest in they may not change their location; they’ll John Jeyes Medal from the Royal Society of northeastern , Schmitz observed only respond to an imminent threat, because Chemistry and the H. John Heinz III Award for that the jumping spider (Phidippus rimator) wolves are continually wandering around on the Environment, and the U.S. Environmental prowls its neighborhood, or ecosystem, and the prowl.” Protection Agency’s Joseph Seifter Award, their engages in random acts of violence against its He added, “We know that elk can have highest scientific recognition. plant-eating prey, the garden-variety grasshop- a huge impact on plant diversity and, as a Previous recipients of the award include per (Melanoplus femurrubrum). And much like consequence, on nutrient-cycling properties. Nobel laureates F. Sherwood Rowland and victims of crime, grasshoppers facing an immi- And so the way they use the landscape, which Dudley Hirschbach, President of the National nent threat go into a heightened state of alert, depends on what predator they face, will Academy of Sciences Bruce Alberts and former taking refuge in the ecosystem’s dominant change the local ecosystem processes.” Dean of Yale Engineering D. Alan Bromley. plant, goldenrod. Its mobility restricted, the grasshopper dines on its own shelter, promot- Funding for the study was provided by the National ing habitat diversity in the process. Science Foundation’s Ecological Biology program. Goldenrod’s competitors—asters, Queen Anne’s lace and a variety of clover and grass- es—flourish, but the diversity comes at a price. With the demise of goldenrod, nitrogen—a key fertilizer in the soil’s renewal—is depleted. In the same experiment, nursery web spiders (Pisaurina mira), which Schmitz called “sit- and-wait ambush spiders” because they are Jumping Spider Phidippas rimator coy about their predatory intentions, occupy a certain “bad neighborhood,” enabling grass-

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Agriculture Changing Chemistry of Mississippi River events Peabody Director Michael Donoghue

Midwestern farming has injected the equiva- carbon dioxide but become more acidic in role than changes las artes de mexico Elected to AAAS lent of five Connecticut Rivers annually into the process. “Ocean acidification makes it in precipitation On view through July 19, 2008 the Mississippi River during the past 50 years, more difficult, for example, for organisms in the increase in The Museum’s latest traveling exhibition cel- Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History according to a study published in January 2008 to form hard shells in coral reefs,” said R. water being dis- ebrates the rich and diverse artistic traditions Director Michael J. Donoghue, G. Evelyn of Mexico, examining over 3,500 years of art in Nature by researchers at Yale and Louisiana Eugene Turner, a co-author of the study and charged into the Hutchinson Professor, Yale Department of Sally Pallatto State universities. a professor at the Coastal Ecology Institute at river,” he said. and culture and of tradition and change across Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, has been elect- “It’s like the discovery of a new large Louisiana State University. The researchers used their data to show the the broad spectrum of Mexican life. ed a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts river being piped out of the corn belt,” said The researchers concluded that liming effects of this excess water on the carbon con- and Sciences. The AAAS, one of the nation’s Pete Raymond, lead author of the study and and farming practices, such as changes in tile tent of the river, and argue that nutrients and peabody summer youth programs oldest and most prestigious honorary societ- Associate Professor of Ecosystem Ecology drainage and crop type and rotation, are most pollution in the water are altering the chemistry July and August 2008 ies and independent policy research centers, at the School of Forestry & Environmental likely responsible for most of the increase in of the Gulf of Mexico. Another summer of 12 fun, week-long pro- honors excellence by annually electing to mem- Studies (F&ES.) “Agricultural practices have water and carbon in the Mississippi River, The other co-authors of the paper, entitled grams for students entering 3rd to 9th grade, bership men and women who have made vital significantly changed the hydrology and chem- which is North America’s largest river. “Anthropogenically Enhanced Fluxes of Water on topics as diverse as biodiversity, astronomy, contributions to their fields and to the world. istry of the Mississippi River.” Raymond said that the research team and Carbon from the Mississippi River,” are natural science illustration, ancient survival Donoghue was named a Fellow in the Section The researchers tracked changes in the analyzed 100-year-old data on the Mississippi Neung-Hwan Oh of F&ES, and Whitney skills, ancient cultures and archaeology. See the on Biological Sciences. levels of water and bicarbonate, which form River that had been warehoused at two New Broussard of the Department of Oceanography Yale Peabody Museum website for details. Among the world’s leading evolutionary when carbon dioxide in soil water dissolves Orleans water treatment plants, and combined and Coastal Sciences at Louisiana State biologists, Donoghue is also Professor of rock minerals. Bicarbonate plays an important, it with their own data on precipitation and University. The research was funded by the jungles: Geology & Geophysics and Curator of Botany long-term role in absorbing atmospheric car- water export. “A notable part of this finding is National Science Foundation. photographs by frans lanting at the Yale Peabody Museum. His research bon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Oceans absorb that changes in farming practices play a larger On view from August 23, 2008 to on understanding the tree of life (phylogeny) February 22, 2009 focuses on plant diversity and evolution, especially on the origin and early evolution of A personal exploration of nature in the tropics flowering plants and on the geographical distri- by master photographer and naturalist Frans Studies (F&ES), who created the site, said, “As tions, U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) bution of plant diversity. Lanting, this unique collection of images taken Congress prepares to debate new legislation would still grow by 2.4 percent per year, reach- Donoghue also works on conceptual and over 20 years in jungles from the lowlands of to address the threat of climate change, oppo- ing $23 trillion by 2030 even if emissions are theoretical issues, specifically the nature of Congo to the cloud forests of the Andes inter- nents claim that the costs of adopting the lead- reduced by 40 percent below projected busi- species, phylogenetic nomenclature, and char- prets the aesthetic splendor and the remark- ing proposals would be ruinous to the United ness-as-usual trends, as compared to historical acter evolution. In addition, he has published able natural history of tropical . States economy. The world’s leading econo- growth rates of 3 percent a year over recent on methods for assessing the direction of evo- Peabody Director Michael J. Donoghue mists who have studied the issue say that’s decades. Under the most favorable assump- lution, the analysis of large data sets, and iden- travels in the great tree of life wrong. And you can find out for yourself.” tions, GDP would rise slightly above 3 percent tifying shifts in the rate of diversification. He of scientists and engineers that acts as an offi- On view through February 22, 2009 The interactive Web site, www.climate.yale. a year. helped build TreeBASE, a relational database cial adviser to the federal government on mat- edu/seeforyourself, synthesized thousands of “The website shows that even under the This multimedia and family of phylogenetic knowledge, and is a leader of ters of science or technology. policy analyses in order to identify the seven most unfavorable assumptions regarding friendly exhibition explores DIVERSITAS, an international organization Founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Interactive Web Site key assumptions accounting for most of the costs, the U.S. economy is predicted to con- how we discover the complex devoted to biodiversity science. Hancock and others, the 228-year-old nonprofit differences in the models’ predictions. The site tinue growing robustly as carbon emissions relationships that link all living Donoghue has conducted field studies in AAAS has included among its members some Calculates Costs of allows visitors to choose which assumptions are reduced,” said Repetto. “Under favorable organisms together. China, especially in the eastern Himalayan 200 Nobel laureates and more than 60 Pulitzer they feel are most realistic and then view the assumptions, the economy would grow more Supported by the National Science Foundation. region of Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan, Prize winners. The newly elected members Climate Change predictions of the economic models on the rapidly if emissions are reduced through research that connects with another major will be inducted at a ceremony on October basis of the chosen assumptions. national policy measures than if they are Information and updates at (203) 432-5050 and interest of his, the historical assembly of 11, 2008, at the Academy’s headquarters in A national policy to cut carbon emissions by Among the key assumptions are that allowed to increase as in the past.” www.peabody.yale.edu plant communities around the Northern Cambridge, Massachusetts. as much as 40 percent over the next 20 years renewable energy technologies will be available Descriptions of the 25 economic models Hemisphere. could still result in increased economic growth, at stable prices; that higher fossil fuel prices used in the analysis can be found in The Costs In 2005, Donoghue was elected to the U.S. according to an interactive website reviewing will stimulate energy-saving technological of Climate Protection: A Guide for the Perplexed, National Academy of Sciences in recognition of 25 of the leading economic models being used change; that reducing U.S. carbon emissions published by the World Resources Institute his distinguished and continuing achievements to predict the economic effects of reducing will reduce economic damages from climate in 1997, and The Costs of Greenhouse Gas in research. The NAS is a private organization emissions. change and air pollution; and that the United Mitigation With Induced Technological Change: A Robert Repetto, Professor in the Practice States will incorporate international trading of Meta-Analysis of Estimates in the Literature, pub- of Economics and Sustainable Development emission permits into its national policy. lished by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change at the School of Forestry & Environmental Even under the most pessimistic assump- Research in 2006. The Age of Reptiles, a mural by Rudolph F. Zallinger. ©1990, 2001, 10 yale environmental n e w s Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, yale environmental n e w s 11 Connecticut USA. All rights reserved. Sally Pallatto

