The
BulletinYOUR MAGAZINE FROM THE BRITISH ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY BES BULLETIN VOLin 45:144:4FOCUS / MARCHDECEMBER 2014 2013 Photo: Nicola Jenner Yearling blackbacked jackal (Canis mesomelas) watches as its faecal sample is collected for genetic analysis. Image taken as dusk on Namibia’s desert coast.
2 Contents March 2014
OFFICERS AND COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 2013-4 REGULARS President: William Sutherland Welcome / Alan Crowden 4 Past-President: Georgina Mace Vice-Presidents: Richard Bardgett, President’s Piece: The Symbiotic Society / William J. Sutherland 5 Mick Crawley Honorary Treasurer: Drew Purves Society News 6 Council Secretary: Dave Hodgson Honorary Chairpersons: Ecology Education and Careers 8 Andrew Beckerman (Meetings) Making ecology for all: equality & diversity in ecological education and careers / Alan Gray (Publications) Christina Ravinet Lesley Batty (Education, Training and Careers) Juliet Vickery (Public and Policy) Science Policy Richard Bardgett (Grants) Wales Policy Group: An invitation to members / Tim Graham 10 Will 2014 be a step towards healthy seas? / Katherine Maltby 11 ORDINARY MEMBERS A 21st Century Challenge: Bringing Agroecology into the Mainstream / Greg Counsell 13 OF COUNCIL: Retiring Emma Goldberg, 2014 Forthcoming BES Events : Special Interest Groups 15 William Gosling, Ruth Mitchell Special Interest Group News 16 Julia Blanchard, 2015 Greg Hurst, Paul Raven Meeting Reports Emma Sayer, Owen Lewis, 2016 Matt O’Callaghan Silvicultural approaches to restoration / Scott McG Wilson 24 Diana Gilbert, Jane Hill, 2017 Rethinking Agricultural Systems / Geoff Radley 26 Joanna Randall Creating a Buzz / Sarah Blackford 30
Bulletin Editor: Alan Crowden Letter to the Editor 31 48 Thornton Close, Girton, Cambridge CB3 0NG Of Interest to Members 31 Email: [email protected] The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management / Sally Hayns 55 Associate Editor: Emma Sayer Department of Environment, Earth Publishing News and Ecosystems, The Open University, Preprints: a new challenge for ecological journals / Peter Livermore 57 Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA Email: [email protected] Journals News 59
Book Reviews Editor: Peter Thomas Book Reviews 63 School of Life Sciences, Huxley Building, Keele University, Keele, Diary 74 Staffordshire ST5 5B Tel: 01782 733497 Email: [email protected] FEATURES PUBLISHING IN What are the forthcoming legislative issues of interest to ecologists 32 THE BES BULLETIN and conservationists in 2014? / William J. Sutherland et al The Bulletin is published four times a year in March, June, August and Moving onto a PhD & Mastering Ecology: A BES Student Ecology Symposium 38 December. Contributions of all types are welcomed, but if you are planning Dom Andradi-Brown to write we recommend you contact one of the editorial team in advance Project Management, Fellowships and Grants: A Workshop full of top tips 40 to discuss your plans (Bulletin@ Jess Stephenson, Emma Gillingham and Susan Withenshaw BritishEcologicalSociety.org).
Material should be sent to the editor by Botany is dead, long-live eXtreme botany! / Jonathan Mitchley 42 email or on a disk in Word or rtf format. Pictures should be sent as jpeg or TIFF Economists and Ecologists and Ecosystem Services – Finding a Common Language? 44 (*tif) files suitable for printing at 300dpi. Claire Wansbury and Rupert Haines Books to be considered for review should be sent directly to the Book Reviews ‘Academic development practitioner’: A role waiting to evolve? / Haseeb Md. Irfanullah 45 Editor Peter Thomas. The call of the wild – perceptions, history, people & ecology in the emerging 47 Cover: Black-browed albatross paradigms of wilding / Ian Rotherham (Thalassarche melanophrys) in the winning entry for the BES Photo Competition 2013. The photograph is From our Southern Correspondent / Richard Hobbs 50 by Zoe Davies of the University of Kent. For more information see p36. Be careful what you wish for / John Wiens 53
Design: Neo (weareneo.com) Print Management: H2 Associates (Cambridge) Ltd.
3 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:1 / MARCH 2014
WELCOME
The British Ecological Society is the oldest ecological society Ecology makes in the world, having been established in 1913. Since 1980 it has been a Registered Charity a splash limited by guarantee. Membership is open to all who are genuinely interested in ecology, whether in Not so long ago water supplies in parts of depriving themselves of their own copy of the the British Isles or abroad, and the UK were at worryingly low levels. In early Bulletin) and the meetings are small, informal membership currently stands at 2014 western and southern parts of the UK are and friendly, ideal for networking. There are about 3700, about half of whom suffering flood levels rarely encountered before. increasing numbers of meetings organised jointly are based outside the UK. The arguments about who’s at fault and what between two or more Groups, and offering needs to be done have already started. I do opportunities for newer members to present their The Society holds a variety of hope a few policymakers kept their copy of the work or learn new skills. Events manager Amelia meetings each year. The Annual BES Ecological Issues publication ‘The Impact Simpson has prepared a summary of the events Meeting attracts a wide range of papers, often by research of Extreme Events on Freshwater Ecosystems’. already set for this year (p15) and look through students, and includes a series Iwan Jones and his co-authors pointed out that the SIG news (p16 onwards) and you’ll learn of of informal specialist group extreme weather events are occurring with a plethora of talk-based events, workshops, field discussions; whereas the Annual greater frequency and intensity and advocated trips and training sessions. To give a flavour of Symposium and many other the ecosystem approach as a key principle of the range on offer there are reports on forest smaller meetings are usually sustainable management. When the waters restoration (p24), rethinking agriculture (p26), more specialised and include recede no doubt the first response will be to deciding whether to pursue PhD research (p38) invited speakers from around dredge rivers and build flood barriers, since and applying for grants and fellowships (p40). the world. politicians must be seen to be doing something, but let’s hope science can be allowed to guide There is no rant from Markus Eichhorn (or Proceedings of some of these the longer-term mitigation efforts. anyone else) this time, but there are ripples still meetings are published by from past issues raised. Jonathan Mitchley refuses the Society in its Ecological The challenge of injecting science into policy to let botany die (p42) and Ian Rotherham Reviews book series. The Society affects BES members everywhere. Richard reflects on the issues of wilding (p47). Markus distributes free to all members, four times a year, the Bulletin Hobbs has a state government that pursues an claims no monopoly on authorship of the Rant which contains news and views, evidence-free policy for discouraging sharks column (though, like one of the Vogons from The meeting announcements, a from Western Australian beaches (p50) and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, he is rather fond comprehensive diary and many John Wiens gives a couple of examples of how of shouting) so if others have a topic they want other features. In addition the successful conservation efforts in the USA have to get off their chest do please try your ideas out Society produces five scientific had unexpected consequences (p53). on us at [email protected]. journals. The Journal of Ecology, Journal of Animal Ecology, In his President’s Piece (p5) Bill Sutherland Claire Wansbury and Rupert Haines address the Journal of Applied Ecology and emphasizes the need for collaborations of all need for ecologists to find the right language to Functional Ecology are sold at sorts to meet the challenges for ecology and use when speaking with non-ecologists. When a discounted rate to members. conservation in the modern world. You’ll see dealing with policy makers or academics from Methods in Ecology and Evolution evidence that this is happening in this issue. other disciplines it is easy to assume (wrongly) is free to BES members. The There’s a strong thread of articles on the theme that our jargon means as much to them as it Society also supports research of agricultural ecology (p13, 24, 26) that show does to us (p44). Haseeb Irfanulla writes from and ecological education with how ecologists can contribute to the multi- Bangladesh on the contrasting approaches of the grant aid. Further details about the Society and membership disciplinary teams needed to get the right ‘academic’ and ‘practitioner’ and the difficulties can be obtained from the balance of productivity and sustainability for in moving between the two communities Executive Director (address inside feeding a growing population. Good legislative (p45). Haseeb has the particular perspective back cover). frameworks are essential and in this issue we have of an ecologist working in development, but the fourth in our annual scans of forthcoming I’m thinking there’s a similar gulf in, say, UK The Bulletin circulates exclusively legislation of relevance to ecologists (p32). freshwater biology, where an ecologist based to members of the British Katherine Maltby reports on the progress of an in a university will usually speak about issues in Ecological Society. It carries example of Europe-wide legislation: the Marine relation to previous knowledge and the published information on meetings and Strategy Framework Directive (p11). literature, while a Environment Agency ecologist other activities, comment will constantly refer to the Water Framework and other topical items. Unsigned commentaries are the With all this urging for collaborative and Directive. We want BES members in both camps. multi-disciplinary work, does it make sense responsibility of the Editor and for the BES to be supporting a set of ‘Special do not necessarily represent the Interest’ Groups? Isn’t that the antithesis of views of the Society. what is needed? In practice, SIGs are providing A limited company, registered an exciting way of developing interactions in England No. 1522897 and a within the membership. SIG events are open Registered Charity No. 2812134. to all; young and old, student and professor, Registered Office: Charles Darwin practitioner and academic. It is possible to belong House,12 Roger Street, London to a SIG without being a BES member (though Alan Crowden / Editor WC1N 2JU of course the poor saps that do not belong are [email protected]
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PRESIDENT’S PIECE The Symbiotic Society
William J Sutherland / President of the British Ecological Society @Bill_Sutherland
As ecologists we concentrate upon predation, parasitism and competition. Mutualism has attracted less interest, partly because it is less conspicuous but also because the simple theoretical models, such as the Lotka-Volterra equations, give peculiar results. We need to thrive within this challenging and fast changing world and ensure we are neither swallowed up by the various predatory forces nor squeezed aside by competition; I believe collaboration at a range of scales is important and likely to play an increasing role.
Last year’s annual meeting was combined Last autumn I gave a plenary lecture Theme Leader approach and instead has with Intecol –we took responsibility for at the Ecological Society of Germany, a Strategic Programme Advisory Group bringing together the global community. Austria and Switzerland. As well as (SPAG) to identify the environmentally Although it has raised a few eyebrows, their President, Volkmar Wolters, other relevant challenges facing society and this year’s meeting will be held in Lille participants included Hiroyuki Matsuda, to “fund strategic research that helps in northern France. It is not just for the the President of the Ecological Society of business, government and society to architecture (the Austrian cannonballs Japan, and David Inouye, the President- benefit from natural resources and still embedded in the façade of the Elect of the Ecological Society of America. ecosystem services, build resilience to architecture Grand Place show life We decided that for most areas that environmental hazards and manage there has not always been entirely concern us we do not really compete – environmental change”. They plan to collaborative) or the famous Christmas membership, education, policy, meetings fund Strategic Research Programmes market, but because our equivalent in etc. Perhaps the main area where we (large and complex strategic research France, the Société Française d’Ecologie, do compete is over journals so we will activities) and Strategic Highlight Topics have invited us to collaborate on a joint probably rarely discuss this. The four of us (a new more agile process to support meeting. We are taking this opportunity decided to set up an Ecological Societies medium-scale strategic research activities to share experiences. Forum of the various national ecological in specific priority areas). To benefit UK societies. The plan is for presidents and ecologists and the subject of ecology Last year we were part of a group buying chief executives to have the option the BES is about to run (at the time of the building adjacent to Charles Darwin of meeting together whenever there writing) a one day workshop at Charles House. In addition to being a sound happens to be at least four societies Darwin House to generate ideas for financial investment the new space will represented. We will welcome all societies possible submission to the SPAG. enable us to hold more workshops and to a meeting at Lille to share experiences. larger meetings. We can also expand the Please get in touch with any of us if you The Festival of Ecology showed how number of biology-centric organisations represent a society which has not yet we could work with other organisations based at CDH and so enhance our been invited. to mutual gain and we have decided collective strength. We currently to increase some of this activity into have five organisations present: The We are looking more towards the future. Biochemical Society, Society of Biology, collaborative projects. Increasingly it British Ecological Society, Society of seems that the standard academic Ecology has shifted in recent decades Experimental Biology and the Society model of having a trickle of PhD so that symbiosis is accepted as a for General Microbiology (with BS, SoB, studentships and the occasional research key component of ecology especially BES, SEB and SGM in one building I think council grant providing a postdoc and following the remarkable discoveries we should insist any new participants do some expenses is being replaced by of mycorrhizal networks, with hyphae not have a B or S in their initials). This larger collaborative programmes with connecting individual plants, sometimes gives us greater combined strength and ambitious aims. We need to find more of different species, and exchanging it impresses politicians and others visiting ways of establishing collaboration and water, carbon, and nutrients. Similarly the building. More importantly, it allows reaching out to other communities. our increasing provision of networks us to collaborate by sharing facilities and, exchanging ideas and lessons learnt will especially, by sharing expertise over the The Natural Environmental Research surely increase our capacity to survive innumerable issues involved in running Council is changing some of its funding and flourish. biological societies. streams. It has moved away from the
5 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:1 / MARCH 2014
SOCIETY NEWS
100 INFLUENTIAL PAPERS BRITISH ECOLOGICAL CENTENARY 1913 – 2013 In early 2012, the working group planning our Centenary asked Peter Grubb and John Whittaker to prepare the scientific content of a booklet bringing together a selection of the most influential Joint Annual Meeting papers published in our journals. We are incredibly proud to announce this unique book is now available online: www. BritishEcologicalSociety.org/100papers British Ecological Society and the 113 respected ecologists around the world were invited to suggest papers Société Française d’Ecologie that they thought should be included. Peter and John used a mixture of criteria 9-12 December 2014, Lille, France (including numbers of citations) when reviewing the suggestions submitted, Call for workshops: March. Abstracts & earlybird booking: June and when selecting papers in fields and periods that had attracted few www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org/2014AM suggestions. The selected papers represent a great spread over the ten decades, with an average of six per decade in the first 50 years and 13 per decade in the last 50 years. We encourage you to log in and leave comments on each section – as well as suggestions for our next anniversary book! THE 2013 MEMBERSHIP COMPETITION WINNERS We are delighted to announce the winners of the 2013 membership competition. As part of the Centenary year efforts to increase the membership of the Society, we offered a glittering prize to encourage existing members to recommend the bes advert 210x276 jan 2014.indd 1 20/01/2014 16:46 Society to their colleagues and friends. Over 350 members qualified for the draw. JOIN OUR BES REVIEW COLLEGE projects and individuals receive funding impacting on their individual The aim of our Review College is to build The winning names have now been research career, but also the ecological a community of individuals who have community as a whole. drawn: existing member Dr Nick Isaac knowledge, experience, and expertise and his colleague and new BES member within ecology and utilise their skills by Being a member of our Review College Miss S Mason, who are both at the being involved in the assessment stages will provide you with experience of Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in of BES grant applications. reviewing grant applications, which Wallingford. Our congratulations to looks great on your CV and our reviewers both members who have won free We call upon members of the Review are likely to have their profile raised BES membership for life! College to read, comment and score via our website, the Bulletin and at applications according to their remit our Annual Meeting. Finally we’d like to say a big thank of expertise and ultimately aid the you to all members who took part in Grants Committee’s decision of which For more information on how to join the competition and helped us reach applications are awarded funding. the Review College please visit our our target of 4500 members. website:www.BritishEcologicalSociety. Peer review is an extremely important org/grants-awards/bes-review-college/ Bill Bewes, Membership Officer process; it not only influences which
6 CONSIDERING THE FUTURE OF CONSERVATION
BES and DICE Joint Symposium 25 – 27 June 2014 University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent Conference organiser: Dr. Zoe Davies, Senior Lecturer in Biodiversity Conservation
We are pleased to announce our joint Annual Symposium with DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology).
This conference will bring together applied natural and social scientists, from both academic and NGO sectors, who are interested in high quality research that supports conservation policy/management decision making.
Our meeting will be symposium-style held over two and a half days, featuring world class plenary speakers and sessions grouped by key conservation themes. Our plenary speakers are inspirational individuals who will present their thoughts on the future of conservation.
Present Confirmed Speakers: Peter Kareiva EJ Milner-Gulland Luigi Boitani Dan Brockington Andrew Balmford James Watson
There will be the usual high quality science, stimulating exchanges of ideas and friendly networking opportunities that you have come to expect from our events – as well as some innovative surprises
Booking will open at the beginning of March. www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org/AS14 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:1 / MARCH 2014
ECOLOGY EDUCATION AND CAREERS Making Ecology for All: Equality & Diversity in Ecological Education and Careers
Christina Ravinet / BES Education Intern @C_Ravinet
Now that the 100th year of the BES has drawn to a close, it is only natural to look ahead to what the next 100 years and beyond may hold for the Society. Last year saw a host of centenary activities being held in deserved celebration of excellent ecological science but now comes the time to pay greater attention to who the science is coming from; the diversity of science taking place needs to be reflected in the diversity of the scientists themselves.
Whilst there is no doubt that exceptional Following the collection of data, a which is often only possible to achieve science occurs within the field of focus group was held to pull-apart the through an unpaid placement or ecology, concerns have been raised over information and consider further who internship. People of a low SES, who are the accessibility of ecology for particular faces barriers and why. Members of unable to support themselves financially, groups of people. Until recently, these the focus group, representing a range will immediately be at a disadvantage concerns have mostly come from of perspectives, worked together to and more likely to be lost to ecology. anecdotes with data specific to ecology prioritise the issues that are of greatest largely absent. To better address any concern and relevant to ecology and A number of recommendations have issues, the BES launched a project in the BES. Although it is often gender been formulated and developed October last year to investigate equality imbalance that receives the most in response to the findings of this and diversity in ecological education attention from existing diversity investigation. Socio-economic status and career pathways. An overwhelming initiatives, it was socio-economic status and ethnicity are the main focuses of response to a specially designed diversity (SES) and ethnicity that were identified these proposals, which are currently survey has allowed the BES to develop as the areas in which the most troubling under consideration by the BES Council. recommendations for inclusiveness problems lie. Of course, the BES remains very much based on data rather than anecdotes. aware of the other diversity issues that Qualitative information suggests that exist and is committed to ensuring that Although open to the wider ecological children of a low SES and/or an ethnic these also receive attention. However, community, the majority of survey minority group face barriers to accessing only by prioritising diversity issues will it responses came from the BES ecology in the first place, possibly due be possible to make a positive impact. membership. The results of the to a lack of exposure and a resulting diversity survey (see facing page), misunderstanding of what it is and what For ecology to advance and count over combined with membership data and it can offer. From very early on, potential the next 100 years and beyond, there information from the INTECOL survey, talent is being lost. Further down the needs to be an abundance of ecologists suggest that the current make-up of line, barriers will often continue to with a variety of talents and viewpoints. ecologists and ecological students is persist for those who overcame earlier This will be realised only by ensuring largely homogeneous. ones. Now becoming increasingly that ecology becomes more accessible common is the need for experience, and, ultimately, for all.
8 britishecologicalsociety.org ECOLOGY EDUCATION AND CAREERS
591 471 people responded to the survey were members 109 10 were non-members did not specify
9.4% 0% 591 Black and Minority Ethnic There were no respondents groups made up 9.4% in the category Black or of respondents. Black British – Caribbean. 56.4% 5% of the respondents of respondents declared were women that they had a disability. 36.2% 18.9% attended university and of respondents attended were the first person in an independent their family to do so. secondary school 0
UNDERREPRESENTATION OF FEMALE THERE IS IMBALANCE IN GENDER MEMBERS INCREASES IN MORE SENIOR EMPLOYMENT TYPES. REPRESENTATION OF BES MEMBERS 100% IN THE FAVOUR OF MEN.
39.9% 60.1% 0% Women Men Increasing levels of seniority
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SCIENCE POLICY Wales Policy Group: an invitation to members
Tim Graham / Yorkshire Wildlife Trust [email protected]
A central tenet of the BES mission of advancing ecology and making it count is to make science available to help inform those involved in the formation of evidence-based policy.
While the Policy staff in the BES office The success and accumulated experience The legislative horizon scan in this issue work hard to open channels to politicians of the Scottish Policy Group so far (p35) offers insight into what imminent and the public, the membership suggests that a similar group for Wales activities there may be for a policy group, represents a repository of knowledge and is a logical step and we now invite BES and no doubt members in Wales will expertise that can make a huge difference members to join us in the venture. also have their own ideas to bring to the to efforts to inform policy on everything Interested members are invited to contact group. Events to examine how devolution from climate change issues to funding for Kathryn Monk at Natural Resources Wales has impacted conservation strategy and ecological research. The engagement of in the first instance (contact details below). delivery have been suggested, and the BES members in events and consultations BES Policy Team and Special Interest across the UK has been hugely beneficial. The overall aim of forming Groups could help facilitate or organize networks of members in Scotland events with the group that could include: Engaging with environmental policy and Wales engaged in policy in in the Devolved Administrations these countries is: a) Facilitating BES responses to has presented challenges as well as To improve the capacity of the BES relevant consultations; opportunities. Areas of legislation that are and its members to respond in an b) Meetings and workshops bringing directly relevant to the interests of the appropriate and timely manner to policy together scientists, policy-makers and Society, such as biodiversity policy, have developments within Scotland and Wales, others to consider regionally-relevant now been devolved from Westminster thereby ameliorating the risk, (identified issues of mutual concern; to the Scottish, Welsh and Northern by the Public and Policy Committee), Irish administrations. The formation of that the Society may be insufficiently c) Receptions for politicians and networks or ‘BES Policy Groups’ local to informed about and engaged with such policy-makers; the Devolved Administrations can have developments. d) The production of briefing notes; the dual benefit of helping scientists engage with policy, which in turn helps • To improve the awareness of the Policy e) Policy Training Workshops for the BES Policy Team to deliver the Team regarding policy developments in members based in Wales. Society’s business plan. Scotland provides Scotland and Wales. an excellent model, as the establishment • To improve the Policy Team’s ability to CONTACTS: of a Scottish Policy Group (SPG) is now respond to policy developments outside To express interest in the proposed Wales Policy Group please contact: Kathryn Monk. Kathryn is enabling the Society to engage more England. actively with the Scottish Parliament and Science Strategy Manager for Natural Resources • To assist policy-makers through the Wales, and is one of the authors of the 2014 policy makers. Legislation scan published in this issue. provision of appropriate, timely and [email protected] The experience of the Scottish Policy evidence-based advice. Group is that communication with local For more general enquiries about BES Policy • To develop capacity amongst members policy makers is less complex and more matters, contact Cheryl Pilbeam, Acting BES in Scotland and Wales to respond to Policy Manager, based at Charles Darwin House direct than dealing with Westminster, and policy developments. [email protected] that – as mentioned in the recent report Those interest in the existing Scottish Policy Group on the SPG’s visit to Holyrood (see the NEXT STEPS TOWARDS A WALES December Bulletin) – policy events can contact Rob Brooker, Plant Ecologist at the James POLICY GROUP be simpler to arrange. This makes it Hutton Institute, and also Chair of the Science and The first step towards a group in Wales is Technical Group of the Scottish Biodiversity Forum. easier for the Society’s members to [email protected] engage directly with policy makers and to get the members who are interested to see how their research, and ecological connected together. Some members and Tim Graham runs the Conservation Ecology SIG and is Programme Manager for Humberhead research in general, can be used to relevant staff from Natural Resources Wales have already been in touch, but we urge Levels NIA at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, contribute to the policy-making process. [email protected] or all interested members to get involved. [email protected]
10 britishecologicalsociety.org SCIENCE POLICY
Will 2014 be a step towards healthy seas?
Katherine Maltby / Policy and Education Assistant [email protected] / @BESPolicy / @BES_Careers
2008 2010 2012 Adoption of Marine MSFD transposed into UK Initial Assessment Strategy Framework UK Marine Strategy & targets and indicators Directive (MSFD) determined.
2014 2015/16 2020 Monitoring programmes Programme of measures All EU seas achieved GES established developed and implemented
Fig. 1: MSFD timeline and key objectives.
2014 is an important year for the EU marine environment; reforms of the Common Fisheries Policy have already been put into effect and by July all member states must have put in place a monitoring scheme as part of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. So how is the UK doing in meeting this July deadline?
As the world’s largest maritime territory, Marine Strategy Framework Directive the EU marine environment provides (MSFD) was adopted in 2008 to ensure a bounty of ecological resources that that EU marine systems are maintained, make important economic and social or restored, to healthy and sustaining contributions to both member and ecosystems. 2014 marks a significant year non-member states. However, the in the Directive’s timeline as it requires impact of human activities is degrading all member states to have established a and damaging marine biodiversity and monitoring programme that will track ecosystems and in the process impacting progress towards the directive’s overall the resources that we are all reliant upon. objective of ‘Good Environmental Status’ In order to address these problems, the (GES) by 2020 (Fig. 1).
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Despite criticisms over what Good that will be used to track progress to the BOX 1: WHAT DOES GOOD Environmental Status (Box 1) actually previously agreed targets and indicators ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS is and the ambitious nature of the (Fig 1). These methods have been ACTUALLY MEAN? Directive, so far it has been very useful in developed and will be carried out by GES, as stated by the MSFD (2008) making nations recognise the importance scientists working as part of UK Marine is: “The environmental status of of the marine environment and ensuring Monitoring and Assessment Strategy marine waters where these provide they implement actions to protect it. The evidence groups. The consultation ecologically diverse and dynamic MSFD officially became transposed into covers: UK law through the Marine Strategy in oceans and seas which are clean, • What monitoring programmes 2010. As part of the first phase of this healthy and productive”. will be used strategy, one of the most comprehensive This includes recognising that reviews of the state of the UK’s seas was • How the proposed programme will ecosystems, including their chemical, published in 2012 (Box 2). The waters meet the directives requirements that the UK government is responsible physical and hydro- morphological • Any issues or knowledge gaps for are part of the North East Atlantic features are fully functioning and that could hinder the process. resilient, biodiversity is protected, Marine Region. Within this region, a pollution is prevented and noise is coordinated effort between all member The proposals take advantage of many of and non-member states is required in limited. the long-running monitoring assessments order to develop and implement actions that already take place, such as the 11 descriptors are laid out to help to protect their marine ecosystems. annual English Beam Trawl Survey, the describe what GES should ‘look like’. This coordination is mainly developed UK Bycatch monitoring scheme and These include biodiversity, marine through the OSPAR Regional Seas the Seabird Monitoring Programme. litter, eutrophication and non- Convention, of which all states within the These established programmes and indigenous species. North East Atlantic region are members. the data they have already collated will prove invaluable for assessing At a UK level, GES and the In 2014, Stage 2 of the UK Marine progress. At the time of writing, the underpinning 11 descriptors have Strategy has been kick-started. By BES was in the process of formulating a July of this year, the UK must have a been adapted to identify what GES response to the consultation using the coordinated monitoring programme to should mean for UK seas. This has expertise of our members. The response track progress to GES for the 11 different involved work with Cefas, JNCC and the should be available to view on our descriptors. The value of a monitoring UK Marine Monitoring and Assessment website from 3rd April at http://www. programme as part of the MSFD is Strategy agency, as well as many britishecologicalsociety.org/public-policy/ important for many reasons: others. More information on this can our-position/consultation-responses/. be found in the UK Marine Strategy’s 1. Allows assessment of how well the UK For the UK, the implementation Initial Assessment. is meeting the MSFD objectives. of the monitoring programme by 2. Encourages policy decisions related July is achievable given the existing BOX 2: THE UK MARINE STRATEGY to the Directive to become more programmes already in place. PART ONE. evidence-based and flexible. The greater challenge perhaps is the requirement for actions to be The first part of the marine strategy 3. Forms an important basis for helping coordinated at a regional level with covered three main areas, with the to deliver the next part of the Directive other North East Atlantic Region states. A outputs reported in the document in 2015/ 2016, when measures to regional approach is extremely important ‘UK Initial Assessment and Good address GES will have to be developed if the ecosystem-based approach that Environmental Status’. The report and put in place. the MSFD aims for is to be achieved, yet included: in reality, as the consultation document 4. Helps generate and increase the notes, this can be difficult to achieve. • An initial assessment of UK seas knowledge base for marine issues. For Currently a reported lack of clarity and including socio-economic analysis, example, disentangling the impacts of information from other member states current and future status and cost- human pressures from more natural has meant that matching UK plans with benefit analysis of achieving GES. or climate-driven pressures on seabird others has been challenging. Further distributions or marine habitats. • Characteristics of what GES means regional discussions and work with OSPAR should hopefully address these in relation to the UK marine In January this year Defra launched a new issues and initiate more coordinated environment. consultation for the whole of the UK on action. However, for the UK at least, the proposed monitoring programmes. • Targets and indicators for how there is positive progress towards Closing in early April, the consultation progression to GES can be measured. meeting this next target of the MSFD. proposes the methods and assessments
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A 21st Century Challenge: Bringing Agroecology into the Mainstream
Greg Counsell / formerly BES Policy Intern @BESPolicy
In 2011 the human population passed the 7 billion count and current UN projections suggest that by 2050 we will be 9 billion. The challenge of feeding this growing population without further degrading our natural resource base is becoming increasingly urgent, and our ability to meet this challenge could well be the determinant factor in how the second half of the 21st century plays out.
