Dear All, Following Feedback from Members I Have Decided to Try a New System for the TEG E-Mail Notices. Unless There Is an Urge

Dear all,

Following feedback from members I have decided to try a new system for the TEG e-mail notices. Unless there is an urgent call for help or need for promotion of an event I propose to send out one e-mail a month (or when I have gathered a substantial amount of information) covering the latest news and journal articles etc.

Summary: 1) BES FUNING FOR SPECIALIST COURSES – new courses funded! 2) 2 nd EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER MEETING - prizes for the best papers! 3) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS 4) TROPICAL PhD ADVERTS – 2 new opportunities!

If there is anything that I have missed let me know and I will be happy to include it in next months e-mailing! Please let me know what you think of this new format.

Will

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP 1 st FEBRUARY 2008

1) BES FUNDING FOR SPECIALIST COURSES The BES has agreed to fund limited number of places the “Tropical Plant Identification Course” to be run at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (this year 28 April to 9 May 2008, closing date for applications 1 March 2008). Course details: see pdf attached Funding details: http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/articles/grants/attendmeetings/#specialist _course

2) 2 nd EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER MEETING Deadline for abstracts has now passed and I am pleased to report that we will have many papers and posters to consider over the two days… We are currently in negotiations for EXCITING PRIZES for best student talks and posters – more soon!

3) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS Journal of Applied Ecology. OnlineEarly The untamed shrew: on the termination of an eradication programme for an introduced species Andrew Solow et al. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01446.x

Journal of Ecology 96, 192–203 Interspecific demographic trade-offs and soil-related habitat associations of tree species along resource gradients Sabrina E. Russo et al doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2007.01330.x

Journal of Animal Ecology 77 (2), 236–246. Dive and beak movement patterns in leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea during internesting intervals in French Guiana Sabrina Fossette, et al. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2007.01344.x

4) TROPICAL PhD ADVERTS

Synergistic effects of climate change and habitat fragmentation on invertebrate biodiversity

Robert M. Ewers Imperial College London, Email [email protected]

Climatic fluctuations throughout earth’s history have been accompanied by movements in the geographic range of species that track the changing environment. In this regard, current climate change is not an unsurmountable problem for the survival of many species. However, species in today’s world face a new problem that acts in synergy with changing climates: natural habitats have been destroyed and fragmented, hindering the natural dispersal processes that allow species ranges to move. This project will investigate the dual impacts of climate change and habitat fragmentation on invertebrate biodiversity. You will work in the fragmented forests along the mountains of the Southern Alps in New Zealand, where you will use the well-known altitudinal gradient in temperature as a surrogate for different climate change scenarios. You will select a range of forest fragments that vary in size, geographic isolation and, importantly, altitude. Within each fragment, you will sample a target group of invertebrates along gradients of distance from the forest edge that will be replicated at 100 m altitudinal intervals. This sampling design will allow you to test how standard fragmentation effects (e.g. species-area relationship, edge and isolation effects) might vary as climatic conditions change through time. When combined with vegetation models for New Zealand, the data can be used to predict changes in the spatial patterns of biodiversity under standard climate change scenarios. This project will provide insight into the biodiversity impacts of climate change and habitat fragmentation. By simultaneously investigating two of the world’s most pressing issues conservation isuues and the synergies between them, the results from this project will have global relevance that will promote the vision of the Grantham Insitute (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/climatechange).

Variability and beta diversity in tropical forest fragments Robert M. Ewers Imperial College London, Email [email protected]

Forest fragmentation has many and diverse impacts on tropical communities, but estimates of these impacts are confounded by variability both among and within studies. This project will explicitly examine that variability. The applicant will sample invertebrate communities in experimental forest fragments and nearby continuous rainforest in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. By comparing species diversity and community composition among sampling sites, this project seeks to investigate patterns of alpha and beta diversity, as well as variation in the abundance of individual species, among fragments of differing area and along gradients from the forest edge to interior. Furthermore, the project will investigate how the patterns detected might be altered in different seasons. The on-the-ground sampling will be accompanied by GIS analyses investigating spatial and temporal patterns of variability in the structure of the forest vegetation using satellite images.

For this project, the applicant must be eligible for NERC funding (http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/available/postgrad/eligibility.asp)

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP 5TH FEBRUARY 2008

OK – so it’s not 1 month, or even one week, since my last e-mail BUT I have had a rush of useful information particularly surrounding BES funded conferences.

Summary: 1) BES funded conferences 2008 – limited funding available 2) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS 3) TROPICAL PhD ADVERTS – position available University of Oxford 4) BES ANNUAL MEETING – TEG events reminder…

1) BES FUNDED CONFERENCES 2008

The below conferences have been approved by the BES for limited funding of student places and travel to assist with attending. a) German Society for Tropical Ecology meeting 2008 Consequences of Climate Change on Tropical Ecosystems, International Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 18-22 February 2008. ( https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/botanik/gtoe2008/ ) b) The TEG 2nd Early Career Researcher Meeting, University of Oxford, March 18-19thMarch 2008. c) Student Conference on Conservation Science, University of Cambridge, 25-27th March 2008 ( http://www.sccs-cam.org/ ) d) Association for Tropical Biology &Conservation, Asia Pacific chapter, Holiday Inn Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia from 23rd-26th April 2008. (Note: Vice-President of the BES (Sue Hartley) is giving a key-note address!) ( http://www.atbio.org/asia_chap.html ) e) Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Paramaribo, Surinam, 9-14 June, 2008 (http://www.atbc2008.org/ ). f) 93rd Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, 3rd-8th August 2008, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (http://www.esa.org/milwaukee/)

2) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS

Journal of Ecology Volume 96, Issue 2, March 2008 Growth and wood density predict tree mortality in Amazon forests Kuo-Jung Chao, Oliver L. Phillips, Emanuel Gloor, Abel Monteagudo, Armando Torres-Lezama and Rodolfo Vásquez Martínez pages 281–292

Differences in the degree of environmental control on large and small tropical plants: just a sampling effect? Mirkka M. Jones, Hanna Tuomisto and Paulo C. Olivas pages 367–377

Journal of Animal Ecology Volume 77, Issue 2, March 2008 Dive and beak movement patterns in leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea during internesting intervals in French Guiana Sabrina Fossette, Philippe Gaspar, Yves Handrich, Yvon Le Maho and Jean- Yves Georges pages 236–246

Constitutive immune defences correlate with life-history variables in tropical birds K. A. Lee, M. Wikelski, W. D. Robinson, T. R. Robinson and K. C. Klasing pages 356–363

Functional Ecology. OnlineEarly Ontogenetic variation in light requirements of juvenile rainforest evergreens C. H. Lusk, D. S. Falster, C. K. Jara-Vergara, M. Jimenez-Castillo, A. Saldaña- Mendoza

Journal of Animal Ecology. OnlineEarly Effects of predatory ants on lower trophic levels across a gradient of coffee management complexity S. M. Philpott, I. Perfecto and J. Vandermeer

3) TROPICAL PhD ADVERTS

PhD on "The potential impact of climate change on food web structure and ecosystem function" full advert attached. For further details contact:

Dr Rebecca J Morris Department of Zoology, University of Oxford South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS tel: +44 (0)1865 271256; fax: +44 (0)1865 310447 email: [email protected] http://www.zoo.ox.ac.uk/staff/academics/morris_rj.htm

4) BES ANNUAL MEETING Imperial College London, 3-5 September 2008

Tropical Special Session: “Integrating genetic and biogeographic research: the key to understanding diversity in the tropics?!”

TEG social event: “Tour of tropical houses and collections Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.”

If I have missed anything let me know…

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP MARCH 2008

SUMMARY

- Program for early career researcher meeting in Oxford, inc. salsa! - Journal highlights - Job opportunities, Leeds and Oxford

1) 2 ND EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER MEETING OXFORD, 18-19 TH MARCH!

