TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, JANUARY 2009 - British Ecological [PDF]

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, JANUARY 2009, (No. 16) Happy New Year! Summary: 1) ***3rd BES-TEG early career researcher meeting*** – 3RD CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – 2) TEG post-graduate representative – DEADLINE 16 January 3) Research Assistant (Leeds) – Ecosystem services in the Peruvian Amazon 4) PhD studentship (Leeds) – Tropical forest history Ghana 5) Earthwatch expeditions open day – 24 January 6) Research highlights from BES journals and TEG members William -------------------RD

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BES-TEG EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER MEETING*** RD - 3 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS -

CONFIRMED: **Lloyd Peck – NERC Biodiversity theme leader will be speaking** ***50% discount for students – limited availability, contact organizers!*** Plenary Speakers: Robin Chazdon (University of Connecticut) Charles Sheppard (University of Warwick) Manchester Metropolitan University 30th & 31st March 2009 Registration: £60 before 31st Jan 2009; £70 after this date (En suite B & B accommodation available for £39.50) Abstract closing date 31st January 2009 CONTACT: Francis Brearley ([email protected]) or Jenny Rowntree ([email protected]) rd

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2) TEG POST-GRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE - VACANCY This position provides the opportunity for a graduate student to actively engage with the group, gain experience of administering funds, organise activities and develop the role as they see fit! Taking on this role will help to build your CV and expand your academic network. ENTHUSIASUM FOR TROPICAL RESEARCH IS ESSENTIAL but no prior experience necessary! If you are interested contact: William Gosling ([email protected]).

3) RESEARCH ASSISTANT, SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS Project: Capacity building for carbon- and biodiversity-based payments for ecosystem services in the Peruvian Amazon You will work on a new project funded under the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) research programme that is jointly funded by NERC, ESRC and DfID. By bringing together researchers, NGOs and Peruvian government institutions working in the field, the project aims to identify the research needs for the development of projects that can obtain payments for ecosystem services in the Peruvian Amazon and in other tropical forest regions. Closing date: 16 January 2009 SEE ATTACHED FILE FOR FURTHER DETAILS: 01_09_TEG e-bulletin 16-LeedsRAadvert.pdf Information about the School of Geography can be found at http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/. Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr Tim Baker email [email protected], tel +44 (0)113 343 8352 4) FUNDED PHD STUDENTSHIP, SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS Project: Four thousand years of tropical forest history at Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana This project will use pollen analysis to construct the most detailed record yet of vegetation change in West Africa during the last four thousand years, which will help to answer fundamental questions about current ecological dynamics of tropical rain forests. We are interested in the extent to which tropical forest has been affected by disturbances of climatic or human origin during this interval because this disturbance history could be important in determining current trends of forest development. For example, increasing forest biomass is a trend common to tropical forests in Africa and South America; this could be the result of fertilisation by anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, or past large scale forest disturbances from which the forests are still recovering. Understanding the cause of this trend is essential to making predictions about how these forests and their carbon storage capacity will change under different scenarios of future climate change. SEE ATTACHED FILE FOR FURTHER DETAILS: 01_09_TEG e-bulletin 16-LeedsPhDadvert.pdf For further information please contact [email protected] and visit www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/postgraduate/ for details of the application procedure and funding opportunities. 5) EARTHWATCH EXPEDITIONS OPEN DAY The environmental charity Earthwatch are hosting the first of their Expedition Open Days for 2009 in their Oxford Office, Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DE, from 10.00am -1.30pm on th Saturday 24 January. This is your opportunity to meet the Earthwatch team - get the lowdown on what they do, why they need you and what to expect from the Earthwatch volunteering experience on environmental research projects in the field.

Free to all, but by ticket only – light refreshments and a sandwich lunch will be provided on the day. For tickets and more information contact their Events Department on (01865) 318856; [email protected] Website: http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/open-days-09 6) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) Science Colwell RK, Brehm G, Cardelús C, Gilman AC, Longino JT (2008) Global warming, elevational range shifts, and lowland biotic attrition in the wet tropics. Science 322: 258–261 If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let me know… -------------------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151 PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/ BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

50% discount for students – limited availability, contact organizers NOW!

***3rd BES-TEG Early Career Researcher Meeting*** – FINAL CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – DEADLINE 31ST JANUARY Manchester Metropolitan University 30th & 31st March 2009 Plenary Speakers: Robin Chazdon (University of Connecticut) Charles Sheppard (University of Warwick) Plus: Lloyd Peck – NERC Biodiversity theme leader will be speaking Registration: £60 before 31st Jan 2009; £70 after this date (En suite B & B accommodation available for £39.50) Abstract closing date 31st January 2009 CONTACT: Francis Brearley ([email protected]) or Jenny Rowntree ([email protected]) Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/editevent.php?info&eid=40770566187#/event.php?eid=40770566187 Registration form attached -------------------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151 PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/ BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, FEBRUARY 2009, (No. 18) Summary: 1) Early Career Researcher Meeting – still time to sign up! 2) Tropical plant identification course 2009 – Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew TEG **BES student support available** 2) Two funded PhD studentship in tropical ecology – University of Leeds 3) RAINFOR – Research website 4) Brown bears in Nepal – Research highlight 5) Research highlights from BES journals and TEG members William -------------------RD