In 2009 the FAO stated a 70% increase The resultant loss of biodiversity, the name itself: agroecology comes from in agricultural output would be required unsustainable use of water, and pollution the combination of the two disciplines to feed the 9 billion. As such, many of soils are issues which compromise ‘agronomy’ and ‘ecology’. As a science governments have since committed the ability of our natural resources to agroecology is therefore the ‘application funding to agricultural research with sustain these industrialised practices. To of ecological science to the study, hopes that a new Green Revolution add to this, climate change is resulting design and management of sustainable will help reach that target. in more frequent and extreme weather agroecosystems.’ events, such as droughts, floods and Simply increasing agricultural output does less predictable rainfall, which is already Agroecology is both a science and a set not address the underlying issues facing having a severe impact on farming of agricultural practices. These practices modern agriculture. Many observers in certain regions. Extensive vertical seek to maximize yields while minimizing suggest current global agriculture is integration within the food industry the need for external fertilizers and already producing more than enough to means any such unpredictability in energy, instead utilizing closed loops and feed our current population, yet recent farming output can destabilize markets. biological interactions that mimic natural FAO statistics suggest 842 million people As such, further external inputs are ecological processes. Rather than focusing are still going hungry (Joel Cohen spoke required to maintain production, all of on individual species, agroecosystems cogently on this issue at the BES annual which increases running costs, lowers integrate crops and livestock, and meeting in 2010). So the question of farmers’ profits and results in the type through diversification of species further investment is not simply one of of record food price rises seen in 2007- and genetic resources the focus is on how much we invest, but of how and 2008. interactions and productivity across the where we invest it. whole agricultural system. Management The relevance of agroecology in place of of organic matter and soil biotic activity Since the mid 20th century industrial large-scale industrial farming is becoming are cornerstones of agroecology, as agricultural practices have become the more apparent as policymakers, scientists, through this management, soil conditions benchmark for agricultural performance, farmers and citizens realize that business most favourable for plant growth can be with technological improvements and as usual is no longer a sustainable attained with minimal external input. the expansion of cultivated land more option in the face of peak oil, climate than doubling the global agricultural change, water scarcity and the social, Sustainable use of water also plays a huge output. Several decades of Green public health and environmental costs of role in implementing agroecological Revolution research and innovation led industrial and Green Revolution farming. practices. Understanding and utilising by governments and big enterprises the water cycle in a landscape, rotating have led to a highly productive food The term agroecology has suffered from crops of different root depth and testing industry reliant on agrochemicals, fossil something of an identity crisis over recent nationally sourced crops that are more fuels, monoculture and intensive livestock decades with different parties utilizing drought or flood tolerant helps to production. and redefining the term to meet their minimize excess water usage. own ends. The clearest definition is in
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The best examples of this can be seen Since the 2008 economic downturn there SOURCES in Cuba. Following the break up of the has been a decline in the UK market for United Nations, 2010 – Report submitted by the Soviet Union, Cuba was left without organic products, suggesting that when Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier the technology and resources required wider society feels the pinch there may De Schutter. to farm on an industrial scale; ecological not be the willingness required to support www.srfood.org/en/report-agroecology-and-the- farming methods were a necessity and an industry of agroecology. The public right-to-food drought mitigation systems were would have to be motivated to support created that, despite a renaissance a switch to agroecological methods Wibbelmann, M., Schmutz, U., Wright, J., Udall, D., Rayns, F., Kneafsey, M., Trenchard, of industrial agricultural production, for based on ethical considerations, L., Bennett, J. and Lennartsson, M. (2013) remain in place today. reasons of personal responsibility, and Mainstreaming Agroecology: Implications for an understanding of the long-term Global Food and Farming Systems. Centre for Agroecology also differs from industrial false economy represented by industrial Agroecology and Food Security Discussion agriculture in that there is no one-size- agribusiness models. Price is often Paper. Coventry: Centre for Agroecology and fits-all approach. It is highly knowledge- considered the main driver of purchasing Food Security. ISBN: 978-1-84600-0454 intensive, based on techniques that are decisions, and there is evidence to FAO, 2009 – 2050: A Third More Mouths to Feed not delivered top-down but developed suggest that agroecological approaches www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/35571/ on the basis of farmers’ knowledge and can be economically viable when in Fernando R. Funes-Monzote, 2008 – Farming like scientific experimentation at a local competition with industrial approaches we’re here to stay level. These local level systems allow (United Nations, 2010). agricultural practices to be designed not PhD Thesis, Wageningen University http:// edepot.wur.nl/122038 only from a sound ecological point of To transform the food industry from view but also through consideration of one reliant on industrial agribusiness the corresponding socio-economic and into an agricultural system dominated environmental perspectives. by small scale agroecological farming, an approach that reflects a shared This system also provides opportunities vision of the future is required, and for forward-thinking businesses that that means educating consumers and can see beyond proprietary seeds and ‘reconnecting’ them with where their fertilisers. Again, in Cuba, businesses food comes from and how it is produced. have emerged to supply location-specific If some of the government funds for agricultural products produced through agribusiness innovation were channeled agroecological methods, such as pest towards communication and knowledge control products in the form of insects brokerage, this shared vision might and bacteria. With no industrial patents become a reality. or need for expensive external inputs, this system of farming can benefit those The future of sustainable agriculture in the poorest rural areas, and it is these for all goes far beyond technology areas which house the majority of the or ecological innovation: it’s about nearly 1billion people whom industrial understanding local dynamics and agriculture is currently failing. exchanging information about adapted experiences, but ultimately it is about The last few decades of global agriculture once again learning how to live within have been defined by progressive the limits of our natural resources. specialization, centralization and expansion, so the widespread adoption of location-specific and diverse farming systems will undoubtedly face numerous barriers. The Centre for Agroecology and Food Security at Coventry University identified consumer motivation and behaviour as one of the main barriers to mainstreaming agroecology.
14 britishecologicalsociety.org FORTHCOMING BES EVENTS
FORTHCOMING BES EVENTS Special Interest Groups
Our Special Interest Groups provide a focus of activity in particular fields of ecology. They organise small meetings, field trips and events throughout the year and rely solely on the ideas, enthusiasm and hard work of volunteers. They are always looking for new members, ideas and help, so contact them to see how you can get involved. Please check our website for their most up to date information: www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org/SIG
MARCH MAY SEPTEMBER 12TH 12TH 3RD – 5TH Computational SIG: Conservation and Computation SIGs Peatlands SIG Predictive Modelling Methods Putting Models into Practice In the Bog – the ecology, landscape, Location: Charles Darwin House archaeology and heritage of peatlands APRIL Location: Sheffield Showroom & 15TH-16TH Workstation, Sheffield 1ST Peatlands Research Macroecology SIG: Wilder by Design? – Managing landscape 17TH Challenges in Macroecology change and future ecologies Sheffield Conservation SIG: Location: Natural History Museum Hallam University, Sheffield, UK. Landscape Delivery Scale 1ST – 4TH Conservation SIG Location: Charles Darwin House Putting Models into Practice Agricultural SIG 8TH-13TH Pollinators in Agriculture Location: Charles Darwin House Plant Environmental Physiology 13TH-14TH JUNE Workshop Plant Environmental Physiology Location: Lisbon Young Career Scientist Mini symposium 2ND – 4TH Ecological Genetics SIG Location: Sheffield and the Peak District OCTOBER Morohmetrics and Multivariates 14TH – 16TH 24TH – 25TH 3RD – 5TH Ecological Genetics SIG Forest Ecology and Peatlands SIGs 58th Annual Conference Forest Ecology SIG Waxcap Symposium Continuous Cover Forestry Location: Longhurst Hall, Newcastle Location: Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK & Longshaw, Peak National 25TH 8TH Park, Derbyshire. Global Climate Change Ecological Citizen Science SIG impacts of climate change Open Farm Day 30TH – 31ST building on the IPCC fifth Conservation SIG assessment report JULY Invertebrate Ecology with AES Location: Charles Darwin House 8TH – 9TH Location: Charles Darwin House Macroecology SIG Annual Meeting
21ST – 25TH Aquatic SIG Early Careers Day, SIG Reboot and Detrital Dynamics in Aquatic Systems Location: Charles Darwin House
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SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
So moving forward we intend to do so watch this space. We will also be more training events, and build upon examining how we can better approach them: broadening out to an even wider conservation ecology and the varied community of people aiming to get research and delivery that is going started with the methods, wanting to on across the UK and abroad by BES understand how to do them well, or members. simply understand what they are all about. This year we have big plans. We’re Working with Computational Ecology going to expand our online presence by we will be running a workshop on 12th using a new website to serve you with May at Charles Darwin House, London, useful updates, tutorials, guides, advice to explore best practice in application of and blog posts on quantitative methods modelling for connectivity and landscape COMPUTATIONAL ECOLOGY: (http://bescomputationalecology. ecology – helping contribute to research THE ‘SOMETHING FOR ALL wordpress.com/) . We’re also going needs, conservation practitioners within GROUP’ to provide you with an online Field Nature Improvement Areas and beyond, Guide to Ecological Models; to tell you as well as producing a guide that will no Matthew Smith all those things about the different doubt be useful to all. [email protected] methods you never get told in any @BES_CE_SIG Building on for previous events on the undergraduate ecology degree as well implications for conservation from the Quantitative methods are evolving fast as those things you might have done. As Lawton Review (SIG and BES Policy in ecology, way faster than any of us can well as expanding this presence we aim Team) and Landscape-scale delivery keep up with. We lack the foundational to continue to host training events and (Natural England) we will be holding training in mathematical, statistical or we’ll provide more information about a Conference at Charles Darwin House computational skills to pick these up those as they emerge (likely a software on the 17th Sept to explore how easily: otherwise we’d work for banks, carpentry bootcamp, an ‘ecological ecological science is moving forward the obviously. One consequence is that many models in conservation applications’ challenges and constraints to large scale of us spend a lot of our time feeling workshop and an event again with the conservation delivery. frustrated by quantitative methods. International Biometric Society and Royal Statistical Society). Working with both the Amateur The Computational Ecology SIG exists Entomological Society and Citizen to help members with the quantitative Our SIG does not have the largest Science SIG, we will be exploring techniques that involve some form membership but we could potentially Invertebrate Conservation on the of computation (the vast majority of serve the largest proportion of BES 31st October at Charles Darwin them). This includes data entry, storage members: those aiming to make sense House, bringing together amateurs, and delivery, statistical analyses and and use out of the quantitative methods. professionals, researchers and modelling. Our priority is to enable the You don’t need to be a computer nerd to practitioners alike. widest possible community of ecologists join (and NO it doesn’t help… that’s the understand and use the best quantitative point!) Two other pieces of work that are being computational methods. We’ve not been finalised are a workshop and surgery clear about that over the last couple of exploring how we can generate better years because we ourselves were not conservation evidence with the Field entirely sure how best to serve you. Studies Council, and also with the Therefore we resorted to doing what AGM in France this year we have the any self-respecting ecologist would have potential to offer support to conservation done and ran a set of experiments; a researchers/practitioners that will bring a number of different events pitched at new audience and potential partnerships various audiences with different levels of to the AGM in December 2014. quantitative expertise. The clear winner was to provide people with opportunities For more details of anything, or if to learn how to implement quantitative you want to get involved or in touch methods well. Hence, our most popular [email protected] events in the past year have been CONSERVATION ECOLOGY training courses on integrated population Tim Graham modelling, species distribution The conservation group is looking to modelling, spatial analysis and good maintain its activity again right through coding practices. At those, people clearly 2014, with a number of events and made the most of the opportunity and pieces of work. We are continuing to got on with the learning, discussions and develop potential future working with asking challenging questions. the Society for Conservation Biology,
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The meeting is being organised by Glen Reynolds, SEARRP (the Royal Society SE Asia Rainforest Research Programme), and aims to review current knowledge in rainforest science – integrating biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, carbon cycling and atmospheric chemistry – and to examine commonalities and differences across tropical biomes, the threats faced by rainforests, their responses to environmental change and how FOREST ECOLOGY TROPICAL ECOLOGY the science base can more effectively Dan Bebber Lindsay Banin contribute to their conservation, [email protected] [email protected] sustainable management and restoration. @BESForests @BES_Tropical Hello, my name is Dan Bebber and I At the beginning of December 2013, am the new secretary of the BES Forest BES-TEG jointly hosted a skills event Ecology Group. Markus Eichhorn has with the Parasites & Pathogens SIG, at handed over the reins after many the fantastic Natural History Museum. years of faithful service, and I hope to The 35 delegates spent the first day maintain his high standards in the years learning all the tricks of the trade in to come. This year we have a number of project management, in a session led FEG-sponsored events to look forward by Caron King of Kingswood Plus. to, including meetings on waxcaps as After a jam-packed day of post-it notes indicators, continuous cover forestry, and Gantt charts, delegates enjoyed a and a large international meeting social event at the local pub and shared on threats to tropical forests (jointly experiences over a drink. For the second INVASIVE SPECIES sponsored by the Royal Society, the BES day, we were joined by Emma Sayer, Helen Bayliss Tropical Ecology Group, among many Mike Brockhurst and Mike Boots who [email protected] others). We are also looking forward shared their tips for successful fellowship @BES_Invasive to the Joint Annual Meeting in Lille in and grant applications, based on their It has been a busy start to the year, with December. Our Facebook group, Twitter experiences as successful grant recipients the SIG contributing to the House of following (big thanks to Philip Martin and from the perspective of sitting on Commons Select Committee inquiry for helping to maintain this) and email funding panels. The day also included an into invasive species with the help of the list continue to grow, and our Forest of ‘elevator pitch’ exercise, tips on dealing excellent BES Policy team, and preparing the Month entries are now archived on with interview nerves, the dos and for several forthcoming events including an interactive map on the BES website. don’ts of CV writing and a great deal of an invasion science day and a public Recent meetings on forest fungi and interaction between the delegates and lecture. At the time of going to press we plantations on ancient woodland sites the experts. Many of the researchers who haven’t confirmed all final details but were reported in the latest FEG bulletin, had attended commented that it had more information will be available from along with new publications, jobs, and been a very valuable learning experience. our web page, email list and Twitter graduate opportunities. Remember, the You can read more about this event on feed as things are confirmed. We are FEG is as active as its members, so keep page 40. We encourage TEG members to also organising and/or contributing your contributions flowing. If it’s about come forward with ideas for similar skills to a couple of workshops running this forest ecology, we want to hear about it! workshops they may wish to develop. year and will provide an update, and For a report on a recent FEG meeting In 2014 we hope to host our 7th Early more details for anyone wanting to get see p24 Career Researcher meeting, which has involved, in the next Bulletin. proven in the past to be an excellent networking event, an opportunity ECOLOGICAL GENETICS to meet people with similar research Paul Ashton interests, generate ideas and to present [email protected] work in a friendly environment. Watch this space for further details! The 58th meeting at Newcastle on 14th- 16th April 2012 is organised by Dr. Kirsten In October, BES-TEG is supporting a Wolff and sponsored by the BES and the meeting at the Royal Society, London, Genetics Society. The venue is Longhirst entitled ‘Tropical rainforests on the Hall, 18 miles north of the city. So a once brink: science for their conservation, a year opportunity to talk, eat, drink and sustainability and restoration in an dream all things ecological genetics. era of rapid environmental change’.
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The guest speaker will be Prof Per our successful 2013 Sheffield meeting. of environmental change, of climate Ingvarsson from Umea. Per’s research But they also include new initiatives to change, and of a radically altered public focusses upon plant evolutionary link with other communities, including sector and political climate. It will set the genetics and population genetics citizen scientists and palaeobiologists. scene for an international conference theory. This includes the importance On this latter theme, we are delighted to on a similar theme in September 2015. of population structure in determining announce a one-day meeting exploring Speakers for 2014 include: Peter Taylor, patterns and rates of divergence the links between palaeontology and Ken Smith (PDNPA), Professor Chris during speciation, the importance macroecology, in association with the Thomas (University of. York), Dr Steve of hybridization and polyploidy in Palaeontological Association: Carver (WRI, University of Leeds), Dr speciation and the effects of mating Jamie Lorimer (Oxford University), Dr system on the distribution of genetic Challenges in Macroecology – Jan Woudstra (University of Sheffield), variation in geographically-structured Scaling the Time Barrier Sir Charles Burrell Bt. (Knepp Estate), populations. All classic EGG material that Tuesday 1st April 2014, Natural History Richard Scott (Landlife), Ted Green MBE has had fresh vistas opened by the power Museum, London (Ancient Tree Forum), Dr Lois Mansfield of recent DNA innovations. (University of Cumbria), Professor Ian Keynote speakers: Rotherham (SHU) and Natural England. The conference will feature the usual Prof. David Jablonski (University of The seminar includes a field visit and excellent mix of study organisms Chicago) concludes with an expert panel session. and subject material from new and Prof. Kathy Willis (University of Oxford) experienced researchers. Hence talks and The event is sponsored and supported Dr Lee Hsiang Liow (University of Oslo) posters are welcomed from scientists of by: BES, IPS, IUFRO, ESEH, Sheffield all stages. EGG is a suitably supportive With an emphasis on discussion Hallam University, the Ancient Tree stage for new researchers to deliver and networking opportunities, we Forum, Landscape Conservation Forum, their first presentation. The conference aim to facilitate new collaborations Thorne & Hatfield Moors Conservation will also feature an excursion, to the between palaeo- and neontological Forum and JBA Consulting. wonderful Northumberland coast, led by macroecologists, and determine the Places are limited and pre-booking long time EGG attendee, emeritus Prof strengths and limitations of integrating is essential. More information and a John Richards. It will also feature the EGG concepts, questions and data across booking form can be found at http:// heads quiz and the traditional ceilidh timescales. Registration is open at www.ukeconet.org/event/wilder- following the conference dinner. http://tinyurl.com/macropalaeo by-design/ or email info@hallamec. Details are on the EGG website http:// As usual, you can keep up with all our plus.com or telephone 0114 2724227 www.britishecologicalsociety. events on Twitter (@besmacroecol), In the Bog – The ecology, landscape, org/getting-involved/special- Facebook, and via our mailing list – archaeology and heritage of interest-groups/ecological- details on our website, http://tinyurl. peatlands genetics-group/ with bookings on com/besmacro the Newcastle university webpage 3rd to 5th September at the http://conferences.ncl.ac.uk/ PEATLAND RESEARCH Sheffield Showroom & Workstation, ecologicalgeneticsgroup2014/ Sheffield, UK. Ian Rotherham I hope to see you there! [email protected] Professor Ian D. Rotherham and colleagues are organising a major 3-day We have another exciting year of events conference examining the past, present and activities. Please come along and and future of peatland landscapes across both enjoy and support. the world. The event is bringing together Wilder by Design? – Managing speakers and presentations from a range landscape change and future of disciplines, backgrounds and countries ecologies to look at: 15th & 16th May at Sheffield Hallam • The history of human activity associated University, Sheffield, UK. with peatland landscapes – heaths, moors, bogs, fens and commons; Professor Ian D. Rotherham and colleagues are organising a 2-day • The ecology and archaeology of seminar to explore critical issues around peatlands; MACROECOLOGY wilding or re-wilding, landscape and @BESMacroecol ecological history, on nature and heritage • The landscapes of peatlands and their conservation and on the impacts of neglected heritage; Plans are afoot for a very active 2014, current trends and major socio-economic with a number of macroecological events changes. The seminar which has a UK • The conservation management of occurring. These are centred around our focus, addresses issues of funding, of peatlands – problems and issues; and annual science meeting in Nottingham skills, of best practice and of awareness • The future challenges with climate on 8-9th July, organised by Adam Algar in order to consider how conservation change and carbon sequestration. and broadly following the format of writ broad can respond to challenges
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There will be papers relating to specific Exact dates tbc, within the period June– small case study areas, species or suites August 2014. To take part, to get involved of species as well as papers that address or to help, please contact Dr Olivia the issues at landscape or cultural Bragg, University of Dundee directly: levels. Speakers confirmed include: Jack [email protected] Rieley, Clifton Bain, Benjamin Gearey, Alper Colak, Andreas Heinemeyer, Phil Seminar on Sphagnum Mosses Newman, John Coll, Nicki Whitehouse, This event, probably in June, is being Peter Poschlod, Rob Rose and Ian organised jointly by Dr Simon Caporn & Rotherham. There will be an associated colleagues at Manchester Metropolitan field visit at the beginning of the University with the Moors for the Future conference and a poster presentation Partnership. We will announce more session on the second day. Offers of details as soon as they are available. If PLANTS, SOILS, ECOSYSTEMS posters and displays are welcome. you are interested in this event, please Franciska de Vries contact Simon on: S.J.M.Caporn@mmu. [email protected] The event is sponsored and supported ac.uk, or Rachael Maskill on: Rachael. @BESPlantSoilEco by: BES, IPS, IUCN, IUFRO, ESEH, [email protected] Sheffield Hallam University, Landscape A one-year-old BES special interest group Conservation Forum, Thorne & Hatfield on plant-soil interactions, with a focus Moors Conservation Forum and JBA on biogeochemical cycling, community Consulting. dynamics, and ecosystem functioning.
Places are limited and pre-booking Aims is essential. More information and a booking form can be found at http:// • To promote research on plant- www.ukeconet.org/event/in-the- soil interactions and their role in bog-conference/ or email info@ ecosystems through workshops, hallamec.plus.com or telephone symposia, and events at BES meetings 0114 2724227 • To provide opportunities for Workshops on Identification and Waxcap Symposium networking and collaboration among researchers involved in the study of Ecology of Sphagnum Mosses 24th & 25th October at Sheffield plant-soil interactions and ecosystem Hallam University, Sheffield, UK We continue the highly successful ecology theme with workshops this year on the Professor Ian D. Rotherham and Sphagnum mosses of 1) Thorne Moors in • To serve as a platform to discuss and colleagues are organising a 2-day the Humberhead levels National Nature share techniques, expertise, and data Reserve; 2) post-industrial wetland sites; event to explore issues around the and 3) a west Pennine upland site. identification and relationship of waxcap • To promote research across Places will be limited and pre-booking fungi (and their allies) to historical scientificdisciplines to students, is essential. More information and a wood-pasture and parkland. This event facilitate training opportunities in booking form will be available from is seen as both extending the scope of different techniques, and provide www.ukeconet.org or email info@ previous workshops, and to discuss their support for early-career researchers hallamec.plus.com or telephone 0114 role as indicators and the implications 2724227 for management of historic parklands Committee and ‘re-wilding’ landscapes. It will set The organizing committee currently the scene for further workshops and Field Research Meeting – consists of Franciska De Vries, The develop one of the themes for the Glenfeshie Great Moss (Mòine University of Manchester (Secretary: 2016 international Capability Brown Mhór), Cairngorms National Park. [email protected]); Emma tercentenary conference. The symposium Organised by Dr Olivia Bragg, Sayer, The Open University; Paul Kardol, includes a field visit to the Longshaw University of Dundee Swedish University of Agricultural estate and concludes with an expert Continuing our annual themed field visits, Sciences; Tim Daniell, The James Hutton panel session. this year we are planning an intensive Institute; Dave Johnson, Aberdeen study of ecological processes, condition The event is sponsored and supported University; Mike Whitfield, Lancaster and restoration potential of the UK’s by: BES, Sheffield Hallam University, University; and Sarah Pierce, Imperial highest-altitude peat bog (~950m a.s.l.). the Ancient Tree Forum and Landscape College, as student representative. This meeting will be organised from Conservation Forum. Richard Bardgett, The University of Dundee University and bring together Manchester, supports the committee in key UK peatland experts (especially on Places are limited and pre-booking an advisory role. eroded blanket mire), plus around ten is essential. More information and a research students, for 3 days of fieldwork. booking form will be available from The results will form the basis of a report www.ukeconet.org or email info@ on site status and potentially a cross- hallamec.plus.com or telephone disciplinary peer-reviewed publication. 0114 2724227
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Plants, Soils, Ecosystems is one on the @BESPlantSoilEco Twitter feed. environmental agendas, sustainable year old! You can find more details about how to policy and land management decisions. We have been up and running for contribute to the discussion on the blog, where you can also read our first post. Of course, Plants, Soils, Ecosystems one year now, and our first year was will be present and active at this great a great success! We have over 150 We’d like to encourage members of the conference – keep an eye out for details! people signed up for our email list, Special Interest Group to get in touch 225 followers on Twitter, and 98 likes with their suggestions for interesting Joint BES-SFÉ Annual Meeting in on Facebook. We organised our first papers to discuss, either via Twitter, on Lille, France, 9-12 December 2014 meeting in October 2013 ‘Digging Facebook, or by email. Readers of the Still a long time away, but as at every deeper: research challenges in plant- blog are also welcome to submit a guest Annual Meeting, of course Plants, Soils, soil interactions’ which attracted an post about a particular paper. Please Ecosystems will be present this year! We international audience of 45 people. We don’t be shy! With enough contributions, are proposing a symposium on a topic also sponsored a successful symposium we can create a lively space for discussion within the field of plant-soil interactions, at INTECOL and held a well-attended and debate. and keep an eye out for our social drinks reception afterwards. We are activity, which will hopefully take place in also compiling a two-monthly eBulletin 2014 Activities an atmospheric French café somewhere (see below) that compiles all the We are full of plans for 2014, but still in Lille. This is the ideal opportunity to interesting news in the area of plant-soil finalising the specifics. The things you get to know us and to get involved in the interactions. We are full of plans and can expect from us this year: special interest group, as we will make there will be more! If you are interested plans for 2015 during this meeting. You in being involved, you can sign up for Two-day meeting ‘Carbon cycling: can have your say! the email list, like us on Facebook, follow from plants to ecosystems’ us on Twitter, or contact one of the Join us! committee members. This meeting will be jointly organised with the BES special interest group Sign up for our email list by sending an Plants, Soils, Ecosystems Bulletin PEPG, and will focus on carbon cycling email to [email protected] Subject: processes from the individual plant BLANK Message: SUBSCRIBE PLANT- Plants, Soils, Ecosystems sends interesting level, including photosynthesis and root SOIL-ECO Firstname Lastname, follow us emails about job opportunities, exudation and their effects on soil C on twitter @BESPlantSoilEco, or like us on studentships and meetings regularly to cycling processes, to the ecosystem level, facebook. those who signed up for our email list, including plant community controls on and we also compile a two-monthly ecosystem carbon budgets. Talks will also Bulletin, which encompasses everything address how global change, including of interest to ecologists interested in climate change, affects these processes plant-soil interactions. If you also want across scales. The date and venue are still to stay up to date with everything that is to be confirmed, so keep an eye out for happening in Plant-Soil-Ecosystem world, us on Twitter (@BESPlantSoilEco) or sign sign up for the newsletter! But more up for our email list (see below). importantly, the success of PSE depends on you, so keep sending us your jobs, GSBI Conference in Dijon, France studentships, and interesting facts. 2-5 December 2014 Plants, Soils, Ecosystems PLANT ENVIRONMENTAL Journal Club The First GSBI Conference – Assessing PHYSIOLOGY GROUP Soil Biodiversity and its Role for @PEPG_SIG The Plants, Soils, Ecosystems journal club Ecosystem Services, is organised by the blog is now up and running, and can GSBI (Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative) The Plant Environmental Physiology be found at http://besplantsoileco. and Ecofinders and held in Dijon, Group (PEPG) is one of the special wordpress.com/. The idea behind the France, December 2-5th, 2014. This interest groups (SIGs) within the British journal club is to highlight interesting will be a dynamic international meeting Ecological Society and the Society for papers in the field of plants, soils and summarizing the current state of Experimental Biology. ecosystems (potentially a very broad knowledge and recent advancements in topic!) and stimulate discussion about the science of soil biodiversity. Plant environmental physiology the papers. The discussion does not represents the study of short-term necessarily have to focus on the scientific The conference will provide a venue acclimation and long-term adaptation content of the paper – it could also look to meet and discuss current research of plants to changing environmental at the ways in which papers have been efforts in soil biodiversity and its links conditions. Our traditional goal has written, or data presentation techniques, to earth processes, and to promote been to integrate leaf and plant- level for example. interdisciplinary collaboration. The responses to biotic and abiotic stress goal of this meeting is promote under field and laboratory conditions. Initially, we’ll aim to post about a paper scientific research on the role of soil Increasingly, our focus has been either to every two weeks – this should provide biodiversity for ecosystem functions and set molecular physiology in an ecological enough time for discussion, which can ecosystem services, and to integrate context, or to provide a basis for scaling take place via comments on the blog and such understanding into international root and shoot level responses to canopy,
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ecosystem and region in the context of PEPG NEWS: physiology and eco-physiology. climate change, whether for crops or Things to look out for in 2014… We aim to finish 5pm on the Tuesday. natural vegetation. International Workshop on This will provide a forum for young Our remit is to: Plant Environmental Physiology career scientists to network and • Advance and promote the science techniques showcase your work. Accommodation (please note that as this is a YHA you and practice of plant environmental September 2014 physiology will have to share rooms, there are very Last year saw the reintroduction of few private rooms) and meals will be • Integrate the plant environmental the international workshop on Plant provided from the evening meal Sunday physiology community and research Environmental Physiology techniques to lunch on Tuesday. There is a bar. opportunities within and outside the in Lisbon, Portugal. It was a huge People in any stage of their career are BES and SEB success with nearly 100 people being welcome to attend. involved during the week. Due to the Registration fees for SEB and BES • Support, train and liaise with young high global demand for places on this members £40, or for non-members £60, plant environmental physiologists workshop we are going to repeat the please register by initially sending your workshop in September 2014 see the The group holds its Annual General name, institution and proposed talk advert in this issue of the Bulletin – we Meeting at the BES Annual Meeting title (talk is optional) and a 100 word want to make this THE International – the PEP group is an informal group abstract to [email protected] workshop to attend if you study plant for physiologists of all ages and career or [email protected] environmental physiology. If you stages, with as much emphasis on social Travel, payment and programme details are interested in being involved in interaction as on academic subjects. It is will be sent out to successful applicants. organising or sponsoring the workshop, an excellent forum for meeting people Numbers are limited so please or have any suggestions then working in similar fields, for socialising register early! please email either Dr Tracy Lawson as well as general networking. Members ([email protected]) or Dr Matt Davey interested in holding conferences, Joint SIG mini-symposium with ([email protected]). meetings, workshops or field meetings the Plant, Soil and Ecosystem SIG – “C cycling – from plants to can apply through the Group Secretary 3rd Annual PEPG Young Career ecosystems” Autumn 2014, for BES financial assistance and support Scientist Mini Symposium – location TBA. for student attendance. Spring 2014 – Sheffield and the Peak District May we also take this opportunity to The main secretary is Dr Matt Davey remind you to promote the PEP group ([email protected]) liaising primarily April 13th-15th 2014 Castleton with academic colleagues, postdocs and with the BES, and Dr Colin Osborne (Losehill Hall YHA), Derbyshire PhD/MSc students etc whether starting ([email protected]) within http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/ this year, or by now well established. the SEB, both assisted by Prof. Howard castleton-losehill-hall Encourage them to visit the website and Griffiths ([email protected]). Registration is now open for our sign up to the jiscmail email forum or The PEP website and email discussion list Peak District Young career scientist Facebook page above. mini symposium. is still popular (with nearly 300 members Matt Davey worldwide this ensures a response to The PEPG are inviting proposals for [email protected] your emails whatever time of day or symposium sessions on the final day night you send it!). Messages posted Colin Osborne (15th April) of the workshop. We to the list are automatically forwarded [email protected] would like to cover as many areas of to all members. Messages may include Howard Griffiths plant physiology and eco-physiology research questions/methodology and [email protected] as possible and invite talks from PhD information, discussion and requests, students and early career Postdocs. Lucy Rowland news of future meetings and PhD/job Postdoc rep [email protected]. advertisements. To sign up follow the This year, the symposium will take on instructions at: http://www.jiscmail. a slightly different format, essentially a Zoe Harris ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=env-physiol walk and talk based in the lovely and Postgraduate rep [email protected] botanically interesting surroundings Marjorie Lundgren http://plantenvironmental of Castleton in the Peak District – we [email protected] physiology.group.shef.ac.uk/ aim for people to arrive at the YHA Richard Webster on the evening of Sunday 13th April Join the Facebook page at: [email protected] for dinner, a day’s guided walk in the The PEPG Facebook page has been a peaks (probably up Mam Tor) on the Carla Turner success, with over 200 followers from Monday 14th followed by dinner in the communications officer –please contact 14 countries http://www.facebook.com/ YHA and an informal after dinner talk Carla with news and events you would PlantEnvironmental by a senior plant physiologist. Tuesday like advertising on our website, email list, PhysiologyGroup 15th April will consist of talks from the Facebook page and twitter @pepg_sig or follow us on Twitter: @pepg_sig PhD researchers and postdocs on plant [email protected]
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CITIZEN SCIENCE • Citizen science can inform policy and (Paul Jepson) and York University also engage people in policy priorities (Rachel Pateman – leading programme The committee but it is essential that the limitations development) and hosted by CEH The Citizen Science SIG now has an and opportunities are recognised. and Oxford University but date yet informal committee: to be agreed) • Understanding uncertainty of data Helen Roy and Michael Pocock (known quality) is important for end- • One day meeting with Macroecology (Secretaries) use of citizen science. SIG ‘Bridging the gap: how can Gitte Kragh and John Millar citizen science help address the (Social media) • Collaborative approaches to citizen data deficiency in macroecology?’ science are a way forward. Rachel Pateman (Meetings) • LEAF Open Farm Sunday Pollinator Peter Brown • A deeper understanding of the Survey (8th June 2014) – this event motivation of participants and Paul Jepson will provide an opportunity to talk professional scientists (the citizen to visitors on Farms while carrying Jodey Peyton science community) involved in out a straightforward survey of insects Lucy Robinson citizen science and their subsequent visiting flowers. More than 300 experiences of citizen science is farms across the UK will open their Jonathan Silvertown required. gates for Open Farm Sunday and John Tweddle this provides a fantastic opportunity to promote ecology and lead a Please do get in contact citizen science initiative (http:// ([email protected]) www.farmsunday.org/ofs12b/open/ if you would like to be involved. PollinatorSurvey.eb) – please get in The First Meeting of the SIG contact for more information and how you can get involved. More than 50 people, from many diverse disciplines, met at Darwin House on 1st • Joint one day meeting on invertebrate November 2013 for the first meeting conservation with the AES. of the Citizen Science SIG – simply amazing! The excellent presentations, • Social event at BES Annual Meeting lively discussions and stimulating in Lille. workshop sessions all contributed to the success of the day. There was huge Please do give thought to activities that enthusiasm for the collaborations that you might like to run in future years will be made possible through the and how you might contribute to the SIG. The key points from our meeting activities listed above. demonstrate the multidisciplinary nature of the group:
• Data quality is a key consideration for citizen science. Open Farm Sunday Pollinator Study – an opportunity to contribute of 8th June 2014. • Socio-economic perspectives are Announcing the logo and generally not integrated within social media ecological citizen science initiatives. The SIG now has a logo (many thanks to • New technology offers many Emma Sayer for her innovative design) opportunities but also presents and is active on LinkedIn through a challenges. group called ‘BES Citizen Science SIG’ AGRICULTURAL ECOLOGY (many thanks to Gitte Kragh for taking @BES_AEG • Innovation is important but it is the initiative in establishing this group). also important to build on legacy Please do contribute to the discussions At the end of 2013, the Agricultural, of existing technologies. through this group. Computational and Forest Ecology SIGs joined forces to organise a conference • Data capture using on-line technologies Future SIG activities in partnership with the Association of has made good progress in recent Applied Biologists entitled ‘Rethinking years, now there are opportunities So what is next for the group? We have Agricultural Systems’ which was held to improve analysis and visualisation. exciting plans for the year ahead and are delighted by the support from BES. Our at St. Catherine’s College Oxford. • Citizen science has huge educational activities include: The meeting was well attended, 138 potential but ecologists need to scientists, farmers and policy makers consult with and learn the language • Two day meeting ‘Citizen Science Fit joined us to stimulate new thinking on of teachers. for Purpose’ (co-organised by CEH this topic. We were very lucky to have a (Michael and Helen), Oxford University programme of distinguished speakers,
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Geoff Radley has written an excellent their own data to get one-to-one basics will not be covered. There are summary of the meeting (p26) and advice from the workshop leaders, plenty of online resources to help get you the full programme is on the meeting or to further explore the tools and started if you’ve not used R before (see website futureagriculture.wordpress.com. techniques presented during the day the introduction to R guide at www.r- The output from workshops will up- with the sample data sets. project.org/). loaded onto this site in due course. You will need to bring a laptop with Tuesday 22nd July 2014 – BES-AG Reboot Four events have been arranged for R installed and we recommend bringing – Aquatic Ecology for the 21st Century 2014, so put them in the diary! More any relevant datasets from projects Wednesday 23rd July – Friday 25th July details can be found on the Agricultural to analyse during the final session. 2014 – Detrital dynamics in aquatic Ecology SIG webpages. You will be required to have a basic systems – from genes to ecosystems understanding of using R for simple 1-3rd April: Joint meeting with the analysis (e.g. loading R scripts, reading More details will be posted on the BES Association of Applied Biology, in csv files, using functions, etc) as these website as available. Pollinators in Agriculture, Courtyard by Marriott, Brussels
30th June: Joint workshop with the Conservation Ecology Group. Regaining Plant Environmental Physiology group control: How to plan, monitor and evaluate for people who want to make a difference in the real world. Charles Darwin House. Ecophysiology Techniques Workshop
18th July: Growing sustainable ecosystem services around farming, NIAB Cambridge
17th / 18th September: AeG Annual th meeting, with an additional Early Lisbon, Portugal 8-13 September 2014 Career day. The PEPG (special interest group of SEB & BES) has re-introduced the Ecophysiology Field Agro-Ecology: linking research, policy Techniques workshop providing a unique opportunity for MSc, PhD students and early career & practice. Harper Adams University, Post-Docs to gain hands-on experience and training in plant physiology techniques in both field Shropshire and laboratory environments.