Keynote talks – William Laurance “ Emerging threats and research challenges in the tropics ” – Callum Roberts “ The unnatural history of the sea ”

20 research talks, 29 poster presentations 1st and 2 nd prizes for best presentation and best poster. Prize for best contribution from outside the UK.

Conference dinner and party including salsa lessons !!! Tour of Natural History Museum available (20 places only)

Full program of events attached.

2) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS

Functional Ecology, OnlineEarly Airspeed adjustment and lipid reserves in migratory Neotropical butterflies R. Dudley and R. B. Srygley

The chemical ecology of seed dispersal in monoecious and dioecious figs R. M. Borges, J-M. Bessière and M. Hossaert-McKey

Journal of Animal Ecology. OnlineEarly Trade-off between reciprocal mutualists: local resource availability-oriented interaction in fig/fig wasp mutualism Rui Wu Wang, Lei Shi, Shi Meng Ai and Qi Zheng

3) FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT, SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS

Research Fellow in Tropical Forest Biomass Dynamics (Post 1) (Full-time, Fixed Term for four years, available from 1 July 2008)

Research Fellow in Tropical Forest Biomass Dynamics (Post 2) (Full-time, Fixed Term for two years, available from 1 July 2008)

For further details see attached.

To apply on line please visit http://www.leeds.ac.uk and click on ‘jobs’. Application packs are also available from Hazel Blackburn, HR Administrator, School of Geography, tel +44 (0)113 343 3311, email [email protected] .

Job ref 316084 Closing date 10 March 2008

Interviews are likely to take place in the week commencing 7 April 2008

4) VOLUNTEER RESEARCH ASSISTANT TROPICAL FOREST PLANT DIVERSITY, UNIVERISTY OF OXFORD

DESCRIPTION: Volunteer research position available to study the role of plant-insect and plant- pathogen interactions in maintaining tropical forest plant biodiversity. Field work will be based in Belize, in association with the University of Oxford, UK.

CLOSING DATE: Applications should arrive by 5 PM, 28 March 2008.

TO APPLY: Send the following to Dr Rachel Gallery ([email protected]): 1. Cover letter that includes information about your interests and qualifications, dates of availability, and contact information. 2. Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of two referees who are familiar with your academic and/or field skills. 3. CV.

For further details see attached.

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, MARCH 2008

SUMMARY

1) Oxford meeting next week 2) Journal highlights 3) Studentship opportunity, University of Oxford – DEADLINE: 4 April 2008.

1) 2 ND EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER MEETING OXFORD, 18-19 TH MARCH!

The conference is now just over a week away. We are attaching some information relevant to the conference.

The talk and poster sessions will be held in the Zoology department, on South Parks Road (see the attached map, Oxford.gif). Dinner and the party will be at St Hugh's college off Banbury road (about 20 mins walk from Zoology, see map). Accommodation, for those who have registered, will also be at St. Hugh's. Please note that all the accommodation in St. Hugh's has now been occupied. A list of alternative accommodation in Oxford is attached.

You will be able to collect delegate packs at the Zoology department from 12.00 on the 18th and register for the excursion (a guided tour of the University Natural History Museum on the 19th afternoon). If you have any further questions, please get in touch.

We look forward to seeing you in Oxford!

Best wishes The BESTEG Team http://www.besteg.org/earlycareer.html

2) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology Volume 259, Issue 1

A role for palaeoecology in anticipating future change in mountain regions? Pages 1-5 William D. Gosling and M. Jane Bunting

Glacial-interglacial changes in moisture balance and the impact on vegetation in the southern hemisphere tropical Andes (Bolivia/Peru) Pages 35-50 William D. Gosling, Mark B. Bush, Jennifer A. Hanselman and Alex Chepstow-Lusty

3) STUDENTSHIP, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD - DEADLINE: 4 April 2008.

Fully funded NERC studentship available looking at phenology and remote sensing in Amazonian forests and savannas.

Details can be found at http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/news/studentships/080303.html

Yadvinder Malhi Professor of Ecosystem Science Oxford University Centre for the Environment Dyson Perrins Building South Parks Road Oxford OX1 3QY United Kingdom

Web: http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/~ymalhi/

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, APRIL 2008

Summary: 1) Call for abstracts for TEG session at BES meeting in London - Integrating genetic and biogeographic research 2) Guided tour of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew 3) 2 nd Early Career Researcher Meeting, 18-19 th March 2008 – report on events! 4) Highlights from: BES Journals and TEG members

1) CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

"Integrating genetic and biogeographic research: the key to understanding diversity in the tropics?"

The tropics are the most biodiverse region of the Earth. However, the mechanisms that generated this diversity are poorly understood. Recent advances in molecular ecology are providing new insights into the age and rates of speciation in the tropics. Coupling these findings with biogeographic data (both past and present) provides a powerful tool to investigate the origins of the diversity. This thematic session sets out to bring together experts in molecular ecology and biogeography to showcase recent advances and to demonstrate the benefits of integrating these two disciplines. The implications for conservation in the tropics will also be considered.

Keynote speakers: • Toby Pennington (Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh) • Christopher Dick (University of Michigan & Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute)

Other confirmed speakers: • Nathalie Seddon, University of Oxford. Speciation and diversity of Antbird song • Wolfgang Wurster, University of Wales, Bangor. Phylogeography of African snakes • Catherine Walton, University of Manchester. Phylogeography of SE Asian mosquitoes and flies

We invite submissions to be considered for 20 minute presentations (15 minutes talk and 5 minutes questions).

DEADLINE for submissions: 21 April

Please submit 2 copies: • 1 to BES website ( www.britishecologicalsociety.org , choosing this topic title as your session of choice) • 1 to this email: [email protected]

Include: title, authors, and abstract (50 words max).

All participants must also register on the BES website before 9th June.

Principal organiser: Simon Queenborough (University of Sheffield)

2) GUIDED TOUR OF ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS KEW

During the BES Annual meeting, we have arranged an afternoon visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for TEG members. Kew covers an area of over 300 acres in Richmond, SW London and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a large collection of live tropical plants and also an extensive tropical herbarium. Kew is involved in research and conservation projects in both SE Asia and the Neotropics. The visit will include a “behind the scenes” tour of the herbarium and the tropical nursery. We will end the day with a meal and drink in Richmond. Entrance to the gardens will be around £11 each. If you are interested in the visit to Kew and/or meal please let Jenny Rowntree know at: [email protected]

3) 2 ND EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER MEETING, 18-19 TH MARCH 2008 Department of Zoology, University of Oxford

The second TEG Early Career Researcher meeting saw 80 tropical researchers descend on Oxford for two days before Easter. Coming from seven different countries and representing thirty different institutions, the meeting enjoyed plenary addresses from William Laurence (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama) and Callum Roberts (University of York) along with 20 oral and 29 poster presentations from young academics.

After an excellent buffet lunch, William Laurence kicked the meeting off with a plenary discussion of the “Emerging threats and research challenges in the tropics” . He identified seven key areas of concern for ecology, including threats from growing human populations, the dangers surrounding the use and manipulation of natural resources and the consequences of global climate and atmospheric change. Dr. Laurence also highlighted the importance of understanding the bigger picture in ecological research and the role of ‘environmental synergisms’, e.g. links between forest fragmentation and fire frequency, or logging operations and hunting. The talks during the remainder of the first day generally followed a forest ecology theme and ranged from sustainable hunting, through liana abundance, to agroforestry. In the final session we finished-off with a series of talks exploring the roles of various insects on ecosystem function and biodiversity. We then all enjoyed a well-earned beverage whilst perusing the posters and discussing the day’s talks.