Explaining the Tree of Life: An Interview with Peabody Director Michael Donoghue By Rosemary Volpe, Publications Editor

Travels in the Great Tree of Life is the Yale Peabody Museum’s new, family-friendly and very popular exhibition that uses multimedia, live and plant displays, and museum specimens to explore how we discover the complex relationships that link all living organisms. Recently, Yale Peabody Museum Director Michael Donoghue, the G. Evelyn Hutchinson Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, took some time to explain the background behind this innovative exhibition developed by the Museum.

Volpe: What is the “Tree of Life”? structural characteristics of organisms. Today, Donoghue: The Tree of Life is a branching dia- though, we also have a second, very power- gram that depicts how organisms are related ful, line of evidence, namely comparing DNA to one another through common ancestors at sequences directly. This works for living organ- different times in the past. We can “read” this isms, and often for museum specimens and diagram to see whether two species are more even sometimes for fossils. closely related to one another than they are to a third species; that is, to see which of the Volpe: How hard is it to figure out this “related- species share a more recent common ancestor. ness”? Although some phylogenetic relationships are Donoghue: It’s often very difficult! The Tree of pretty obvious, others are not. One example Life is immense. Not only does it include the would be the elephant and elephant shrew, 1.7 million known species, but also the estimat- which are more closely related to one another ed 10 million existing species yet to be discov- than either is to, say, a giraffe. Did you know ered, and perhaps another 100 million extinct that humans and mushrooms are more closely species. Remember that extinct species are related than either is to a sunflower? also part of the Tree of Life, and with fossils we almost always have only the structural, or mor- Volpe: How do researchers figure out these phological, evidence to make our inferences. relationships? What methods do they use? So studying the Tree of Life generates a great Donoghue: Because we rarely can make direct deal of data, these days much of it molecu- Jessie Cohen (4) A pair of Black and Rufous Giant Elephant Shrew broth- observations on ancestry, we have to infer lar. And this necessitates the use of powerful ers on display in the Yale Peabody Museum’s Travels phylogenetic relationships in the Tree of Life in the Great Tree of Life exhibition, on loan from the continued on next page Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. by looking at the shared, evolutionarily derived

yale environmental n e w s 13 Reed Beaman

The pitcher plants of the Old World (left) and the New World (right) evolved independently, apparently Rafflesia arnoldii produces the largest known individual flowers, nearly three feet (one meter) as an adaptation to low-nitrogen soils. across and weighing up to 15 pounds (7 kilograms). The flowers open only rarely and then only for about five days.