AQUATIC ECOLOGY Internationally renowned scientists will explain and demonstrate key techniques:
@BES_AquaEco Photosynthesis; including gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, isotope partitioning Forthcoming events: additional Plant water relations; including hydraulic conductance, thermal imaging information will be posted on the SIG Plant 'omic' techniques; including environmental metabolomics, transcriptomics website as available. All three meetings Whole plant physiology; including growth, imaging, modelling will be at Charles Darwin House in Confirmed Speakers will include: London Prof S Long, Dr C Bernacchi, Dr A Leakey (Illinois); Prof H Griffiths, Dr M Davey (Cambridge); Prof L Sack (UCLA); Dr E Murchie (Nottingham); Dr C Osborne Sheffield); Dr T Lawson (Essex); Prof. Gail Taylor Monday 21st July 2014 – Early Careers (Southampton); Prof M Chaves, Dr M Costa (Lisbon); Prof. B. Genty (CNRS/CEA Cadarache, France). Researcher’s Workshop: Analysing Aquatic Community Data with R The meeting will provide an unrivalled opportunity for manufacturers to introduce their latest equipment and provide hands-on training. Through a combination of lectures and practical This workshop will focus upon methods sessions this workshop will provide an invaluable introduction for early stage researchers. to analyse community datasets in R. The six sessions will be focused either on For further information please contact the organiser Tracy Lawson on the following email specific R packages or on implementing [email protected] or visit the following website: different methods of analyzing data http://plantenvironmentalphysiology.group.shef.ac.uk/ using R. Each session will be led by This event is supported by the SEB and BES as well as the following organisations: the authors of the R packages or by experienced users.
The day will be divided into two sets of three sessions running concurrently, and participants will be asked to choose the three they wish to attend. For each session a sample dataset and R script will be provided to allow participants to analyse the data in real time on their laptops. The final session will provide an opportunity for participants bringing
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MEETING REPORTS Silvicultural approaches to restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) and plantation diversification A British Ecological Society Forest Ecology Group Workshop
Scott McG Wilson / Consultant forester [email protected]
Ecological restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) to native species composition is currently an article of forestry policy across Great Britain. Work undertaken over the past two decades has encompassed (a) radical approaches where non-native plantations are clearfelled in a single intervention, with native trees replanted or allowed to regenerate and (b) gradual approaches where non-native plantations are silviculturally treated to retain timber value whilst conserving and enhancing the status of remnant biodiversity features.
The gradual approach is more attractive Speaker presentations to private woodland owners with an In a seminar session, kindly hosted economic motivation but requires by the North York Moors National considerably greater silvicultural skills Park Authority, we enjoyed a range to ensure that combined objectives are of speaker presentations setting out achieved on a single area. The radical different perspectives on the subject approach may ensure more rapid at hand. Mark Antcliff of the National reversion to native species composition Park explained their local experience but is less desirable for some more of encouraging private woodland sensitive biodiversity components owners to undertake progressive and can result in significant landscape PAWS restoration work. Rebecca Isted impacts and economic losses. Alongside of Forestry Commission England and PAWS restoration work, silvicultural Christine Reid of Natural England then approaches for the species diversification explained the official policy context for of non-PAWS pine and larch plantations PAWS restoration in England, taking are being prioritised by current tree account of current species challenges disease outbreaks. Against this sometimes from climate change and emerging controversial background the British pests and diseases. Tim Hodges set Ecological Society Forest Ecology Group Woodland on the privately owned Duncombe out the Woodland Trust’s approach to Park Estate near Helmsley, where post-war decided to host a technical workshop to PAWS restoration across their property compare and evaluate approaches. crops of pine and larch have been progressively removed in favour of hardwood composition, portfolio, emphasising the benefits of dominated by ash, beech and sycamore, with their gradual silvicultural philosophy. some oak and birch. Richard Thompson of Forestry
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Our second visit on the morning of 4th October was to the Woodland Trust’s Robsons’ Spring site a few miles to the south of Helmsley, led by WT site manager Mark Feather. Robsons’ Spring is a native oak-ash woodland site that had been partly restocked with a variety of conifers in the 1960’s. This is a site which the Woodland Trust have expressly developed as a demonstrator location for a variety of PAWS restoration methods to the private estates, hence it illustrated an unusually wide range of techniques from small-scale coupe-fell and replant, through thinning and enrichment underplanting to halo- thinning and natural regeneration. Again, with a looming Chalara threat to the ash component (which regenerates very Robson’s Spring, a Woodland Trust site, a native oak-ash woodland partially restocked with easily), consideration is being given to conifers in the 1960’s alternative species, such as oak, that may need to be replanted. Commission Scotland provided a useful For the present, the workshop organiser counterpoint based on experience in will consider individual requests for Scotland, where the single intervention the set of presentations to be sent on ‘clearfell and naturally regenerate’ CD-ROM, but will have to make a small approach is often necessitated by charge in each such case to cover the extensive, unstable upland conifer costs for postage and packaging. crops on remote and intractable sites. Scott Wilson, a consultant forester Field visits based in Scotland, provided feedback Helmsley and the surrounding North on his recent independent case-studies York Moors National Park area was of practitioner experiences of PAWS selected as the location for this workshop restoration while retaining timber as it gave the opportunity to visit a Wykeham Forest, a Forestry Commission potential and of the adoption of relevant range of relevant field sites within a property being experimentally diversified by alternative silvicultural systems. Roger convenient radius. On the afternoon of underplanting, natural regeneration and thinning. Trout, a consultant mammal ecologist, 3rd October we visited mature mixed dealt with the accommodation of woodlands on the private Duncombe Our final visit on the afternoon of habitat requirements for the dormouse Park Estate (adjoining Helmsley), led 4th October was to the Forestry (a conservation priority species) when by the estate head forester, Tim Tolliss. Commission Wykeham Forest on the planning and undertaking PAWS Former post-war crops of pine and North York Moors, lead by FC district restoration. Nick Brown from the larch have been progressively removed forester Graham Jackson. This is an area University of Oxford provided valuable from PAWS woodlands in favour of of mid 20th century Scots pine-larch insights from his studies as regards the hardwood composition, dominated plantations that are being experimentally survival of ancient woodland species by ash, beech and sycamore, with diversified by a combination of during various forms of PAWS restoration, some oak and birch. These crops are underplanting of alternative species, emphasising fungi and vascular plants. intended to be intensively managed natural regeneration and variable Beth Atkinson of the University of Bristol for combined objectives of timber intensity thinning for silvicultural updated the audience on the results production, shooting, landscape amenity transformation. Although this is not from her recent PhD studies into the and biodiversity, with a strong emphasis a PAWS site per se, the diversification effects of PAWS restoration methods on on securing natural tree regeneration. techniques applied here will be relevant invertebrate populations. Finally Ralph The risk of Chalara to the ash component to PAWS restoration elsewhere. Harmer of Forest Research presented may imply increased emphasis on findings from his research work on the non-native beech and sycamore, which The workshop organiser, Dr. Scott McG relative merits of coupe-felling and are more susceptible to grey squirrel Wilson is an independent consultant thinning approaches when recruiting damage. Lively discussion followed on forester and forest ecologist based in natural regeneration on PAWS sites with the merits or otherwise of retaining some Aberdeen, Scotland. His professional competing vegetation coniferous component (e.g. Douglas and authorship interests encompass fir or larch) on PAWS sites as an ‘option both species selection and alternative Suitable arrangements are currently for the future’ where estate economics silvicultural systems for plantation being sought by which the speaker remain a major objective of competent forestry and the history and ecology of presentations from the workshop can forestry management. This is a sharp native woodland ecosystems in Great be made conveniently available online. contrast to woodland nature reserves. Britain.
25 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:1 / MARCH 2014 Rethinking Agricultural Systems A report on the BES/AAB conference, Oxford 18th – 19th December 2013
Geoff Radley / Independent Ecological and Environmental Consultant [email protected]
Why do we need to re-think agricultural systems?
Barbara Smith introduced the conference • Halt deforestation – clearing forest Jonathan concluded that the bulk of by stressing that the fundamental does enormous environmental the supply side issues could be tackled challenge facing agriculture was that of damage, and most of the cleared through the application of current how to increase agricultural production land produces very little food. technologies in 6 critical areas of whilst reducing its adverse environmental the world, which don’t include N W impacts. This was also the principal • Drive up yields, particularly of maize, in Europe, where agriculture is already conclusion of the 2011 Foresight Report areas where there is a big gap between highly productive and where much of on the Future of Food and Farming the yields that are possible and those the reduction in farmland biodiversity (Foresight 2011). currently being achieved. This can be associated with intensive agriculture done using current technology. has already occurred. Jonathan Foley, Director of the Institute on the Environment at the University • Improve the efficiency of resource use However, Professor Tim Benton’s analysis of Minnesota provided a concise – of water by finding more efficient included consideration of the likely summary of the global context. irrigation techniques and of fertiliser impact of a 4o C increase in mean global Agriculture is making major demands by optimising N applications. temperatures. He said this would increase on the earth’s resources. It occupies the significance of NW Europe, as this is • Change diets – The US corn belt could 40% of the land area, uses between 20 just about the only major food producing feed 16 vegans per hectare but only and 90% of available freshwater and area of the world where climate change 5 people on a normal western diet. makes a very significant contribution to may actually benefit food production Dietary change doesn’t have to involve emissions of greenhouse gases. Whilst over the next 50 years. This was likely everyone becoming vegan though. meeting current demand for food was to lead to very strong market and Beef conversion rates are only 3 to primarily an economic and political political drivers to maintain and further 5%, but poultry conversion rates are problem, rather than an ecological one, increase production in this area. Ensuring between 16 and 40%. agricultural production would need to that high levels of production can be double in coming decades to meet the • Reserve agricultural production for food sustained alongside other ecosystem extra demand for food resulting from – Currently 40% is used for non-food services will be the major challenge population growth and dietary change. crops, particularly biofuels. facing UK agriculture.
Jonathan suggested a number of global • Reduce food wastage, particularly issues that, if tackled together, could help losses due to poor storage. food production keep up with demand whilst also improving the sustainability of agriculture. These are:
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WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH plants have been known for some time, Sally Westaway (Westaway et al. 2013) AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS COULD but the cost of inoculation and the short included a specific example of the BE RE-THOUGHT? cropping cycle have meant that such potential benefits from agroforestry; benefits were considered too difficult alley cropping of willow and hazel Four main routes for improving and expensive to realise. Brito’s work between organic arable can produce productivity while reducing suggests that at field scale, naturally land Equivalent Ratios of 1.4 to 1.5. environmental impact were presented occurring weed species could be used The benefits could be further increased by conference speakers and these are in combination with zero or minimum by using nitrogen-fixing trees or shrubs, briefly reviewed below. tillage to encourage mycorhizzal something also advocated in Pete Incremental improvements colonisation of wheat and other crops, Iannetta’s paper. in resource use efficiency and that this would allow yields to be maintained with lower fertiliser inputs Landscape-scale approaches These were not a main focus of this and allow cropping to be more resilient. Tim Benton warned against using narrow conference, but Susanne Padel’s definitions of sustainability, such as GHG paper (Padel et al. 2013) showed Pete Iannetta identified the inefficient emission reductions, to assess agricultural that calculating NPK balances could use of nitrogen as a major cause of systems as these can have perverse improve nutrient management and the adverse environmental impacts of environmental effects. As sustainability resource use efficiency in low input modern conventional farming practices is a complex and multi-faceted concept, and organic dairy farms. (Iannetta et al. 2013). The use of it could only be achieved through smart, nitrogen-fixing legumes in legume- Tony Waterhouse (Waterhouse and Ricci multi-functional landscapes. Achieving supported cropping systems, combined such landscapes would require action 2013) discussed whether extensive or with precision farming technologies and intensive beef production was better for at a range of levels, and Governments conventional pest and disease control would have a critical role. If there was a minimising greenhouse gas emissions, measures, have the potential to allow and also considered the impact of commercial argument it was that greater yields to be maintained whilst reducing diversity might improve the resilience of different systems on the conservation adverse environmental impact. of biodiversity. It is not easy to devise a agricultural systems. system that simultaneously maximises Improvements in overall An example of this approach was production, minimises pollution and yield through more diverse provided by Chris Stoate (Stoate & optimises biodiversity management. agricultural systems Szczur 2013) for a mixed farming Improvements in resource The links between diversity, productivity catchment in Leicestershire. availability and utilisation through and resilience in ecological systems were Approximately 7% of the arable land better use of soil processes and discussed by Martin Wolfe. Increased is outside the normal cropping cycle at symbiotic organisms diversity of cropping could hold the any one time and is managed to produce key to sustainable intensification and multiple ecosystem services. There is a Ron Stobart’s paper (Stobart and Morris Martin set out the potential advantages trade-off between food production and 2013) explored the impact of cover of agroforestry. Agro forestry systems other ecosystem services, but the loss of cropping on soils and on yields. It can increase carbon sequestration, production is minimised by taking the describes the impact of two different reduce nutrient leaching, improve soil least productive areas out of production cover crops and a clover bi-crop on soils conditions, benefit biodiversity and and by the intensive, multi-functional and yields under a range of nitrogen increase overall productivity. environmental management of these application rates and cropping regimes. areas. Some of the ecosystem services None of the treatments showed a clear The potential for increased diversity that these areas produce, such the net short term financial benefit, but in agricultural systems to improve the supply of pollinating insects and crop several have the potential to deliver resilience and sustainability of food pest predators, may also benefit crop longer term economic benefits. production systems was explored yields, or at least make production more by Hannah Jones (Jones et al. 2013). resilient. Reduced cultivation of the The talk by I Brito (Brito et al. 2013) Hannah showed how the vulnerability of cropped land also reduces soil loss and explored the potential for mycorrhizal pollen development, flowering and grain improves soil function. Sally Westaway’s fungi to improve crop yields and increase set to abiotic stress could be ameliorated paper (Westaway et al. 2013) provided resource use efficiency. The potential by genotypic diversity and through the a specific example of multi-functional benefits of mycorrhizal fungi for crop buffering effect of pollinating insects. management of non-cropped areas,
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showing how existing hedges could Boatman agreed with Herzog that it is Increasing agrodiversity was key to t be managed to produce modest important to retain within intensively his process and he gave a number of amounts of biomass without detriment farmed areas those ecosystem services examples of ecologicalisation in practice. to the other ecosystem services that that are of importance to agricultural Pablo warned that there were no hedgerows provide. production. He also emphasised the simplistic solutions and tried to describe importance of farmland across England a pathway to sustainability. Resource use According to Gavin Siriwardina, continuing to provide cultural ecosystem efficiency would be a valuable first step (Siriwardina 2013) a landscape-scale services. Christine Watson’s paper but would not be enough on its own approach can be tailored to benefit (Watson, Edwards and Topp 2013) to achieve the goal. The bottleneck in specific species and species groups. concluded that re-integrating arable moving to more productive and sustainable Enough must be known of the target and livestock production could improve systems was input substitution, the use species’ ecology to identify the resources resource use efficiency, improve soil of ecological processes to substitute for that are limiting their spread and design condition and reduce pollution. manufactured inputs. management to provide these resources. Re-integration at a landscape scale If management is not tailored to species might deliver these benefits whilst Bill Sutherland advocated the maximum needs in this way, there is a risk that it also retaining the economic benefits use of systematic reviews of the literature will only benefit generalist species. of farm-scale specialisation. and warned of the danger of relying on experts. He advocated use of Delphic Felix Herzog (Herzog & Schuepp How might change be achieved? techniques for generating an expert 2013) considered whether biodiversity consensus when called on to give advice. conservation and agricultural production Much current debate is bogged down were best reconciled in Europe through because the different groups involved do Lisa Norton (Norton 2013) reminded the land sharing or land sparing; in the not accept the assumptions and values conference of the environmental cost more productive agricultural areas it is that the others use as their starting points of the first green revolution and stated important to have an element of land said Joern Fischer. Environmentalists that agro-ecology could play a vital role sparing to allow for the survival of semi- do not accept the assumption in the in helping to ensure that we learn from natural habitats. In more marginal areas agricultural industry that ‘we must grow our mistakes. She emphasised the need it is important to maintain low intensity more’ and agriculturalists do not always to adopt sustainable production systems production methods that can support appreciate the importance of the other and outlined what some of the elements large areas of valuable wildlife habitats ecosystem services provided by farmed of these systems might be. These include: whilst producing limited quantities of land. A more constructive starting point high quality agricultural products. Species for the debate might be the concept of • Optimising the use of agricultural land which cannot easily be accommodated land scarcity. Joern suggested that there to provide the full range of ecosystem on agricultural land will still need to be should be less emphasis on trade-offs services, using both land sparing conserved on dedicated nature reserves. between ecosystem services and more and land sharing at a range of scales, on integration to optimise the sum total and recognising the dependence of Farmers prefer to separate environmental of the benefits that land management agricultural production on biodiversity. management from their cropped area, can provide. Pablo Tittonnell addressed said Nigel Boatman, suggesting that the need to respond to the challenge of • Developing new approaches to small-scale land sparing is their preferred sustainably increasing food production; intensive agricultural management approach (Boatman 2013). Most systems that are currently unproductive including bio-fertilisation using farmers are very unwilling to modify need to be intensified and systems that mycorrhizae, improved targeting their production practices solely in order are currently very intensive need the of nutrients and the selective use to produce environmental benefits. process of ‘ecologicalisation’. of GM technology.
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SOME OVERALL CONCLUSIONS 5. There are no simple solutions to to sustain the biodiversity necessary developing agricultural systems to support agricultural production and 1. Achieving long term food security at that are both more productive and provide other cultural and regulatory a local and a global level is a complex more sustainable. The conference ecosystem services. challenge which is as much about has however identified a number of economics, governance and future interesting developments that could • Land sharing techniques that balance dietary preferences as it is about become elements of such systems: agricultural production against other food production methods. There is ecosystem services such as carbon nevertheless likely to be a need to At the field scale storage and biodiversity conservation in increase food production and to do so less productive extensively farmed areas in ways that do not further exacerbate • The integration of leguminous species environmental degradation. into cropping and forage production • The recognition that the optimal mix in ways that improve soil structure and of ecosystem services that can be 2. Although the UK is not in one of the reduce the need for manufactured delivered by any particular land parcel six critical areas identified by Jonathan nitrogen whilst minimising the periodic will vary according to its physical Foley as holding the key to sustainably nutrient releases that have been a characteristics and geographical increasing future food production, feature of conventional organic systems location, suggesting that there is a need climate change may mean that the to develop new policy instruments significance of NW Europe as a food • The use of reduced tillage and developer plants to encourage mycorrhizal to encourage optimal patterns of producing area will increase in the land management rather than always coming decades, leading to intense connections to the roots of crop plants to improve nutrient and water uptake seeking to maximise the economic commercial and political pressure returns from agricultural production. to maintain and further increase • The development of more diverse food production. production systems such as agroforestry 6. Agro-ecology has some useful insights that can more efficiently exploit the to bring to the development of new 3. Through a combination of agri- agricultural systems, but it doesn’t environment schemes and voluntary resources of an area of land and so increase total yields per hectare, whilst have all the answers. The development measures, some progress has been of such systems will require close made in persuading farmers to adopt at the same time reducing adverse environmental impact. collaboration with agricultural small-scale land sparing approaches. scientists, practising farmers, social These efforts need to be continued, At the landscape scale scientists, economists and politicians. as the semi-natural habitats and landscape features that they allow • The re-integration of arable and REFERENCES for help to broaden the range of livestock production in ways that Foresight 2011. The Future of Food and ecosystem services that farmed land reduce the need for external inputs Farming: Final Project Report. The Government can provide. of nutrients and the production of Office for Science, London. potentially polluting waste materials With the exception of the Foresight report 4. The next big challenge is to make the above, all the citations in the text refer to papers core farming operations of crop and • The intensive and multi-functional published in Aspects of Applied Biology 121, livestock production more sustainable environmental management of a small Rethinking Agricultural Systems in the UK pp and environmentally benign, whilst percentage of uncropped land in more 11-16. We have omitted full citations for the also maintaining or increasing yields. productive and intensively farmed areas sake of brevity.
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“Creating a buzz: how to influence bee health policy” “International bee experts swarm to London”
Sarah Blackford / SEB Head of Education & Public Affairs
These catchy headlines certainly did a good job of attracting a full-house of over 100 delegates and speakers to Charles Darwin House, where our annual ‘Trisoc’ meeting was held in January this year.
Organised jointly by the Society for a detrimental effect on the environment MEDIA COVERAGE Experimental Biology, Biochemical and biodiversity. Challenging these Press Officer Becky Allen issued a press release Society and the British Ecological Society, claims, Dave Goulson (Sussex) for the Journal of Applied Ecology on bee health this year’s meeting, entitled “Impact highlighted the fact that typical crop just before the meeting, which also promoted the of Pesticides on Bee Health”1, featured fields receive about 22 pesticide London gathering, and this worked well to get presentations by speakers from academia, applications in a single growing coverage. industry, research institutes and season and, although pesticide use is governmental policy departments. It was recorded under an EU regulation, the That paper and the meeting generated more than always the intention of the organisers, UK government does not collect this 40 cuttings, including the Mail on Sunday, Daily Chris Connolly (Dundee) and Geraldine data, so nobody can accurately assess Mail, Guardian, Mirror, ITV, London Standard and Wright (Newcastle), to open up the local exposure levels. Dr Goulson also Farmers Guardian: meeting to a non-academic audience and argued that since lab studies had been http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2542421/ include people with genuine concerns used to test pesticides before they went Plight-shrinking-bees-Experts-suggest-widely- about bee population decreases, and to market, current lab studies revealing used-pesticide-responsible-smaller-insects.html they weren’t disappointed. The final toxic effects on bees are equally valid. day featured an open discussion session Sandra Bell from Friends of the Earth http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/ live streamed2 to the public, who posed initiated a discussion on integrated jan/20/pesticides-making-bees-smaller questions to the delegation, providing a pest management and organic farming http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/ lively forum for opinions to be aired and options, which she said have been article-2542421/Plight-shrinking-bees-Experts- debated. Representatives from the media, neglected in favour of a pesticides suggest-widely-used-pesticide-responsible- environmental pressure groups (e.g. monopoly over the past 30 years. She smaller-insects.html Friends of the Earth) and organisations argued that more research should be such as the National Farmers’ Union conducted into these more environmental http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/ challenged the academic, government friendly and inclusive practices. bumblebees-shrinking-due-widely-used-3038581 and industry scientists on the bigger policy questions and issues. The conference concluded with a still- http://www.standard.co.uk/panewsfeeds/pesticide- polarised audience, as reported in an threatens-bumblebees-9070785.html I was only able to attend the meeting article by Emma Bryce for the Guardian http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/20/01/2014/142857/ 3 on the final day, but Chris Connolly (28th January 2014) . Summing up, Chris pesticide-exposure-39could-lead-to-smaller- gave a succinct summary of the key Connolly said, “Given that we use ~300 bees39.htm issues during the open discussion at the different pesticides (700 worldwide), plus end of the morning session. The core other threats such as habitat destruction http://www.itv.com/news/london/ of the controversy between academic leading to poor nutrition, we can never update/2014-01-20/bumblebees-becoming- and industry-based scientists seems prove which has the greatest impact. Our smaller-due-to-pesticide/ to be around the issue of research only hope is the usual slow consensus of The meeting itself was covered by NHK (Japan’s methodology: that is, the validity of opinion by which scientific knowledge public service broadcaster) for a documentary field studies vs lab studies. Richard progresses.” The story continues... Schmuck (Bayer), who presented on BBC Farming Today, 23 Jan 2013 [http://www.bbc. Friday morning, demonstrated from his REFERENCES co.uk/programmes/b03qf7qs] and field studies that, although effects on 1 http://www.jointbessebbs.org/2014/Programme. Voice of Russia http://voiceofrussia.com/uk/ individual bees is evident, the whole aspx news/2014_01_25/Bee-decline-Whatever-were- colony remains unaffected when treated 2 http://bit.ly/19XSUEl doing-its-down-to-our-greed-scientist-1705/ with neonicitinoids. He also argued that, 3 http://bit.ly/1f7YpiO without pesticides, more land would be and the Guardian’s environment editor also 4 needed to grow crops, which would have http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonicotinoid attended the meeting, so lots of publicity all round!
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OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS
MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS The Ramon Margalef Summer Colloquia Applications are now open for LETTER TO a short course: 7th to 18th July 2014 in the Marine Sciences Institute in Barcelona (S pain). THE EDITOR Introduction to Mathematical Models of the EPIDEMIOLOGY & CONTROL This year marks the 10th anniversary OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES of Ramon Margalef’s death, and the FROM ERIC DUFFEY special topic for this year’s colloquium is Formerly Monks Wood Short Course for Professionals, What Ecology can learn from natural Experimental Station since 1990 and human-induced disturbances – In the August 2013 Bulletin (Vol. 44, 8-19 September 2014 A cross-system view. The colloquia No. 3) John Wiens wrote a thoughtful at Imperial College London always include theoretical and practical article entitled ‘Patterns, paradigms In recent years, our understanding of activities, within this central topic, as and preconceptions’. He quoted Robert infectious disease epidemiology and well as group discussion sessions. MacArthur who had written ‘To do science control has been greatly increased The principal aim of this year’s is to search for repeated patterns, not through mathematical modelling. Colloquium is to enhance the exchange simply to accumulate facts’. Wiens Since 1990, this course has demystified of ideas and to promote imaginative discusses this in relation to separating mathematical modelling and kept public- thinking by bringing together an interesting pattern in ecology from health professionals, policy makers, and ecological knowledge from experts on the ‘maize of seemingly irrelevant data infectious disease researchers up-to-date terrestrial, limnetic and marine systems. which spawns increasingly complex and with what they need to know about this Substantial interest has arisen during sophisticated statistics’. He says we must fast-moving field.The course is taught by the last 20 years on global studies in rely on computers to detect patterns individuals who are actively engaged in the context of future scenarios. Despite but adds that there is still a role for the research and who advise governments, this recognition, very few universities practised eye of the keen observer to see a international organisations, public health have courses considering cross-system pattern in a mass of data. This recalls the agencies and pharmaceutical companies. approaches and even fewer international comment, made long before computers, forums have been dedicated to merge by the French essayist Montaigne Imperial College London’s Department (1533-1592), who wrote ‘a mind which is of Infectious Disease Epidemiology has experts on the ecology of different systems. taught how to think is better than a mind been a world leader in mathematical crammed with facts’. modelling of the epidemiology and The Colloquia, addressed to advanced control of infectious diseases of humans doctoral students and recent PhDs. I agree with the views expressed by John and animals. It has developed models Wiens and Robert MacArthur but I imagine of pandemic influenza, SARS, HIV, TB, For further information you may that many younger ecologists might not. foot-and-mouth-disease, vector-borne visit the web page of the Colloquia I had the good luck to have Charles Elton diseases, helminth infections, STIs, at http://www.acoio.org/margalef- FRS as my PhD supervisor in the early bacterial infections and many more. summer-colloquia/ or write us to 1950s. When his book ‘The Pattern of [email protected] Animal Communities’ was published in Participants only need a very basic 1966 a distinguished professor described mathematical ability (high school level Aurora Requena and Eli Bonfill it as ‘natural history’, implying that it was is more than sufficient). Since most Organizing Committee not scientific. I think it was much more participants do not use maths regularly, than natural history because it was also a if at all, we introduce concepts gently, book of ideas by a man whose brain really step-by-step, and offer an optional was trained to think. ‘maths refresher’ day. We use simple software such as Excel (for which we offer THE SLOW No-one denies the value of statistics in an optional refresher) in practicals which animal ecology but there are also risks, allow the participants to have a hands- PACE OF CHANGE the most common of which seems to be on approach and to explore theoretical IN ECOLOGY the failure to recognise, or else to ignore, concepts on real-life data. the poor quality of some basic field SPEEDS UP! data and the apparent belief that this Participants have included hospital deficiency can be put right by complex clinicians, senior public health executives, After his rant in the December Bulletin statistics. The most obvious example is health economists, veterinary researchers, the use of pitfall trap data to compare the biologists and mathematicians. Steve Cousins was forced to change his email address (Not, I am pleased to say, invertebrate fauna of two or more different For further information & to as a result of harassment by ecological habitats. This is the most biased and apply, please visit http://www. trolls) and the one given at the head unpredictable method of collecting field InfectiousDiseaseModels.org If you of the article no longer works. Anyone data and yet is widely used in comparative have any questions, please contact wishing to contact Steve can do so at studies basing conclusions on statistical [email protected]. [email protected] tests which are probably invalid.