The evening meal at St. Hugh’s College was excellent and was followed by an opportunity for members to hone their tropical dancing skills. Salsa lessons were available to all with the event organiser, Robi Bagchi, leading the way with his enthusiastic interpretation of the salsa rhythms…

Despite some dancers continuing into the early hours of the morning the opening session on day two was busy. We were rewarded with a wide range of talks including: tropical bird diversity and evolution, modern pollen-vegetation relationships, and the sustainability of fisheries. Callum Roberts then gave the closing plenary “The unnatural history of the sea” presenting documentary evidence back to the 17 th Century to illustrate the changing nature of people’s shifting perceptions of ecological baselines. His numerous examples included a quote from Captain George Shelvocke (1726) whose boat was surrounded by whales to such an extent that the crew where ‘overwhelmed by the stench of whale breath’ . There are few, if any, locations in the world today where this dubious pleasure could be experienced. Illustrating more recent examples of dwindling marine resources with photos Prof. Roberts brought home the importance of understanding all facets of our planet, both past and present, if we are going to be able to preserve them for future generations.

This concluded a very successful and thought-provoking meeting. Around 30 of us then opted to head for Oxford natural history museum and were treated to a behind the scenes tour of the entomology collection. This included the opportunity to view specimens collected by Darwin and Wallace and get up close and personal with a number of tropical beasties!

For full program of talks and posters visit: http://www.besteg.org/earlycareer.html

For further insights from our plenary speakers: • William F. Laurance and Carlos A. Peres (eds) (2006) Emerging Threats to Tropical Forests. ISBN-13: 978-0226470221 • Callum Roberts (2007) The Unnatural History of the Sea: The Past and Future of Humanity and Fishing. ISBN-13: 978-1856752947

Principal organiser: Robert Bagchi, Organisers: Liana Anderson, Luis Arragao, Rachel Gallery, Jessica Harms, Joe Nu ňez and Simon Queenborough. Assistance from: the Department of Zoology staff, namely Malcolm and Phil, and the accommodation office staff at St. Hughes College.

4) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS

Journal of Applied Ecology, OnlineEarly

Understanding the biodiversity consequences of habitat change: the value of secondary and plantation forests for neotropical dung beetles Toby A. Gardner, Malva I.M. Hernández, Jos Barlow and Carlos A. Peres

Functional Ecology, Volume 22, Issue 2, April 2008

The role of desiccation tolerance in determining tree species distributions along the Malay Thai Peninsula J. L. Baltzer, S. J. Davies, S. Bunyavejchewin and N. S. M. Noor pages 221–231

Airspeed adjustment and lipid reserves in migratory Neotropical butterflies R. Dudley and R. B. Srygley pages 264–270

Journal of Applied Ecology, Volume 45 Issue 2

Regional variation in habitat occupancy thresholds: a warning for conservation planning Jonathan R. Rhodes, John G. Callaghan, Clive A. McAlpine, Carol de Jong, Michiala E. Bowen, David L. Mitchell, Daniel Lunney and Hugh P. Possingham pages 549–557

Can multiscale models of species’ distribution be generalized from region to region? A case study of the koala C. A. McAlpine, J. R. Rhodes, M. E. Bowen, D. Lunney, J. G. Callaghan, D. L. Mitchell and H. P. Possingham pages 558–567

Modelling the effects of fertility control on koala forest dynamics Charles R. Todd, David M. Forsyth and David Choquenot pages 568–578

Modelling the habitat requirements of leopard Panthera pardus in west and central Asia Alexander Gavashelishvili and Victor Lukarevskiy pages 579–588

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, MAY 2008 (number 2)

Summary: 1) TEG at the BES annual meeting – book before 19 th May for Early Bird rates! a) Tropical thematic topic – full program below b) Guided tour of Kew tropical houses confirmed – social event 2) Journal highlights

1) TEG AT THE BES ANNUAL MEETING 3 - 5 SEPTEMBER 2008, IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON, UK.

Register online BEFORE 19 th May for Early Bird rates: http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/articles/meetings/current/2008_annualme eting a) Thematic Topic: INTEGRATING GENETIC AND BIOGEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH: THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY IN THE TROPICS?

Keynote: Toby Pennington "Using plant phylogenies to understand the historical assembly of tropical forests"

Wolfgang Wurster "Comparative phylogeography of African venomous snakes: is there a pattern?"

Cathy Walton "Comparative phylogeography of forest-dependent mosquitoes in SE Asia"

Nathalie Seddon "Avian diversity in the Neotropics: genes, geography and behaviour"

Simon Queenborough "Sex and diversity: why do some tropical forests have so many species of dioecious tree?"

A. Twyford "Biogeography of Rhododendron subgenus Vireya: a test of Wallace's Line"

Register online BEFORE 19 th May for Early Bird rates: http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/articles/meetings/current/2008_annualme eting b) Social event ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS KEW

Details to follow soon regarding guided tour of tropical houses and herbarium.

2) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS

Journal of Ecology. OnlineEarly Rhizobial mediation of Acacia adaptation to soil salinity: evidence of underlying trade-offs and tests of expected patterns Peter H. Thrall, James D. Bever and Jo F. Slattery

Journal of Applied Ecology. OnlineEarly Structure and conservation of Sri Lankan land-snail assemblages in fragmented lowland rainforest and village home gardens D. C. Raheem, F. Naggs, R. C. Preece, Y. Mapatuna, L. Kariyawasam and P. Eggleton

Journal of Animal Ecology. OnlineEarly Rainfall influences on ungulate population abundance in the Mara- Serengeti ecosystem J. O. Ogutu, H.-P. Piepho, H. T. Dublin, N. Bhola and R. S. Reid

Cheetahs of the deep sea: deep foraging sprints in short-finned pilot whales off Tenerife (Canary Islands) Natacha Aguilar Soto, Mark P. Johnson, Peter T. Madsen, Francisca Díaz, Iván Domínguez, Alberto Brito and Peter Tyack

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, MAY 2008

Summary: 1) Earthwatch Lecture 2) Journal highlights

1) EARTHWATCH LECTURE – ‘Ghanaian Communities & Conservation’, Thursday 8th May 2008, 7.00pm - 8.30pm, at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR.

John Mason & Prof. Patrick Ofori-Danson.

Two talks on Earthwatch's work with the Nature Conservation Research Centre of Ghana (NCRC) to develop research and conservation projects to the benefit not only of the environment, but also the livelihoods of the local populations through community- based ecotourism.

John Mason, Executive Director of the NCRC, will give an historical overview of this programme, its scope and its achievements, while Prof. Patrick Ofori-Danson, of the University of Ghana, will specifically tell us about his work on the West African manatees still to be found in Ghanaian waters.

Doors open at 6.00pm (cash bar); lectures followed by a second cash bar, 8.30-9.30pm.

Entrance free to Earthwatch supporters; otherwise a small donation will be requested on the door.

For tickets and more information, please contact our Events Department on (01865) 318856; [email protected]; http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/get_involved/events08/ghana

2) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Volume 17, Issue 3, May 2008 What controls liana success in Neotropical forests? Geertje M. F. van der Heijden and Oliver L. Phillips pages 372–383

Functional Ecology Nectar concentration affects sugar preferences in two Australian honeyeaters and a lorikeet P. A. Fleming, S. Xie, K. Napier, T. J. McWhorter and S. W. Nicolson

Journal of Applied Ecology, Volume 45, Issue 3, June 2008 The effects of forest fragmentation on bee communities in tropical countryside Berry J. Brosi, Gretchen C. Daily, Tiffany M. Shih, Federico Oviedo and Guillermo Durán pages 773–783

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, JUNE 2008

Summary: 1) Master's Degree Program in "Biodiversity in Tropical Areas and its conservation" 2) NERC-funded PhD studentship 3) Journal highlights

1) ANNOUNCEMENT of Master's Degree Program in "Biodiversity in Tropical Areas and its conservation" (MBATC)

The Master's Degree Program in "Biodiversity in Tropical Areas and its conservation" is a one- year MSc program (75 ECTS) offered jointly by the International University Menendez Pelayo (UIMP, Ministry of Science, Spain), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC, Ministry of Science, Spain), and the Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE, Ecuador). The program is fully funded by the CSIC, with a strong emphasis on fellowships for Latinamerican students; the title is an official European MSc degree conceded by the UIMP; and the program will be taught in Ecuador, with an emphasis on practical studies in natural reserves.

