A Canary for Climate Change Pages 6-14 Researchers Find a Strong Correlation Between Northern Hemisphere Seabird Diversity and Environmental Stressors
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FALL 2014 VOLUME 6 No. 3 www.nescent.org Newsletter of the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, an NSF-funded collaborative research center operated by Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University. IN THIS ISSUE: RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Research Highlights 1, 15 Director’s Letter 2 Call for Proposals 3 Coming Soon 3,5 In the Media 5 New Publications 5 New Awards 14 10 years of NESCent A special look back at a remarkable decade of Seabirds like puffins and auks are especially sensitive to climate and environmental shifts research, outreach and PHOTO COURTESY OF U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS collaboration at NESCent. A canary for climate change Pages 6-14 Researchers find a strong correlation between Northern Hemisphere seabird diversity and environmental stressors odern-day puffins and auks have long Next proposal Texas at Austin examined 28 extinct species in Mbeen recognized as environmental indi- addition to 23 living species. Whereas previ- deadlines cator species for ongoing faunal shifts, and fos- ous research focused primarily on surviving sil records now indicate that ancient relatives members of the alcid family, this study was able Dec. 1: Short-term visitors, were similarly informative. Researchers have to paint a more comprehensive picture of their journalists-in-residence found that puffins and auks may have been at evolution. The findings, which were just pub- Feb. 1: Summer 2015 their most diverse and widespread levels during lished online at the Journal of Avian Biology, graduate fellows (off-site) a relatively warm period of Earth’s history. The support a connection between the diversification April 1: Fall 2015 graduate results also explain how past extinctions have of wing-propelled diving seabirds and major fellows (off-site) shaped the geographic distribution and popula- climatic events. Such environmental conditions For more information, see tion size of existing species. also appear to have influenced the physical traits page 3 or visit nescent.org/ Authors Adam Smith of the National Evolu- observed in existing alcids like dovekies, murres, science/proposals.php tionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) in Durham, murrelets, puffins, auklets and auks. N.C., and Julia Clarke of the University of see CLIMATE CHANGE, p16 2 | FALL 2014 FALL 2014 | 3 ABOUT NESCENT: COMING SOON NESCent is a scientific Comings and Goings research center dedicated to Letter from the director Darwin Day hits cross-disciplinary research in As NESCent winds down, we are very happy and a bit rueful that many of our evolution. The center’s the road again oday was a good day at NESCent. mantle. Envisioned as a localized entity colleagues have already transitioned into exciting new opportunities. We wish mission is to promote the I always think it’s a good day when that will focus on evolutionary medicine, synthesis of information, T them well (way to go!) and anticipate more bittersweet departures in the coming What: Darwin Day Roadshow concepts and knowledge to I learn something new, and today, Alex the center is still in a fledgling state, but months. address significant, emerging, Weiss, a short-term visitor from the its progress and promise (as discussed in When: February 2015 Jonathan Lombard has hopped across System Administrator David Palmer is or novel questions in evolu- University of Edinburgh gave a talk this issue) offer an optimistic view of the tionary science and its the pond to work as a Postdoctoral now the Linux Administrator on Duke’s Where: Coming to a state near you applications. NESCent on his research on future of evolution-focused research in Fellow in Thomas Richards’s lab at the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. achieves this by supporting personality, well- North Carolina and beyond. University of Exeter. To celebrate its fifth anniversary, Postdoc Dan Ksepka is the new Cura- research and education Darwin Day Roadshow will do what it being, and health in Adam Smith is a John Caldwell Meeker tor of Science at the Bruce Museum in across disciplinary, institu- has done each February for the last humans, chimpanzees, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Field Mu- Greenwich, CT. tional, geographic, and This is NESCent’s legacy: four years: Hit the road to share the demographic boundaries. and other non-human seum of Natural History in Chicago. Providing an outlet for Jeff Sturkey has moved down Main excitement of evolutionary science primates. I learnt that with students, teachers, and the NESCent is a collaborative Kate Hertweck began teaching as an Street to Duke Medicine Development partnership between Duke a strong argument can unusually innovative ideas Assistant Professor at the University of and Alumni Affairs where he works as general public in communities around University, the University of be made that some posited by researchers from Texas-Tyler. the Special