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ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION What are the forthcoming legislative issues of interest to ecologists and conservationists in 2014?
William J. Sutherland, Andy Clements, Ellie Crane, Cheryl Pilbeam, John Martin, Kathryn A. Monk, Katharina Rogalla von Bieberstein, and Des B.A. Thompson.
This is the fourth review of GLOBAL data management, and working with environmental legislation likely to indigenous and local knowledge systems. occur on a global scale, in the European INTERGOVERNMENTAL PLATFORM This first work programme is designed Union, and in the United Kingdom and ON BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM to put the Platform on the right path, firmly establishing its working modalities, its constituent countries (Sutherland et SERVICES al 2011, 2012, 2013). All previous scans deliverables, credibility, relevance and Having established the are available on the British Ecological legitimacy. It is intended to pave the way Intergovernmental Platform on Society website and we assume readers for the incremental strengthening of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services have access to these; we do not repeat science-policy interface for biodiversity (the Platform) in April 2012, member previously identified issues. It is aimed and ecosystem services across scales, governments, at the second plenary at researchers to make them more sectors and knowledge systems. meeting of the Platform in December aware of the legislative framework that 2013, successfully adopted an ambitious may influence their work, so they can POST-2015 UN DEVELOPMENT first work programme and budget for carry out relevant work, be aware of AGENDA, SUSTAINABLE 2014-2018 and have already committed changes that may impact on their work, DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND more than half (US$ 25.4 million) of or engage in consultation processes. BIODIVERSITY the total US$ 43.5 million required. Beyond that, many advisers, teachers, After many years of negotiations on The UN General Assembly’s Open students and practitioners find this the institutional and programmatic Working Group on Sustainable forward look useful. Indeed, many framework of the Platform, the Platform Development Goals, established in policy makers have said they find will now commence the work it was January 2013, took up the issue of these reviews invaluable, which has created for. The work programme covers biodiversity at its eighth session in delighted us. a range of assessments, including a set February 2014. To inform the work of Since we started this series the of regional and sub-regional assessments the working group, the Convention on impact of science has become more (due end of 2016), a global assessment Biological Diversity, together with other important, for example, through the on biodiversity and ecosystem services UN entities, the World Bank, and the recently completed Research Excellence (due in 2018) as well as a number of secretariats of other biodiversity-related Framework, by which UK universities thematic assessments, e.g. on pollinators, conventions, set out four complementary will be assessed. Another major trend pollination and food production (due recommendations on how biodiversity is that policies are increasingly being end of 2015) or on land degradation could be integrated into Sustainable directed towards the ‘growth agenda’ and restoration (due end of 2016). Development Goals. with a concomitant emphasis on The work programme also foresees the research being relevant to business. promotion and further development of UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK policy support tools and methodologies, CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE As before, the remit of our review addressing in particular the issues of The role of the newly-established covers forthcoming legislation, scenario analysis and modeling as Warsaw International Mechanism for developments in existing legislation, well as diverse conceptualization of loss and damage is to promote the White Papers that may result in new values of biodiversity. To strengthen implementation of approaches to address or revised legislation, and any key the foundations of the science-policy loss and damage associated with the Parliamentary Committee work that interface three task forces have adverse effects of climate change. It will has a bearing on our topic. We do not been established to facilitate the be reviewed at the 22nd Conference of give a comprehensive review of each, implementation of the work programme: the Parties at the end of 2016. The 19th but aim to give sufficient information so capacity building, knowledge and Conference of the Parties had adopted that readers can identify relevant issues.
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a number of decisions on Reducing mercury. The Conference of the Parties In moving towards meeting the target of Emissions from Deforestation and of the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam ‘maintaining and restoring ecosystems Degradation: the Warsaw Framework Conventions expressed their interest and their services’ in 2014, work will for REDD Plus in particular postulates and signaled readiness to cooperate focus on the mapping and assessment of that results-based finance is contingent and coordinate with the Minamato ecosystems and their services in Europe. on safeguards. Instead of the set-up of Convention on Mercury. Initial work should be completed by all a ‘REDD Plus’ body, national entities European Union member governments and financial entities are encouraged INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON by the end of 2014. The UK completed to meet annually in conjunction with PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR this in 2011 through the publication of the meetings of the subsidiary bodies, FOOD AND AGRICULTURE the UK National Ecosystem Assessment. starting in 2014. This institutional Further work is anticipated on the ‘no At the fifth session of the Governing arrangement will be reviewed before net loss’ initiative. The Commission is Body of the International Treaty on 2017. Only very modest progress was working towards a proposal in 2015 Plant Genetic Resources for Food and achieved in laying the groundwork for to ensure that there is no net loss of Agriculture, parties adopted a Resolution the envisioned climate deal in Paris in ecosystems and their services across on Farmers’ Rights that may impact 2015, in particular that all countries will Europe. As a part of this, an initial plant variety protection laws. In addition, have to submit their commitments to proposal is anticipated which will a newly established working group climate protection until 2015. Regarding develop a methodology to assess the was mandated to develop a range of climate finance, developed countries only impact of European-funded projects measures to enhance the functioning agreed to prepare statements once every on biodiversity. of the Multilateral System of Access two years on how they are planning and Benefit-sharing for consideration to scale up their finance to deliver the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT and decision by the sixth session of the US$100 billion per year target by 2020. Governing Body in 2015. ASSESSMENT DIRECTIVE A review of this Directive is currently UNITED NATIONS WORKING GROUP underway. The Directive aims to protect ON MARINE BIODIVERSITY BEYOND EUROPE the environment by ensuring that NATIONAL JURISDICTION Major reforms in 2013 of the Common projects that are likely to have significant At the sixth meeting of this Working Agricultural Policy and the Common effects on the environment carry out Group, delegates agreed to meet at Fisheries Policy were driven through the an impact assessment before work goes least three times, probably twice in European Parliament and the Council ahead. The Commission’s proposals aim 2014 and once in 2015, to prepare for a of Ministers, and were implemented at to reduce administrative red tape and decision on an international instrument the beginning of 2014. After such broad make it easier to assess potential impacts to conserve marine biodiversity beyond changes, the focus this year will be on on the environment. The European national jurisdiction under the United enacting these policies. Across all aspects Parliament’s amendments and position Nations Convention on the Law of the of policy, 2014 has been described by were completed at the end of 2013, Sea. In addition, increasing interest the European Commission’s President and negotiations on implementation in seafloor mining raises a number of José Manuel Barroso as “a year of will continue through 2014. environmental, legal and economic delivery and implementation”. challenges for the International Seabed HORIZON 2020 Authority. EUROPEAN UNION 2020 This is the next EU Framework BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY Programme for Research and Innovation NAGOYA PROTOCOL ON ACCESS AND and it will run from 2014 to 2020. The The implementation of the headline BENEFIT-SHARING final legislative text for the programme biodiversity target to halt the loss of was adopted at the end of 2013, and the The Nagoya Protocol on Access and biodiversity and ecosystem services by budget agreed at €78.6 billion. Horizon Benefit-Sharing is expected to come 2020 will continue throughout 2014. At 2020 underpins the objectives of Europe into force in 2014. A global multilateral the end of 2013, the Commission put 2020: Europe’s growth strategy, and benefit-sharing mechanism, which forward proposals for a Regulation to comprises three main pillars: excellent parties agreed to consider under the address invasive non-native species and science, industrial leadership, and Protocol, was addressed at the third protect biodiversity. This will be assessed societal challenges. meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended by the European Parliament and Council Intergovernmental Committee for the of Ministers in 2014 to meet the target LIFE+ Nagoya Protocol in February 2014. of ‘tighter controls on invasive alien species’. There will also be a focus on The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding MINAMATO CONVENTION ON the implementation of the European instrument for the environment. The MERCURY Union Strategy on Green Infrastructure fourth phase of this came to an end in Under this Convention, established in adopted at the end of last year under 2013. Proposals for the next funding 2013, governments have agreed on a the target of ‘better protection and round (2014-2020) were developed by range of mercury-containing products restoration of ecosystems and the the Commission in 2011, and agreed whose production, import and export services they provide, and greater use late in 2013. The new regulation creates will be banned by 2020, and to draw of green infrastructure’. two sub-programmes: environment and up national plans to reduce the use of climate action, with an overall budget of 3.4 billion.
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STATE OF NATURE body in England, although there is UNITED KINGDOM a strong requirement for working Twenty-five UK nature conservation together between the first two. MARINE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK NGOs joined together to publish the Against a background of continuing DIRECTIVE first State of Nature report in May 2013. public sector funding cuts, Natural This report headlined the decline of 60% On 8 January 2014, Defra opened a England is reassessing its remit and of species assessed over the previous public consultation on proposals for functions. JNCC retains its role as Defra’s 50 years. This reporting will probably UK monitoring programmes under independent evidence provider, with be repeated periodically over coming this directive. Progress on achieving minor adjustments to address improved decades, and there is an intention to Good Ecological Status by 2020 should services. be monitored with reference to 11 improve the quality of monitoring data across broad groups of taxa. descriptors that include: biological MARINE CONSERVATION ZONES diversity; non-indigenous species; Defra’s consultation in 2013 on proposals commercially exploited fish and shellfish; REVIEW OF THE BALANCE OF for designation of Marine Conservation and hydrographical conditions. The COMPETENCES Zones received 40,000 responses. The consultation closes on 2 April 2014. In July 2012 the Government launched site designations and summary of site- There will be a further consultation in a Review of the balance of competences, specific consultation responses were 2015 covering the UK’s proposals to looking at the division of powers published in November 2013. The achieve Good Ecological Status. between the UK and the European focus for the future will be on delivering Union. The Government is consulting measures to support the designations, NEW RURAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS with stakeholders, the public and and ensuring the remaining tranche the EU institutions. The review of the Agreement on the Common Agricultural of designations come to fruition. The environment and climate change was Policy for 2014-2020 was reached in Environmental Audit Committee will led by DEFRA in 2013. In 2014, the Brussels in June 2013. The UK received launch an inquiry on Marine Protected review will look at a number of related a reduced budget for both Pillar 1 Areas. (direct subsidies to farmers) and Pillar EU competences, including energy, 2 (Rural Development funding), with agriculture and fisheries. NATURAL CAPITAL COMMITTEE flexibility to transfer up to 15% of the This Committee published its first report, Pillar 1 budget into Pillar 2. As the ENGLAND The State of Natural Capital in April largest single pot of money available, 2013. The report recommends a new the Rural Development budget is highly DEREGULATORY AGENDA framework to measure and account for significant for conservation in the UK. A significant overarching issue is changes in natural capital assets, and Scotland, England and Wales have each the Government’s commitment to to improve valuation of those changes decided to transfer 9.5%, 12% and deregulation. The Red Tape Challenge to feed into decision-making processes. 15%, respectively, of the funds to help is focused on removing what is termed Their second report, focusing on natural ensure the continuation of vital agri- ‘unnecessary bureaucracy’. The latest capital accounting for companies and environment schemes. Following a step is the publication of a draft landowners, is expected in early 2014. legal dispute, Northern Ireland has Deregulatory Bill, which will be taken been left with the default option of through Parliament this year. The FOURTH CARBON BUDGET REVIEW zero budget transfer. concern is that this process removes A review of the Fourth Carbon Budget COMMON FISHERIES POLICY REFORM regulations that may be providing (covering the period 2023–27) will take environmental protection, with very place in 2014, under Section 4 of the Following the reform mentioned above, little impact assessment. Climate Change Act 2008. The budget the UK has concluded a sustainable can then only be altered if there has fishing deal to begin implementing OPEN DATA been a significant change affecting the the new policy. The framework has the Following consultation during the year, basis upon which it was set. The Energy objectives that decisions and activities Defra published a revised Open Data and Climate Change Select Committee will follow available scientific advice, Strategy on 19 December 2013. This is undertaking an inquiry into the achieve sustainable fishing levels sets out a continuing commitment to appropriate level of the Budget and (Maximum Sustainable Yields), and making data open, and presents a set the Committee on Climate Change reduce discards. of principles that Defra and its agencies has recommended to Government CHALARA FRAXINEA – ASH DIEBACK will apply to embed transparency and that the Budget should not be altered. the publishing of open data as part of During 2013, Defra convened a summit day-to-day business. DAVIES COMMISSION and action group to tackle this disease. The independent Airports Commission A plan to manage Chalara was published TRIENNIAL REVIEW OF AGENCIES (known as the Davies Commission) in March 2013 and, amongst other Defra concluded its reviews of the produced an Interim Report in December things, work is underway to find genetic Environment Agency, Natural England 2013, concluding that there is a need resistance in the native tree stock. and the Joint Nature Conservation for one additional runway to be in Committee (JNCC). The outcome operation in the south east of the stopped short of a single environment UK by 2030 in order to maintain the
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UK’s status as an international hub for WATER MARINE ISSUES aviation. The Commission will publish Implementation of new requirements The Scottish Government’s consultations a final report by summer 2015. The for sustainable drainage systems, already on marine issues closed in November findings of the Commission are likely to delayed, is expected in 2014 and 2013. This covered proposed new have an important impact on the UK’s will affect new and existing housing. Marine Protected Areas, marine planning, decarbonisation agenda and, potentially, Sustainable drainage systems provide and the future of marine renewables. A major ecological impacts at any site opportunities to better manage local draft National Marine Plan will be laid chosen. flood risk and water quality while before the Scottish Parliament in summer enhancing local biodiversity. Statutory 2014. This is a major component of the ENERGY ACT 2013 consultations on draft River Basin Marine (Scotland) Act, and for the first This legislation received Royal Assent Management Plans are expected in June. time will set out policy objectives for on 18 December 2013. The Act will marine ecosystems, as well as for social establish the legal framework for LOBBYING BILL and economic aspects. delivering secure, affordable and low- The Transparency of Lobbying, Non- carbon energy, and includes provisions party Campaigning and Trade Union PLANNING ISSUES, COMMUNITY on decarbonisation, pipelines and Administration Bill could significantly EMPOWERMENT AND RURAL ISSUES storage, and nuclear regulation. affect the ability of charities, community The draft National Planning Framework groups and other organisations to work BADGERS AND BOVINE 3 will be laid before the Scottish on environmental issues in the year Parliament early in 2014. This has wide TUBERCULOSIS leading up to an election. ranging influences on climate change Badger cull pilots ran in two areas targets being met and the Climate between August and December 2013, Adaptation Programme. The Community though were terminated early before SCOTLAND Empowerment Bill’s consultation closed the required proportion of badgers THE REFERENDUM in January 2014, and will be considered had been culled. Defra will hear by Parliament. This has implications for from an independent panel as to the Scotland’s Referendum on 18 September ‘communities’ to buy out or influence outcome of these pilots, and further 2014 will dominate Scotland’s political the management of land and other recommendations. and environmental agenda in 2014. The assets. The Rural Affairs, Climate Change Scottish Independence Referendum Bill and Environment Committee deals BIODIVERSITY OFFSETTING makes little reference to the environment, with a wide range of environmental though implications for the environment A consultation on this took place in issues. In November 2013, it took will be discussed by several Westminster 2013. The Government is considering evidence on deer management, and and Scottish Parliamentary Committees. a range of proposals to implement is preparing advice on this for the Scottish Government to consider early this measure, though the debate is BEYOND THE YEAR OF NATURAL complex, with little alignment between in 2014. Red and roe deer, in particular, stakeholders. Scale, the mitigation SCOTLAND have many impacts on wildlife, hierarchy, a voluntary or regulatory 2013 was formally designated ‘The Year habitat, landscape and socio-economic approach, and measures to ensure of Natural Scotland’, which helped raise interests, and it is possible that there effectiveness in perpetuity are key issues the political and public profile of nature. will be important steers for government yet to be resolved. This continues into 2014 (The Year of agencies and the land management Homecoming). One major event will sector arising from this. INVASIVE NON-NATIVE SPECIES be the opening of a new John Muir Way The Law Commission will produce a draft in April 2014, which will consolidate Bill this summer as part of its review of significant effort going into raising Wildlife Management Law covering the awareness of the outdoors and the conservation, control, protection and wide range of benefits brought. exploitation of wildlife in England and Wales. The Government has one year to respond in full, but one element of the proposals, Species Control Orders (for tackling invasive non-native species), may be introduced into law sooner. A ban on the sale of five invasive non-native aquatic plants comes into force in April, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The Government’s Environmental Audit Committee is undertaking an inquiry on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive non- native species.
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THE 2020 CHALLENGE FOR ENVIRONMENT (WALES) BILL reforming the current system. Following the consultation, detailed policy in SCOTLAND’S BIODIVERSITY The Welsh Government’s White Paper relation to future water management This strategy was published in 2013, and consultation on Wales’ Environment Bill, in Wales will be set out in the Welsh new governance has been put in place to Towards the Sustainable Management of Government’s final Water Strategy, take it forward – involving Government, Natural Resources closed on 15 January intended for publication in late 2014. agencies, and a wide range of sectors. 2014. One of the main purposes of the Bill is to create the statutory basis There is heavy emphasis on achieving PLANNING (WALES) BILL a step change for helping nature and for a more integrated approach to broadening its benefits. The ‘ecosystem the management of natural resources, This draft Bill and consultation paper approach’ and development of a natural including giving Natural Resources Draft Planning (Wales) Bill and associated capital asset index are prominent. It is Wales, established on 1 April 2013, a proposals to reform the planning system intended that ‘Delivery Agreements’ series of additional duties and powers. in Wales were published in December will commit Scottish Government This would help it to deliver more fully 2013. Comments were sought on departments and agencies to work taking its statutory purpose, namely to ensure proposals to modernise the planning forward the strategy. that the natural resources of Wales are system through changes to legislation, sustainably maintained, enhanced and policy and guidance. The Bill should be Species conflict issues continue to have used, now and in the future. The Bill introduced to the National Assembly for a high political profile, and Sutherland should be put before the Assembly in Wales in late 2014. et al (2013) mentioned the introduction 2015 and, if the Assembly passes the Bill, of ‘vicarious liability’ in the Wildlife and it will enter into force in early 2016. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Natural Environment (Scotland) Act ASSESSMENT DIRECTIVE 2011. In this, a new offence of vicarious WELSH GOVERNMENT NATURE FUND In November 2013, the Minister for liability in relation to the persecution of A £6million Nature Fund was announced Housing and Regeneration outlined wild birds was introduced, allowing for by the Minister for Natural Resources the Welsh Government’s position the prosecution of those landowners or and Food in mid-2013 to support on the UK’s negotiating strategy for managers who fail to take appropriate practical ideas for improving biodiversity the proposed amendments to the steps to ensure their employees and whilst supporting multiple benefits Environmental Impact Assessment contractors act within the law. This has to society. Ideas for its use were Directive. He highlighted that, in Wales, not been tested in the courts, but has sought across diverse stakeholders at separate consent regimes exist applying implications for wider socio-ecological events linked to the Environment Bill EIA in agriculture, forestry, highways, work on human-wildlife conflicts. consultation meetings; details of how land drainage, land use planning, marine to apply for funding are expected in the and water sectors. Around 80% of all WALES near future. cases where environmental reports are produced are determined through the FUTURE GENERATIONS (WALES) THE MARINE AND FISHERIES land use planning system. BILL (PREVIOUSLY NAMED THE STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT As part of a new approach to integrated NORTHERN IRELAND (WALES) BILL) marine fisheries policy in Wales, the The Minister for Communities and Minister for Natural Resources and Food THE NORTHERN IRELAND Tackling Poverty leads on this Bill. published the Welsh Marine and Fisheries MARINE ACT (2013) Strategic Action Plan in November 2013. Following the White Paper consultation, The long-awaited Northern Ireland This sets out how Wales can provide the Government decided that the Marine Bill became the Marine Act in comprehensive, integrated marine purpose of the Bill was more effectively 2013. After years of campaigning and governance in Wales for the first time. communicated by changing its name lobbying, a framework has been put Its aim is that, by 2015, key elements to the Future Generations Bill. This in place that will lead to the creation of an integrated approach to managing reflects an emphasis on tackling the of marine protected areas off Northern Welsh seas will be in place. These would generational challenges Wales faces in a Ireland’s coastline. New Marine encompass marine management, more integrated way – ensuring Welsh Conservation Zones will be created fisheries, marine energy, tourism, public services make key decisions with as part of the Act to protect the most transport and more, link with the Welsh the long term well being of Wales in important and vulnerable habitats National Marine Plan for Inshore and mind. A ‘national conversation’ on the and species. A plan will also be put in Offshore to support the sustainable use challenges faced by communities across place to decide how the sea is used by of seas and coasts. Wales is planned in early 2014 to engage people, and to balance the demands for as wide a variety of the public as possible development with the need to protect on what the Bill will mean for them; the ‘MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY DROP’ important marine ecosystems. Commissioner for Sustainable Futures Running from mid-December 2013 will help begin this conversation. The to 28 March 2014, this consultation Bill will be introduced to the National asks whether the water abstraction Assembly for Wales in the summer 2014. management system in Wales needs to change and explores options for
36 britishecologicalsociety.org SCIENCE POLICY
VALUING NATURE CONSULTATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ON A BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY FOR This is an activity initiated by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative and carried NORTHERN IRELAND TO 2020 out as a collaborative partnership. We thank Richard Benwell and Thomas Koetz for The Northern Ireland Environment contributing sections. WJS is funded by Arcadia. Agency is consulting on a Biodiversity Strategy to 2020. The Northern Ireland William J. Sutherland is at the Zoology Department in Cambridge; Andy Clements is Biodiversity Strategy, published in Director at the British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford, Norfolk; Ellie Crane is Agriculture 2002, provided a focus on action that Policy Officer at the RSPB, Sandy, Bedfordshire; Richard Benwell is Parliamentary could be taken to protect vulnerable Programme Manager at the RSPB, Sandy, Bedfordshire; Cheryl Pilbeam and threatened habitats and species. is Acting Policy Manager for the British Ecological Society; John The major change within the current Martin is Senior Conservation Officer for RSPB Northern strategy will be looking towards valuing Ireland; Kathryn A. Monk is the Science Strategy ecosystems in their entirety. There Manager for Natural Resources Wales; Katharina will also be an emphasis on reflecting Rogalla von Bieberstein is Programme Officer at the benefits society at large derives from the environment in economic the United Nations Environment Programme decision-making, to help improve the World Conservation Monitoring Centre performance of the economy. in Cambridge, and Des Thompson is Principal Adviser on Biodiversity in LONG-TERM WATER STRATEGY SNH. The Northern Ireland Government has now begun work on a long-term water strategy. The vision of this strategic work is to improve and protect the natural water environment and create a more sustainable and secure means of delivering wholesome water. Some of the key aims of the strategy will be to protect and improve the quality of the aquatic environment and manage inland and coastal waters to support tourism, recreation and biodiversity. The strategy is being led by the Department for Regional Development, and it is anticipated that the draft will be published for public consultation in the summer of 2014.
REFERENCES Sutherland, W.J. Barlow, R., Clements, A., Harper, M., Herkenrath, P., Margerison, C., Monk, K.A., Robinson, J.A. & Thompson, D.B.A. (2011). What are the forthcoming legislative issues of interest to ecologists and conservationists in 2011? BES Bulletin, 42, 26-31. Sutherland, W.J. Clements, A., Harper, M., Herkenrath, P., Margerison, C., Martin, J., Monk, K.A., & Thompson, D.B.A. (2013). What are the forthcoming legislative issues of interest to ecologists and conservationists in 2013? British Ecological Society Bulletin 44, 38-43. Sutherland, W.J., Clements, A., McDevitt, A.-M., Harper, M., Herkenrath, P., Prichard, S., Margerison, C., Monk, K.A. & Thompson, D.B.A. (2012). What are the forthcoming legislative issues of interest to ecologists and conservationists in 2012? British Ecological Society Bulletin, 43, 12-19.
37 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:1 / MARCH 2014
Moving onto a PhD & Mastering Ecology: A BES Student Ecology Symposium
Dom Andradi-Brown / University of Oxford @dandradibrown
In late November 2013 the BES hosted a two-day event for students considering whether a PhD in ecology was the right move for them and giving them a chance to present their work in a student ecology symposium. The event was organized by the BES Undergraduate Fellowship Alumni Group to follow up on the previous successful undergraduate ecology careers days.
The ‘Moving onto a PhD’ careers day write and communicate well and quickly, really useful for was an overview of when kicked off with Georgina Mace (UCL) developing critical appraisal skills and and where to look for PhD funding – a giving a welcome plenary of why we the ability to ask sharp questions and key first step if you’re considering a PhD need ecology, highlighting human recognise and respect rigorous answers. (see the full slides on the website if you impacts on the environment, biodiversity want the list!). Mark also addressed the loss and ecosystem services. While Paul analysed the ecology and question ‘How possible is it to create and very depressing to hear quite how bad conservation workscape, grouping get funding for your dream PhD?’ with human impacts on the environment ecology and conservation jobs that the suggestion that it’s very possible but are, it certainly was encouraging from a require PhDs (research based jobs), requires finding the right supervisor with careers perspective that there is a need where a PhD can be useful (NGOs, similar interests and allowing enough for people to engage with these issues. ecological and environmental time to apply for funding. Georgina finished her talk highlighting consultancy) and those that often some of the highly desirable skills that don’t require one (ecotourism, media). In the afternoon Andy Purvis (Natural an ecological training provides such Following this, Paul led a group SWAT History Museum and Imperial College as; analytical and conceptual thinking, analysis considering advantages and London) outlined how to plan and dealing with complexity and team disadvantages of doing a PhD at the start design good research projects. The working with individual specialism. or your career (immediately following an session focused on cutting your PhD undergraduate/masters degree), doing project into manageable chunks, which One question addressed in the careers it in your late 20s or doing it in late fit the trade-off between probability day was whether a PhD was the right 30s. The general feeling was that doing of success and ‘honour and glory’ for move for people when they consider a PhD is very much a personal choice, novel, interesting and difficult science. the area they would like to be working depended on your circumstances and This analogy of the ‘Medawar Zone’ of in. Paul Jepson (University of Oxford) motivations which also affect when the optimal payoff for a research project was started the first career session by best time to do one is. a great way of thinking about what is reflecting on why a PhD is valuable achievable. through considering the benefits. The day then moved onto looking in Careers benefits identified included; an more detail at the mechanics of how The last talk of the day was from Ross entry level qualification to academia to apply to and get funding for a PhD. Mounce (University of Bath – @rmounce) and research, often the norm in expert Mark Mulligan (Kings College London) on using social media to help do science. technical communities, adding credibility highlighted different funding options One of the many useful tips Ross when working in corporate sector and for students, considering different mentioned was #icanhazpdf on Twitter. providing an opportunity to change research council studentship types and This is where if you can’t access a paper career direction. Paul also identified some other scholarships. Other more diverse you just tweet the URL, #icanhazpdf of the intellectual reasons for doing a funding sources were considered, such as and your email address. Normally PhD such as developing analytical and partnerships with industry and doing a someone with access will help you out technical skills, mastering the ability to PhD with your current job if you already and email you a pdf, you should then work in ecology. One thing that this was delete your tweet. Twitter is also fantastic
38 CAREER STAGE STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Beginning • Academic continuity • May not have • Few responsibilities • Lack of big picture/wrong (after UG/ • The rest of your career efficient time • Flexibility- you can live more choice masters) to build up your management skills cheaply when you’re young • Opportunity cost of research developed possibilities open to early • Benefit from existing career ecologists networks to find • Missing out on practical opportunities experience, may inhibit later career • Lose flexibility – Overqualified?
Early • Better overview and • May turn your • May have some money • You may seem flighty, (27-32) focus of your area of settled life up-side to invest in PhD –financial disloyal or break some interest down flexibility networks if you leave • Better time and people • May have networks to allow an organisation management skills PhD project partners • Opportunity to switch career • Can open up a portfolio career
Mid • Clearer about your • Older than most • Personal reflection and (37-42) choice and focus other PhDs and development • Potentially have your life is different • Can open up a portfolio networks and • Can’t live as career knowledge of how cheaply • Could finance PhD from system works consultancy work
SWOT Analysis of undertaking a PhD at different career stages at meetings and conferences, for example at Intecol 2013 it was used STUDENT POSTER AND TALK WINNERS as the primary way to ask questions to plenary speakers and some of the on- Judged Talk runner up: Thomas Leharne, twitter discussion was great. Talk winner: Benno Simmons, University University of Lancaster. Assessing the Suitability of using an ENFA Model, A panel discussion and drinks of Oxford. Geodiversity and biodiversity: Biomapper4.0, to Identify Areas reception followed in the evening evaluating the surrogacy performance with ecologists from a range of careers of abiotic heterogeneity in the UK. Threatened by Feral Goats Inhabitation; including; publishing, conservation Northland, Aotearoa/New Zealand. charities, research and consultancy Talk runner up: Chloe Orland, University discussing their career paths and of Plymouth. CT-scanning – towards Poster winner: Ayla Paul, University of giving individual advice to students. a deeper understanding of the Reading. Dietary composition of the relationship between habitat complexity common buzzard on Langholm Moor, The second day provided the chance Scotland, in relation to habitat. for students and recent graduates to and biodiversity. present talks and posters from their Poster winner: Abigayil Blandon, Poster runners up: Catherine Kerr, undergraduate or masters projects. Imperial College London. The viability This led to a wide range of topics all at University of Cambridge. Quantitative estimate of commercial fish of shade-grown cacao/coffee an extremely high standard. Student plantations as a conservation strategy talks and posters were judged by a enhancement by seagrass habitat in communities with human-wildlife panel, as well as by popular vote. in southern Australia. conflict in Sierra Leone. After the social media talk the previous Poster runners up: Samuel Leigh, day there was lots of twitter activity University of East Anglia. The effect Nicole Ponta, University of Zurich. throughout the symposium – check of agri-environment schemes adjacent Across the border: population structure the hashtag #MastEcoBES13 to see the to a wet grassland reserve in relation of wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) discussion and comments on talks. to wader nest predation risk. in the Franco-Swiss Jura. Many thanks to all who spoke at the events across the two days and Popular Vote everyone who came. The full slides Talk winner: George Foot, University from the careers day are available of Warwick. The influence of colour on the BES website at: http://www. on the ability of carnivorous plants britishecologicalsociety.org/careers/ to lure their prey. careers-events/mastering-ecology- symopsium
39 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:1 / MARCH 2014
Project Management, Fellowships and Grants: A Workshop full of top tips
Jess Stephenson & Emma Gillingham / PhD student, Cardiff University cripescardiff.co.uk Susan Withenshaw / PhD student, University of Liverpool pedersen.bio.ed.ac.uk
One December morning, a group of early career researchers from two of the BES Special Interest Groups (Parasites & Pathogens and Tropical Ecology) gathered at London’s Natural History Museum (NHM) for what was to be an engaging and highly informative 2-day workshop on project management and funding applications. The event was organised by Ines Fontes and Jon Bielby of the Parasites & Pathogens SIG, and Lindsay Banin, Sophie Fauset and Frazer Bird of the Tropical Ecology SIG, and was attended by 38 researchers, from first-year PhD students through to post-docs.