The program is international, with a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 30 students, most of them funded by the program.

ROUTE TO PHD DEGREE.- Excellent graduates from the MBATC program have the possibility to continue their PhD studies in CSIC Departments (Real Jardin Botanico, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, etc.) through separate application calls opened each year. They can also apply to other programs in the Spanish science system (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, etc.), or to any European or American university, as this MSc title is an official European degree.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO APPLY TO MBATC?.- You are eligible to apply to the program if you hold a Bachelor's degree in any suitable field, especially on biosciences: biology, forestry, or agriculture, but also in geography, for example. You must need to be proficient in Spanish language.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT.- The CSIC offers 5 full scholarships (6300 euros/student) and 5 for registration fees (1300 euros/student). The program finances 10 additional full scholarships for Latin American applicants.

HOW TO APPLY?.- The application period for studies starting in September 2008 begins 19 May 2008 and closes 10 July 2008. You can find all the information and detailed instructions on how to apply at http://www.rjb.csic.es/fichacurso.php?id=265

If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Jesus Munoz at

-- Annie Machordom Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales José Gutiérrez Abascal 2 28006 Madrid. España Teléfono: (34) 91 411 13 28 (ext. 1126) Fax: (34) 91 564 50 78 E-mail: [email protected]

2) NERC-funded PhD studentship

Application of remote sensing to monitor tropical deforestation and degradation : impacts on the tropical carbon balance

Application deadline: 20 June 2008 (anticipated interview date 30 June 2008)

Applications are invited for a full-time, fully-funded 3 year PhD studentship in the Department of Geography, University of Leicester, addressing the impact of deforestation on the global carbon cycle. Specifically, this studentship will investigate use of high resolution remote sensing for monitoring and assessing tropical deforestation and degradation as a contribution to reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions under the REDD carbon trading initiative. The studentship is funded under the NERC National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO). The student will be based in Leicester and supervised by Dr Susan Page and Dr Kevin Tansey, but will work closely with others involved in NCEO, and will be required to undertake fieldwork in SE Asia, probably in Indonesia. Details available at: http://www.le.ac.uk/geography/postgraduate/studentships_remotesensing.html ; or for further information contact Dr Page ( [email protected] ) or Dr Tansey ( [email protected] ).

Start date: 29 September 2008

Funding is available for UK citizens and EU citizens with previous 3 year residency in the UK; fees only for other EU citizens. If in doubt, please check your NERC eligibility status (http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/available/postgrad/eligibility.asp ). Applications are invited from students with a 1 st or upper 2 nd class degree in a relevant discipline, including Geography, Biology, Environmental Science, Geology, Earth Observation, Mathematics and Physics. Preference will be given to students who have a postgraduate qualification (MSc/Diploma) in some area of geographical technology (remote sensing and/or GIS). The ideal candidate will have expertise in and experience of both remote sensing and ecology. Suitably qualified, eligible candidates with experience in relevant natural science disciplines are also encouraged to apply. Please complete the University’s official application form (see below) and post it with a full CV and covering letter outlining your interest in and competence to undertake the PhD programme, to the address below before the closing date of 20 th June 2008: Vanessa Greasley, Department of Geography University of Leicester Leicester. LE1 7RH Tel: 0116 223 1777 Link to official application form – please follow the instructions for ‘Applying by Post’ : http://www.le.ac.uk/graduateoffice/pgprospectus/applying.html

3) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS

Journal of Animal Ecology, Volume 77, Issue 4, July 2008

Rainfall influences on ungulate population abundance in the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem

J. O. Ogutu, H.-P. Piepho, H. T. Dublin, N. Bhola and R. S. Reid pages 814–829

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, JULY 2008

Summary: 1) TEG events at annual meeting 2) Earthwatch Debate - the World’s Most Invaluable Species 3) Journal highlights

1) BES Annual meeting (Imperial College London) a) Thematic session: "Integrating genetic and biogeographic research: the key to understanding diversity in the tropics?" b) Guided tour of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew followed by meal out. c) Group meeting – YOUR CHANCE TO SET THE DIRCETION OF THE TEG FOR 2008-2009

2) Earthwatch Debate: Irreplaceable – the World’s Most Invaluable Species Thursday 20 th November, 7.00pm-9.00pm, at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR.

The ever-popular and thought-provoking Earthwatch Debate this year focuses on the world’s most irreplaceable species – choose between bees, bats, fungi, plankton and primates (but not man!), championed by leaders in their field.

Chair - Andrea Catherwood, TV broadcaster & independent film producer

Our speakers for the evening

Bats - Dr. Kate Jones, the Zoological Society of London

Bees - Dr. George McGavin, Honorary Research Associate, Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Fungi - Prof. Lynne Boddy, Cardiff School of Biosciences

Plankton - Prof. David Thomas, School of Ocean Sciences, University of Bangor

Primates - Ian Redmond OBE, Chairman of the Ape Alliance

Doors open at 6.00pm (cash bar); debate to be followed by a second cash bar, 9.00-9.30pm.

Entrance free to Earthwatch supporters; otherwise a small donation will be requested on the door. Optional buffet supper, 9.00-10.30 – supper tickets £25.00

For tickets and more information, please contact the Earthwatch Europe Events Department on (01865) 318856; [email protected] http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/get_involved/events08/debate

3) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS

Journal of Animal Ecology. OnlineEarly articles Trade-offs of predation and foraging explain sexual segregation in African buffalo C. T. Hay, P. C. Cross and P. J. Funston

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, AUGUST 2008

Summary: 1) TEG events at annual meeting ***sign up NOW for Kew tour!!!*** 2) Student event at the BES annual meeting – including CV clinic! 3) Student Conference on Conservation Science 2009 – first call 4) 3rd TEG Early Career Researcher meeting 2009 – preliminary information

JOBS/FUNDING: 5) Postgraduate studentships in Conservation Science – APPLY NOW! 6) Junior Research Fellowships – Imperial College London 7) Lecturer/Snr Lecture in Conservation Biogeography - University of Queensland

8) Journal latest

The TEG have organised a trip for interested members to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on Thursday 4th September during the BES meeting. We will leave after the morning session ends and travel via underground to the gardens.

The gardens cover over 300 acres of ground in South West London and house an impressive collection of tropical and other plants. We have arranged a behind the scenes tour of the tropical collections in the herbarium and there will be time for you to explore the living collection as well.

After the trip we will eat together in one of the restaurants around Kew. Cost of entry is £11.70 (if we can get enough people pre-booking this cost will come down). Transport to and from the gardens and the meal are not included in the price.