Tree of Life continued from previous page

computers and special algorithms and statisti- conservation of biodiversity when we can help Curator of Vertebrate Zoology, working on the cal techniques to analyze it all. How best to predict the movement of species in response phylogeny of fishes; Richard Prum, Curator of accomplish this task is the subject of a major to global changes. Vertebrate Zoology and the William Robertson worldwide research effort. A very specific example in which this research Coe Professor of Ornithology in Ecology & On top of the sheer size of the problem, some- has proven helpful is in the treatment of Evolutionary Biology, studying bird evolu- times relationships can fool us. Some organ- snake bites in Australia, where knowledge of tion; and Eric Sargis, Associate Professor isms that are very similar in appearance turn the relationship of venomous species guides of Anthropology and Associate Curator of out to be only distantly related, while organ- the selection of the most effective antivenins. Vertebrate Zoology, whose focus is on pri- isms that look very different can be very closely Phylogenetic methods have also been used mates. related. For instance, convergent evolution, in recently in tracing the origin and spread of HIV, Come to think of it, most of the biology profes- which similar traits evolve in quite distantly and in designing vaccines. sors associated with the Peabody are involved related lineages, can lead to mistakes. The in Tree of Life research in one way or another. molecular work done with pitcher plants, for Volpe: What Tree of Life research is going on at example, shows that despite having the same Yale and the Peabody Museum? general shape and insect-eating strategies, dif- Travels in the Great Tree of Life is supported by At the moment, there are several ferent species of insectivorous plants evolved Donoghue: the National Science Foundation through the independently in quite unrelated lineages. The Tree of Life research projects in progress here. Angiosperm Tree of Life, CIPRES and EuphORBia flip side is that some organisms that look very My own work has been supported recently awards. A highlight of the exhibition are its live , including a pair of elephant shrews on different from one another can turn out to be by two National Science Foundation awards, one that looks at the very early evolution of loan from the Smithsonian National Zoo. To see a closely related. For example, tiny modern birds short video of the elephant shrews and learn more green plants and the origin of land plants, and are quite closely related to huge dinosaurs. A about the exhibition visit the Peabody Web site at The Peabody Awards 2008 Simpson Prize similar surprise from plants is that Rafflesia, another focused at how the 250,000 species of www.peabody.yale.edu/exhibits/. from Borneo, which produces the largest flow- flowering plants—the dominant plant group on The recipient of this year’s George Gaylord groups we know today. By incorporating both to mollusks. The machaeridians went extinct, ers in the world, turns out to be directly related Earth—are related. Simpson Prize is Jakob Vinther, a doctoral molecular biology and fossils from the Yale however, after existing in the world seas for to plants with miniscule flowers. The research of Jacques Gauthier, Professor student in the Yale Department of Geology & Peabody Museum collections in this research, more than 180 million years. of Geology & Geophysics and Curator of Geophysics, for his paper “Machaeridians Are he seeks to reconstruct the tempo and mode Palaeozoic Armoured Annelids,” co-authored of organismal evolution that took place in a Each year the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural Volpe: So why is this research important? Vertebrate Paleontology, is focused on how the major lineages of squamates, the lizards with Peter Van Roy and Derek E. G. Briggs rapidly changing biosphere and to understand History awards the George Gaylord Simpson Prize to a Yale University graduate student or recent doctoral Donoghue: Understanding relationships in the and snakes, are related to one another. This (Nature 451(10):185–188, January 10, 2008). their functional adaptations to life in special- Tree of Life allows us to make predictions that candidate for a paper concerning evolution and the research is especially interesting in dealing Originally from Denmark, Vinther has been ized ecological niches. The machaeridians are fossil record. The prize is named for George Gaylord are important for human well-being. This is with how fossils fit into the Tree of Life. interested in fossils and evolution since he was an excellent example of the adaptive radiations Simpson (1902–1984; Yale Ph.D. ’26), the most influ- especially true in three areas: agriculture, where a child. His research focuses on the radiation taking place in early animal evolution. These ential paleontologist of the 20th century and a major Many other Yale faculty and Peabody curators this knowledge can help us breed better crops; of animals at the beginning of the Cambrian annelid worms (relatives of earthworms and proponent of the modern evolutionary synthesis. are focused on Tree of Life research, includ- in medicine, as with the study of the origin of (540 million years ago), specifically on how leeches) evolved a mineralized armor, which ing Thomas Near, Assistant Professor of diseases such as the West Nile virus; and in the mollusks and annelids diversified to the gave them an ability to explore niches similar Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Assistant

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Michael Novacek’s Special Lecture Honors Latest Peabody Verrill Medal

Recipient Alison Richard From time to time the Board of Curators at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History awards it highest honor, the Addison Emery Verrill Medal, to distin- guished scholars in recognition of Moderator Ed Bass poses points for discussion with Dr. Wilson and Dr. Raven at the Luce Hall “fireside chat.” Photo: Susan Donoghue their contributions to the natural the brink of extinction. Many of these spe- shared stories about Dr. Richard from her time sciences. cies represent unique lineages with ancient at the University. Peabody Director Michael histories, so their loss also means the loss Donoghue then presented the Verrill Medal to On April 23, 2008, former Yale provost and of irreplaceable information about diversity, Dr. Richard as a tribute to her many contribu- Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History structure, genes and genealogy. He noted that tions in her field of primate research, particularly director Alison F. Richard, now Vice-Chancellor Madagascar is but one example of the massive for her work on the of Madagascar, and of Cambridge University, was awarded the trauma to ecosystems and species on a global for her outstanding leadership as a conserva- Verrill Medal at a ceremony at Yale’s Luce scale caused by habitat destruction, over-har- tionist, educator and administrator. Dr. Richard Hall. Opening remarks from Yale Institute vesting, pollution, invasive species and climate was among the first to recognize the impor- for Biospheric Studies (YIBS) Director Jeffrey change. What organisms will get through this tance of preserving the biodiversity on which Park were followed by the presentation of sieve of destruction and how will the resultant human well-being depends. As director of the the Edward P. Bass Distinguished Lecture, environments define our quality of life in the Peabody during a crucial period, her guidance on “Biodiversity Past, Present, and Future: future? brought a new appreciation of the Museum From the Island of Madagascar to Island For some of the answers, Dr. Novacek sug- to the Yale community, expanded exhibitions, Earth,” by Michael Novacek, Senior Vice gests we must look to the fossil record, which education, and public outreach programs, and President and Provost of Science, and Curator shows that the early colonizers after mass greatly enhanced the Museum’s national and of Paleontology, at the American Museum of extinction events were often wide-ranging, international reputation. Natural History, sponsored by YIBS and the opportunistic species, the ancient analogues Previously, on October 17, 2007, in a cer- Yale Peabody Museum. emony at Yale’s Sprague Hall opened by Yale above, top to bottom: Michael Donoghue, Edward Bass, of rats and weeds. He said that humans are Alison Richard, and President Richard Levin; Michael Novacek; Dr. Novacek’s presentation on the mass destined to be embraced by such a pest and University Provost Andrew Hamilton, Yale E. O. Wilson, Photo by J. Chase; Peter H. Raven, Photo by K. Foster extinction event we are currently witness- weed ecology as the current extinction event Peabody Museum Director Michael Donoghue ing, especially devastating in fragile refugia advances, and that the great wellsprings of presented the medals to Dr. Peter Raven of The Verrill Medal, established in 1959, that harbor unique species, focused on global biodiversity, the tropical rainforests and the Missouri Botanical Garden and Professor was the idea of S. Dillon Ripley, then director Madagascar, the research terrain of Alison coral reefs, will no longer yield the potentials Edward O. Wilson of Harvard University, in of the Yale Peabody Museum and later Richard. He explained that this island has been for biotic enrichment that fuel evolutionary recognition of their work as scholars, teach- Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the substrate of a spectacular 90-million-year change. Explaining that although there are ers and leaders in conservation efforts around “to honor some signal practitioner in the evolutionary experiment not only involving examples of resource management and land the world. The presentation was followed arts of natural history and natural science.” Alison’s lemurs, but also its unique species conversion that show the human capacity for by “The Future of Life on Earth,” a “fireside It is named for one of the 19th century’s of tenrecs, geckos, spiny succulent trees and mitigating the crisis, he said that the effort chat” between these two extraordinary biolo- great zoologists, Yale scientist A. E. Verrill other wondrous organisms, and that human- needs a major rescaling. At the same time, the gists, moderated by Yale Corporation member (1839–1926), known worldwide for his studies induced devastation of natural habitats in critical roles of species in providing ecosystem Edward P. Bass. This wide-ranging, spirited of starfish, squids, corals and other marine ani- Madagascar is forcing many of its species to services, natural beauty and pleasure, and discussion covered topics such as the cata- mals. For a list of past recipients and to view a in sustaining human lives is a message that strophic decline in biological diversity, the video of the fireside chat with Drs. Raven and above The front of the medal bears a likeness of A. E. Verrill, requires constant attention and re-crafting to importance of preserving our natural heritage, Wilson, visit www.peabody.yale.edu/explore. while the obverse depicts a starfish representative of his pioneer- the human ecological footprint on Earth, and ing work in invertebrate zoology. reach diverse audiences. Afterward, Yale Corporation member Edward the significance of nature for our mental and left Alison F. Richard P. Bass and Yale President Richard C. Levin spiritual well-being. Steve Forrest/Insight Steve Visual Forrest/Insight yale environmental n e w s 17 y a l e p e a b o d y m u s e u m o f n a t u r a l h i s t o r y