Day one focused on Project appropriately gifted tin of Quality Street The first session focused on the NERC Management. After initial introductions can do wonders!); remember the scope fellowship, which is widely recognised as over coffee and a mountain of croissants, of your project (identify when you are one of the most competitive fellowships Dr Caron King of Kingswood Plus Ltd. taking on too much, and learn to say available. Gaining an appreciation of kicked off proceedings. Caron is now a no!); use post-it notes to create detailed what makes a NERC fellow, or a ‘future project manager and business consultant, and specific plans to transform that world-leading researcher’ was therefore with extensive experience in industry. daunting task into achievable chunks of very useful in terms of applying for any She began her career as a scientist, work; always assume that tasks will take fellowship. Mike Brockhurst gave us a completing a PhD and post-doc in 20% longer than you originally thought! timetable of application ‘milestones’ that pharmacology. This breadth of academic (See ‘top tips’ below). Caron would have been proud of. He and industrial experience means she is also highlighted that for a fellowship, well placed to offer practical advice on Day two, the funding workshop, was while a poor project proposal can lose the successful management of academic all about grants and fellowships. We you the funding, your chances of success research, from PhD studentships to were joined by Professors Mike Boots hinge largely on an impressive CV and multi-million pound research projects. (University of Exeter), Mike Brockhurst publication record. We all felt suitably Furthermore, by continually drawing on (University of York) and Dr Emma Sayer daunted, but also encouraged: many the experiences of individuals within the (Open University). Mike Boots is chair of, people who are awarded the fellowship group, we all came away with highly and Mike Brockhurst is an assessor for, finish their 5 years in a permanent relevant tips and advice in lieu of abstract the NERC fellowship committee. Both job. Additionally, feedback from the concepts and baffling jargon. have been very successful in obtaining committee is very helpful and supportive, grants from NERC as well as the other and many applicants are successful the Lively discussions enabled participants to large funding bodies such as BBSRC, second time they apply. identify the project management skills and the Leverhulme and Wellcome we have already accrued as researchers Trusts. Emma Sayer, a new lecturer, was For at least three, and probably most of (we manage projects every day, probably recently awarded a £1.4 million European the other PhD students in the room, the without even realising it), and highlighted Research Council Starting Grant and is fellowship suddenly seemed a few years other tools to help manage our research co-PI on a NERC large grant. It is therefore off. So we were all ears for the next session projects in novel and efficient ways. For safe to say that our speakers have a lot of on grants; employment as post-docs on example, always begin with the end in valuable experience of applying for and grant-funded projects is perhaps the most mind; identify your stakeholders and be assessing funding applications. common route of career progression after aware of how to keep them happy (an PhD completion. Mike Boots gave us an
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overview of NERC grants and the different types of post-doc funding available: you can apply for a funded post-doc position with a PI who has already secured a grant, or, more impressively (with regards to future fellowship applications) you can be a named post-doc, a co-investigator or co-applicant on a grant application that a PI is submitting.
More so than a fellowship, a grant application requires ‘cast-iron’, ‘watertight’ planning of an ‘ambitious but feasible’ idea. Emma Sayer gave us practical suggestions for how to construct clear and impressive applications and, along with the other speakers, made the point that grant reviewers are human: confused humans are often irritable TOP TIPS – PROJECT MANAGEMENT and negative! She also gave us some 1. Begin with the end in mind: When planning a paper or application tips, much needed at this point in our submission, begin your plan from the deadline: handing in 30th September, careers, for the management of nerves by 23rd September I need to make sure X is complete; by 1st September I and self-confidence at interviews, such need to make sure Y is complete; etc. as: ‘BBC’ – put your “bum back in chair” so you are not nervously perched on the 2. Stakeholders: Lots of different types of people have an input into your project edge of your seat; train yourself to answer (e.g. funders, supervisors, collaborators). Each type requires different levels of unexpected questions by using a list of feedback and involvement – clarify what needs to happen to keep them, and your skills and the positive attributes of yourself, happy. the project to respond to any conceivable negative points an interviewer could 3. Planning: Brainstorm everything that has to be done onto post-it notes, and raise; and get the message across quickly use one post-it note per task. Then break down the task, e.g. instead of having by identifying three key points of your a post-it note that says “report”, have numerous notes that say “check research. methods”, “organise references”, “compile appendix” etc. Identify how long each task will take, and add 20%. These three key points also came in handy when we were given the opportunity to practice some important skills. Creating TOP TIPS – FELLOWSHIPS & GRANTS an ‘elevator pitch’ – describing what you 1. Planning: The deadline is October, so ensure any peer-reviewed papers do in a succinct and engaging way – was relevant to the application are written and submitted by January of that year. great for learning about what others in the room were doing, as well as how to 2. Location: Go where the best people are. If family commitments prevent you ‘sell’ your science, something that we from moving from your current institution to a new one, say so. can all put into practise at conferences or events like this. We also had a brief 3. Sell yourself: Highlight small grants, conference prizes, highly cited papers. CV workshop, which equipped us with State your contribution to papers. several useful tips for creating clear and competitive CVs, which will stand us in 4. Demonstrate independence: Write papers without your senior supervisors, good stead for future applications. apply for small grants for side projects, initiate collaborations.
All in all, our two days in a seminar room 5. Successful fellowships: See how your CV compares to recent fellows by at the Natural History Museum were looking at the papers they had published by the time they applied. Equally, incredibly useful and lots of fun. We ask people at the university who have been successful with fellowships/grants enjoyed coffee on tap, cakes a-plenty and if you can read their applications. one of the best sandwich selections ever, 6. Reviewers may not be experts in your field, so get your proposal as well as coming away with a catalogue proof-read by a non-expert: if they can’t understand it, chances are your of tips for the successful management reviewers won’t either. of academic projects. Whilst the funding application process is perhaps still 7. Make the proposal simple but not simplistic, ambitious yet feasible, and tell daunting for most, at least now it has a story. been demystified, as we know exactly what we need to do to become future 8. Interview preparation: match potential weak points of your application research leaders. Many thanks to all the with strengths to prepare for tricky questions; identify 3 key points that sell organisers, speakers and participants your research. who made this such a great workshop.
41 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:1 / MARCH 2014 Botany is dead, long-live eXtreme botany! Rant A response from Jonathan Mitchley Reason University of Reading & Markus Eichhorn’s Rant about the Death of Botany in last year’s Bulletin is still provoking reaction!
Dr M with his beloved students at Wildmoor Heath, Berkshire. (Image 42credit University of Reading) britishecologicalsociety.org
The issues discussed in Rant & Reason in we can get people interested in local plants the June 2013 Bulletin are worthy of much they will find a greater personal connection Jonathan Mitchley is more discussion. Botany is not dead but with their environment and their lives will be a botanist and plant neither does it need to be redefined as ‘plant enriched; the more this happens the bigger ecologist who is wild sciences’. Botany is everything about plants the impact. So, eXtreme botany is about the about botany; he teaches and it is embedded in our psyche. Our task intrinsic fascination and beauty of plants and field botany and plant is to continue to kindle the interest and reveals how exciting and fun field botany can identification at University enthusiasm of the young for plants – and be; eXtreme botany is about enhancing plant of Reading. He spends to do this effectively in the 21st century we ID skills to the next level, identifying plants half his time teaching need to adapt. We need to spend less energy under extremely challenging conditions and and doing research, half bemoaning the losses and more energy giving people the tools they need to become embracing the techniques and the possibilities extremely knowledgeable about plants. working as an ecological the modern world offers to promote botany to eXtreme botany is about reaching out to the consultant and all of his a new generation. next generation using social media and video. time doing botany. eXtreme botany is about giving other teachers Botany is here to stay. Not only are we a nation the skills they need to communicate the joy of gardeners and plant-lovers, we are a global of plants. species for which plants are, and always have been, a source of wonder and joy as well eXtreme botany builds on existing initiatives. as physical and aesthetic nourishment. OK, An important and established player in this botany degrees in the UK are dead in the water, arena is the Gatsby Plants project. Another but the extinction of the botany degree per se example is the INQUIRE project – a three-year does not mean botany is dead. Whether you EU-funded project involving 14 botanical rename botany as plant sciences is immaterial gardens, and 17 partners in 11 European but I continue to promote botany as the best countries. The aim is to act as catalyst by ‘B’ word we have! training and supporting increasing numbers of teachers and educators. Increasingly important I studied Botany at Bangor in the 1970s and for botanical outreach is the Botanical Society it was a different world. I recall the buzz of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) with key events of being part of a school of plant biology ranging from the annual New Year’s plant full of eminent scientists and a vibrant hunt to the Threatened Plants Project and PhD community. It was a world where the involvement in the Survey of Plants and University library had books, journals and Lichens Associated with Ash project (SPLASH). microfiches, rather than internet connections and coffee shops. Where lecturers used Botany will never die if we can continue to slide projectors and OHP transparencies not inspire teachers and students in the field PowerPoint, a world less exercised by the REF (learning outside the classroom) and show and endless administrative responsibilities. A that botany is not only important and lost world, not better or worse, just different fascinating but also eXtremely exciting and very last-century! Importantly though, and wildly fun! it was a world of field and lab classes where students were taught plant ID skills as well as honing them in their own time with friends “Botany will never die out in the countryside. if we continue to write I still contend that the world abounds with inspirational books and budding botanists and a class full of students web resources, and get can be inspired by the significance, fascination and beauty of plants. However, the modern universities into schools and botanical toolkit must embrace the new century: the internet and social media, schools into universities.” fieldwork and outreach. Botany will never die REFERENCES AND FURTHER ENQUIRY if we continue to write inspirational books Dr M’s eXtreme botany manifesto www.drmgoeswild.com and web resources, and get universities into schools and schools into universities. Gatsby Plants project http://www.gatsbyplants.leeds. ac.uk/news.php Last year, I launched my botanical website The INQUIRE Project http://www.inquirebotany.org/en/ www.drmgoeswild.com and developed my The Threatened Plants Project http://www.bsbi.org.uk/ concept of eXtreme botany as an experiment tpp.html in spreading my passions for plants and field The Survey of Plants and Lichens Associated with Ash botany more widely. I am convinced that if www.brc.ac.uk/splash
43 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:1 / MARCH 2014
ECONOMISTS AND ECOLOGISTS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES – FINDING A COMMON LANGUAGE?
Claire Wansbury / Atkins Ecology Associate Director Rupert Haines / Atkins Principal Economist
I say ‘tomato’, you say ‘beneficial agricultural ecosystem food provisioning service...’
‘Ecosystem services’ provides a common However, researchers and practitioners but ‘plants’, ‘animals’ and even (and why language for environmental and social need to ensure that this ‘simple’ not!) ‘creepy crawlies’, when speaking to scientists to work seamlessly together message is put forward using language a five year old. to help businesses and governments that keeps it simple – that ensures that truly understand their impacts it is both comprehensible and relevant In order to influence policy decisions and dependencies on the natural for the audience. it is essential that the importance of environment. Well, that’s the theory biodiversity and ecosystem services is anyway. But such laudable aims of In 2013 Atkins led a workshop at understood by individuals with political integration present all sort of terminology Intecol to explore the use of terms like or financial responsibility, as well as issues. Both economists and ecologists ‘biodiversity’ and ‘ecosystem services’, those who have direct role in national need to learn each other’s language and among the primarily academic audience. and international policy. At the Intecol make sure they are understood in turn. Participants were asked to imagine workshop, rather than trying to invent they were explaining the terms and the ‘perfect’ words for each audience, the However, whilst the worlds of economics the relationship between them to an workshop helped us formulate a simple and ecology are finding a common ecology student, an investment banker, process to help prepare when speaking language it will be through clear external a politician or a five year old. When to such individuals. communication on the importance of speaking to a five year old, the ecologists ecosystem services that decision-making clearly thought about the level of We are not suggesting that we need to will be influenced. This is not just about understanding of their audience and how treat financial or political decision-makers communication between ecologists and to capture their interest and enthusiasm, as if they are five year olds. Well, actually, environmental economists, because the and tailored their language accordingly. in one way we are saying just that. We people we really need to be understood In contrast, the workshop found that are not suggesting that ecologists need by are the political and financial decision when many ecologists talk to politicians to talk to them in the same language as a makers. Ecosystem services present and finance experts they assume the five year old. Terms like ‘creepy crawlies’ a compelling argument for better listeners already understand terms like don’t need to start appearing in all the environmental management, not by ‘ecosystem’, speaking to them as if BES policy documents. However, we need shouting about endangered habitats and they had the same level of knowledge to start to research our audience a little species, but by demonstrating what the or interest as ecology students. Even and to engage the same thought process environment means to peoples’ everyday those participants imagining they were we use when preparing to speak to a lives, to the social and economic systems talking to ecology students lacked a five year old. It is essential to stop and from which they benefit and depend. clear consistent language when trying think about the type of audience being to explain the interaction between addressed and take into consideration As Tony Juniper, author of What has biodiversity and ecosystem services. what their priorities may be. This can be Nature ever done for us?, said in a recent On the side of the economists, terms done by asking three simple questions: debate hosted by Atkins, “The economy like ‘stocks’ and ‘flows’ and, indeed, How much can we really expect them is a wholly owned subsidiary of ecology, ‘externalities’ need to be interpreted to understand? What will spark their not the other way around. To see a more clearly for the non-expert. imagination? What will make them care? choice between growing the economy on the one hand and protecting the Word Cloud analysis was used to help The language of ecosystem services is environment and sustaining nature us see patterns in the answers given at jargon-rich – and experiments such as the on the other is perhaps the biggest Intecol. For example, when asked “what above demonstrate that we all know it, misconception in history. No nature, is biodiversity?” ecologists used terms and that we can avoid it when we want no economy. Simple.” like ‘organisms’ and ‘species’ extensively to – so let’s try to do so. when talking to students and politicians,
44 britishecologicalsociety.org
‘Academic development practitioner’: Waiting to evolve?
Recently, I thought of leaving my full-time job as a development practitioner and becoming a freelance consultant. I am an ecologist working to improve the lives of poor people through initiatives that respect their dependence on their local environment.
Haseeb Md. Irfanullah / Practical Action Bangladesh
When I shared this idea with one of my academics to generate new knowledge, agencies, are not rare in developing friends, he was strongly opposed! This new approaches, new evidence and countries like Bangladesh. Their fellow is a talented young professor from new models for informed decisions and intellectual superiority cannot be Bangladesh, well-known for his extensive new programmes. Nevertheless, the underestimated. That is why they are consultancy work in the development academics usually become involved employed to design, to advise, to sector, particularly in the fields of in development work as consultants, study, and to evaluate development environment and climate change. (So his rather than as researchers. This situation programmes. objection could be taken as an attempt can be best explained by the way to nip a potential competitor like me development practitioners perceive But, universities, on the contrary, do in the bud!) He tried to convince me academics and research. not or cannot reciprocate. They may saying “The world you are trying to get engage reputed development researchers into, I am trying to get out of. So, trust In the development sector, academics to teach their students development me”. Despite high pay, the reason for his and practitioners differ in many studies. But they do not hire pure recent change in mind was he was not ways: understanding, working culture, development practitioners, no matter happy with his ‘consultant image’. experience, expectation, motivation, how long their working experience. I believe this image crisis resulted from and philosophy. If I am allowed to The reason behind such deliberate the tension between his ‘academic be blunt, academics are ‘theoretical discrimination is very simple –academic, mindset’ and the ‘respect’ he receives thinkers’, while practitioners are ‘ research and intellectual aptitudes of from his clients as a paid consultant. practical doers’. A person who is living professional development workers might or who has lived in both these worlds appear inadequate, measured against Of course there are basic differences could bridge the gap between these the standards set by the academics. between an academic researcher and two communities. Professional The competencies in demand are a consultant involved in development academics,like my professor friend, very rare, if not absent, among the initiatives. Development needs working closely with the development development practitioners.
River bank erosion in Gaibandha Bangladesh. 45 Photograph Haseeb Md Irfanullah BES BULLETIN VOL 45:1 / MARCH 2014
But, for the sake of argument, let us a person as a colleague, bringing better practitioner staff. Even if such a person assume that an ‘academic development analytical skills, organized thinking, designs, conducts and publishes research practitioner’ or ‘academic practitioner’ hypothesis-testing and scholarship to our in reputed academic journals, those − a professional development worker organizational competencies. With these, would not duly be appreciated by the with academic competencies − does he or she would contribute to long-term organization’s system and might be exist. How would he or she be perceived planning, and programme and strategy wrongly categorized with other grey by those in development and academic development of our organization and literature. Secondly, there is a strong arenas? Would he or she be more help our evidence-based decision-making possibility that academic research efficient than professional academics in process. I also believe such a person conducted by an academic practitioner connecting academics and practitioners? would be a good interpreter − translating would be different from standard How would he or she theorize a practice theories into practice and vice versa – academic research. It is not only because or practice a theory? How would they helping us to understand development of the unconventional mix of practice and balance their academic and practitioner paradigms better. We could get many of theory, but also because of the different images without jeopardizing their these benefits by employing an academic writing style. Some may appreciate these profession or career? Would they often consultant on a short term contract, novelties. But there is a fair chance of find themselves isolated, belonging in but this would not necessarily bring the such research not being appreciated or neither camp? commitment that full-time appointee cited. Therefore, even if an academic would offer our organization. And, practitioner does evolve, the existing I do not have those answers. But I believe finally, to satisfy my finance department, system may not appreciate him or her. we can find the answer to a rather basic he or she would definitely be a good question: why would a person with case of value for money! By the way, An academic development practitioner can strong academic background become an academic practitioner should not be originate and flourish only if development a professional development practitioner confused with a researcher working in the officers and academics appreciate in the first place? The reasons could research wing of a development agency. his value by creating an enabling be many, but could explain many of The latter is a professional researcher environment. Let this article be the the characteristics of an academic studying development issues, not a starting point to discuss how we can practitioner: motivation, courses of practitioner. have such a supportive environment action, and even career-path. and start following such evolution! Nevertheless, an academic practitioner I would very much like to meet an might not exist for two reasons. Firstly, Dr Haseeb Md. Irfanullah leads the academic practitioner: to investigate peer-reviewed publications separate Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate whether he or she could really add value the academic from regular practitioners. Change Programme of Practical Action to their academic institution and to the A development organization usually in Bangladesh. He is available at haseeb. development sector. I want to see such does not expect such outputs from its [email protected]
Pumpkin cultivation on riverine sandbar in Rangpur Bangladesh. Photograph Haseeb Md Irfanullah britishecologicalsociety.org
The call of the wild – perceptions, history, people & ecology in the emerging paradigms of wilding
Ian Rotherham / Sheffield Hallam University
In the December issue Markus Eichhorn’s rant Leave it alone! expressed frustration at the notion that in Britain managed habitats should be maintained for their own sake. We published Keith Kirby’s response to Markus in the same issue, but did not have space for the following essay, in which Ian Rotherham takes a more general look at the issues surrounding cultural landscapes.
There is little doubt that across the globe and traditional, locally-based utilisation. Ian D. Rotherham is Professor particularly in countries like Great Britain, The results will be simplification, catastrophic of Environmental Geography the last fifty years or so have seen long-term, species losses, loss of aesthetics, damaged and Reader in Tourism & irretrievable and often catastrophic losses local and regional economies, and Environmental Change in the in species richness, generally described impoverished ecosystem services. Above Department of the Natural & packaged as ‘biodiversity’. Causes for these all, abandonment will not lead to some sort Built Environments, Sheffield changes have been well documented and of reversion to a mythical, former, pristine Hallam University. He is Chair clearly relate to industrialisation, urbanisation, condition of pure ‘Nature’, but to a of the BES Peatlands SIG. globalisation and a headlong rush into an plethora of degraded, species-poor, ‘Anthropocene’. The underlying drivers secondary successional endpoints. of these trends are socio-economic and political. Human-enhanced climate change In Europe we are now able to construct a is viewed as a key factor in the widespread convincing time-line to show how the most ecological deterioration. In addressing the diverse, species-rich, and in conservation minutiae of ecological change, it is easy to terms, valuable, sites and habitats have lose sight of the bigger pictures of human descended from the ancient ecologies of history and human ecologies. Indeed, it is a primeval landscape. Highly modified but often as if people and Nature are somehow nevertheless retaining species and ecological separate and independent, and if only we diversity of interactions and functions, can remove people from the landscape, grasslands, heaths, bogs, fens, woods and ecology will undoubtedly thrive. Yet, this is, I forests, were adopted by early peoples, utilised argue, a mistaken belief. From the Amazonian and modified. In an age before petrochemical rainforests, to the Australian outback, people subsidised agri-industry and forestry, have depended upon and have influenced landscapes and ecologies were changed but Nature over countless millennia. Across biomass and nutrients cycles were mostly Europe and North America for example, our kept in balance. Once industrialisation landscapes and their ecologies are not ‘natural’ took hold, and especially with but are ‘eco-cultural’ and the distinct habitats the importation of energy and wildlife, which we value today, have and chemical nutrients emerged from long-established interactions into ecosystems, the between people, Nature and the environment. pace of change and Abandonment of these ecosystems now will the irreversible lead to inevitable and predictable successional dysfunction of changes determined by macro-disturbances, ‘cultural severance’ massive eutrophication, and an absence of kicked in.
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This ‘cultural severance’ is best particular, from South African Fynbos to iron. Given these hugely significant considered as the end of traditional, New Zealand, to North America, and to factors that have formed the landscapes local, and often subsistence Australia, they suppressed the local fire we see today, simply abandoning management and the results are management of the landscape. them cannot be expected to cause predictable, long-term ecological The catastrophic wildfires of today are much ‘improvement’. successions with associated increases direct consequences and descendants in available nutrients and biomass, and of that cultural severance and There are major difficulties with rapid declines in biodiversity. The species suppression in the past. approaches to conservation or to we are gaining are largely catholic, landscape management which advocate competitive, ubiquitous ones, which are Turning my environmental historian ‘re-wilding’ or ‘abandonment’. The first rapidly acquiring global distributions. gaze to Britain, we have the case of concern is that they may compound the Those which we are losing are the stress the English Lake district, which already desperate decline in biodiversity tolerates and the stress tolerant ruderals. Marcus finds so depressing, and that of the last half-century. Re-wilding itself is We are also seeing simplification of George Monbiot recently described a misnomer since it implies a reversion to ecosystems and the loss too of species as an ecological desert. (George even a former ‘natural’ state, which in reality and forms of species associated with suggested that parts of the Peak District, is a myth. Re-planting the Great Forest of long-term utilisation by people. In which I walk every week, are virtually Caledon for example is a great idea, one Europe for instance, we have lost most devoid of wildlife and that he would see which catches the emotional senses; if of our coppice woods which can be more bird species in his back garden. only it had existed, then the whole idea associated with the demise of associated This is a strange view of the world, would be even better. Archaeology and ground flora, of birds like nightingales, which does not accord with the reality history tell us that most of the landscapes and of woodland butterflies. Ancient of place unless his garden hosts skylarks, which lack trees in northern Scotland wood pastures are abandoned so we lose meadow pipits, stonechats, wheatears, have done so for 5,000 years or more. 1,000-year-old oaks with their unique red grouse, curlews, lapwings, snipe, These were settled, populated landscapes saproxylic insects, lichens, fungi and short-eared owls, kestrels, peregrine, and not ‘wild’, ‘natural’ areas. Separating more. Heathlands and grasslands such merlins, ravens, snow buntings, cuckoos, people from Nature and taking people as meadows and pastures are essentially whinchats and more; one hell of a out of the landscape is wrong on many eco-cultural and if severed from people garden). I find this view of the world levels of social, ethical, economic and and tradition become rank, eutrophic troubling since the southern Lakes are political process. It is damaging to communities of little ecological interest beautiful and ecologically rich almost ecology and biodiversity too. To address aside from catholic, competitive, beyond description. The ancient coppice the massive and often irreversible declines opportunist. All these ideas are widely woods, the meres and mosses, the in species and in ecosystem resilience known, and predicted in the work of Phil limestone pavements of Gaitbarrows, and function requires drastic and bold Grime looking at plant strategies, and by the evocative limestone of Whitbarrow actions, but abandonment is not one specialists like Nigel Webb considering Scar, down to Arnside Knott, Leyton of those. We first have to recognise European heathlands. As these areas Moss and Silverdale, are certainly not that much of the problem today is not are abandoned, the landscapes an ecological desert. We all know and related to anthropogenic climate change, become contested spaces and local, accept the damage done by intensive although that certainly compounds traditional peoples are squeezed out over-grazing by sheep, and growing the issues. The truth, which politicians by capital-intensive land-uses, by up in the 1970s Peak District I was and economic planners cannot face up absentee landowners, and by leisure involved in conservation battles to to, is that over-exploiting, destroying or recreation. Traditional landscapes remediate this. We take as read, these and fragmenting global ecosystems is morph into either abandonment or impacts, and the dreadful state of many not sustainable. The scale of damage into leisurely landscapes detached hilltops in mid-Wales for example. and destruction or abandonment I from any ecosystem functions. With However, there are other very basic have described elsewhere makes the biomass increase and eutrophication, environmental and historical factors at search for alternative explanations and especially with intensive recreational play and it is important to understand redundant. We must face up to this use or urbanisation, many areas become these before making statements which and to the scale of re-construction and vulnerable to rampant wildfires. From might be fundamentally flawed. The remediation that will be necessary to halt California to Australia, from Greece, northern high ground of the Lakes is and reverse the declines. Building from Spain, and Italy to France, and from bleak, climatically extreme, and highly the remaining sites where functioning the Dorset heaths to the Peak District leached, and is composed of low ecologies and their biodiversity now moors, these are a direct result of nutrient, acidic bedrocks. Furthermore, cling to a precarious existence we cultural severance and abandonment, areas such as the Skiddaw massif, were need to re-build connectivity and to and are entirely predictable. Traditional intensively exploited in the 1500s to re-establish functionality. This has to be peoples often used regular fires to the 1800s, for peat turf fuel. This is from a local to a landscape level and manage their landscapes, to re-cycle detailed and documented in relation it will not be easy. Furthermore, the and release precious nutrients, and to local communities and especially for essential controls and cycling of energy to provide essential grazing at the the massive regional mineral extractive and nutrients that control the balances right time of year. When European industries of that time. Peat turf and of competitors, ruderals, and stress imperialists populated the planet they peat charcoal were stripped from the tolerators, have to be re-established if generally viewed indigenous peoples as hillsides and mountains to fuel the the inevitable successional changes and ignorant, primitive, and a ‘bad thing’. In smelting of metals such as copper and biodiversity declines are to be avoided.
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These processes were a part of the and perhaps Heck cattle might roam the and emotional responses are subjective. primeval landscape of Europe and were moors and bogs between Sheffield and Perhaps if you don’t like somewhere, maintained or even enhanced through Manchester and become an ecotourism then don’t go there... long-established traditional practices spectacle. Such statements show over several thousand years. zero knowledge of landscape history, Finally, the idea of abandonment ecological carrying capacity, or animal to allow Nature to follow its own We want and indeed need ‘wilder’ welfare, or of tourism and economics. course will appeal to the current landscapes, but simple re-wilding and Yet many ecologists at the meeting crop of politicians who see abandonment will consign many species seemed convinced that a ‘re-wilded’ conservation as needless red tape, to oblivion, and will do so quickly. The Pennines, complete with reindeer, and environmentalists, (according test will be to recognise why these might be a great idea. There seemed to George Osborne) apparently as ‘a ecosystems have changed, and to apply little thought about local communities sort of Taliban’. In a Brave New World long-term solutions to re-constructing or even about the motivations and with a Big Society, we will no longer a functioning Nature to include people. reasons for tourism visits, or the need need nature reserves, wildlife trusts, or Given basic sets of ecological parameters for ‘opportunities to spend’ if economic conservation officers and we won’t need we can easily predict the outcomes and benefits are to flow. Most of this rural grants or other monies to pay for all of consequences of successional changes tourism is based on visiting traditional these. I know plenty of politicians who with or in the absence of intervention. landscapes and the monetary flows are would love to hear this. The successful vision will also require through resident, local communities. In May 2014, we are holding a two- long-term socio-economic function and Tourists come to experience local day workshop and symposium on the socio-political currency; or else it will communities in their landscapes, and to theme of ‘Wilder By Design’, followed simply fail. It has been said at meetings partake of locally distinctive hospitality, in September 2015 by a three-day to discuss the future of the uplands that cuisine and drinks, not of de-populated, international conference. We are now farmers can be done away with and that abandoned dereliction. Furthermore, inviting contributions for what will the Pennines for example, would be what may be a bleak, forbidding and be informative, cutting-edge, and economically powered by ‘ecotourism’. profoundly depressing upland landscape controversial gatherings. A national newspaper ran an article to one person may be ecstatically close which suggested that herds of reindeer to heaven for another; our opinions
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FROM OUR SOUTHERN CORRESPONDENT
Richard Hobbs / University of Western Australia
Scottish comedian Billy Connolly has a hilarious routine about coming to Australia and encountering fauna of all shapes and sizes that can bite, sting, maim and kill you. According to Billy, everything is out to get you in Australia, and it’s a surprise that Australians make it to adulthood at all. Nevertheless, he also jokes about the way that, by and large, Australians take the dangerous creatures they live alongside pretty much for granted as part of the Australian environment. Indeed, serious injuries or death as a result of encounters with dangerous wildlife are relatively uncommon (particularly in comparison to things like road and workplace accidents, alcohol-related deaths and so on).