TO SIGN UP FOR THIS EVENT CONTACT JENNIFER ROWNTREE ([email protected] ) c) Group meeting – YOUR CHANCE TO SET THE DIRCETION OF THE TEG FOR 2008-2009

2) STUDENT MEETING AT THE BES ANNUAL MEETING

Date: Tues 2nd Sept, Includes: - Student talks and poster sessions - Introduction to BES special interest groups - CV clinic and problem solving http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/articles/meetings/current/2008_annualmeeting/studentmee ting )

CONTACT KATIE FIELD ( [email protected] ) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

3) STUDENT CONFERENCE ON CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2009 – first call

Location: University of Cambridge Dates: 24 - 26 March 2009 **Closing date: 15 November** Further information: http://www.sccs-cam.org/ Contact: Rosie Trevelyan ( [email protected] )

4) 3 rd EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER MEETING – preliminary information

Location: Manchester Metropolitan University Dates: 30 – 31 March 2009 Plenary speakers: Robin Chazdon and Charles Sheppard Contacts: Francis Brearley ( [email protected] ) or Jenny Rowntree ( [email protected] )

5) POSTGRADUATE STUDENTSHIPS 2009

Miriam Rothschild Studentships in Conservation Biology http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/zooone/pgradbk/studentships.html

The Arcadia Fund has kindly provided funding for research studentships in Conservation Biology, to be based in the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK. We expect to fund two students from less developed countries to start in autumn 2009, with a third student to start a year later.

Applicants should contact a potential supervisor and agree a project before applying. Please contact the most appropriate supervisor (listed on the website) attaching a CV and description of the project that you would like to carry out.

Once a supervisor has agreed to the project we require a letter of application, stating the studentship being applied for, naming the potential supervisor and proposed project, a one page description of the proposed project, a CV, and the names and full addresses (including email) of two academic referees.

Please send these to the Graduate Admissions Secretary, Linda Wheatley, [email protected] . The closing date is 15th December 2008. http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/zooone/pgradbk/studentships.html

6) JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

Imperial College London is delighted to invite applications for a new research career development scheme to support up to 20 research-only Fellowships.

The Junior Research Fellowships will give the world's top early-career researchers three years free from teaching and administration plus a competitive salary and laboratory support costs, enabling them to establish and develop their own scientific path. The Fellowships also aim to help scientists make the difficult leap from post-doctoral researcher positions to permanent positions. Fellowships are available across all of Imperial’s core disciplines and can be held in any faculty or the Business school.

Each applicant needs to identify a College sponsor who will act as their mentor and help them develop their research.

** Closing date - 30 November 2008 **

Further details can be found at the Imperial College London website.

7) LECTURER/SNR LECTURER IN CONSERVATION BIOGEOGRAPHY AND GIS

Excellent Opportunity for an enthusiastic academic to join a vibrant, multidisciplinary School

Geography, Planning and Architecture is a multi-disciplinary School that focuses on the interplay between built form, human activity and the physical environment across a range of spatial scales. The School has a strong international research profile and attracts high quality students. With our teaching programs and research in high demand we are now seeking to increase our complement of academic staff.

The role The successful applicant will have teaching and research interests in conservation science, spatial data integration, analysis and modelling. A background in conservation ecology, climatology, hydrology, geomorphology, and/or biogeography/landscape ecology is essential. The appointee will be a part of the University of Queensland initiative in Conservation and Global Change Ecology (CAGE). The appointee will contribute to foundation, upper level and postgraduate courses in the field of Geographical Information Science and Spatial Modelling and will supervise research higher degree students.

The person Applicants should have a PhD in a relevant field, demonstrated experience and a track record of high quality research. Applicants should also have expertise and interests that complement the diversity of the School and have a global perspective.

Remuneration This is a full-time continuing appointment at Academic level B or C. The remuneration package will be in the range $79,840 to $94,810 per annum (Academic Level B); $97,804 to $112,773 per annum (Academic Level C) including employer superannuation contributions of 17%.

Contact: Obtain the position description and selection criteria online or contact Associate Professor David Neil, telephone (07) 3365 6717 or email [email protected] to discuss the role.

Send applications to Ms Jade Pomroy, HR Officer, Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, or email [email protected]

Applications close 15 August 2008.

Reference No 1039084.

Applications are to be sent to the email address specified above or to the name and organisation unit shown at the address: University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072. Please quote the Reference Number and include • a covering letter that includes the vacancy reference number, your contact address and telephone number; and • a curriculum vitae, that includes details of education and qualifications and the names and contact details of three referees; • where required by the application process outlined in the position description and selection criteria, a statement addressing how each of the selection criteria has been met must also be included. Equal opportunity in employment is University policy

-- Dr. Miguel B. Araújo Leader of the BIOCHANGE Lab www.biochange-lab.eu

Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Ecography Associate Editor of the Journal of Biogeography Associate Editor of Conservation Letters Associate Editor of Geography Compass Vice-President of the International Biogeography Society Member of the Scientific Committee of DIVERSITAS BioDiscovery

8) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) African Journal of Plant Science

“Dear Colleague,

The African Journal of Plant Science (AJPS) is currently accepting manuscripts for publication. AJPS publishes high-quality solicited and unsolicited articles, in English, in all areas of plant science research. All articles published in AJPS will be peer-reviewed.

Our objective is to inform authors of the decision on their manuscript within five weeks of submission. Following acceptance, a paper will normally be published in the next available issue.

One key request of researchers across the world is open access to research publications. The African Journal of Plant Science is fully committed to providing free access to all articles as soon as they are published. We ask you to support this initiative by publishing your papers in this journal.

Please visit our website- www.academicjournals.org/AJPS for the Instruction for authors and other details. Prospective authors should send their manuscript(s) to [email protected] , [email protected]

AJPS is also seeking for qualified reviewers as members of its editorial board. Please contact me if you are interested in serving as a reviewer.

Best regards,

Prof. Diaga Diouf

Acting Editor African Journal of Plant Science E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] http://www.academicjournals.org/AJPS ”

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, AUGUST 2008 (No. 2)

Summary: 1) TEG @ BES Annual meeting – LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP FOR KEW TRIP 2) International Biogeography Society – www.biogeography.org 3) Understanding large scale ecological patterns and processes in the Amazon: opportunities for learning and knowledge transfer in UK research –workshop. 4) ATBC and GTO 2009 meeting – 1 st call 5) Research highlights from BES journals and TEG members

1) BES ANNUAL MEETING (IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON) a) Thematic session: "Integrating genetic and biogeographic research: the key to understanding diversity in the tropics?" b) ***Guided tour of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew followed by meal out***

TO SIGN UP FOR THIS EVENT CONTACT JENNIFER ROWNTREE ([email protected] ) c) Group meeting – YOUR CHANCE TO SET THE DIRCETION OF THE TEG FOR 2008-2009

2) INTERNATIONAL BIOGEOGRAPHY SOCIETY

Becoming a member of IBS provides several personal advantages: 1) reduced cost of registration fees to attend IBS conferences, 2) discounts (up to 20%) on books published in association with IBS, 3) free online access to Blackwell Publishing's four biogeography journals: Journal of Biogeography, Global Ecology & Biogeography, Diversity & Distributions and Ecography, journals covering all aspects of biogeography and ecology, and 4) a 20% discount on access to two additional Blackwell Publishing journals: Journal of Avian Biology and Oikos.

The next IBS meeting will be held during January 2009 in Merida, Mexico. For more information go to the website www.biogeography.org . Registration for the Mexico meeting in January 2009 has just opened. Discounted early registration lasts until October.

George Stevens 3) UNDERSTANDING LARGE SCALE ECOLOGICAL PATTERNS AND PROCESSES IN THE AMAZON: OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN UK RESEARCH

BES/TEG sponsored event.

The workshop will be held at the Natural History Museum on October 29.

See attached or contact Jos Barlow ( [email protected] ) for further details.

4) ATBC AND GTO MEETING 2009

Joint Meeting of Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation & Society for Tropical Ecology

“IMPACTS OF GLOBAL CHANGE ON TROPICAL ECOSYSTEMS - CROSS-CUTTING THE ABIOTIC, BIOTIC AND HUMAN SPHERES”

Malberg, Germany, July 27-30, 2009.