Research on Sustaining Biocultural Diversity Presented at Policy Symposium By Michael R. Dove, F&ES Margaret K. Musser Professor of Social Ecology, Professor of Anthropology, and Curator, Division of Anthropology; Dana Graef, Ph.D. ’13, Yale Department of Anthropology/F&ES; and Adrian Cerezo, Ph.D. ’12, F&ES © CBC-AMNH/Kevin Frey © (2) CBC-AMNH/Kevin Frey

Members of the Yale School of Forestry & aries, and the extinctions of culture are not the ics, and practitioners usually speak not just Environmental Studies (F&ES) Social Ecology same as species extinctions. different technical languages, but they speak to Doctoral Lab of Professor Michael R. Dove and Also, there are often unexamined issues of different audiences and with varying needs for Carol Carpenter, F&ES Lecturer and Associate scale in common approaches to biological and complexity versus simplification. In addition Research Scientist in Natural Resource Social cultural diversity. Whereas thinking about bio- to studying the culture of others, therefore, we Science and Adjunct Lecturer in Anthropology, logical complexity has shifted in many cases to need to study our own academic, policy and presented an invited plenary paper on the larger, regional scales, thinking about cultural activist cultures. “Cultural Politics of Sustaining Biological and complexity tends to remain at the local level. In Finally, for nearly a generation, environ- Cultural Diversity” at the American Museum many studies of biocultural diversity, language mentalism’s most important metric has of Natural History’s April 2–4, 2008 sympo- is used as a proxy for culture, but this too can been diversity. With the rise in concern over sium on “Sustaining Biological and Cultural be problematic. For one thing, language may global climate change, this metric seems to Diversity in a Rapidly Changing World: Lessons be lost while culture is maintained. In addition, be changing from one of diversity to one of, for Global Policy” in . Professor the assumption that areas of high biologi- perhaps, stability versus instability. The para- Dove and doctoral students Adrian Cerezo cal and cultural diversity coincide no longer mount question—Is a given area’s diversity (F&ES), Dana Graef (Anthropology/F&ES), holds in the modern world. For example, the being diminished and what can be done to Cassie Hays (Sociology), Sarah Osterhoudt borough of Queens in New York City encom- halt this?—is becoming: How is a given area’s (F&ES/Anthropology), Jonathan Padwe (F&ES/ passes extraordinary linguistic diversity, but it climate changing and what can be done to Anthropology) and Jeff Stoike (F&ES) com- is obviously not a biodiversity hotspot. mitigate this? Thus, we should be asking what bined case studies from their fieldwork around Consider also the value of biological and the implications of the politics of global cli- the world with critical analysis of academic and cultural diversity to different constituents. mate change are for the politics of biocultural policy literature to address this topic. Sustaining indigenous cultures and endemic diversity. Will the former overshadow the lat- One of the latest intellectual efforts in species tends to be given a higher value or ter? Does the politics of global climate change conservation to bridge human society and the more weight in policy decisions. But this focus in some sense even oppose the politics of bio- natural world involves the concept of “biocul- on what is different and exotic, like charismatic cultural diversity? now available tural diversity,” which attempts to correlate, flora and fauna, can lead to ignoring more The Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural research journals. BioOne is available by compare and sustain diversity in both realms. “mundane” forms of life, such as those of the History, Yale University publishes original institutional subscription through universities, In examining this concept, we ask: What is productive human landscapes that dominate top Dana Graef presents a summary of the plenary paper at the research based on specimens, artifacts and government agencies and corporate libraries gained and lost with this concept of biocultural the tropics and subtropics. Western ideals American Museum of Natural History symposium in New York. related materials maintained in the Yale worldwide. diversity? What is being sustained, for whom, of conservation can lead to a limiting and bottom Adrian Cerezo discusses the concept of complexity at Peabody Museum’s curatorial divisions. The where, and according to whose agenda? misleading focus on minor parts of the rural the April policy symposium. current issue reports on research on the phy- The Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History is published twice a year, in April and There are advantages to interdisciplin- landscape (such as “sacred forests”) at the logeny of logperch darters, on a new recon- October. Information available at www.peabody.yale. ary borrowings like the concept of biocultural expense of landscapes with the most social, struction of a Late Devonian eurypterid, deep- edu/scipubs/, or contact the Yale Peabody Museum diversity, not least that of a new, hybrid per- economic and perhaps also biological impor- sea research among the western North Atlantic Publications Office at (203) 432-3786 or peabody. spective; but they are also subject to oversim- tance. seamounts, the of Eocene primates, [email protected]. For manuscript submis- plification. For example, there is a tendency to External, sometimes romanticized, con- and how radiocarbon dating revealed the true sions for potential publication in the Bulletin contact Executive Editor Larry Gall directly at lawrence.gall@ assume that biological and cultural diversity cepts of local communities and local knowl- age of a Connecticut horse. yale.edu or (203) 432-9892. can be conceived and measured in analogous edge can make it difficult to develop partner- As of January 2008, abstracts and full ways. Whereas studies of biological diversity ships with local communities. National policy text of papers published in the Yale Peabody are typically categorized in terms of genes, attempts at sustaining cultural diversity may Museum’s Bulletin are accessible online species and ecosystems, however, studies of be met with mixed reaction by the culture through BioOne (www.bioone.org/), an elec- cultural diversity resist such divisions. Cultural being “sustained.” Efforts to conserve cultural tronic database of high-impact bioscience boundaries are not the same as species bound- as well as biological diversity are further com- plicated by the fact that local leaders, academ-