Events coordinator. the country, on the occasion of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Charles Darwin’s birthday. The ALLEN personality traits– for Communications Manager and Newslet- and North Carolina State the broadest reaches of Roadshow sends NESCent scientists, instance, subjective University, and is funded by the RODRIGO ter Editor/Writer Emeritus Robin Smith educators, and collaborators into K-12 National Science Foundation well-being and domi- evolutionary science. One now pens science stories at the Duke classrooms all across the US with a (award #EF-0905606). For nance– are essentially manifestations of former postdoc put it best Office of News & Communications. particular focus on small, rural more information about the same suite of genes. communities and those with high research and training opportu- when he compared the center numbers of under-represented nities at NESCent, visit www. If you’ve been to NESCent, you know to a “supercollider” for minority students to talk about nescent.org. of course that it is not unusual to have evolution research and career anthropologists giving talks, paleon- scientists: It makes remarkable CALL FOR PROPOSALS opportunities in science. SENIOR LEADERSHIP: tologists running working groups, and things happen. Allen Rodrigo, Director computational biologists hacking away The Roadshow has now visited Call for proposals thousands of students and teachers Susan Alberts at hackathons. Add to this mix a resi- Looking for support for a short-term across 22 different states, including Associate Director dent community that includes postdocs I invite you all to continue the projects of Science and Synthesis visit or science journalism project? settings as diverse as a middle school Todd Vision studying viruses, ocean biodiversity, and conceived, developed, and advanced here NESCent welcomes your proposals. on a Native American reservation in Associate Director of protein folding, and at times there is an at NESCent and to keep in touch. After We are looking for innovative ap- Arizona, a high school within a boys’ Informatics almost surreal quality to the conversa- all, the center may close, but NESCent proaches to outstanding problems correctional facility in West Virginia, Brian Wiegmann in evolutionary biology. Short-term and a school for student-patients at a tions that one overhears. has evolved into a self-sustaining com- psychiatric hospital in Massachusetts. Associate Director visitor proposals that have a clear of Education and Outreach This is NESCent’s legacy: Providing munity, and we have you to thank for it. There is no charge to teachers and interdisciplinary focus or involve schools to participate, and each host an outlet for unusually innovative ideas evolutionary concepts in nontradition- teacher receives an extensive STAY INFORMED posited by researchers from the broad- al disciplines are strongly encouraged. collection of evolution teaching Subscribe to the NESCent est reaches of evolutionary science. One Proposals for both awards last two resources. quarterly newsletter to receive former postdoc put it best when he weeks to three months; the deadline news about the Center, research and training opportu- compared the center to a “supercollider” is December 1. The success of the Roadshow is nities, and upcoming events. for scientists: It makes remarkable things illustrated by comments from host Comments, story ideas and We are also inviting graduate students happen. You can read his full reflection teachers. One said, “It made the photo contributions are at accredited North Carolina institu- whole school community aware of welcome. Please send and others in the special “10 Years of tions to apply for special Triangle corrections and suggestions the importance of evolutionary for future newsletters to NESCent” section of this special edi- Dr. Allen Rodrigo Graduate Fellowships in Evolutionary theory and its implications,” while Nicole Duncan at nicole. tion newsletter. In addition to the usual Director of NESCent Medicine. We seek applicants who are another added, “The resources [email protected]. interested in any field of evolutionary research stories and center news, we’ve helped me become updated on the science that is relevant to medicine, or To unsubscribe fill out our looked back over the past decade to fol- science surrounding the topics. online form at bit.ly/qIuEWu. to human or animal health. This Therefore, I created better lessons You can also visit NESCent on low up with past participants and share semester-long fellowship would be for my students.” Twitter, Facebook, and intriguing anecdotes. offsite, at the student’s host institu- YouTube. I am also excited to look forward, not tion. The deadline is February 1 for To find out more, including how to Writer/Editor: Nicole Duncan only to the many vibrant projects and Summer 2015 and April 1 for Fall 2015. apply to be a stop on the 2015 (919) 668-7993 version of the Roadshow, visit our [email protected] collaborations first realized at NESCent, For more information, please visit website at roadshow.nescent.org. The but also to a new Triangle-based synthe- nescent.org/science/proposals.php.