1st announcement http://www.atbio.org/1st_announcement_gtoe_atbc_2009.pdf

5) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS

Struebig M , Kingston T, Zubaid A, Adnan A & Rossiter S (2008) Conservation value of forest fragments to Palaeotropical bats. Biological Conservation. 141. 2112-2126. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2008.06.009

Fitzherbert E, Struebig M , Morel A, Danielsen F, Bruhl C, Donald P & Phalen B (2008) How will oil palm expansion affect biodiversity? Trends in Ecology and Evolution. DOI:

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, SEPTEMBER 2008

Summary: 1) TEG @ BES Annual meeting – REPORT & ***CALL FOR IDEAS*** 2) Understanding large scale ecological patterns and processes in the Amazon – NEXT EVENT 29 th October 3) Southeast Asian gateway evolution – 1 st announcement of meeting. 4) Research highlights from BES journals and TEG members

Please send me details of anything that you want included in next months bulletin!

Cheers

Will

1) TEG @ BES ANNUAL MEETING (IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON) a) Thematic session: "Integrating genetic and biogeographic research: the key to understanding diversity in the tropics?"

Thursday 4 September Chair: Dr William Gosling

08:30 PENNINGTON, R. T. (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK) Using plant phylogenies to understand the historical assembly of tropical forests.

Molecular phylogenies calibrated with a time dimension play a central role in understanding tropical biotic history. They indicate whether species diversity is ancient or recent, whether in-situ speciation or dispersal has dominated assembly of continental and local floras, and whether ‘ecological’ speciation between habitats has been a key evolutionary force.

09:10 WÜSTER, W. POOK, C.E. (Bangor University, UK) Comparative phylogeography of African venomous snakes: is there a pattern?

We compare phylogeographic patterns in eight widespread venomous snake species complexes from sub-Saharan Africa. The data on four forest and four open-formation taxa reveal a diversity of patterns and divergence times, as well as shared patterns, including high genetic diversity in southern Africa and extensive Pliocene diversification in open-formation clades

09:30 WALTON, C. (University of Manchester, UK) Comparative phylogeography of forest-dependent mosquitoes in SE Asia.

Comparative phylogeography of eight forest-dependent mosquito species has revealed patterns in the distribution of genetic diversity in mainland SE Asia involving allopatric fragmentation and population expansion. We conclude that forest contraction and fragmentation due to pleistocene climatic change is a major factor shaping the genetic diversity of forest taxa.

09:50 TOBIAS, J.A. SEDDON, N (University of Oxford, UK) Avian diversity in the Neotropics: the role of genes, ecology and social selection.

The recent proliferation of phylogenetic, ecological and biogeographical studies of tropical birds offers unparalleled opportunities for testing theory about adaptation and diversification. Drawing on comparative studies in Neotropical passerines, we discuss the roles of social and ecological selection in promoting adaptation, driving speciation and shaping patterns of species richness.

10:10 QUEENBOROUGH, S.1, VAMOSI, S.M.2, MAZER, S.J.3 (1 University of Sheffield, UK, 2 University of Calgary, Canada, 3 University of California, Santa Barbara, USA) Sex and Diversity: why do some tropical forests have so many dioecious species of tree?

Dioecious species divide male and female function among individuals. Females in dioecious populations should exhibit fitness advantages to compensate for their reduced number. Here we compare population parameters of adult tree, seedlings and seeds from 14 large permanent forest plots to examine how dioecious species persist in these high-diversity systems.

10:30 TWYFORD, A.D.1, RICHARDSON, J.E.2 (1 Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK, University of Edinburgh, UK, 2 Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK) Biogeography of Rhododendron subgenus Vireya: a test of Wallace’s Line.

Rhododendron subgenus Vireya (Ericaceae) is widely distributed across the biogeographically interesting Malesian Archipelago. Dated molecular phylogenies based on multiple genes for Rhododendron support a Laurasian origin, and Wallace’s Line can be tested. An emphasis is placed on the Philippines, with an interesting biotic affinity to neighbouring islands. b) Group meeting

The group meeting was attended by around 30 people, including 7 new members “WELCOME”! I reported upon the success of the Early Careers meeting in Oxford organised by Robi Bagchi and highlighted that next years meeting will be at Manchester Metropolitan University (30-31 March) and is being organized by Francis Brearley ( [email protected] ) and Jennifer Rowntree ([email protected] ). Further details of this event will be sent out shortly.

I emphasized that suggestions for next years annual meeting thematic session need to be submitted before 10 th October so they can be presented to the ‘meetings committee’ meeting later that month. So if you want to invite you favorite speakers to next years annual meeting please send me your ideas so I can endeavor to obtain funds from the BES!

The final proposal that was placed to the meeting was regarding the group’s leadership. It was agreed that I will continue to run the group for the next twelve months and then hand over to Simon Queenborough (University of Sheffield, [email protected] ). Simon has been involved with the group for the last three years and is keen to take over. I plan to continue to be involved in the group beyond next year but other commitments (teaching) are increasing rapidly as I move towards the end of my academic fellowship so I feel that next year will be a good opportunity to hand over the reigns.

I think that during 2007-2008 the TEG has built upon the success of the previous year and that we are moving forward delivering opportunities for members of the tropical research community in the UK and abroad to integrate. This year, in addition to the annual meeting events and the early career researcher meeting we have obtained BES funds for students to attend the tropical plant identification course at Kew and sponsored the forthcoming workshop : “ Understanding large scale ecological patterns and processes in the Amazon: opportunities for learning and knowledge transfer in UK research” being organized by Jos Barlow, Toby Gardner and Robert Ewers at the Natural History Museum London (October 29). To find out more contact Jos Barlow ([email protected] ).

The activities which the TEG will engage with in 2008-2009 are very much down to YOU. The Early Career researcher meeting in March is starting to establish itself as a permanent fixture in the calendar, but if YOU wish to put on a meeting, workshop or discussion session then let me know and the TEG may be able to help… c) Guided tour of the Herbarium Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

After the group meeting Jenny Rowntree lead a group to the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. The guided tour by Gwil Lewis gave us the opportunity to explore the Queen Anne period house and view some of the seven million specimens. These included collections made by Charles Darwin during his visit to the Galapagos and the oldest herbarium specimen in the collection; from 1700 AD. The tour provided a fascinating insight into the role of the herbarium as a collection and a service to the scientific community. It is worth noting that increasing numbers of the herbariums collection are being digitised and can consequently be accessed anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Following the tour we had a cup of tea and discussed the relative merits and significances of the terms “Fabaceae” vs. “Leguminosae” before dispersing into the park to investigate the various gardens and glass houses. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we were unable to visit much of the vast gardens, but I shall be making an effort to return soon to explore further.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Herbarium collection - http://www.kew.org/collections/herbcol.html

2) UNDERSTANDING LARGE SCALE ECOLOGICAL PATTERNS AND PROCESSES IN THE AMAZON: OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN UK RESEARCH

Natural History Museum 29 October 2008 BES/TEG sponsored event.

Contact Jos Barlow ( [email protected] ) for further details.