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Peabody Mammalogy Collection Receives ASM Accreditation

Last fall, the Yale Peabody Museum’s Associate MaNIS, the Networked Information Curator of Mammalogy Eric Sargis invited System (http://manisnet.org) in February 2007. the Systematic Collections Committee of the With final approval from the ASM president, American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) to the collection has now been officially accred- evaluate the mammal collection at the Yale ited and will be reported to the members of Peabody Museum of Natural History. On ASM at their annual meeting in June 2008. October 26, 2007, two members of the com- mittee, chair Bill Stanley, Negaunee Collection Manager of at The Field Museum, and Link Olson, Curator of Mammals at the University of Alaska Museum, visited the Susan Hochgraf Peabody’s Division of Vertebrate Zoology. Hosts Sargis and Vertebrate Zoology Collections Manager Kristof Zyskowski led the ASM committee members on an inspection tour of the collection, from the point where a specimen first enters the building through to the drawer in which it is ultimately depos- ited. The committee evaluated all aspects of the collection, including specimen prepara- tion, storage and curation, and later met with Sargis, Thomas Near, Assistant Curator and Acting Head of the Division of Vertebrate Kristof Zyskowski Kristof (2) Zyskowski Zoology, and Tim White, Assistant Director for Collections and Operations. The committee was very impressed with the Peabody’s Mammalogy Collection, par- ticularly the new facilities in the Class of 1954 Environmental Science Center, and with Zyskowski’s dedication to managing the collec- right Skull of the Philippine Flying (Cynocephalus volans). tion. Although they made some minor recom- Note the highly distinctive comb-like lower incisors. mendations for improvement, especially for the top Kristof Zyskowski examines antelope ground squirrels of the osteology collection housed in the basement genus Ammospermophilus. of Kline Geology Laboratory, the committee bottom This collection drawer holds specimens (round skins recommended the collection for ASM accredi- plus skulls in boxes) of antelope ground squirrels of the genus tation in their final report. Ammospermophilus from western North America. Accreditation is part of the Division’s overall planning for the strengthening of the Peabody’s Mammalogy Collection. This recognition as an accredited repository for specimens opens up greater opportunities for grant funding and increases the visibility of this small but important collection to researchers worldwide. For the same reason, Sargis worked with the Peabody’s Systems Head Larry Gall and informatics specialist Reed Beaman to make the Mammalogy Collection available on