So it’s perplexing to witness the to these numbers.”. Relative to other ate the people. Another such instance situation happening currently in my risks, shark attack is pretty low on the list. involved two lawyers paddling off home state of Western Australia, where In fact, a colleague from New York once Cottesloe Beach – again, the lawyers the state government, led by Premier told me that, in any given year, more survived but their craft was chomped, Colin Barnett, is implementing a policy people are bitten by New Yorkers than by prompting a long-running spate of shark of deploying baited drum lines 1km sharks worldwide. I thought this was just – lawyer jokes. offshore from popular beaches with a crazy New York joke from a crazy New the aim of catching and killing large York friend, but it turns out to be true. It Having said all that, the fear factor sharks, some of which are endangered also turns out that many more people are defies logic, and it’s clear that rational species. This action is in response to an killed annually by, for instance, pigs or consideration of the relative risks of increase in the number of shark attacks coconuts than by sharks. being eaten by a shark – rather than, say, on humans recently, and particularly being run over by a truck – does not play seven fatalities in the last 3 years. much of a part in decision making, either While the prospect of being eaten by a “In fact, a colleague from at a personal or societal level. Sharks, very large fish with lots of sharp teeth New York once told me like other big fierce things with teeth, is undoubtedly scary, and everyone have a place deep within the human sympathises with victims and their that, in any given year, psyche and many people – including relatives, there is now a major grass-roots more people are bitten our state Premier – appear unable to get protest movement underway aimed at past this. Even people who should know forcing the government to give up the by New Yorkers than better get caught up in the hysteria. For baiting program. by sharks worldwide.” instance, Barry Carbon, a former Chair of the Western Australian Environmental There are many reasons to be Protection Authority, commented in our There is also evidence to suggest that sympathetic with this movement. One local newspaper (The West Australian, many shark attacks are chance or mistake is the simple perspective of relative risk. January 4-5, 2014): “Unfortunately sharks encounters – if sharks really wanted Even the popular media picked up on eat people. People feel insecure because to eat us, they’d be in at the popular the observation that shark attacks remain they think sharks might eat them. The beaches every day during summer remarkably uncommon. The Sydney consequence of this is the necessity to kill picking up fast-food humans (well, Morning Herald editorial on 4 January sharks that enter into restricted areas.” they’d probably actually go for the 2014 (www.smh.com.au) commented: slower moving variety). Speaking of fast- “Given that millions of swimmers and OK, so the first part of this statement food, a local fish and chip restaurant in surfers have taken to the waters around makes sense, sort of – sharks, as we’ve Fremantle (not far from Little Creatures) Australia during the past century, and seen, don’t actually eat that many has two wave-skis hanging from its given the proximity of so many sharks people, but people may well feel insecure ceiling, each with large ragged-edged close to shore through that time, there because of the fear that a shark might holes in their middle – instances where have been remarkably few attacks relative eat them, however small the probability sharks bit the equipment rather than
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Photo by Richard Hobbs. of this occurring is. However, the last These rare and sometimes fatal incidents taken despite, rather than because of, part of the statement is a huge leap are fraught with uncertainties and evidence. There is no evidence that the of logic and/or faith that needs to be command a disproportionate amount proposed course of action will reduce the examined a bit more carefully. It’s also of psychological space in the minds of risk to humans, and it is even possible been at the heart of the protests going the public, as well as a large degree of that it could increase the risk. Christopher on since the move to bait and kill sharks policy space and funding from many Neff commented in the Guardian on 27 off WA beaches was announced. The governments.” (Neff, 2012). From an December 2013 (www.theguardian.com) main point of contention is that there ecologist’s perspective, the interesting about the baited drum-line proposal, “If appears to be no evidence whatsoever part of this story relates to the process at the point is to symbolically kill a protected that baiting for and killing sharks has the top of a lot of people’s minds these species for political gain then it will be any effect at all on the incidence of shark days – the effective meshing of science successful, but if the point is to protect attacks on humans. It’s even possible with policy. There is undoubtedly much the public from sharks this policy will that the baited drum lines actually draw more research needed on every aspect likely be a failure.” However, even the sharks into areas they would normally of the shark story. For instance, there is political gain may be short lived if the not visit, hence potentially increasing the more hot air than light at the moment public, social media and international risk of shark attack. As every fisherman on the question of whether shark response is anything to go by. At a knows, for every fish that gets hooked, numbers are increasing or decreasing. 4000-strong rally on one of Perth’s main there are many that get away. There Many shark species, especially the big beaches in early January, beach-goers, is, however, good evidence from other relatively rare ones, are classic cases swimmers, divers and others voiced parts of the world where baiting has of wide-ranging mobile organisms strong opposition to the policy. Many of taken place that significant by-catch whose numbers, movement patterns the signs on display confirmed what Billy occurs and that baited areas become and behaviour are remarkably difficult Connelly observed – that Australians are locally depleted of many forms of to study effectively. So the standard prepared to live with the remote risk of aquatic life. Indeed, a report produced scientific response that “We need more shark attack. One sign succinctly said: “It’s for the Western Australian Fisheries research” certainly applies here. an ecosystem, not a swimming pool”. Department concluded that: “Due to the environmental impacts of shark However, there is also a clear need for In the meantime, other options are being control activities, it is not recommended more immediate responses. In particular, implemented to reduce shark attacks. A that either shark nets or drum-lines be as we all know from watching “Yes, shark-proof enclosure is being trialled at a introduced into Western Australia.” Minister”, the government needs to be local beach, and this was recommended (McPhee, 2012). seen to be doing something. The key as an option by the Department of aspect here is that we would all, I think, Fisheries report. Regular aerial searches Christopher Neff, who has studied the aspire to contributing to an evidence- occur off popular city beaches during politics of shark attacks, concluded based approach, especially if you listen the summer months. Sharks are being that: “There are no simple government to Bill Sutherland and others. And yet, tagged with transmitters that are solutions when sharks bite people. the government decision in this case was detected by off-shore buoys and set off
51 Rally protesting against proposal to install baited drum-lines off popular Western Australian beaches, January 2014. Photo by Richard Hobbs. alerts when the shark comes within a Commission, set up under the previous kilometre of a beach. Beach goers are government to provide scientific advice “Beach goers are now also able to get warnings on shark on climate change, was one such body now also able to get movements from Twitter (it seems that to be disbanded – only to be resurrected it’s not just INTECOL meetings that have as an independent body, the Australian warnings on shark turned to Twitter for help). There are Climate Council, after a swift and effective also various personal shark deterrents web-based crowd-funding effort showed movements from available, and research is underway on huge popular support for the body to Twitter (it seems innovative colour designs for wetsuits continue. Around the same time, our new and watercraft that make sharks less Environment Minister Greg Hunt was in that it’s not just likely to mistake the swimmer or craft for the press saying that he had looked up a potential meal. Wikipedia to check on whether there INTECOL meetings was a link between climate change and that have turned to So, what’s the prognosis for evidence- increased bushfire intensity (Sydney based environmental policy? Well, the Morning Herald, 23 October 2013). Twitter for help).” answer partially lies, as has been often repeated, in the willingness of scientists Meanwhile, 2013 was a year of climatic REFERENCES to engage with the policy process. But extremes in Australia, with many McPhee, D.P. (2012) Likely Effectiveness of it also has to rely on politicians being temperature records being exceeded Netting or Other Capture Programs as a Shark willing to move beyond simplistic and anomalous rainfall patterns across Hazard Mitigation Strategy under Western Australian Conditions” Department of Fisheries, solutions, particularly where there is no much of the country. I had planned not Perth, Western Australia. http://www.fish.wa.gov. evidence these solutions will have any to mention the cricket, but the English au/Documents/occasional_publications/fop108. effect other than wasting a lot of taxpayer cricket team certainly felt the heat this pdf Neff, C. (2012) Australian Beach Safety money. And of course, there has to be southern summer – not just from the and the Politics of Shark Attacks. Coastal a modicum of desire to take note of the rejuvenated Australian pace attack, but Management, 40, 88-106. evidence that is there. This last point is also from the bouts of hot weather that Neff, C. (2012) Australian Beach Safety and the becoming moot in Australia as a whole, seemed to come on whenever there Politics of Shark Attacks. Coastal Management, with both state and federal governments was a Test match – here in Perth, the 40, 88-106. seeking to reverse or compromise existing hot weather started on the first day of conservation policies and practices the test and ended just after England Ritchie, E.G., Bradshaw, C.J.A., Dickman, C.R., Hobbs, R., Johnson, C.N., Johnston, E.L., (Ritchie et al., 2013). And, of course, had capitulated. An evidence-based Laurance, W.F., Lindenmayer, D., McCarthy, M.A., we have a new federal government that approach might suggest that England Nimmo, D.G., Possingham, H.H., Pressey, R.L., has spent its first few months in power doesn’t do well in hot weather – but then Watson, D.M., & Woinarski, J. (2013) Continental- backtracking on climate change and again, maybe it was more to do with the Scale Governance and the Hastening of Loss of dismantling key bodies designed to advise Australian pace attack? No doubt further Australia’s Biodiversity. Conservation Biology, and act on climate issues. The Climate replication will help sort this out. 27, 1133-1135.
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Be careful what you wish for
John Wiens / Point Blue Conservation Science [email protected] Photo courtesy of Ron LeValley
Can conservation ever be too successful? The ongoing loss of habitats, the growing lists of imperiled species, and the appeals of conservation organizations suggest not. But what if efforts to bring species back from the brink of extinction are so successful that they create conflicts with people and their interests? Let me tell two stories to illustrate this conundrum.
The first story is about geese. Aleutian cackling geese (Branta Recovery of the Aleutian cackling goose surpassed all hutchinsii leucopareia) were once abundant, breeding expectations. For most of the 1500 species listed under the throughout the Aleutian Archipelago and wintering in the Act, however, the bar for what counts as “success” is set pretty Pacific Northwest (where they were first described by the Lewis low. Fewer than one percent of listed species have gone extinct and Clark Expedition). During the eighteenth and nineteenth since the Act was passed 40 years ago, and declining trends of centuries, fur traders introduced Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) others have been stabilized or reversed. To some, this counts as on many islands in the Aleutians. Geese and their eggs and success. But the aim of the Act is not just to avoid extinction, goslings were easy prey, and numbers plummeted. By the but to enable species to recover so they no longer require middle of the twentieth century the goose was thought to be extra legal protection. Some species, such as brown pelicans extinct. A breeding population of a few hundred birds was (Pelecanus occidentalis) or peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus), rediscovered on a remote island in 1962, however, and the have exceeded recovery goals and have been delisted. species was listed under a precursor to the U.S. Endangered Pelicans are now a fixture on the Gulf of Mexico and California Species Act in 1967. A recovery plan was drafted: foxes coasts, and peregrines have expanded their habitat to nest were removed from potential breeding islands, birds were on skyscraper ledges in many cities. These successes give reintroduced as islands became fox-free, hunting was curtailed, conservationists hope and justify continuing support for and habitat in the wintering and migration areas was protected recovery efforts for other species on the cusp of extinction. and managed. The population exploded, and the recovery goal of 7,500 birds was quickly exceeded. The protection My second story is about wolves. Once upon a time (isn’t and restrictions afforded by the Endangered Species Act were that how all wolf stories begin?), gray wolves (Canis lupus) no longer necessary, and the species was “delisted” in 2001. were widespread across North America. As settlement moved A resounding conservation success. westward, wolves were forced out or killed, initially because they were a threat to livestock and later because they competed But goose numbers have continued to increase. By 2011, the with hunters (fewer wolves meant more big game). Bounties population was estimated at nearly 112,000. Well before that, were paid for killing wolves. In 1902, Theodore Roosevelt called it became apparent that grazing by the thousands of geese the wolf “the beast of waste and destruction,” and in 1907 the gathering at spring migratory stopover areas in California and United States Biological Survey declared the extermination of Oregon was damaging newly emerging pasture and crop the wolf to be “the paramount objective of the government.” vegetation. Birds roosting overnight on offshore islands were By the 1950s, wolves had been eradicated from the United degrading habitat in seabird breeding colonies. To protect their States, although they remained abundant in Canada and Alaska. lands, landowners began hazing birds to drive them from their Wolves were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1973, fields. An Agricultural Depredation Plan was prepared to address leading to lengthy and contentious debates about recovery the goose problem1. There is now a hunting season; California planning. Finally, in 1995 wolves were reintroduced into hunters are permitted to take up to six geese per day over a Yellowstone National Park and remote areas of Idaho. 100-day season. These measures have reduced pressures on Numbers grew dramatically, and dispersal established new private lands by shifting the geese onto nearby public lands. wolf packs in other areas. Initial proposals to delist the wolf The current objective is to maintain a population of 60,000 in Idaho and Montana were overruled by a federal court, birds, but even with control and hunting, reducing the whereupon the U.S. Congress, as part of an unrelated budget population to this level will be difficult. A species once thought authorization bill, interceded to remove the Act’s protection in extinct and then struggling to survive has, in the space of these states. Last year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed 50 years, become an agricultural pest. A Recovery Plan has delisting the wolf in most of the United States and Mexico3. been replaced by a Depredation Plan2. Another conservation success story.
53 BES BULLETIN Gray wolf. Photo: U.S. Fish VOL 44:5 / MARCH 2014 and Wildlife Service.
But consider what has followed. Reprising debates from the previous century, ranchers have protested about increasing losses of livestock to marauding wolves and hunters have complained about reduced big game populations. The ecological argument that wolves act as keystone predators, voiced so eloquently by Aldo Leopold in his essay Thinking Like a Mountain (1949)4, does not resonate with ranchers and hunters. Several states have now opened hunting seasons for wolves, including organized “wolf hunt” contests. Hundreds of wolves have been killed. Idaho has hired a professional hunter to eliminate two wolf packs from a wilderness area5. Some legislators in western states are now calling for the eradication of wolves. An Op-ed in the New York Times (June 7, 2013) wondered “have we brought wolves back for the sole purpose of hunting them down?”
In both stories, legal protection and intense management efforts were successful in bringing a species back from imperilment, only to encounter economic, social, or political pressures to reduce or eliminate the gains. But there is an important difference between the stories. Geese eat grass and grain. Wolves eat cattle and sheep and elk. People have a deep-rooted fear of wolves (and of sharks and tigers and crocodiles—things that now and then eat people ). Childhood fables like Little Red Riding Hood or The Three Little Pigs instill a fear of wolves; Mother Goose does nothing of the sort for geese. Culture as much as science influences what counts for “success” in conservation.
None of this is to say that conservationists should be looking over their shoulders for the culture police. It does suggest, however, that it may be wise to think about the consequences of success and plan accordingly. We are usually so preoccupied with fighting against extinction that even modest gains are victories, and we don’t look ahead to consider what might happen if we are too successful. In both stories, the outcomes might have been anticipated. Geese are prolific breeders and effective grazers, so removing the threat of predation would sooner or later lead to problems where large numbers of geese aggregate. We might have expected that the deep-rooted attitudes about wolves that led to their eradication in the last century would reappear as soon as wolf numbers increased.
Understanding the ecology of an imperiled species is essential in charting a course toward recovery, but understanding societal attitudes may be just as important once we get there. Determining what ‘success’ means, and whether it is enduring, depends on much more than science.
REFERENCES FOOTNOTES Buskotter, J.T., J.A. Vucetich, S. Enzler, A. Treves, and M.P. Nelson. 2013. 1Mini and Le Valley (2006) Removing protections for wolves and the future of the U.S. Endangered 2Mini et al (2011 provide a useful review of Aleutian cackling goose Species Act (1973). Conservation Letters (online): DOI: 10.1111/conl.12081. recovery and management Callan, R., N.P. Nibbelink, T.P. Rooney, J.E. Wiedenhoeft, and A.P. Wydeven. 3For a perspective, see Buskotter et al (2013) 2013. Recolonizing wolves trigger a trophic cascade in Wisconsin (USA). 4 Journal of Ecology 101: 837-845. For a recent treatment, see Callan et al (2013) 5 Leopold, A. 1949. A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There. January 29, 2014: Reports indicate that the hunter was successful in Oxford University Press, New York. killing all the wolves in the two packs. The purpose is to allow the elk population to grow, which will provide more big game for hunters but Mini, A.E., and R. LeValley. 2006. Aleutian Cackling Goose Agricultural alter the “wilderness” ecosystem. Depredation Plan for Del Norte County, California. California Coastal 6 Conservancy, San Francisco, CA. In his essay in this issue of the Bulletin, Richard Hobbs calls attention to a similar story unfolding in Australia, and to the distinctively Mini, A.E., D.C. Bachman, J. Cocke, K.M. Griggs, K.A. Spragens, and J.M. Australian attitude about dangerous animals. Black. 2011. Recovery of the Aleutian cackling goose Branta hutchinsii leucopareia: 10-year review and future prospects. Wildfowl 61: 3-29. Roosevelt, T. 1902. Hunting the Grisly and Other Sketches. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York.
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The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management
Sally Hayns MCIEEM / Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management T: 01962 868626 / Enquiries @cieem.net / www.cieem.net
Left image: Medal winner David Stubbs CEnv FCIEEM is presented with his trophy by CIEEM President John Box. Right image: Penny Anderson CEcol CEnv FCIEEM (Penny Anderson Associates) and Philip Austin (SCaMP programme manager at United Utilities with their awards
BEST PRACTICE AWARDS ecological principles and environmental that exemplify best practice, promote sustainability to sports developments and innovation and share knowledge in the During the Autumn Conference we activities, commencing with golf courses realm of ecology and environmental were delighted to present our annual and extending into other sporting areas. management. CIEEM Medal and Best Practice Awards to worthy recipients. Initially as part of the London 2012 The Best Practice Award for outstanding Olympics Bid Team and then for the achievement in both the Practical The CIEEM Medal was presented seven years it took to organise the Nature Conservation category and in to David Stubbs CEnv FCIEEM in event he was responsible for developing the Innovation category went to Penny recognition of his outstanding and coordinating the sustainability Anderson Associates for the Sustainable contribution to the development of programme and for ensuring that the Catchment Management Programme ecologically sustainable sports facilities ambitious vision was fully delivered. (SCaMP). The SCaMP project is based and sports event management. A Among his achievements while at the on the Bowland Estate, Lancashire and founder member and Fellow of CIEEM, London Organising Committee of Peak District moorlands on land owned David is an internationally renowned the Olympic and Paralympic Games by United Utilities which incorporates 21 specialist in the field of sport and the (LOCOG), David was instrumental in farms and 45 land holdings. The project, environment. His career started in the the development of ISO 20121, the first run in collaboration with the RSPB, set field of conservation biology, particularly certifiable international sustainability out to improve river catchment quality in relation to the Hermann’s tortoise management system standard, which is whilst ensuring a sustainable future for Testudo hermanni. He then moved on to already having a strong impact on the tenants of the Bowland Estate which lead the London Wildlife Habitat Survey global events sector. comprises 56,385ha of catchment, team, which undertook the first complete mostly in the uplands, of which ecological database for all of Greater The Best Practice Awards aim to celebrate 17,343ha are Sites of Special Scientific London’s natural green spaces. From individuals, projects and schemes Interest (SSSI). here he pioneered the application of
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The project began in 2005 with a five- REGISTER OF CHARTERED Northumbria University year plan to meet the Government’s ECOLOGISTS BSc (Hons) Environmental Management target of 95% of SSSIs being in A further 32 Chartered Ecologists favourable or favourable recovering Oxford Brookes University joined the new Register in January and condition by 2010. SCaMP helps BSc (Hons) Biology applications continue to come in at individual farms across the estate to BSc (Hons) Animal Biology and a steady pace, keeping our assessors work towards improving water quality, Conservation suitably busy. These early registrants reducing run-off rates, sediment load and BSc (Hons) Environmental Sciences represent a broad range of ecological downstream flooding. SCaMP has made practitioners working across the Further details of the accreditation a significant contribution to the quality employment sector including academics, scheme and the closing date for the and functionality of upland ecosystems land managers, ecological consultants next round can be found on the CIEEM and biodiversity conservation across and those working in the public sector. website at www.cieem.net/accreditation an extensive area with all the habitats of value safeguarded within Farm The assessment is a two-stage process Plans, with enhancement management based on CIEEM’s Competency included where necessary. Framework. The first stage is a desk- based assessment of a comprehensive The award for Outstanding Individual application form in order to determine was presented to Simon Boulter CEnv whether an applicant is likely to have MCIEEM, a Principal Consultant at the reached the standard and merits a environmental consultancy RSK. Simon Professional Review Interview (PRI). The was nominated by colleague and peer PRI is the second stage of the assessment Sarah Harmer. Sarah said “Simon has and is a face-to-face interview with two a thirst for knowledge and takes on senior professionals. many of our challenging projects. He is committed to training and developing Typically the process takes 3 – 6 months his skills on Ecological Impact Assessment once an application is received. and holds many posts outside of his work at RSK. Amongst his many commitments Further details of the Register are CIEEM Past-president Dr David Parker CEcol he is a dedicated Council Member and available on the CIEEM website www. CEnv FCIEEM presents Simon Irvin, Countryside, Publications Officer for the Mammal cieem.net/chartered-ecologist Environment and Wildlife Courses Manager at Society, teaches at Reading University Harper Adams University with their certificate of Accreditation and is a devoted badger ecologist, MORE ACCREDITED DEGREES holding position of Director of the ANNOUNCED NEW FELLOW Badger Trust and involved with his local At the start of the year CIEEM was Oxfordshire Badger Group, undertaking One member has recently been admitted delighted to announce several more surveys and aiding vaccination treatment as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute. accredited degree and degree pathways. against Bovine TB.” Students following an accredited degree Dr Mike Wells has over 20 years The New Professional Award was will cover all of the required content experience as an ecological consultant presented to Jessica Batchelor and quantity of practical work required including 7 years of running his own GradCIEEM, a graduate ecologist at by the scheme. For a degree pathway consultancy, Biodiversity by Design Ltd. Arup, an independent firm of designers, it is only the required combination For the past 10 years he has also been planners, engineers and consultants or combinations of core and optional involved in academic teaching as an dedicated to enhanced sustainability modules that are accredited. external lecturer, external examiner and through its design projects. Jessica was visiting research fellow. The main focus The following two degrees were nominated by Senior Ecologist and of his work in recent years has been on approved by the Governing colleague Oliver Barnett. Oliver said matters relating to green infrastructure, Board for accreditation: “Jess has a positive and infectious can-do sustainable master planning and habitat attitude and has displayed a depth and Nottingham Trent University restoration/creation in urban settings. breadth of knowledge that is advanced MSc Biological Conservation He has published many articles and well beyond what is normally expected contributed to several books on this of a graduate ecologist.” Oxford Brookes University topic as well as lecturing extensively MSc Conservation Ecology in the UK and overseas. He is a well- CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL known advocate of biodiversity in urban The following five degree pathways OUR WINNERS. design and, as such, has extensively were also approved by the promoted the principles of biodiversity The 2014 Awards are currently being Governing Board for accreditation: planning to other professionals through judged and will be announced at our University of Hull publications, presentations and inter- special Awards Luncheon at Birmingham BSc (Hons) Ecology disciplinary working. Botanic Gardens in June.
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PUBLISHING NEWS Preprints: a new challenge for ecological journals?
Peter Livermore / Assistant Editor, Journal of Animal Ecology
While much has changed with advances in online delivery of information, the scientific paper remains the primary currency of research output.
The first major step towards the the so-called ‘web 2.0’ has been marked output – once a preprint is submitted it is enshrinement of scientific discoveries as by an increased array of interactive and made freely available within a matter of ‘facts’ is the publication of peer reviewed collaborative digital tools for the creation days (usually subject to some degree of papers, and these papers are the principal and free dissemination of user-generated quality control such as a basic screening form in which findings are disseminated content. Prominent examples of these by a moderator). Such immediacy is to the scientific community at large. platforms are Twitter and blogs, which particularly important for early career However, scholarly communication has are both seeing increased usage among researchers who are under ever-increasing traditionally begun, and still does begin, the ecological community for sharing pressure to display evidence of research long before the publication of papers – and discussing burgeoning research. output, but it also helps to establish for example, findings are presented and Another associated trend facilitated precedence of discovery, which is discussed at workshops and meetings, by this movement has been towards especially important in highly competitive whilst nascent manuscripts are often self-archiving of research (uploading and fast-moving areas, by removing shared with and critiqued by colleagues. a free copy of a scientific manuscript the stochastic influence of journal Generally, these practices serve a dual to the internet). The development processing times prior to publication. purpose: to publicise findings as soon as of dedicated public preprint servers Secondly, because preprint servers are possible and to open up discussion and means that authors can share their ‘open’ (i.e. preprints are electronic and critique from peers. Rapid dissemination manuscripts freely prior to submitting usually are published under creative of ideas and results is important because them for peer review to a scientific commons licences), they afford a much it accelerates the progress of science; journal. In the strictest sense, preprints greater reach than traditional pre- other researchers may be moved to refer to unreviewed manuscripts not yet publication sharing methods such as test and develop associated ideas or published in a scientific journal, though emails to colleagues and presentations discouraged from re-treading similar servers often offer the facility to also at conferences, and consequently ground. More widely, the very latest upload an updated (reviewed, but not can increase the impact of research. scientific information may be transmitted published) version of the manuscript. Importantly, this reach also means that readily to those who require it (e.g. With developments in digital technology, a manuscript will likely be subjected to policymakers). Peer scrutiny is also these electronic repositories can now a higher number and diversity of critical crucial in order to ensure rigour and easily host large numbers of preprints viewpoints than is obtainable from the accuracy, which are traditional ideals and make uploading and accessing customary 2 or 3 experts in the field of science; pitting research against them simple. Importantly, these servers employed by journal peer review – the legitimate scepticism of others is a often have provision for comments on ostensibly leading to a version of record good way of testing its veracity, and it preprints, to which authors can respond that has been more rigorously vetted is expected that such critique removes – the idea being that these public and is of higher quality. errors and improves the reliability and exchanges, whether by identifying flaws reproducibility of research prior to in the science or challenging the authors This trend has, however, come into submission to a journal. to clarify, help to mould the dynamic conflict with the traditional practices preprint. of publishing since it is customary for Such sharing of research of course original research journals to insist that requires efficient communication, and Preprint servers are attractive because submitted work has not been published the ‘online era’ has opened up new they neatly serve the two primary or publicized previously – the so-called communication channels that offer a purposes of pre-publication research- ‘Ingelfinger rule’, named after Franz J. reach and accessibility beyond that of sharing. Firstly, in terms of dissemination, Ingelfinger, an erstwhile Editor of email. In particular, the development of they provide rapid evidence of research The New England Journal of Medicine.
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This is firstly about protecting the An obstacle to the peaceable marriage This policy also extends to allow theses, originality of papers and thus the value of preprint servers and subscription dissertations and posters published on of the journal; if a journal publishes a journals is that many journal Editors F1000 Posters with the same findings paper that is not materially different from have traditionally adopted the policy and conclusions as a paper submitted another version published elsewhere, of deciding themselves exactly what to a BES journal. To reiterate, BES (i.e. same findings and conclusions) it constitutes ‘prior publication’. From journals are unlikely to be able to could be guilty of dual publication. This an author’s perspective, obviously not publish papers if an author uploads an can have numerous problems including wanting to jeopardize subsequent updated preprint following review of the wasting limited journal space, inflating publication, this makes preprints a little paper with a CC-BY attribution licence the publication record and skewing worrying because they don’t know if a (which allows others to distribute, edit meta-analyses. Moreover, libraries with journal will consider their preprint to be and expand the work for commercial subscriptions may therefore end up prior publication; indeed, authors have purposes provided that they credit the paying for duplicate information, which been turned off depositing preprints by creator for the original). This is because could even be replicated across multiple ambiguous, idiosyncratic or non-existent the updated preprint is not likely to be platforms to which they pay for access. journal policies. Therefore, there is a need patently different to the final published The other raison d’être of the Ingelfinger for journals to provide clear guidance version, and if such a licence has been rule is to avoid the proliferation of on their expectations and the limitations signed for this version, then the authors methodologically or factually incorrect regarding preprints. At the BES, we realise cannot grant the BES a requisite Exclusive information, or information that does that impeding communication between Licence to publish it. The reason not appropriately attribute credit to researchers goes against our core aims – we require this licence for this is the previous work. Scientists are likely to be advancing ecological science and making protection of the original value of the circumspect when interpreting research it count. Therefore, the BES journals work, which is necessary to sustain our that has not been vetted by peer review, have decided to take a clear stance on current publishing business model and but the press and other non-expert preprints, and following a Publications consequently the many BES activities in audiences less so. From the authors’ Committee meeting on 21 October the ecological community it supports. perspective, there is also the danger that 2013, a formal policy was agreed; others who read the preprint may publish the latest version is as follows: It remains to be seen how preprint servers their own paper first, undermining or will affect traditional journal publishing even superseding the paper arising from BES journals do not consider for in future. While Web of Science does not the preprint, which will likely prejudice publication articles that have already count preprints, Google Scholar, which is subsequent publication. been published in substantial part or in now widely used by academics, indexes full within a scientific journal, book or preprints and recent data suggest that, in On balance, though, it is hard to dispute similar entity. However, posting an article disciplines where preprints are commonly that preprints are overall positive for on the author’s personal website or in an deposited, servers have reached a similar science, and, in any case, they are institutional repository is not viewed as level of impact to journals. Nonetheless, popular with researchers; in many prior publication and such articles can the feedback from these communities disciplines preprint servers have evolved therefore be submitted. The journals will is that journals have thus far not been from little-used tools into essential also consider for publication manuscripts adversely affected by preprint servers, platforms for dissemination of research. that have been posted in a recognized so perhaps there is some possibility The arXiv server, for example, is often preprint archive (such as arXiv, bioRχiv for a harmonious coexistence. In any the first point of call for those seeking and PeerJ PrePrints), providing that upon case, we hope that the development the latest research in maths and physics. acceptance of their article for publication of BES preprint policy will mark at least While depositing preprints is still far the author is still able to grant the BES some progress in our vision for the less common in the biological sciences, an exclusive licence to publish the article, advancement of ecological science. the direction of the wind is clear, as or agree to the terms of an OnlineOpen marked by the increase in submissions agreement and pay the associated fee. to the quantitative biology section of Following submission and peer review arXiv and, more recently, the launch of organized by the journal, posting of bioRχiv (http://biorxiv.org/). As biologists revised versions of the article on a preprint become more familiar with preprint server with a CC-BY licence might affect an servers, and they see increased usage, author’s ability to sign an Exclusive Licence concerns about getting scooped will likely to publish in a BES journal. diminish and ultimately we might expect that the preprints become the standard It is the responsibility of authors to way of establishing priority, as in physics inform the journal at the time of and maths. Therefore, if journals are to submission if and where their article keep pace with the prevailing attitudes has been previously posted and, if the of the communities that they serve they manuscript is accepted for publication need to embrace preprints. in a BES journal authors are required to provide a link to the final manuscript alongside the original preprint version.