OUTLINE PROGRAM (subject to change)

Time Names Affiliation 08:30 Introduction 15 08:45 Carlos Peres University of East Anglia 09:05 Richard Betts Hadley Centre 09:25 Yadvinder Malhi Oxford University 09:45 Oliver Phillips Leeds University

10:05 Tea break 25

11:00 Andrew Mitchell Global Canopy Program 11:10 George Powell World Wide Fund for Nature 11:20 William Milliken Royal Botanic Garden Kew 11:30 Jos Barlow Lancaster University 11:40 Patrick Meir Edinburgh University 11:50 Emily Boyd Oxford University 12:00 Richard Bodmer Durrel Institute of Conservation and Ecology 12:10 Rob Ewers Imperial College 12:20 Rosa Maria Roman Cuesta Oxford University 12:30 Toby Gardner University of Cambridge 12:40 Simon Queenborough University of Sheffield 12:50 Luiz Aragao Oxford University 13:00 Tim Baker University of Leeds 13:10 Tor Haugaasen University of East Anglia

13:20 Lunch

14:50 Doctoral students

15:50 Tea break

16:20 Overview 16:35 Discussion 18:00 Finish and wine reception

3) SOUTHEAST ASIAN GATEWAY EVOLUTION MEETING

14-17 September 2009: Royal Holloway University of London

First announcement for an international meeting concerned with SOUTHEAST ASIAN GATEWAY EVOLUTION. This will be a multidisciplinary meeting focusing on the geological and biological history of the region around East Indonesia, and we invite contributions concerned with stratigraphy, tectonics, oceanography, climate, speciation and biodiversity. http://sage2009.rhul.ac.uk/

4) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) Global change and biodiversity: future challenges

Biology Letters special feature 2008 Organised by Phoebe Barnard and Wilfried Thuiller

FREELY AVAILABLE online for THREE MONTHS http://publishing.royalsociety.org/global-change b) Journal of Animal Ecology

The importance of environmental heterogeneity for species diversity and assemblage structure in Bornean stream frogs Alexander Keller, Mark-Oliver Rödel, K. Eduard Linsenmair, T. Ulmar Grafe http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/121358198/ABSTRACT

Partial migration in birds: tests of three hypotheses in a tropical lekking frugivore W. Alice Boyle http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/120848032/ABSTRACT

Dominant ants can control assemblage species richness in a South African savanna Catherine L. Parr http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/120775494/ABSTRACT

c) Journal of Applied Ecology

Can oil palm plantations be made more hospitable for forest butterflies and birds? Lian Pin Koh http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/120120659/ABSTRACT

Reserve effects and natural variation in coral reef communities Alastair R. Harborne, Peter J. Mumby, Carrie V. Kappel, Craig P. Dahlgren, Fiorenza Micheli, Katherine E. Holmes, James N. Sanchirico, Kenneth Broad, Ian A. Elliott, Daniel R. Brumbaugh http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/120120658/ABSTRACT

Structure and conservation of Sri Lankan land-snail assemblages in fragmented lowland rainforest and village home gardens D. C. Raheem, F. Naggs, R. C. Preece, Y. Mapatuna, L. Kariyawasam, P. Eggleton http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/120120647/ABSTRACT

Diversity, invasive species and extinctions in insular ecosystems C. Josh Donlan, Chris Wilcox http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/120120656/ABSTRACT

Managing beyond the invader: manipulating disturbance of natives simplifies control efforts Jennifer Firn, Tracy Rout, Hugh Possingham, Yvonne M. Buckley http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/120696198/ABSTRACT

Conversations in conservation: revealing and dealing with language differences in environmental conflicts Thomas J. Webb, Dave Raffaelli http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/119880383/ABSTRACT

Exploring reservoir dynamics: a case study of rabies in the Serengeti ecosystem Tiziana Lembo, Katie Hampson, Daniel T. Haydon, Meggan Craft, Andy Dobson, Jonathan Dushoff, Eblate Ernest, Richard Hoare, Magai Kaare, Titus Mlengeya, Christine Mentzel, Sarah Cleaveland http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/120120645/ABSTRACT

Spatio-temporal trends in tree cover of a tropical mesic savanna are driven by landscape disturbance Caroline E. R. Lehmann, Lynda D. Prior, Richard J. Williams, David M. J. S. Bowman http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/120748159/ABSTRACT

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, NOVEMBER 2008, v.2 (No. 14)

Summary: 1) ***3rd BES-TEG early career researcher meeting*** – 2ND CALL FOR ABSTRACTS –

2) TEG post-graduate representative – APPLY NOW 3) Earthwatch Debate: Irreplaceable – The World’s Most Invaluable Species 4) Ecological Responses to Climate Change in Key Areas for Biodiversity Conservation – Post doctoral position 5) Research highlights from BES journals and TEG members – IS YOUR LATEST PAPER HIGHLIGHTED HERE???

Hot on the heels of the last e-bulletin, but lots more information… Visit: http://www.besteg.org

William ------

1) ***3RD BES-TEG EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER MEETING*** - 1 st CALL FOR ABSTRACTS - Plenary Speakers: Robin Chazdon (University of Connecticut) Charles Sheppard (University of Warwick)

Manchester Metropolitan University 30th & 31st March 2009

Registration: £60 before 31st Jan 2009; £70 after this date (En suite B & B accommodation available for £39.50) Abstract closing date 31st January 2009

CONTACT: Francis Brearley ([email protected]) or Jenny Rowntree ([email protected])

Flier attached (11_08_TEG e-bulletin_13_ECRposter.pdf)

2) TEG POST-GRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE - VACANCY

This position provides the opportunity for a graduate student to actively engage with the group, gain experience of administering funds, organise activities and develop the role as they see fit!

Taking on this role will help to build your CV and expand your academic network. ENTHUSIASUM FOR TROPICAL RESEARCH IS ESSENTIAL but no prior experience necessary!

If you are interested contact: William Gosling ( [email protected] ).

3) EARTHWATCH DEBATE: IRREPLACEABLE – THE WORLD’S MOST INVALUABLE SPECIES

Thursday 20th November, 7.00pm-9.00pm, at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR.

Chair - Andrea Catherwood, TV broadcaster & independent film producer

Our speakers for the evening

Bats - Dr. Kate Jones, the Zoological Society of London Bees - Dr. George McGavin, entomologist, author, TV presenter and explorer Fungi - Prof. Lynne Boddy, Cardiff School of Biosciences Plankton - Prof. David Thomas, School of Ocean Sciences, University of Bangor Primates - Ian Redmond OBE, Chairman of the Ape Alliance

Doors open at 6.00pm (cash bar); debate to be followed by a second cash bar, 9.00-9.30pm.

Entrance free to Earthwatch supporters; otherwise a small donation will be requested on the door. Optional buffet supper, with a chance to talk with the speakers, 9.00-10.30pm – supper tickets £25.00

For tickets and more information, please contact the Earthwatch Europe Events Department on (01865) 318856; [email protected] http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/get_involved/events08/debate

Best wishes Simon Laman

Events Officer Earthwatch Europe Mayfield House 256 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7DE U.K. tel 44 - (0)1865 318856 fax 44 - (0)1865 311383 www.earthwatch.org/europe

4) POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW: ECOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN KEY AREAS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

School of Biosciences, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter

*(Ref. N1856)* *Salary circa: £25,000 pa depending on qualifications & experience*

This post is available on a fixed term basis for three years and will be based at Tremough Campus, Cornwall.

We are seeking to recruit a post-doctoral appointment to work collaboratively on an ESF funded project entitled “From Climate to Landscape: Imagining the Future”. This is an interdisciplinary research project between scholars in Biosciences, Geography and English, concerned with the predicting the effects of climate change on specific localities and engaging people with the debate about the desirability of these changes, in particular on the iconic habitats and landscapes that contribute to sense of place.

Post-doctoral appointments will be made respectively in the disciplines of Biosciences, Geography, and English, but will work collaboratively across the interdisciplinary team.

In the Biosciences element of the project we will test the effects of climate change on the key species and habitats of flagship landscapes for conservation, identifying levels of threat for different taxa and ecological communities, their sensitivity to uncertainty in climate change scenarios, and the scope of adaptive conservation management to buffer against change.

The successful applicant will test the effects of climate change on the key species and habitats of flagship landscapes for conservation, identifying levels of threat for different taxa and ecological communities, their sensitivity to uncertainty in climate change scenarios, and the scope of adaptive conservation management to buffer against change.