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ecosystems. Holly Kindsvater (EEB) is study- source of fresh water inputs—might influence effort to improve the teaching and research yibs center for field ecology ing maternal investment in live bearing fish salt marsh productivity and plant community facilities at Linsley Pond. Construction of a Supporting Field Based Research in Mexico. Elaine Hooper (F&ES) is testing composition. The experiment was integrated parking area, storage shed, and a dock to the effects of forest fragmentation on forest into the Field Ecology curriculum (taught joint- improve research and teaching at Linsley Pond and Teaching in the Environmental Sciences seedling biodiversity in the Brazilian Amazon. ly by EEB and F&ES) in 2005–2007, and has should be completed in the summer of 2008. Daniel Piotto (F&ES) is studying the spatial been used as a platform for senior proj- dynamics of forest succession in the Atlantic ects in EEB. The experiment is maintained as For further information you may contact Professor The YIBS Center for Field Ecology (CFE) is a Pilot Research for Graduate Students amphibian metacommunities and is currently forests of southern Bahia, Brazil. Jean Eric a long-term platform for research and teaching Stephen S. Stearns, Director of CFE, Assistant Professor David M. Post, Assistant Director, or Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies sponsored a postdoctoral fellow at the National Center Rakotoarisoa (EEB) is studying the effects of The CFE Pilot Research Grants Program was in EEB and F&ES. visit the CFE Web site at www.yale.edu/cfe research center that supports field based created to help early career Ph.D. students for Ecological Synthesis and Analysis in Santa forest fragmentation on the phylogeography Yale Natural Lands research and teaching in ecology. Research in field ecology explore projects of their own Barbara, California. Nathan Havill (EEB, Ph.D. of an endemic rodent species in northeastern supported by CFE bridges five academic units choosing and gather the pilot data required 2006) explored the evolutionary history of Madagascar. Jonathan Richardson (F&ES) is Yale University owns natural lands from salt left to right interactions between adelgids, a major forest a. Annika Walters (EEB) installing an experimental stream diver- and has addressed topics ranging from the to justify external funding. Research on “field testing the role of habitat connectivity and marshes along Long Island Sound to forest sion at Yale Myers Forest, CT. Photo by David Post. evolutionary history of plant communities, ecology” is defined broadly to include field- pest in eastern North America, and their host local adaptation on amphibian population per- land in northern Vermont. CFE administers paleoecology and conservation, to the effects plants. Nathan is a scientist working with the b. Eric Palkovacs (EEB, Ph.D. 2007) on Rogers Lake, CT, holding based projects that draw from behavior, ecol- sistence. Erik Sperling (G&G) is studying the a number of small parcels of land, including jars with young-of-the-year alewives. Photo by David Post. of climate change and invasive species on ogy, evolution, epidemiology, paleontology, and USDA Forest Service. Michael Muehlenbein paleoecology of the Cambrian explosion using property at Linsley Pond, where Yale research- ecosystems. Teaching efforts have exposed a (Anthropology, Ph.D. 2004) studied hormone- c. Manja Holland (FES, Ph.D. 2008) studying the impacts of related fields. Since 2002, the Pilot Research high resolution stratigraphy in Siberia. ers and students have studied limnology since emerging diseases on amphibian populations. generation of undergraduate and graduate stu- Grants’ program has supported the research of mediated trade-offs between the immune and the 1930s; Bethany Bog, which is a glacial dents to experiments that test the influence of reproductive systems in chimpanzees and Hands-on Experience d. Peter Raymond at twhe rainfall exclusion experiment in a 70 graduate students from five academic units: kettle lake with a unique flora that has lain coastal salt marsh located at the Richards Property, Guilford, CT. for Undergraduate Students climate change on New England’s salt marsh Anthropology, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology is an assistant professor at the University of neglected for years and is under some threat Photo by Erika Schielke. ecosystems. Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Eric Palkovacs (EEB, (EEB), Epidemiology & Public Health (EPH), In 2005, CFE funded the construction of a from local dumping; and a tract of about 200 e. Eric Palkovacs (EEB, Ph.D. 2007), Christopher Dalton (EEB, Founded in 2002, CFE was created to Ph.D. 2007) studied feedbacks between ecolo- rainfall exclusion experiment in a coastal acres next to the , which is B.S. 2006), and David Post sampling fish with a purse seine in Geology & Geophysics (G&G), and Forestry & Linsley Pond, CT. help Yale become a world leader in ecology Environmental Studies (F&ES). gy and evolution in alewives, important preda- salt marsh located at the Richards Property, mostly used by locals for recreation. Linsley by supporting graduate student research in The diversity of research funded by Pilot tors in coastal lakes in New England, and their Guilford (part of the Yale University natu- Pond is used for research by professors David ecology, facilitating the teaching of field ecol- Grants is amazing. The first two cohorts of zooplankton prey. Eric is a postdoctoral fellow ral lands). The experiment was designed Post (EEB), Peter Raymond (F&ES) and Gabe ogy at Yale, and stimulating and coordinating 28 students funded in 2002 and 2003 have at the University of Maine. by Doctors Melinda Smith (EEB) and Peter Beniot (F&ES), and by Professor David Skelly efforts to improve the research facilities of Yale mostly graduated. Erika Edwards (EEB, Ph.D. In 2007, CFE funded 12 graduate stu- Raymond (F&ES) to test how climate change (F&ES) for teaching aquatic ecology. Currently, University’s natural lands. Graduate research 2005) explored the evolutionary origin of cac- dent pilot projects. Among them, Meghan affects salt marsh ecosystems. In New the Yale property at Linsley Pond does not is supported through an annual Pilot Grant tus life forms and used phylogenetics to study Avolio (EEB) is studying how climate change England, climate change is expected to change provide access to the lake. Researchers and Program, and teaching is facilitated by sup- climate change. Erika is an assistant professor and mycorrhizal associations influence and both the absolute amount of, and the variation students access the lake from a beach owned porting infrastructure. at Brown University. Mark Urban (F&ES, Ph.D. interact with genetic diversity to determine in precipitation. The rainfall exclusion experi- by the Linsley Lake Association. In 2007, David 2006) studied the ecology and evolution of plant community structure in tallgrass prairie ment addresses how reduced precipitation—a Post, Assistant Director of CFE, initiated an