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of exotic free-spawning sex: man-made practitioners within the pages of environment facilitates success of an an academic journal. On behalf of invasive seastar”, authored by Scott the whole editorial team, we wish www.journalofappliedecology.org Ling et al. James Pearce-Higgins and Phil all the very best for the future. @JAppliedEcology Gavin Siriwardena were recognised for We are very pleased to welcome Golden jubilee and INTECOL their contribution as the reviewers who completed the highest number of reviews Natalie Pettorelli as our newest Editor. The INTECOL congress in August for the Journal in the past 5 years. We Natalie has been an enthusiastic and 2013 was the focus for many Journal also recognised David Kleijn and Nathalie very hard-working member of our initiatives for the 50-year anniversary. Pettorelli as the Associate Editors who editorial board since 2007 (we’ve already We were very pleased with the success handled the greatest number of papers mentioned Natalie earlier in this article of the Journal’s activities at this exciting over the past 5 years. We awarded the as a recipient of a golden jubilee award). and lively conference. prize of Longest-serving Associate Editor Natalie is passionate about science to Davy McCracken, who worked on communication and an avid tweeter (@ Details on the Journal-sponsored the Journal for 17 years. Finally, we were pettorelli). We look forward to Natalie’s workshop ‘How best can international delighted to be joined by Gillian Kerby, involvement as the journal continues to journals support ecologists in emerging the previous Managing Editor for the build on the success of its first fifty years. economies?’, organised by E.J. Milner- Journal, and we thanked her with the Gulland and Jos Barlow, along with a Erika Newton award of Outstanding Contribution link to a podcast recording of all speakers Assistant Editor to the Journal. and a lively discussion with t Andrea Baier he workshop participants can be found 2013 has been an excellent year for the Managing Editor on the Journal website (http://www. Journal and we would like to take the journalofappliedecology.org/view/0/ opportunity to thank everyone who virtualissues/fiftyyearsvirtualissue.html). has participated in and contributed The symposium “Putting Applied Ecology to all of the golden jubilee initiatives. Functional Ecology banner into practice: Knowledge and needs for www.functionalecology.org the 21st Century”, organised by Phil Virtual Issue on Applied Ecology in @FunEcology Hulme and sponsored by the Journal, was Agricultural Systems very successful and popular. Peter Kareiva We were delighted to attend the recent Volume 28, Issue 1 is available free online (The Nature Conservancy) started the joint BES–Associate of Applied Biologists and includes a new Special Feature, as symposium with an interesting keynote meeting on sustainable agriculture in well as a commentary from Simon Pierce, presentation about how science has the UK. Associate Editor John Finn put a new Perspective from George S. Bakken transformed conservation. A recording together an excellent Virtual Issue on and Michael J. Angilletta Jr and a new of the keynote talk is also available as a Applied Ecology in Agricultural Systems review from J. William O. Ballard and podcast and can be downloaded through which is available on the journal website Nicolas Pichaud. the Journal homepage. (http://www.journalofappliedecology. Our Special Feature, edited by Joe Bailey, org). The articles in this Virtual Issue are We also celebrated the Journal of Applied looks at Climate Change and Species intended to provide examples of applied Ecology’s golden jubilee at the British Range Shifts. The global climate is ecology in agricultural ecosystems and Ecological Society Journals’ reception rapidly changing, affecting patterns of landscapes from around the globe. We by recognising the contributions of our temperature and precipitation at many hope they will be of interest to a variety reviewers, authors and editorial board geographic scales, so future climate of stakeholders engaging in the challenge members in a short awards ceremony. changes have the potential to greatly to feed the population in a changing We were delighted to be joined by modify species ranges and/or alter world while ensuring the provision of several past Editors as well as many of the ability of plants to adapt to future ecosystem functions and services, and the our current editorial board members. changes. Climate effects geographic conservation of biodiversity both within The awards and their recipients are as patterns of plant distributions, plant traits and adjacent to agricultural ecosystems. follows: The Alpha Diversity and Beta and even the ability of plants to adapt to Diversity Prizes for, respectively, the Farewell to Phil Hulme and environmental gradients, but in climate most authors on one paper and the introducing our newest Editor change research it is important to move most collaborative author, were awarded beyond climate and climate alone as the to Regula Billeter and Bill Sutherland. At the end of 2013 we said farewell to primary driver of species range shifts. A Rob Marrs was awarded the prize for Phil Hulme as he stepped down from species’ niche is much more complicated, the Most Published Author, with an his role as Editor. Phil has been an Editor and it is necessary to acknowledge impressive 35 papers published in the for the Journal for over 10 years and we that traits are likely to vary throughout Journal. Edward Newman attended the have been very grateful for his thoughtful a species range and incorporate an reception to receive the award for the and insightful input. In recent years, evolutionary perspective. Papers in this Journal’s Most Highly Cited Paper for Phil has been integral to the launch special feature address many of the above “A method of estimating total length of and development of the Practitioner’s issues and questions linking evolution, root in a sample” published in 1966 and Perspectives series, a highly successful ecology and global change across both still being cited today. The award for the initiative that was launched in 2011 abiotic and biotic gradients best title went to the paper “Hotspots with the aim of providing a voice for
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Our commentary from Simon Pierce adopt a Bayesian approach to quantifying, article on how tagging aquatic animals ‘Implications for biodiversity conservation comparing, and incorporating measures can disrupt their natural behaviour. of the lack of consensus regarding the of intraspecific variation. Todd’s paper attracted some attention humped‐back model of species richness in the news after the University of British and biomass production’ is also published The issue also contains our latest Review Columbia published a press release about in this issue (Pierce, S. (2013), Implications on Mitochondrial DNA: more than an it (methodsinecologyandevolution. for biodiversity conservation of the lack evolutionary bystander (Ballard, J. W. O., org/news). The Max Plank Institute of consensus regarding the humped-back Pichaud, N. (2013), Mitochondrial DNA: for Ornithology also published a press model of species richness and biomass more than an evolutionary bystander. release about one of our papers by production. Functional Ecology. doi: Functional Ecology. doi: 10.1111/1365- Holger Goerlitz and colleagues, who 10.1111/1365-2435.12147). Senior editor 2435.12177). In this review, Ballard came to the interesting conclusion that Ken Thompson discusses the background and Pichaud delve into the literature friendly information signs left on scientific and implications of this paper in a and show that a more complete equipment in the field reduce the podcast, available from our Soundcloud understanding of mitochondrial functions incidence of vandalism and theft. page: http://soundcloud.com/besjournals/ can enable important ecological and kenthompson-discusses-the. evolutionary insights. Barb Anderson’s series of podcasts are now all available online; Barb (one of Methods’ Associate Editors) interviewed a number of INTECOL 2013 delegates, www.methodsinecologyandevolution. and asked them what the oldest method org is that they still use, the newest method @MethodsEcolEvol that they currently use, what method they would like to invent, and what has been We began 2014 with a freely available the most transformational method in their issue 5.1, so please spread the word to field of research. The podcasts and a list anyone who may be interested in the of the people interviewed can be found content (and remember that as a member on the methods blog (methodsblog. Photo showing steps in the construction of an of the BES, you have free access to wordpress.com). anatomically accurate Te thermometer with an Methods papers all year round!). Since the internal temperature logger. from Bakken and last Bulletin was distributed issues 5.2 and Angilletta’s Perspective article From 6th January 2014 Methods and the 5.3 have also been published, including a other BES journals require that authors Bakken and Angilletta’s new Perspective number of open access articles and freely of accepted articles archive any raw looks at how to avoid errors when available applications. data associated with their study. This quantifying thermal environments is to ensure that future generations of (Bakken, G. S., Angilletta, M. J. (2013), researchers are able to reproduce a study How to avoid errors when quantifying independently and perform their own thermal environments. Functional Ecology. analyses, thus minimizing the time and doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.12149). Until energy required to advance ecological recently, it was assumed that variation science. More information can be found in functional traits within species was in our data archiving Q&A document negligibly small compared to variation located in the Author Guidelines across species, and so had little effect on (methodsinecologyandevolution.org/ plant communities or ecosystem function. AuthorGuidelines). Recent research has demonstrated that this is not always the case. The authors Finally, we’re happy to welcome 5 new measured traits for 10 populations of Associate Editors to the team: Diana H. radicata, then used six statistical Fisher from the University of Queensland, methods (comparisons of coefficients Holger Schielzeth from Bielefeld of variation, analysis of variance, tests University, Steve Kembell from the for homogeneity of variance, qualitative University of Quebec at Montreal, Kate comparisons, mixed effects models, and Jones from University College London Bayesian hierarchical modelling) to look and the Zoological Society of London, at differences in average traits and the There are some new videos for you and Louise Johnson from the University variability around those averages, as well to watch on our YouTube channel of Reading. You can read about their as comparing their measured trait values (youtube.com/MethodsEcolEvol): In areas of research on the Methods website with those reported in the literature. The October, David Warton interviewed (methodsinecologyandevolution.org/ authors found evidence of substantial trait Joost Keuskamp and Mariet Hefting EditorialBoard). variation within and across the measured about their innovative new method, the Samantha Ponton populations. The choice of statistical Tea Bag Index; David also interviewed Assistant Editor method significantly influenced the Distinguished Professor Noel Cressie, a coordinator@ interpretation of the outcome, leading leading figure in spatial statistics; and in the authors to recommend that ecologists November, Todd Jones summarised his methodsinecologyandevolution.org
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com/besjournals/journal-of-ecology- Wilson’s elevation to Executive Editor (the mark-rees. If you submitted a question on Editor who takes primary responsibility Twitter listen to see if yours was chosen. for the development of the journal). www.journalofecology.org Phil also very kindly composed a post Both Ben and Ken have already begun @JEcology for the Journal blog, which went online enthusiastically and are bringing a lot 2014 has got off to a bang at Journal in December 2013 and includes some of impetus and many new ideas to the of Ecology. The first issue of the year brilliant photographs towards the end of table. Overall, we are therefore very included the article ‘Looking forward the piece. excited about developing the journal through the past: identification of over the next few years and meeting the 50 priority research questions in Journal blog challenges of this dynamic publishing palaeoecology’ by Alistair Seddon and (http://jecologyblog.wordpress.com/) environment. colleagues. This is the first synthesis of Journal blog Editor Scott Chamberlain research questions in palaeoecology for In terms of content, 2014 has begun stepped down from his role at the the purpose of future agenda setting strongly, with the inclusion of a Special end of 2013. We would like to take and the paper is free to access for all. Feature on ‘metabolic currencies and this opportunity to thank Scott for the President of the British Ecological Society, constraints in animal ecology’ in Issue time that he has invested in the Journal Bill Sutherland, provided advice to Alistair 1, guest edited by our Associate Editor blog and especially for the interviews Seddon et al. based on his experiences Murray Humphries and former Editor he conducted with lots of members of with the paper ‘Identification of 100 Kevin McCann. This is a collection of the ecological community. All of the fundamental ecological questions’ which seven papers, including one by the interviews are of course still available was published – also in Journal of Ecology Guest Editors themselves, which takes via the link above. – at the start of 2013 (101:1). a broad-brush look at the varied roles of metabolism in ecology across the Also visit the Journal blog to read As always, the first issue of the year ecological hierarchy. This is clearly an Executive Editor David Gibson’s first- (102:1) also features the Journal of Ecology exciting area and we are hopefully that hand experience of publishing in the News, which presents an overview this collection of papers will generate cascade journal Ecology & Evolution whilst of the Journal’s involvement in the much interest and stimulate further work. simultaneously archiving data with Dryad. British Ecological Society’s Centenary The issue also included Graeme Hays’ first At this point it should be noted that celebrations during 2013. In Focus article, in which he discussed the since January 2014 all authors submitting paper by Klaassen et al. tracking mortality papers that are accepted for publication A definite highlight of 2013 for the patterns in migrating birds. Journal’s Editorial team was INTECOL. in the Journal are expected to archive The Journal was really pleased to sponsor their data. Visit the Journal’s Author a symposium at the meeting organised Guidelines http://www.journalofecology. by Associate Editors Hans Cornelissen org/view/0/authorGuideline.html for and Will Cornwell. If you were not able more information. to attend the symposium in person If you have a topic that you would like to the keynote given by Lisa Donovan is write a guest blog post on contact the available on the BES journals’ Sound Editorial Office (admin@journalofecology) Cloud account (https://soundcloud.com/ with your proposal. besjournals). This symposium has formed the basis of a Special Feature published Lauren Sandhu in issue 102:2 of the Journal, guest edited Assistant Editor by Hans and Will, entitled ‘The Tree of [email protected] Life in ecosystems: evolution of plant effects on carbon and nutrient cycling’.
Virtual Issue in honour of J Philip Grime www.journalofanimalecology.org @AnimalEcology The Journal Editors honoured the work of Phil Grime via a Virtual Issue 2014 has ushered in a number of published at the end of 2013. The personnel changes for Journal of Animal Our latest issue – the March issue (83:2) Virtual Issue included papers published Ecology, beginning with Ben Sheldon – maintains the high quality established by Phil between 1965 and 2007 in joining the senior Editor team, replacing in Issue 1. It opens with an In Focus Journal of Ecology and coincided with the Graeme Hays who remains as an In paper in which Michael Heithaus and publication of ‘Intraspecific functional Focus Editor. We are delighted to have Aaron Wirsing provide a more general differentiation suggests local adaptation to Ben on board as he brings a wealth of context to the paper by DeCesare et long-term climate change in a calcareous expertise, along with extensive editorial al., who show how resource selection grassland’ by Ravenscroft, Fridley & Grime experience, having served as an Editor or and predation risk from wolves affects in issue 102:1. Journal Editor Mark Rees Associate Editor on numerous other high spatial variation in caribou survival. The also interviewed Phil and a podcast is profile ecology and evolution journals. In Focus authors discuss the importance available online via https://soundcloud. The other major change has been Ken of considering individual behavioural
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variation in studies of animal resource selection, outlining the relevance to other taxa as well. Other papers the Editors particularly liked were ‘When does diversity matter? Species functional diversity and ecosystem functioning across habitats and seasons in a field experiment’ by Frainer et al. and also ‘Linking social and pathogen transmission networks using microbial genetics in giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)’ by VanderWaal et al. However, the quality of the papers was generally very high across the issue and we are pleased to be receiving submissions of increasing quality.
On the processing side of things, we are now a few months into the new BES data archiving policy, in which it is now mandatory for authors to archive their data. We hope that authors are considering this to be a positive step rather than a burden – we remain of the opinion that data archiving will greatly accelerate the progress of ecological science. Nonetheless, we are certainly open to feedback and questions regarding the policy.
Looking forward, we have three virtual issues in the pipeline, covering food webs, molecular ecology and insects, to add to the successful VI on African ecology edited by Ken Wilson. We also have a Special Feature currently in progress that will focus on current issues in the ecology of animal movement. This is another exciting area and should feature contributions from a range of leading experts in this field.
Peter Livermore Assistant Editor admin@journalofanimalecology
A magnificent caribou from the paper by DeCesare et al in the March issue
62 britishecologicalsociety.org BOOK REVIEWS
The book reviews are organised and edited by BOOK REVIEWS Peter Thomas and Sarah Taylor
In On Gaia Toby Tyrrell probably more than any other unpacks Gaia theory into three institution. Gay makes it clear underlying hypotheses, a job that the success of Silwood made less easy by Lovelock’s was due to two ingredients: the occasional re-expression of his calibre of the people involved – ideas. With real intellectual Richard Southwood, Bob May, clarity he assembles a wide John Lawton (and the list could range of evolutionary, ecological go on for many lines) – and the and geological information to fact that research was centred test the three hypotheses, and on the need to bring together includes an extended reflection field experimentation with on the role chance has played in theoretical modelling. the persistence of life on Earth. The result is not just a test of Reading this book is a little Gaia theory but a stimulating like listening to Desert Island synthesis of current Earth Discs where people who are systems science, and I hope household names, whose work those more sceptically minded you know, give us an insight into what makes them tick. So On Gaia: A Critical about Gaia won’t be put off by The Silwood Circle: A the title. it is here; there are sections on Investigation of the History of Ecology and individual ecologists that chart Relationship between In this book a very persuasive the Making of Scientific their ecological allegiances, Life and Earth case is made that the first Careers in Late Twentieth- influences and backgrounds. Toby Tyrrell (2013) Princeton two hypotheses of Gaia, that Century Britain But it goes beyond that since it the biota is shaped by Earth’s builds a bigger picture of how University Press, Princeton. Hannah Gay (2013) Imperial environment and living things these people influenced each College Press, London. £24.95 (hbk) regulates Earth systems are other and those outside the ISBN 978-0691121581 well supported by evidence. £26.00 (pbk) Circle, and gives a peep into the Tyrrell has persuaded me that ISBN 978-1-78326-292-2 breath-taking world of Silwood Accidentally I had the privilege the evidence is stacked against at its peak, crackling with ideas a few years ago to spend half an the third Gaia hypothesis, that As the subtitle suggests, this mixed with croquet on the lawn. hour in conversation with James life regulates the Earth system in not just a history of Silwood Lovelock. In my opinion, more to ensure its own comfort and Park – the Berkshire outstation The book is well written and than any other individual, he survival. In an age where we of Imperial College – but also of easy to read, drawing the reader can claim to be the founder of are increasingly aware of the the many ecologists that have into the story. The penultimate Earth system science, although profound perturbations we are passed through its gates. The chapter (the personal journey I am sure he would be too wreaking on earth systems it is author suggests that ecology of the author) is a little out modest to do so. Despite this an important conclusion that we was moved from the ‘scientific of place but overall this is a I have long thought that by cannot expect life’s persistence periphery’ of the 1960s to fascinating read that will make naming his main Earth systems under all future scenarios. ‘become more centrally placed’ a train journey or two pass with theory after the goddess Gaia by this group of scientists pleasure. And the central colour he entered into a Faustian pact. This is a really excellent book interacting with each other – pictures of the great and the It got his ideas wide attention, with carefully marshalled ideas, the ‘Silwood Circle’. This may good will raise a smile or two but uncritical adoption by those supporting information and be considered a bit over the as well. less interested in the underlying critical analysis, all set out top by those outside the circle, Peter Thomas science, including some flaky with great clarity for the general especially those outside the new-age types, and uncritical as well as the specialist reader. UK, but it is worth noting that rejection by many in the Even more I read it with real five of the 19 BES presidents science community. pleasure. since the late 1970s were part of John Hopkins the Circle or associated with it,
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like the emphasis on the need and how – and who does it? This for bio/agri-industry to create book builds on some recent work added value. How this might be in this area to set a benchmark achieved is illustrated in some for a revisionist approach to of the many excellent figures, ecosystem stewardship. for example showing the many uses to which anatomical Elegantly produced and fractions of wheat may be put. delightfully readable, the In this the first subdivision is editors have cleverly weaved into kernel and straw and the together 42 chapters arising pathways from these into feed, from a workshop held at Poet’s biofuels, chemical products, Cove, Pender Island, in May etc. are well laid out. This 2011. At that meeting, a large figure is typical of many in group of ecologists assembled the book that manage to put to think through how we should a vast amount of information manage novel ecosystems. And on to a single page. A minor out of this the 50 contributors Novel Ecosystems. (many from Australia, US and Food System criticism here is that the root Intervening in the New system and the soil are not Canada) have produced a Sustainability: insights considered. In most chapters, Ecological World Order fresh, informative and highly from duALIne there are sections on questions Edited by Richard J. Hobbs, challenging contribution. Edited by Catherine Esnouf, for future research and most Eric S. Higgs, and Carol M. Divided into five parts, the Marie Russel & Nicolas Bricas have a concluding section with Hall (2013) Wiley-Blackwell, core of the book deals with (2013) Cambridge University pertinent statements such as Chichester. definitions and examples of press, Cambridge. ‘a revolution of attitudes is £45.00 (hbk) novel ecosystems, what we do necessary: considering food £60.00 (hbk) and do not know about them, losses and wastage as abnormal ISBN 978-1-118-35422-3 when and how to intervene, ISNB 978-1-107-03646-8 is a notion that needs to be This is a remarkable book. Just a variety of perspectives on rediscovered both individually This excellent book of 303 as I picked it up and struggled our appreciation of these, and and collectively.’ pages contains a wealth of to read the editors’ blurb on the some thoughts on the future. information, contributed by When reading this volume back cover (my only complaint Kristin Hulvey and nine co- 125 experts taking part in the I marked numerous pages – you can barely read it!) two authors provide an important two year (2009-2011) duALIne for possible mention. This of my colleagues (Alan Mowle management framework for project organised by INRA/ proved impossible in the space and Gordon Patterson) purred in identifying and managing these, CIRAD in France. It is a foresight available. However, one on praise of their former Edinburgh wisely emphasise the range of project aimed at outlining the biodiversity is very pertinent to University contemporary – issues you may wish to consider, possibility and problems of BES readers. It is stressed that evidently young Hobbs had and suggest some ensuing achieving food sustainability this should be considered at been something of a star tactics to be deployed by a throughout the world by 2050. three levels, ecosystems, species student. Well, as readers of this wider range of organisations The experts were divided into 10 and intra-species. The last, in Bulletin and the wider ecological and people. There is a pleasing groups and each contributed a my view, has been neglected literature will know, he has mixture of case studies, chapter to this volume. by the vested interests of large remained so, and is in inspiring frameworks and perspectives. seed producers rather than the form here. The case study by F. Stuart I was very impressed with the development of seed production Chapin III and colleagues on objectivity of the contributors Think about this – climate of locally adapted genotypes novel socio-ecological arctic and and the way in which they change, species invasions, all of important food sources boreal systems provides a clear took geographical, cultural and manner of land use changes such as cowpea and bambara outline on four approaches to other factors into consideration. and pollution are throwing up groundnut. building resilience. These range from the obvious new ecosystems, which the son differences between Northern I have for years been impressed of one of the editors likened to Frankly, each and every one and Southern areas, to local by the quality of the science ‘freakosystems’. And what is our of the chapters deserves to be difference, for example generated by INRA and CIRAD. response to these, as landscapes highlighted; such is the quality within Europe. As we all know, This volume impresses me and wildlife transform and of this book. It is full of ideas sustainable food production even more with its attention to transmute at speed? Well, some and hopes which challenges us has to be balanced against the many and varied problems of us holler after former glories to embrace opportunities to help greenhouse gas production, and facing the world if food and strive to conserve what nature and humanity in the face in this book that is largely taken sustainability is to be achieved. was there before – and for ever of unprecedented change. This to mean carbon footprints. The A very good read, but not all at – whilst at the other extreme, is an exceptionally important difference between objectives one sitting! we try to adapt to change and book – the Hobbs, Higgs and of a socio-economic agenda get the best out of the ‘new’ Hall testament to the world’s and those of a geopolitical Janet Sprent ecosystems. But how do we new nature. decide what to do, and where nature are highlighted and I Des Thompson
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planners, engineers and others The assembled evidence who influence the urban addressing these questions environment. is grouped into 5 parts. Parts 1 and 2 explores the An early chapter in the book broad relationships between deals with the spatial character biodiversity and poverty, of urban areas, both in terms observing that as biodiversity of i) settlement morphologies losses increase then the rural and how these evolve, and ii) poor are often deprived of the influence of resulting land linked ecosystem services. use patterns on ecological This highlights distributional processes; notably dispersal. It effects and the implications provides an interesting bridge of changing access rights. In between the traditional urban some cases, access to these geographer’s perspectives non-market ecosystem services and those of the ecologist. can create a ‘poverty trap’ which Following a chapter dealing with can be difficult to break away ecological processes in urban Urban Ecosystems: from. Part 3 goes on to explore areas there are chapters on Understanding the Human Biodiversity Conservation the implications of various urban green spaces (including and Poverty Alleviation: conservation interventions, Environment rivers and lakes) and buildings. Exploring the Evidence for showing how hard it is to Robert A. Francis & Michael A. The chapter on urban species a Link gather robust evidence beyond Chadwick (2013) Routledge, includes lengthy discussion of anecdote and generalising Abingdon the particular role of generalist Edited by Dilys Roe, Joanna from individual case examples. and non-native species in urban Elliott, Chris Sandbrook & Matt £29.99 (pbk) Part 4 explores the consequent areas, as well as ‘pest’ species. Walpole (2013) Wiley-Blackwell, distributional challenges ISBN 978-0-415-69803-0 The concluding chapters deal Oxford. £80.00 (hbk) suggesting, for example, that with nature conservation, urban £85.00 (hbk) ISBN 978-0-470-67479-6 payment systems will tend planning and the future for to exclude the poorest and ISBN 978-0-415-69795-8 urban areas. £45.00 (pbk) neediest. Part 5 examines the ISBN 978-0-470-67478-9 relationship between these local I remember being intrigued in The authors of this book perspectives on biodiversity and the late 70s when I was given a have done an excellent job in Part of the received wisdom poverty in the context of larger- copy of Bunny Teagle’s Endless bringing together in clear and of biodiversity conservation is scale drivers including climate Village report on wildlife of the purposeful text and well-chosen the part it plays in alleviating change and dynamics of urban West Midlands. Since graphics the varied strands of global poverty. This linkage is consumption-based economic then the development of urban urban ecology as a discipline. not new, having been restated growth itself. ecology has been surprisingly Like all good text books it is over at least the last 20 years, slow and enthusiasm for also an excellent introduction to but what evidence exists The concluding chapter draws urban conservation in the UK the topic for the general reader, of its validity beyond lazy all these threads together, has waxed and waned. Might and I hope it will encourage the or expedient rhetoric? This answering the three initial one conclude this is because wider teaching of urban ecology. volume of collected papers questions as: yes, yes (but only ecologists and conservationists sets out to test the proposition, for some of the rural poor) and, are more inclined to work on the REFERENCE drawn from a symposium held thirdly, ‘it depends’. A more more exotic and esoteric, or am Teagle W.G. (1978) The at the Zoological Society of nuanced conclusion recognises I being too harsh? The recent Endless Village. The Wildlife of London in April 2010. The key that biodiversity conservation publication of several books Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, messages and related materials and poverty alleviation are not on urban ecology suggests the Walsall and Wolverhampton. can also be accessed via: two sides of the same coin, urban environment is more Nature Conservancy Council, povertyandconservation.info/en/ although the evidence shows interesting than once thought London. event/e0071 . that biodiversity can alleviate and is achieving better focus. poverty for some people in John Hopkins The 2010 symposium posed some places. To reinforce the Although there are several 3 initial questions: recent books published on linkage with poverty alleviation, urban ecology, so far as I am • Is there a geographical overlap biodiversity must be addressed aware this is the first textbook. between biodiversity and at the national level by finance It provides an excellent overview poverty? and development, not just environment, ministries; of the topic and whilst the • Are poor people dependent on the TEEB (The Economics of main focus is on ecology, there biodiversity? is enough information about Ecosystems and Biodiversity) the geographical and social • Is biodiversity conservation publications (www.teebweb.org) context for this textbook to be an effective mechanism for are commended. At all levels, of value not just in teaching poverty alleviation? ‘good governance’ is required, ecologists, but also geographers, addressing distributional effects
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and the social dimensions of Edited by Thomas Sikor (2013) throughout the book, as each conservation measures. These Earthscan from Routledge, part has a 5-6 page introduction conclusions are spelled out Abingdon. £85.00 (hbk) by Bekoff, with useful in 10 ‘pointers for policy and ISBN 978-0-415-82539-9 summaries of each chapter that practice’; not a simplistic ‘win- emphasise the key messages win’ rhetoric, but pragmatic and £24.99 (pbk) presented by the authors and evidence-based attention to ISBN 978-0-415-82540-5 linkages to other parts of the ‘win more and lose less’. At the book. Each chapter stands alone, price, this is not a book many Forests store huge amounts with its own reference section, will be going out to buy, but of carbon and so Reducing and there is really nicely done nevertheless provides a valuable Emissions from Deforestation index at the end of the book. library reference resource. and forest Degradation (REDD There are no tables or diagrams and its new version REDD+) has Alan Mowle to illustrate the arguments in been widely endorsed. But as the text, or cute glossy pictures Brown shows, the current aims of furry animals to pull at the and policies are not designed to heart strings – the written words put people first, and indigenous suffice. The book makes you people often lose out while re-examine some of the basic others gain the economic Ignoring Nature foundations of conservation. benefits. In a similar way, the No More: The Case For example, the concepts wider provision of ecosystem for Compassionate of population viability and services (the multitude of Conservation ecosystem health underpin resources and processes that Edited by Marc Bekoff (2013) most conservation programmes, are supplied by ecosystems) University of Chicago Press, and yet what do they really should be a good thing, Chicago. £28.00 (pbk) mean, and is their sole objective especially where payment for just motivated by meeting the ecosystem services (PES) should ISBN 978-0-226-92535-6 so-called needs of humans? put money into the pockets of A scary thought, as on closer those who manage their land Compassionate conservation inspection this is very often the to maximise services. But, you is a new mind set and social case! As Bekoff states in the know what’s coming next, it movement that brings together preface, ‘it shouldn’t be all about turns out that impoverished or animal welfare ideologies and us’, and this is later echoed in Redeeming REDD: Policies, indigenous people are often not conservation. The editor, Mark his closing words of the book Bekoff, is at the heart of this Incentives and Social the people to gain. So if you are in which he quotes the late interested in social justice, and movement, presenting a paper theologian, Thomas Berry: ‘our Feasibility for Avoided on Compassionate conservation Deforestation in particular how these wrongs relationship with nature should can be put right, then these two as a unifying and integrative be one of awe, not one of use’. Michael I. Brown (2013) books are worth reading. The movement: who lives, who dies This emotively written book will Earthscan from Routledge, first book obviously covers just and why at a Compassionate be of interest to a wide audience, Abingdon. £29.99 (pbk) the REDD process but Brown is Conservation Symposium in from students, academics Baltimore in 2013. This timely ISBN 978-0-415-51786-7 passionate about what he sees and practitioners studying, as the solutions to encourage a edited collection contains 26 researching and working in socially responsible reduction wide ranging essays by 38 the fields of conservation and in deforestation, and indeed contributing authors, which animal welfare, to those with he makes good sense. The highlight the intersection a more general interest in the second book includes a chapter between conservation and subject matter. on REDD and another on PES, protectionism and demonstrate and then looks at the wider that the ‘putting out fires For more information about implications of these and other mentality’ to conservation Compassionate Conservation, issues for people. The solutions has not worked. The book check out the Bornfree website: offered are more general but is arranged into five parts: www.bornfree.org.uk/comp/. (1) ethics, conservation, wider ranging and all have a Sarah Taylor positive feel to them. The world and animal protection; (2) can be a better place while conservation behaviour and being looked after in a more ‘enlightened management’; (3) ecologically sustainable fashion. conservation economics and If this concerns you then either politics; (4) human dimensions book would be a useful read, of social justice, empathy, and which one depending upon your compassion for animals and focus. other nature; and (5) culture, The Justices and Injustices religion, and spirituality. Unlike of Ecosystem Services Peter Thomas many edited collections, Bekoff’s influence can be seen