This research will function as an example of best practice for managing landscape-scale biodiversity under climate change, by modelling the levels of ecological change to which we are committed, or which can be achieved by adaptation, and will contribute a template of landscape- scale ecological change for the collaborative research by Geography and English.

The successful applicant will be a quantitative ecologist with a PhD and/or postdoctoral experience in species distribution or bioclimate modelling, field ecology and GIS. S/he will have a strong ability both to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team, showing clear understanding of the wider, multidisciplinary implications of the research.

For further information please contact Dr Robert Wilson, email: [email protected] < mailto:[email protected] > or call: 01326 253769.

To apply, applicants should send a CV plus three referees to [email protected] ,* quoting the job reference N1856. *

*Closing date: 12 Noon, Friday 5 December 2008*

/The University of Exeter is an equal opportunity employer and promotes diversity in its workforce and, whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, is particularly keen to consider applications from groups currently underrepresented in the workforce. /

Robert J. Wilson Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter Cornwall Campus Penryn TR10 9EZ, UK.

5) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) Journal of Ecology , Volume 96 Issue 6 (November 2008)

Biomass allocation and leaf life span in relation to light interception by tropical forest plants during the first years of secondary succession (p 1211-1221) N. Galia Selaya, Roelof J. Oomen, Jordie J. C. Netten, Marinus J. A. Werger, Niels P. R. Anten Published Online: Sep 24 2008 9:02AM DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2008.01441.x Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML , PDF (Size: 499K) b) Journal of Animal Ecology , Volume 77 Issue 6 (November 2008)

Partial migration in birds: tests of three hypotheses in a tropical lekking frugivore (p 1122- 1128) W. Alice Boyle Published Online: Jul 24 2008 9:40AM DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01451.x Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML , PDF (Size: 319K)

Dominant ants can control assemblage species richness in a South African savanna (p 1191-1198) Catherine L. Parr Published Online: Jul 14 2008 9:44AM DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01450.x Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML , PDF (Size: 419K) c) Journal of Applied Ecology , Volume 45 Issue 6 (December 2008)

Temporal shifts in dung beetle community structure within a protected area of tropical wet forest: a 35-year study and its implications for long-term conservation (p 1584-1592) Federico Escobar, Gonzalo Halffter, Ángel Solís, Violeta Halffter, Darío Navarrete Published Online: Sep 10 2008 4:34AM DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01551.x Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML , PDF (Size: 432K) | Supporting information

Insect seed predators and environmental change (p 1593-1599) Owen T. Lewis, Sofia Gripenberg Published Online: Oct 9 2008 8:29AM DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01575.x Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML , PDF (Size: 338K)

Making robust decisions for conservation with restricted money and knowledge (p 1630- 1638) Eve McDonald-Madden, Peter W.J. Baxter, Hugh P. Possingham Published Online: Sep 26 2008 10:04AM DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01553.x Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML , PDF (Size: 421K)

The impact on tigers of poaching versus prey depletion (p 1667-1674) Guillaume Chapron, Dale G. Miquelle, Amaury Lambert, John M. Goodrich, Stéphane Legendre, Jean Clobert Published Online: Aug 22 2008 6:52AM DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01538.x Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML , PDF (Size: 392K) | Supporting information

Silviculture enhances the recovery of overexploited mahogany Swietenia macrophylla (p 1770-1779) Caspar Verwer, Marielos Peña-Claros, Daniël van der Staak, Kristen Ohlson-Kiehn, Frank J. Sterck Published Online: Oct 7 2008 6:35AM DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01564.x Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML , PDF (Size: 718K) | Supporting information d) Journal of Functional Ecology , Volume 22 Issue 6 (December 2008)

The impact of an invasive African bunchgrass ( Pennisetum setaceum ) on water availability and productivity of canopy trees within a tropical dry forest in Hawaii (p 1008-1017) S. Cordell, D. R. Sandquist Published Online: Aug 28 2008 12:14PM DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01471.x Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML , PDF (Size: 467K)

If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let me know…

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, DECEMBER 2008, (No. 15)

Summary: 1) ***3rd BES-TEG early career researcher meeting*** – 2nd CALL FOR ABSTRACTS –

2) TEG post-graduate representative – APPLY NOW 3) NERC funded PhD studentships – The Open University 4) Crucible – Early career researcher opportunity 5) Topical tropical - news from international media! 6) Research highlights from BES journals and TEG members

Also, remember that there is an opportunity to interact with other tropical researchers on our Facebook group (search British Ecological Society Tropical Ecology Group). Feel free to use Facebook or these e-mails to highlight your research (publications, special issues), teaching (courses available) or opportunities (PhD, post-doc, lecturer or Professor…). I hope you all have a fun festive period and good luck for the New Year!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

William ------

1) ***3RD BES-TEG EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER MEETING*** - 2nd CALL FOR ABSTRACTS -

JUST CONFIRMED: **Lloyd Peck – NERC Biodiversity theme leader will be speaking** ***50% discount for students – limited availability, details soon!***

Plenary Speakers: Robin Chazdon (University of Connecticut) Charles Sheppard (University of Warwick)

Manchester Metropolitan University 30th & 31st March 2009

Registration: £60 before 31st Jan 2009; £70 after this date (En suite B & B accommodation available for £39.50) Abstract closing date 31st January 2009

CONTACT: Francis Brearley ([email protected]) or Jenny Rowntree ([email protected])

2) TEG POST-GRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE - VACANCY

This position provides the opportunity for a graduate student to actively engage with the group, gain experience of administering funds, organise activities and develop the role as they see fit!

Taking on this role will help to build your CV and expand your academic network. ENTHUSIASUM FOR TROPICAL RESEARCH IS ESSENTIAL but no prior experience necessary!

If you are interested contact: William Gosling ([email protected]).

3) NERC FUNDED PHD STUDENTSHIPS – THE OPEN UNIVERSITY Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences (Open University)

One million years of environmental change in Africa: Implications for hominid evolution Contact: Dr William Gosling ([email protected]) http://www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/YB270/

***Interviews will be held on 26 and 27 February 2009***

4) CRUCIBLE - EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER OPPORTUITY

What could you achieve if you put your heads together? Ever wondered what a space scientist and a biologist might have in common or how an artist could help a particle physicist? Crucible is your chance to stop wondering and discover what great minds, inspiring speakers and creative thinkers can do when they spend three weekends together.

For further information visit: http://www.nesta.org.uk/crucible/

5) TOPICAL TROPICAL…

“Peru aims for zero deforestation” (BBC 7th December 2008) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7768226.stm

6) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Volume 153, Issues 1-2, 2009,

Pages 70-85 Differentiation between Neotropical rainforest, dry forest, and savannah ecosystems by their modern pollen spectra and implications for the fossil pollen record William D. Gosling, Francis E. Mayle, Nicholas J. Tate, Timothy J. Killeen doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2008.06.007 b) Journal of Ecology, Volume 97, Issue 1, 2009. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121562680/issue

Pages: 97-108 Understanding the dynamics of an undisturbed tropical rain forest from the spatial pattern of trees Nicolas Picard, Avner Bar-Hen, Frédéric Mortier, Joël Chadoeuf http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121481373/abstract Published Online: 24 Oct 2008 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2008.01445.x

Pages: 186-197 Interspecific variation in seedling responses to seed limitation and habitat conditions for 14 Neotropical woody species Natalia Norden, Jérôme Chave, Pierre Belbenoit, Adeline Caubère, Patrick Châtelet, Pierre- Michel Forget, Bernard Riéra, Jérôme Viers, Christophe Thébaud http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121481380/abstract Published Online: 24 Oct 2008 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2008.01444.x

If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let me know…

------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/

BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org