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The Todai–Yale Initiative and the History gaylord donnelley fellow awarded aauw postdoctoral fellowship The generation of new scientific knowledge Monteiro in the Department of Ecology & CBC science radio show (www.cbc.ca/quirks/ of Japanese Scholars at Yale and its service to society requires talent, ability, Evolutionary Biology (EEB) since October 2007. archives/07-08/feb23.html) and published in the By Shae Trewin, Collections Manager, Division of Historical Scientific Instruments and perspectives from a highly educated and Their research is an interdisciplinary project Proceedings of the Royal Society B 275: 1125-1132. diverse workforce. To meet this demand, it is to understand the diversity and function of The Todai-Yale Initiative for Japanese Studies The dissemination of Gibbs’s ideas imperative that every scientist has the opportu- butterfly wing patterns. Specifically, they are and Related Humanities and Social Sciences in Japan was also established through his nity to achieve and contribute in their respec- investigating the multiple functional roles of was established at Yale in the fall of 2007. Built acquaintance with Todai’s sixth president, tive fields. For over 100 years, the American butterfly wing eyespots in mating behavior and Shae Trewin (3) Shae Trewin on several years of collaboration between Yale Yamakawa Kenjiro. Awarded his degree in 1875 Association of University Women (AAUW) predator avoidance in the Squinting Brown University and The University of Tokyo (Todai), from the Sheffield Scientific School, Yamakawa has promoted this mission and advanced Bush Butterfly, Bicyclus anynana. Kathleen will the initiative is a continuation of Yale’s century- was the first Japanese graduate at Yale. Though equity for women in academia through advo- continue this work with the AAUW fellowship old connection with Japanese scholarship. there is no documentation as to whether cacy, education, and research. Each year the next year. Her previous research done during An inaugural scholar of the Todai–Yale Yamakawa was taught by Gibbs, we know that AAUW awards over $4 million in fellowships, her doctoral dissertation investigated the Initiative, Dr. Takuji Okamoto, Associate Gibbs sent offprints of his papers to Yamakawa grants, and awards to help women achieve sensory ecology of warning coloration and Professor in the Department of History and after he returned to Japan. A professor of their academic goals. Kathleen Prudic, a mimicry in insects. Although a graduate of Philosophy of Science at Todai, came across physics at the Tokyo Imperial University and Gaylord Donnelley Postdoctoral Environmental the University of Arizona, the groundwork the book Rudiments of Natural Philosophy and later at Kyoto, Yamakawa went on to become Fellow, was recently awarded a highly competi- for her dissertation was done by Professor Astronomy, perhaps one of the earliest links privy councilor to the Emperor of Japan and a tive postdoctoral fellowship from AAUW for Charles L. Remington and his students at between Yale and Japan in science. Written by member of the House of Peers with the title of 2008–2009. Yale University. A chapter of her dissertation Yale astronomer and natural historian Denison danshaku (baron). Kathleen has been working as a Gaylord related to Professor Remington’s research Olmsted, the book was published at a prede- The Todai–Yale Initiative organized a one- Donnelley Fellow with Professor Antónia was featured on “Quirks and Quarks,” a cessor institution of Todai in 1866 and shelved day workshop on Japanese materials research in Todai’s Komaba Library. One of Olmsted’s at Yale. A visiting group of presenters from popular works for noncollege students and Todai toured the Yale Peabody Museum 2008 gaylord donnelley prize teachers, it was reprinted in the United States and its collections, including the Division of Each year the faculty in the Program in be threatened if current projections of sea level tural systems at the Center for Environmental at least four times. Historical Scientific Instruments. Dr. Okamoto, Environmental Studies awards the Gaylord rise and storm intensification made by the Farming Systems at North Carolina State Dr. Okamoto’s work at Yale focuses on the appointed keeper of a small collection of Donnelley Prize to the author of a distin- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change University. Due to growing interest in avenues documenting Japanese students and scholars, historical scientific instruments at Todai, was guished piece of interdisciplinary scholarship in are accurate. Through the evaluation of two for carbon sequestration to reduce atmospheric particularly scientists, who studied at Yale impressed by the similarity of objects used at Environmental Studies. The Prize is presented case studies that represent opposite approach- CO2 increase, the potential for soil carbon in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. An both institutions. A more interesting observa- to a senior at commencement. It is funded by es to beach maintenance practices, Jack-Scott’s sequestration through agricultural manage- interesting case study is the lesser known tion, however, was that because Japan had less an endowment from the Gaylord and Dorothy research suggests that variation in beach main- ment practices has received greater atten- Japanese scientist Kimura Shunkichi, a gradu- access to European and American scientific Donnelley Foundation and the Donnelly Family, tenance policy across coastal communities tion in recent years. In addition, soil carbon ate student at Yale in the mid-1880s. Kimura is instrument markets, older instrument technol- in memory of Mr. Gaylord Donnelly, a conser- are rooted in differences in beach morphology, sequestration is unique in that it also provides one of a few students whose dissertations were ogy that was considered obsolete at Yale was vationist dedicated to advances in research and residential versus commercial development benefits to soil and crop health. At the Center supervised by Yale’s most eminent physicist used successfully for a longer time. The differ- education. layouts, attitudes of officials and local activists, for Environmental Farming Systems at North and polymath Josiah Willard Gibbs. Though ence between the two collections, therefore, is The co-recipients of the Gaylord Donnelley historical context of storm damage, and lastly Carolina State University, long-term farming largely unnoticed in the United States, Gibbs’s not necessarily about instruments, but when Prize for 2008 are Emily Joy Jack-Scott (B.A. outlooks on how beach maintenance encour- systems trials were established in 1998. Six theories on statistical mechanics and thermo- instruments were retired. The sharing of infor- ’08, ) for her senior essay ages economic opportunities. She proposes a systems were established: two conventional dynamics were intensely followed by British mation and resources between the two collec- “A Tale of Two Shore Towns: Avalon and framework that lends itself to the assessment systems, one till and one no-till; an organic sys- and European physicists such as James Clerk tions will further enhance the history of science Wildwood, NJ” and Anna Liora Johnson (B.A. of local beach maintenance strategies and con- tem; a crop-pasture system; a woodlot system; Maxwell and Max Planck. After graduation, at Yale and the intellectual exchanges between ’08, Silliman College) for her senior essay tributes to the assessment of both biological and a successional system. Johnson’s research Kimura returned to Japan and eventually joined scholars at Yale and in Japan. “Climate Change and Agriculture: Carbon and social implications of policy implementa- explored the carbon sequestration potential of the navy, where he worked on the development Sequestration in Agricultural Soils.” tion. The categories of this research framework these systems by three factors: the carbon and top Dr. Takuji Okamoto of the University of Tokyo studies a and improvement of wireless telecommunica- Emily Jack-Scott examined factors influ- are Geomorphology, Community Involvement nitrogen content of first the soil, then of its den- thermodynamic surface model reportedly made by James Clerk tion devices. These devices played a significant encing beach maintenance and shoreline and Leadership, History of Development sity fractions, and finally consideration of the Maxwell and sent to Josiah Willard Gibbs in 1896. role in Japan’s victory over Russia in the Battle protection policies through the comparison (including residential and commercial prop- rate of microbial respiration. Through her inves- middle Dr. Walter Joyce gives the Todai–Yale visitors a tour of of Tsushima in 1905. of two shore towns in New Jersey, Avalon and erty location, and history of storm damages), tigations, Johnson suggests that while these the vertebrate paleontology collection. Wildwood. The New Jersey shoreline accrues as well as Local Knowledge and Perception of systems are able to sequester some carbon and bottom Dr. Roger Colten shows the anthropology collection to $50 billion in tourism every year, but that indus- Threat. are valuable in their relationship to agricultural the Todai–Yale visitors. try is contingent on the stabilization of barrier Anna Johnson investigated the carbon health, agricultural practices and soil types are islands along the Atlantic coastline and could sequestration potential of different agricul- not ideal for maximum carbon sequestration.