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Management (ARM). These The heart of the book is a series processes are explicitly of chapters reporting on the intended to separate value research, ‘bookended’ by more judgements from science, to general chapters setting the deal objectively with differences scene and drawing the threads in value judgements, and to together. Part One comprises connect decisions to predefined two extensively referenced objectives in a defensible and review chapters which illustrate transparent way. The authors just how many different note that, conceptually at least, facets of interest are found in these processes seem intuitively Scotland’s uplands, and explore obvious. Regrettably, however, many of the elements making the history of biodiversity up the ecosystem services management is replete with they provide (one surprising examples of ad hoc decisions omission is the whole complex based on conflating science with of issues thrown up by Decision Making in Natural value judgements. Lairds, Land and renewable energy generation, Resource Management: Sustainability: Scottish both wind and hydro). A Structured, Adaptive The book is sensibly arranged, Perspectives on Upland with sections covering Part two summarises three of Approach Management introductory material, the hard the four research projects. The Michael J. Conroy & James science of structured decision Edited by Jayne Glass, Martin first draws on a questionnaire T. Peterson (2013) Wiley- modelling (ranging from Price, Charles Warren & Alister survey of members of Blackwell, Oxford. Bayesian inference to dynamic Scottet (2013) Edinburgh Scottish Land & Estates, the University Press, Edinburgh. £90.00 (hbk) optimisation), and practical landowner’s representative applications of the SDM/ARM £75.00 (hbk) body, supplemented by ISBN 978-0-470-67175-7 process. Some elements (such ISBN: 978-0-74864591-6 interviews to characterise the as what attributes make a good challenges faced by owners and £25.00 (pbk) £24.99 (pbk) facilitator at a stakeholder land managers. The second is ISBN 978-0-470-67174-0 meeting) seem relatively ISBN 978-0-74864590-9 a more detailed study of the obvious – but it is unusual and motivations of 11 landowners Managing biodiversity is a vexed This interesting publication is enterprise. The real world is an telling to have these alongside described in terms of economic, detailed introductions to timely, with Scotland’s land social and environmental unreplicable morass of causal reform legislation under review networks that undermines probability, uncertainty and drivers. The third reports an modelling (together with by a Review Group set up by exploration of the relationships attempts at controlled the Scottish Government, and a manipulations. Thus, inference example R code and a very between landowner and local helpful companion website). separate inquiry by the House community on 6 estates. All and predictions rely heavily of Commons Select Committee on advanced statistics and I was a little disappointed these suffer from an over- not to see more obvious on Scottish Affairs. The book emphasis on the individual simulation modelling, making is the product of a privately ecological management a highly integration with other efforts ‘private owner’ when, as to improve the objectivity of funded programme of doctoral evidence to the Commons Select complex science. At the same research ‘Sustainable Estates for time, biodiversity management biodiversity management Committee is showing, the decisions, such as the focus on the 21st Century’, conducted at land as often as not is owned is about much more than the Centre for Mountain Studies, science: it also depends on rigorous conservation evidence by a trust, a company or other emerging in the UK, and return Perth College. The research vehicle (sometimes registered ethics, politics and economics. started from the ‘general How can practitioners marry on investment championed offshore) designed around by groups in Australia. proposition that improved the tax and fiscal regimes. As these disparate threads together, policy making and decision without rendering biodiversity Nevertheless, as a one-stop- explored briefly in Chapter one, shop primer for decision-makers making are needed to facilitate there’s much more to property management subjective, sustainable management and and without undermining its who need to incorporate science, rights (of access, use and and scientists who hope to governance of upland areas.’ exploitation) than the issues of credibility? This is the subject of The authors are clear that their this book. influence decision making, this ‘ownership’ per se. is likely to be a very important coverage is not comprehensive: Conroy and Peterson note that textbook. I hope it will be widely ‘detailed attention is not given Part three redresses the the reputation of biodiversity read. to ecological processes in balance somewhat by exploring upland regions’, which may the fourth research topic, management suffers when Phil Stephens decisions are made in an come as a disappointment community ownership (some opaque and ad hoc manner, to many Bulletin readers. of which has resulted directly and that this also undermines However, it does provide a useful from Scotland’s land reform the efficient use of resources. opportunity to place these legislation) and also the To remedy this, they focus on processes in their wider social increasing scale of ownership Structured Decision Making and economic context. by environmental NGOs. The (SDM) and Adaptive Resource latter, alas, is pretty thin; the
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chapter relies on a literature others were deliberate, like the review and so adds none of the gorse used for hedging. Many new insights provided by the others escaped from captivity survey findings in the preceding when the island was used chapters. The final section as a staging ground for the presents a ’sustainability tool’: movement of useful species to ‘designed to enable estate and from Asia. owners and managers to understand how their decisions By contrast, the bryophyte flora and actions can… affect a range of some 120 species (related of economic, environmental to those of African and the and social outcomes, and Americas) has 25 endemic adjust their management species with just a couple practices accordingly”, of introductions established closing with a chapter entitled from mosses used as packing Lessons for sustainable upland material. As a further contrast management. These may be the 225 species of lichen are all native with just 9 endemic the most interesting for Bulletin Lichens of St Helena readers. Flowering Plants & Ferns species. So these books provide of St Helena André Aptroot (2012) St lovely material on how ‘floras’ Judged against the stated Phil Lambdon (2012) St Helena Nature Conservation develop naturally (including ambition of this work, how Helena Nature Conservation Group, Pisces Publications, how spores move more easily well does it deliver? The book Group, Pisces Publications, NatureBureau, Newbury. round the world than seeds certainly illustrates the diversity leading to less endemism) and NatureBureau, Newbury. £11.95 (pbk) of perspectives on management how we humans can drastically of Scotland’s uplands, but it £34.95 (pbk) ISBN 978-1-874357-53-7 alter things (flowering plants) falls short by failing to bring ISBN 978-1-874357-52-0 but not everything (lichens and out some important drivers for The chances are you won’t travel bryophytes) in the same place. Scotland’s rural land owners to St Helena, a British Overseas It also opens the window to and managers, especially Territory in the Atlantic some investigate how these different the tax and fiscal regime 1800 km west of Angola, so groups will change in the future. and the availability of land why would you be interested A set of these in the library management subsidies funded in three new ‘floras’ from this would make a superb resource by the taxpayer. Across upland remote island? Well, they make for a self-directed student Scotland, the latter amount a superb case study of the project. And you may, of course, to around £100m per annum, vertical zonation of vegetation be tempted to visit St Helena without which many land from desert coastlines to high and use these as the field guides management businesses could altitude cloud forest, not unlike they are intended. not be economically viable. that of Tenerife but with more These key policy measures can exotic introductions. And therein Each species of flowering plant only be justified, in the end, by lies the real lesson, the effect and bryophyte has one or more the public value they deliver. that we humans have made colour photos, distribution Despite occasional references on the island’s vegetation maps, descriptions (and to the wider public interest, it is since the first Portuguese recognition features for the disappointing that the authors arrived in 1502. Through bryophytes) with useful notes have not taken the opportunity Mosses & Liverworts of a mixture of introducing on the ecology and history. to explore the part played St Helena grazing animals such as goats, The lichens are organised by by these policy measures extensive deforestation and genera with notes on the genus Martin J. Wigginton (2012) St in achieving sustainable the introduction of new plant plus brief descriptions of the Helena Nature Conservation management. species, the native vascular flora species and their identification Group, Pisces Publications, has been devastated. At present where this is possible; as the Alan Mowle NatureBureau, Newbury. £12.95 there are 45 endemic species, introduction to the bryophytes (pbk) another 30-40 native species and lichens notes, there is still ISBN 978-1-874357-51-3 (depending how you count) a lot of work needed. Keys are hidden in a dominant mix of provided for each group at close on 400 naturalised and whatever taxonomic level is adventive species, ranging from appropriate. All three books European gorse and oaks to the are superbly produced on good widespread New Zealand flax, quality paper; equally useful Phormium tenax, a commercial in the field, the library and as source of fibre until the 1960s. winter fire-side reading. Some of these plants were Peter Thomas accidental introductions, while
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more workers and eventually a be found on every continent. brood of new reproductive males Throughout the book there are and females. The paradox that numerous side-bars that explain workers ‘unselfishly’ forego their and expand on key features of own reproductive potential to arthropod natural history. There rear the queen’s offspring is at are three appendices. One lists the heart of the debate about the US state insects which, while the evolution of social behaviour. interesting, is not of much use outside the US. Appendix 2 lists One of the strengths of Archer’s some examples of the World’s knowledge of the Vespinae largest arthropods both living is that he has counted and and extinct while Appendix 3 measured the various castes gives a useful, if sometimes and developmental stages in too brief, summary of the main numerous individual societies, features of each Hexapod order. in many of the species, and he Finally there is a glossary, which sets out here a full numerical Bugs Rule! An introduction might have benefitted from description of the nests and to the World of Insects a few line drawings or page broods and then the way that Vespine Wasps of the Whitney Cranshaw & Richard references. this changes as the colonies Redak (2013) Princeton World: Behaviour, Ecology develop. He was an early This book accomplishes what it University Press, Princeton. and Taxonomy of the modeller, using computers set out to do – and very well. I Vespinae to assist in this aspect of the £37.95 (hbk) would recommend it to anyone Michael E Archer (2012) biology of the Vespinae. At ISBN 978-0-691-12495-7 wishing to learn more about Monograph Series Volume 4, Siri times the sheer weight of arthropods and their world. Scientific Press, Manchester. detail rather obscures the Whenever I see a book with a David Emley development of the arguments, title like this my heart sinks £95.00 (hbk) but there are helpful summaries and I think ‘not another book of ISBN 978-0-9567795-7-1 throughout and anyway, for the whacky insects that I’m unlikely conclusions to be sound, they ever to see’. Happily this is not Michael Archer has devoted have to be informed by this one of those and … I like it! After many, many hours to the detail. There is then a chapter years of teaching courses on study of the Vespinae, that on foraging behaviour and entomology the authors have is the social wasps, including finally one on population and come up with a book designed pioneering work on the details community ecology, covering for non-science students, and of their nesting biology and many relevant aspects such indeed anyone wishing to learn behaviour, the establishment as causes of mortality and about the world of insects and of national recording schemes, interactions with other species. their near relatives. Overall and the undertaking of many the book is more a natural activities designed to help The last part of the book history of the arthropods engender interest in these then consists of a full key, with introductory chapters wasps and their conservation. descriptions of all species on anatomy, physiology and His knowledge of the Vespinae and colour photographs systematics which are succinct is truly extraordinary and forms of typical individuals. The but which are expanded later if the basis for consideration literature section is as full and necessary. Despite its title, two Population Ecology: First of many of the exciting and authoritative as you would chapters are devoted to other Principles (2nd edn) challenging paradoxes that are expect from such an expert arthropods such as spiders and John H. Vandermeer & Deobrah found in the behaviour of social author and a welcome feature millipedes, the reason being E. Goldberg (2013) Princeton insects. This book includes an is that it includes much older that novice students often get University Press, Princeton. absolute wealth of information! descriptive work. Overall this is confused between the orders £65.00 (hbk) a monumental accumulation of so it is better to deal with them There are around 65 species of information on all aspects of the together. I suppose the word ISBN 978-0-691-16030-6 social wasps found world-wide, biology of the Vespinae, which Bug doesn’t help as it has two including what are familiarly £52.00 (pbk) will allow anyone interested in distinct meanings! known as hornets and yellow- the ecology and evolution of ISBN 978-0-691-16031-3 jackets (in America). In essence, social behaviour to base their The bulk of the book is taken the life cycle starts with a conclusions on reliable and up with reviews of each of Population ecology, perhaps pluripotent reproductive female comprehensive data. It is a the insect orders. These are more than any other ecological (the queen), who founds a paper genuine treasure house and the well-written and beautifully discipline, has a firm nest and raises a small brood of only regret is the rather high illustrated with clear diagrams mathematical basis. From the non-reproductive females (the price. and over 800 photographs days of Slobodkin, Gause, and workers) that then cooperate Lotka & Volterra, mathematical Mark Young which feature largely American with the queen to rear many species, though parallels can modelling has proved the
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most effective approach to authors assume a relatively various possible correlates with understanding the behaviour of advanced knowledge of amplitude of fluctuation, such as populations of organisms. One mathematics, but this is a latitude, ecosystem complexity, must expect, therefore, that reasonable prerequisite of any and landscape connectivity. any text providing an account understanding of population High latitudes seem to have of population ecology will be ecology. The book’s market, more extreme fluctuations, grounded in mathematics, and therefore, will be mainly but little information exists this is very true of this book. The among graduate classes in this about such processes in the authors begin their account with specialist subject. In this field, tropics. He also asks whether a simple description of density however, it is arguably the best food supply or predation levels independent population growth, text currently available. are the keys to the peaks followed by the more realistic Peter Moore and troughs in population scenario of density dependence, variations. Reproductive output leading on to thinning laws is clearly an important factor in plant populations. These in determining population accounts assume that the growth rate, and he examines reader is familiar with calculus, the age of sexual maturity, litter and the next chapter on size, and length of breeding Climate and Ecosystems structured models demands season as factors affecting a further knowledge of matrix output. In addition, the levels David Schimel (2013) Princeton algebra. Having covered these of mortality, immigration, and University Press, Princeton. basic theoretical concepts, it is emigration are considered. His £55.00 (hbk) possible to examine how such conclusions are that food quality ISBN 978-0-691-15195-3 models operate in practice and and quantity are important for various examples are given. Next understanding fluctuations, £19.95 (pbk) comes the question of dynamics but cannot explain them in ISBN 978-0-691-15196-0 and the attainment of stability isolation from other factors. He in a population. In order to examines predation, but finds The intimate relationship explain this, the authors turn to that mortality from this cause between climate and physics and set out the concept Population Fluctuations in is too weak and sporadic to ecosystems is the focus of of attractor and repeller using Rodents account for observed population many interests: scientists the well-used mathematical fluctuations. Disease and attempt to define, explain and Charles J. Krebs (2013) metaphor of a ball in a valley parasitism may well be involved, monitor the various factors University of Chicago Press, or on a hill top. Models can especially as these may interact involved, while politicians are Chicago. £35.50 (hbk) be created in which there is with the availability of an becoming increasingly called just one, or several attractors ISBN 978-0-226-01035-9 adequate diet. Self-regulation to account for human impact (valleys, stable states). in such populations could be on this relationship and its Populations exhibit temporal Fluctuations in the populations an important determinant of mitigation. This is the fourth dynamics, moving toward of rodents over the course of fluctuation: behavioural changes book in the Princeton Primer particular stable states, but they time, often in a cyclical pattern, are associated with competitive in Climate series which is also display spatial dynamics, are well known in nature and stresses and consequent devoted to providing up-to- especially plant populations are often of considerable hormonal alterations. His date information on this vital in which individuals lack any biogeographical and economic final conclusion is that any topic for a general as well as capacity for movement, and significance. Here, the author explanation of fluctuations academic audience. Following the authors devote a chapter has gathered together a wealth in rodent populations must an introduction, which sets to the development of spatial of information about such be based on a multi-factorial a temporal framework for pattern in populations, relying fluctuations among voles and approach. Models should climate studies ranging from strongly on trees as examples. lemmings in the Northern even incorporate short- and daily events to geological They develop this theme further Hemisphere, with some long-term changes in weather timescales, the second chapter into metapopulations theory. additional material pertaining to conditions and climate. As focuses on relationships Later chapters in the book deal rats and mice. Some populations might be expected from this between the physical/ with predator/prey interactions are relatively stable, and others author, the text is extremely chemical characteristics of the (with an innovative section on cyclic; populations may exhibit readable. It follows a sequential environment and biological disease ecology), competition, different behaviours in various development that gives it the components; water, heat and finally mutualism, parts of a species range; the air of a detective story, and nutrients and organisms inter- including the concept of time scale of fluctuations the conclusions reached are act dynamically at all spatial facilitation. The three features varies, but can be very short, well argued and balanced. It and temporal scales. Chapter that stand out in this book are even monthly. Understanding should prove of great interest three examines the relationship first, its logical sequence and such processes demands the to behavioural ecologists, between climate and development, second, its clarity identification of the factors that population ecologists, and to ecosystems, notably the control of explanation, and third, its determine population growth. biogeographers. by climate over ecosystems, Using lemmings and voles and outlines concepts such as brief but relevant incorporation Peter Moore of practical applications. The as examples, Krebs considers ecological niche, species ranges,
70 britishecologicalsociety.org BOOK REVIEWS
equilibrium, nonequilibrium, controversies about species and/ adaptations to climate, nutrient or community responses which limitations, and photosynthesis reflect the complexity of species, with examples from terrestrial community, trophic structures and marine environments/ and climate relationships. Can ecosystems. This suggests a such intricate relationships be one-way relationship until the modelled satisfactorily and feedbacks from ecosystems to are generalisations possible or climate are considered, as in worthwhile? Individuals, species Chapter four which focuses on and communities contribute the carbon cycle, an especially to biodiversity which has a significant factor in climate particular distribution in space regulation and change. The and time; whilst obviously amount of carbon dioxide in dynamic the worst cases are the atmosphere has varied unviable populations and significantly through geological Ecology of Climate Change extinction. Such issues are time though increases in the discussed in relation to tropical Eric Post (2013) Princeton Common Ground on last 250 years due to fossil- deforestation and amphibian University Press, Princeton. Hostile Turf: Stories fuel use are now recognised as loss. Chapter eight focuses £41.95 (hbk) from an Environmental the cause of unprecedented on ecosystem function and Mediator climate/environmental change. ISBN 978-0-691-14847-2 dynamics with reference to Carbon stocks and fluxes within climate, biogeochemistry with Lucy Moore (2013) Island Press, the biosphere and atmosphere On-going questions surrounding emphasis on carbon cycling, Washington, DC. £12.99 (pbk) climate change have resulted in are highly complex; unicellular the role of deforestation plus ISBN 978-1-61091-411-6 to multicellular organisms of numerous books concerned with insect and herbivore reactions to land and sea are involved via its interactions with society and changed circumstances. Finally, The United States often seems photosynthesis, decomposition, the biosphere. Such issues are the significance of trends and to want to surround perfectly natural and cultural (agriculture) becoming increasingly pressing, variability in the physics and sensible actions with rules that food webs, deforestation, and especially against a backdrop of chemistry of the environment, make life difficult. In part this land use such as forestry and decisions about future energy including the increased seems to be due to the laudable urbanisation as are fossil-fuel provision. The opening chapter incidence of extreme climatic aim of getting all interested and other greenhouse gas presents information on recent events and the difficulties of parties involved in decision- and aerosol emissions. Such temperature, precipitation, predicting their occurrence and making but when these parties interactions affect local, regional snow and ice cover changes, impact on biota are highlighted involve Federal Government, and global environments and and introduces evidence for further investigation. State Government, agencies, climate as computer models, on ecological change from Similarly, increased attention to native people, business and even if relatively simplistic, phenological and ecological phenology is recommended to the public at large, the chance demonstrate. The latter are monitoring studies. It is followed help identify the patterns and of agreement seems remote. discussed in chapter five in by a discourse on Pleistocene timings of organism response This book is a series of stories relation to model reliability, climatic/ecological change to external stimuli. Perhaps told by a professional mediator sensitivity and margins of as evidenced by megafaunal one of the most important about her experience in error, predictors of change, assemblages and how such issues raised is the question attempting to broker agreement and terrestrial and marine a narrative is significant of vigilance; failure to detect in disputes between such ecosystem response. Where will to contemporary change. change by whatever means parties over environmental all the carbon dioxide go? What Phenology, i.e. periodic plant (field data, satellite imagery, problems – SuperFund sites with will its impact be? How can and animal life cycle events etc.) does not necessarily toxic metals, water rights, etc. the carbon and related cycles which are influenced by seasonal mean that organisms or Whilst I have no doubt over the be managed? Such issues are climatic characteristics, is then communities are unresponsive; seriousness of these questions examined in the final chapter. detailed including its influence this reflects inherent resistance I remain unsure what lesson I Overall, this book provides a on population dynamics with and thresholds which may be am meant to learn from these as sound introduction to a much examples from amphibian and narrow or broad and which are each one is a different dispute. If publicised topic; it dwells on the bird populations. This links with species-specific. This book is the conclusions are that building science rather than the politics a more detailed examination for the specialist rather than trust is difficult and that science and provides a glossary and of population dynamics, the the generalist; its strength alone will not provide a solution reasonable reference list. difficult determination of lies in its appraisals of current to problems with emotional and ‘stability’ and issues such as Antoinette Mannion ecological-climate knowledge cultural elements, then I think thresholds and extinction. and its suggestions re research we all know that already. I am directions. Further heavyweight chapters even more puzzled about who examine the niche concept and Antionette Mannion the audience is for this book and associated phenotypes and conclude that it is not ecologists. responses to climate change, David Walton community dynamics and
71 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:1 / MARCH 2014
in motion by a natural (or William Sound, Alaska, and shed referenced and would offer a unnatural) disturbance, or the some 11 million gallons of crude valuable framework for drawing removal of one species from the oil into the waters of a once up ‘action-plans’ against future system. But such movement pristine wilderness. More than spills. As a history of a single does not always come in the 200,000 seabirds are thought catastrophic event, however, form of a sudden jump, but to have died and commercial it offers testimony to the can be a smooth shift, and the fishing in the area was closed for enormous amount of work author explains this in terms many months. The Exxon Valdez that was done to rescue one of catastrophe theory. His became the most intensively environment from a man-made incorporation of catastrophe studied oil spill in history, disaster. theory and his emphasis on it generating several thousand Ian Lancaster is perhaps the most innovative research citations, and this feature of the book. The other multi-author review considers ALSO RECEIVED feature that makes the book the studies designed to unravel more accessible than most the consequences of the spill Extremes: Life, Death in this field is the frequent and the lessons learned from and the Limits of the use of examples taken from them, with particular regard to Human Body the natural world. The author ecological recovery. Multiple Stable States is at pains to emphasise the Kevin Fong (2013) Hodder & in Natural Ecosystems potential practical applications Following a general introduction Stoughton, London. £8.99 (pbk) Peter Petraitis (2013) Oxford of theoretical modelling to the nature of oil in the ISBN 978-1-444-73777-6 University Press, Oxford. £45.00 studies to field situations. sea and the importance of a (hbk) This approach leads to the prompt response to pollution Not so much an ecology book, possibility of interpreting incidents, there is a review it deals with how the human ISBN 978-0-19-956934-2 observed ecosystems processes of the clean-up programme body copes with extremes of (the unfortunately named The simplistic, Clementsian in a new way and applying environment, including space SCAT – Shoreline Cleanup concept of ecosystems the multiple stable state travel, in a popular science, Assessment Technique) carried passing through a series of concept to the management easy to read fashion. out in the weeks and months developmental stages and and even restoration of fragile following the spill. Urgency eventually achieving a stable ecosystems. Handbook of Meta- in the collection of samples, climax state, in equilibrium with analysis in Ecology and Peter Moore and thoroughness in their the prevailing climate, has long Evolution analysis and interpretation, been abandoned, thanks mainly are the key lessons learned. Edited by Julia Koricheva, to the mathematical modelling This is seen as particularly Jessica Gurevitch & Kerrie studies of Lewontin, Noy-Meir, important when assembling Mengersen (2013) Princeton and May in the 60s and 70s. the data needed to reassure University Press, Princeton. The idea that other stable states local residents and stakeholders £44.95 (pbk). could exist had already been that an incident is under ISBN 978-0-691-13729-2 floated by Tansley with his control. Chapters also cover concept of ‘plagioclimax’, and cultural resource protection Does what it says on the cover; Petraitis here introduces his (e.g. vulnerable archaeological at 500 pages this should answer review by giving examples of sites), biodegradation any queries, at whatever level, human activity deflecting the and bioremediation, use on meta-analysis. development of ecosystems of biomarkers to indicate into new states of equilibrium responses to environmental North Pacific Temperate that are similar to those used events, and oiling effects on Rainforests: Ecology and by Tansley. He summarizes characteristic and charismatic Conservation the models that describe Oil in the Environment: species. Much of this, however, multiple basins of attraction, Edited by Gordon H. Orians is highly theoretical and the situations within which an Legacies and Lessons of & John W. Schoen (2013) conclusions sometimes ecosystem can attain a degree the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill University of Washington essentially negative. of stability. He illustrates the Edited by John A. Wiens (2013) Press, Seattle. $60.00 (hbk) concept by reference to field Cambridge University Press, This book is not a field or ISBN 978-0-295-99261-7 examples using the live weight Cambridge. £65.00 (hbk) laboratory manual and will be of of sheep, which exhibits a This provides an overview of ISBN 978-1-107-02717-6 limited use to those dealing with bimodal relationship with stock marine oil pollution incidents key issues important for the £29.99 (pbk) density, and the density of as they occur. It also tends to management and conservation mussels on seashore, which ISBN 978-1-107-61469-7 be repetitive on basic and rather of the rainforest in northern is again bimodal in relation obvious points and offers few British Columbia and SE Alaska. to degree of wave exposure. It was shortly after midnight on protocols based upon either Movement from one stable 24 March 1989 that the tanker experience or good practice. It state to another is often set Exxon Valdez grounded in Prince is, however, comprehensively
72 britishecologicalsociety.org BOOK REVIEWS
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THE SOCIETY’S MEETINGS OCT 23 JUN 14-15 Education, Training and Careers Committee Annual Field Trip The Linnean Society. The Society’s Meetings (meetings of the (York, Brewery meeting rooms) Dorset, UK. Details from: http://www. Special Interest Groups are listed on p15) linnean.org/Meetings-and-Events/Events/ 2014 06 NOV Annual+Field+Trip+2014. Grants Committee (Charles Darwin House) JUN 25 – 27 JUN 18-20 BES and DICE Joint Symposium: Considering NOV 11 Agronomic Decision Making in an the Future of Conservation, University of Finance Board (Charles Darwin House) Uncertain Climate. Leeds, UK. Website: Kent, UK http://www.aab.org.uk/ DEC 09 DEC 9-12 Council (Lille, France) JUL 1-4 Joint Annual Meeting British Ecological Society of Experimental Biology Annual Society and Société Française d’Ecologie. OTHER MEETINGS 2014 Meeting. Manchester UK. Details from: Grand Palais, Lille, France. Details: APR 4-6 http://www.sebiology.org/meetings/ www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org/AM2014 Butterfly Conservation’s 7th International Manchester/Manchester.html Symposium – The ecology and conservation THE SOCIETY’S COMMITTEE of butterflies and moths. Southampton, JUL 1-4 MEETINGS 2014 UK. Website: http://butterfly-conservation. International Statistical Ecology 2014 org/4218/symposium-2014.html Conferences. Montpellier, France. Website details: http://isec2014.sciencesconf.org/ APR 01 MAY 7-8 Finance & Management Board Sustainable Agriculture – Annals of JUL 13-16 (Charles Darwin House) Applied Biology Centenary Conference. 2nd North America Congress for Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts. Conservation Biology, Missoula Montana APR 23 Website: http://www.aab.org.uk/contentok. USA www.xcdsystem.com/scbna/website/ Grants Committee (Charles Darwin House) php?id=168&basket=wwsshowconfdets JUL 13-17 APR 28 MAY 14-16 BIOGEOMON 2014. 8th International Publications Committee Networks of Power and Influence: ecology Symposium on Ecosystem Behaviour. (Charles Darwin House) and evolution of symbioses between Bayreuth, Germany. Website: http://www. bayceer.uni-bayreuth.de/biogeomon2014/. MAY 15 plants and mycorrhizal fungi – 33rd New Phytologist Symposium. Zurich, Switzerland. PPC (Charles Darwin House) JUL 13-18 Website: http://www.newphytologist.org/ The 27th Congress for the International symposiums/view/4 MAY 21 Union for the Study of Social Insects. Meetings Committee (Charles Darwin House) MAY 18-23 Cairns, Australia. Website: http://www. JUN 03 Joint Aquatic Sciences meeting, Portland iussi2014.com/. Oregon USA www.freshwater-science.org/ Council (Charles Darwin House) JUL 14-17 Annual-Meeting/2014-Portland---JASM.aspx JUN 26 2nd Annual International Conference on ETCC (Birmingham, Priory meeting rooms) MAY 23RD Ecology, Ecosystems and Climate Change, Anniversary Meeting 2014 – The Linnean Athens, Greece. Further details: http://www. SEP 09 Society. London, UK. Details from: http:// atiner.gr/ecology.htm Finance and Management Board www.linnean.org/Meetings-and-Events/ JUL 14-18 (Charles Darwin House) Events/Anniversary+Meeting+2014 Network Tools in Biosciences. Barcelona, SEP TBC JUN 8-13 Spain. Details from: http://www. Membership Committee Biology of Host-Parasite Interactions. transmittingscience.org/courses/syst-bio/ (Charles Darwin House) Newport, USA. Website: http://www.grc.org/ networks/.
OCT 07 JUN 14-17 JUL 15-18 Meetings Committee (Charles Darwin House) Evolutionary Biology of Caenorhabditis and Systems biology and ecology of CAM plants. other Nematodes. Cambridge, UK. Details: Lake Tahoe, CA, USA. Details: http://www. OCT TBC https://registration.hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk/ newphytologist.org/symposiums/view/5 Publications Committee display_info.asp?id=390 (Charles Darwin House) AUG 3-8 10th European Congress of Entomology. OCT 16 York, UK. Details from: http://www.royensoc. Public and Policy Committee co.uk/meetings/20140803_ece2014.htm. (Charles Darwin House)
73 BES BULLETIN VOL 45:1 / MARCH 2014
AUG 3-8 OCT 6-8 9th IsoEcol Conference. The University of Biogeochemical Interfaces in Soil – Western Australia, Perth. Details http://www. Towards a Comprehensive and Mechanistic isoecol2014.org/. Understanding Of Soil Functions. Leipzig, Germany. Details from: http://www. AUG 3-8 spp1315.uni-jena.de/Meetings+_+Events/ 9th European Conference on Ecological International+Symposium+2014.html. Restoration, Oulu, Finland. Further details: http://chapter.ser.org/europe/upcoming- OCT 12-15 events/conferences-workshops/. Experimental Approaches to Evolution and Ecology using Yeast & Other Model Systems. AUG 10-15 Heidelberg, Germany. Details from: http:// From Oceans to Mountains: It’s all Ecology – www.embl.de/training/events/2014/EAE14-01/ 2014 Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of America. Sacramento, USA. Website: http:// TRAINING WORKSHOPS esa.org/am/. FEB 4-7 AUG 19-22 Modelling Dynamics In Biology: From SCB ASIA 2014 — The 3rd Asia Regional History To Practical Examples. Barcelona, Conference of the Society for Conservation Spain. Further details: http://www. Biology – Asia Section. Melaka, Malaysia. transmittingscience.org/courses/syst-bio/ Details from: http://scbasia2014.org/. intro-system-bio/
AUG 25-30 MAY 26-30 Combining experimental and theoretical Introduction to Individual based models approaches to understand biogeochemical in Ecology using NetLogo. Barcelona, interfaces in soil at the Goldschmidt Spain. Further details: http://www. Conference. Florence, Italy. Details from: transmittingscience.org/courses/eco/ http://goldschmidt.info/2013/ system-bio-ecology/
SEP 8 The Chartered Institute for Ecology and Ecofil 2014. Ecology of Fish in Lakes Environmental Management runs a wide and Reservoirs. Ceske Budejovice, Czech variety of workshops for professional Republic. Details from: http://www. development. For further information and ecofil2014.wz.cz/ availability see www.cieem.net or e-mail [email protected]. SEP 14-18 Wetlands2014 – Wetlands Biodiversity The Centre for Research into Ecological and and Services: Tools for Socio-Ecological Environmental Modelling runs a variety of Development. Huesca, Spain. Details from: workshops on a regular basis. For further http://www.wetlands2014.eu/ information and availability see www.creem. st-and.ac.uk/conferences.php SEP 22ND -23RD 3rd Annual International Conference on University of Oxford Field Techniques for Geological and Earth Sciences (GEOS 2014). Surveying Mammals & Reptiles. Online Singapore. Website: http://www.geoearth.org/ course that can be taken for academic credit (10 CATS points at QCF Level 7) or not for SEP 25-26 credits. Details from http://www.conted.ox.ac. Are There Limits to Evolution? Cambridge, uk/ftsmr02. UK. Website: http://www.nature.com/ natureevents/science/events/20748-Are_ There_Limits_To_Evolution
SEP 28-OCT 3 Ecological Society of Australia Annual Conference, Alice Springs NT Australia www.ecolsoc.org.au/conferences/esa-2014- annual-conference
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OFFICERS: ([email protected]). ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE: President: William Sutherland The Bulletin: The British Ecological Society, Charles Darwin House, ([email protected]) Edited by Alan Crowden 12 Roger Street, London WC1N 2JU. Tel: 0207 685 2500. Fax: 0207 685 2501. Vice-Presidents: Richard Bardgett Email: [email protected] ([email protected]) Book Reviews Editor: Peter Thomas General email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org Mick Crawley @BritishEcolSoc, www.Facebook.com/BritishEcolSoc ([email protected]) ECOLOGICAL REVIEWS: Honorary Treasurer: Drew Purves Series Editor: Phil H. Warren BES STAFF: ([email protected]) ([email protected]) Executive Director: Hazel Norman Honorary Secretary: Dave Hodgson Editorial Office: Kate Harrison Email: [email protected] ([email protected]) ([email protected]) Membership Officer: Bill Bewes HONORARY CHAIRPERSONS: SECRETARIES OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS: Email: [email protected] Agricultural Ecology: Barbara Smith Public and Policy: Juliet Vickery Communications Manager: Richard English ([email protected]) ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] Computational Ecology: Matthew Smith Meetings: Andrew Beckerman Education Manager: Karen Devine ([email protected]) ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] Conservation Ecology: Tim Graham Publications: Alan Gray, Charles Darwin House, Policy Manager Acting Head of Policy: ([email protected]) 12 Roger Street, London WC1N 2JU ([email protected]) Cheryl Pilbeam Email: [email protected] Ecological Genetics: Paul Ashton Education, Training and Careers: Lesley Batty ([email protected]) ([email protected]) Events Manager: Amelia Simpson Email: [email protected] Forest Ecology: Dan Bebber EDITORS: ([email protected]) Grants and Events Officer: Amy Everard Email: [email protected] Journal of Ecology: Edited by David Gibson Invasive Species: Helen Bayliss (Executive Editor), Richard Bardgett, Mark Rees and ([email protected]) Head of Publications: Catherine Hill Amy Austin, with Andrea Baier and Lauren Sandhu. (currently on maternity leave) Macroecology: Nick Isaac Email: [email protected] Editorial office: Journal of Ecology, British Ecological ([email protected]) Society, Charles Darwin House, 12 Roger Street, Deputy Head of Publications: Andrea Baier London WC1N 2JU. Parasite and Pathogen Ecology and Evolution: Email: [email protected] Jo Lello Email: [email protected] ([email protected]) Deputy Head of Publications: Liz Baker Email: [email protected] Journal of Animal Ecology: Edited by Ken Wilson Peatland Research: Ian Rotherham (Executive Editor), Tim Coulson, Ben Sheldon and ([email protected]) Assistant Editor, Journal of Animal Ecology: Mike Boots Peter Livermore Plant Environmental Physiology: Matt Davey Editorial office: Journal of Animal Ecology, Email: [email protected] ([email protected]). British Ecological Society, Charles Darwin House, Assistant Editor, Journal of Applied Ecology: 12 Roger Street, London WC1N 2JU. Plants, Soils, Ecosystems: Franciska de Vries Erika Newton ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] Email: admin@journalofanimalecology Tropical Ecology: Lindsay Banin and Daisy Dent. Assistant Editor, Functional Ecology: Jennifer Meyer Journal of Applied Ecology: Edited by E. J. Milner- ([email protected]) Email: [email protected] Gulland (Executive Editor), Marc Cadotte, Mark Whittingham, Jos Barlow and Nathalie Pettorelli. Citizen Science: Helen Roy Assistant Editor, Methods in Ecology and Editorial office: Journal of Applied Ecology, Evolution: Samantha Ponton British Ecological Society, Charles Darwin House, Aquatic Ecology: Mel Fletcher and Guy Woodward Email: [email protected] 12 Roger Street, London WC1N 2JU. Email: [email protected] and [email protected] Assistant Editor, Journal of Ecology: Lauren Sandhu Email: admin@journalofappliedecology Email: [email protected]
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Biological Flora: Anthony Davy, University of East Anglia, Norwich
75 BES BULLETIN VOLLooking 45:1 / MARCH BACK2014
Another photograph from the Tansley Archive: this one comes from the Fifth International Phytogeographical Excursion in Poland, 1928. The accompanying note records this as ‘dinner in the forest near the top of Lysica, during an excursion in the St Cross Mountains’. It is not recorded whether the formal attire is because the chaps dressed for dinner, or whether it reflects what they’ve been wearing while out in the field. It is not recorded whether the absence of women is because the ladies have withdrawn while the gentlemen circulate the port, or if there were simply no females present in the first place. Photograph credited to Edmund Massalski, Kielce, Poland