24 yale environmental n e w s yale environmental n e w s 25 publications

“We believe that there is a need for a integral part of Yale’s effort to become an circulation rose to an all-time high, and the Yale Launches dynamic web publication, international in its increasingly international institution and to magazine frequently broke stories that received reach, that provides authoritative journalism, become known as a leading green university. national attention, including an award-winning Online sound science and informed opinion and Yale Environment 360 is funded by major series on the Bush administration’s environ- analysis on the environment,” said Speth. “Yale grants from the William and Flora Hewlett mental record. Environmental Environment 360 will deliver first-rate reporting Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. Prior to that, Cohn was executive editor and commentary and will help make the sci- MacArthur Foundation. of Audubon from 1991 to 1998, helping lead Magazine ence of environmental issues understandable “Yale is working on many fronts to be one the magazine during a period when it became and accessible to a worldwide audience.” of the world’s leading green universities,” nationally known for its cutting-edge environ- Yale University and its School of Forestry The new site (http://e360.yale.edu/) “Yale is our home base,” said Cohn, “but The site provides an important connec- Levin said. “With Yale Environment 360, it will mental reporting. He had previously been a & Environmental Studies (F&ES) launched publishes articles by scientists, journalists, we are looking out at the world and examining tion between the academic community and move to the forefront of reporting on and find- staff writer at The Philadelphia Inquirer, where an online magazine this spring that aims to academics and leaders in the environmental the major environmental issues of the day.” other communities working on environmental ing solutions to the most pressing environ- he served as one of the nation’s first environ- become one of the world’s leading sites for field. It will also present a variety of multime- F&ES Dean Gus Speth noted that the issues, but is written for a general audience. mental issues of our time.” mental reporters. authoritative, cutting-edge opinion, commen- dia content, including videos, slideshows and magazine is coming online at a moment of Using F&ES as a springboard, Yale Environment Cohn comes to Yale Environment 360 A 1973 graduate of Yale College, Cohn has tary and in-depth reporting on the major envi- audio, as well as a daily digest of major envi- unprecedented concern about environmental 360 establishes contacts with academics and from a distinguished career in magazine and written widely for numerous publications, ronmental issues of the day. ronmental news and science from throughout issues, sparked in large measure by growing environmental experts at universities and orga- newspaper journalism, much of it focused on including The New York Times Magazine, The The Web publication, Yale Environment the world. evidence of the effects of global warming. That nizations around the world, inviting them to the environment. During his tenure as editor- Washington Post Magazine and Outside maga- 360, is edited by Roger Cohn, the award- In its inaugural issues, Yale Environment intensifying interest, coupled with the virtual contribute to the site. The magazine also seeks in-chief at Mother Jones, from 1999 to 2005, zine. He has also been a visiting professor winning former editor of Mother Jones and 360 features articles from around the globe, nature of Yale Environment 360, has created contributions from leading thinkers in foreign he revitalized the magazine, focusing on in- at the Graduate School of Journalism at the Audubon magazines. In announcing Cohn’s including environmental reporting from China, an opportunity to publish a journal that will affairs, international development, “green” depth investigative reporting and top-quality University of California at Berkeley. appointment, Yale President Richard C. Levin Russia and the Arctic. Among the inaugural appeal to an international audience of policy business and the environmental movement. writing. In 2001, Mother Jones won the presti- said, “The time is right for a global publica- contributors are authors Bill McKibben and makers, scientists, journalists, environmental Yale Environment 360 has received the gious National Magazine Award for General tion that will serve as a forum for provocative Elizabeth Kolbert, a staff writer at The New activists and general readers. strong support of Dean Speth and President Excellence. Under his editorship, Mother Jones’ writing and thinking on ways to tackle urgent Yorker. Levin, who see the online publication as an environmental challenges.”

Co-founder of the Natural Resources devastating effects of mental illness; guar- incomes skyrocketed in the United States and Book Examines Clash of Capitalism and the Environment Defense Council and the World Resources antee good, well-paying jobs and increase other advanced economies, reported life satis- Institute and a former White House advisor, employee satisfaction, minimize layoffs and faction and happiness levels stagnated or even The environment will continue to deteriorate “My point of departure is the momentous Speth has been called “the ultimate insider” by job insecurity and provide for adequate retire- declined slightly. so long as today’s capitalism continues to be environmental challenge we face,” Speth says. TIME magazine. But now, faced with evidence ment incomes; introduce more family-friendly Speth says that these studies suggest the the modern world’s economic engine, argues “But today’s environmental reality is linked of galloping degradation of the planet, Speth policies at work, including flextime and easy need for a radical rethinking and reordering Gus Speth, dean of the Yale School of Forestry powerfully with other realities, including grow- has concluded that “all in all, today’s envi- access to quality child care; and provide indi- of society’s priorities. Obsession with con- & Environmental Studies (F&ES), in his new ing social inequality and neglect and the ero- ronmentalism has not been succeeding.” He viduals with more leisure time for connecting sumption and GDP growth now caused more book, The Bridge at the Edge of the World: sion of democratic governance and popular calls on environmentalists to “step outside the with their families, communities and nature. harm—to the environment, social fabric and Capitalism, the Environment, and Crossing from control.” Speth examines how these seemingly system and develop a deeper critique of what “My hope is that all Americans who care world security—than good. Crisis to Sustainability. separate areas of public concern are inter- is going on.” about the environment will come to embrace It took all of history, Speth notes, to build Seeing an “emerging environmental trag- twined and calls on citizens to mobilize spiri- Speth argues that aggregate economic these measures—these hallmarks of a caring the $7 trillion world economy of 1950; today, edy of unprecedented proportions,” Speth says tual and political resources for transformative growth is no longer improving the lives of community and a good society—as necessary economic activity grows by that amount every the book’s aim is to describe a non-socialist change on all three fronts. most Americans and suggests that in some to moving us beyond money to sustainability decade. At current rates of growth, the world alternative to capitalism. That alternative Donald Kennedy, editor-in-chief of Science, ways it is making individuals worse off— and community,” he says. “Sustaining people, economy will double in size in less than two includes moving to a post-growth society calls Speth’s book, “A powerful and ambitious environmentally, socially and psychologically. sustaining nature—they are just one cause, decades. “Society is facing the possibility of an and environmentally honest prices, curbing attempt to characterize the changed strate- “It is said that growth is good—so good that inseparable.” enormous increase in environmental deteriora- consumerism with a new ethic of sufficiency, gies that environmental organizations need it is worth all the costs, that somehow we’ll be Speth writes that gross domestic prod- tion, just when we need to move strongly in rolling back growing corporate control of to adopt to become more effective. This book better off,” says Speth, “We are substituting uct (GDP), the dollar value of all goods and the opposite direction.” American political life, and addressing the challenges many things that would seem to economic growth and more consumption for services produced by the economy, is a poor The Bridge at the Edge of the World: enormous economic insecurity of the average have political immunity of a sort—among oth- dealing with the real issues—for doing things gauge of human well-being or welfare. The Capitalism, the Environment, and Crossing from person. ers, corporate capitalism, the environmental that would truly make us better off.” book cites studies showing that throughout Crisis to Sustainability is published by Yale movement itself and the forces of globaliza- The book calls for measures that provide the entire period following World War II, as University Press (yalebooks.com). tion.” for universal health care and alleviate the

26 yale environmental n e w s yale environmental n e w s 27 publications

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