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EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER MEETING – STILL TIME TO SIGN UP

The official deadline for abstracts for the BES-TEG meeting has now passed (31st Jan) but we still have some spaces for speakers. If you are still planning on coming but have not submitted an abstract yet then please do so as soon as possible, Alternatively, if you would like to change your presentation from a poster to a talk then please let me know. Francis Brearley ([email protected]) 2) TROPICAL PLANT IDENTIFICATION COURSE 2009 – ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is organizing a two-week Tropical Plant Identification Course to run from 27 April to 8 May 2009. The course will concentrate on approximately 60 of the most commonly encountered tropical plant families and comprises of short lectures complemented by extensive hands-on practical sessions using herbarium specimens to demonstrate the key characters for each family. Taught by botanists from Kew's Herbarium – all with an in-depth knowledge of the plants and habitats of the tropics – the course has been designed for conservation and environment professionals, and is also suitable for graduate students, ethnobotanists, ecologists and zoologists. The course fee for non-Kew staff is £700 (£350 for students/NGOs), but this does not include accommodation, food etc. In certain circumstances the fee can be reduced or waived - please contact the organizers. Applications for a place on the course should be made using the form on the attached flier. Further information and copies of this poster can be obtained from the course coordinators: Tim Utteridge ([email protected]) or Gemma Bramley ([email protected]) BES recognised event APPLY FOR Student conference and meeting support grant http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/articles/grants/attendmeetings/#student_support

2) TWO FUNDED PHD STUDNETSHIPS IN TROPICAL ECOLOGY – UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS a) The other half of the equation: global variation in tree mortality University of Leeds, United Kingdom Supervisor: Oliver Phillips; Co-supervisors: Simon Lewis, Emanuel Gloor; Microsoft Research supervisor: Drew Purves Future changes in the global forest carbon cycle could have major impacts on future climate. Whereas we now have a relatively advanced ability to model the input of carbon into forests, via tree growth, almost nothing is known about global variation in and/or the climate dependency of the outputs, which are dominated by tree mortality. By collating a unique, global forest inventory data set, and analysing this data by using computational statistics, this project will, for the first time, uncover the global-scale climate dependency of tree mortality, and produce a model of this dependency for use in predictive models of the forest carbon cycle. Outcomes The project will produce important outcomes of four different kinds. First, in developing and parameterizing forest models, the project will provide the information necessary to test contrasting hypotheses about the patterns, and causes, of rates of tree mortality at global scales. Such is the state of knowledge at present that tests of these hypotheses constitute important and novel scientific findings in their own right, lending themselves to being written up as exciting and high-profile scientific publications. Second, the project will produce one or more explicit models of tree mortality for use in analyses of the global carbon cycle and carbon budget, and in dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs). Third, the project will produce data analysis and parameter estimation algorithms tailored to studying global variation in rates that are also subject to various other forms of local control (in this case, species identity, tree size, and perhaps others). These algorithms will be made available in a user-friendly form, and may therefore be taken up for use in future analyses of the global carbon cycle, or various other studies not anticipated here. Fourth, the project will provide the student with state-of-the-art training in data analysis and biogeochemistry, and experience of forest ecology, including in the field in the tropics. Scientists with this kind of interdisciplinary skill set are in short supply and will be increasingly in demand in the coming years and decades. This is a prestigious fully-funded position, supported by the Microsoft Research PhD Scholarship Programme. It will draw largely on databases and expertise in tropical forest ecology developed by our research group, and will involve collaboration with leading researchers worldwide (see e.g., http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/projects/rainfor/) For application details see http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/postgraduate/applications.html b) Relationships among biodiversity, carbon storage, and productivity across the world’s tropical forests. This fully funded project is a NERC CASE award and will be conducted in collaboration with staff at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC). Funding covers UK fees and an enhanced annual stipend of £14,290. Application details are available on the School’s website http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply.html nd Closing date for applications: 2 March 2009 Tropical forests contain more species than any other biome, and are extraordinarily carbon-rich and productive so affecting the rate of human-induced climate change. It is likely that this role will become formally recognised within climate change policy, with implications for the future of forests themselves. Thus from both scientific and policy viewpoints, understanding how diversity

and function vary within tropical forests, and their relationship, is important and timely. This project will tackle some of the most important outstanding scientific questions: (1) if the most carbon-dense and productive forests are also the most diverse, (2) whether high biodiversity boosts carbon storage and productivity, by maximising ecosystem resource-use efficiencies, or whether any relationship between the two is simply coincidental, (3) if the carbon sink in tropical forests is partially determined by diversity, and (4) whether increases in carbon stocks through time measured since 1980 coincide spatially with model predictions. We are developing a unique database making it possible to tackle these questions across the world’s tropical forests (>300 plots in Amazonia, Africa, Asia, and Australia). You will use data on biomass, growth, and wood density to estimate site productivity and tree diversity, and apply these estimates to determine how biomass and productivity vary with diversity (c.f. Phillips et al. 1994; Keeling and Phillips 2007). Relationships between diversity and productivity are complicated by two-way causality and by co-varying environmental variables; a range of statistical techniques will need to be applied to quantify and control for such factors. There may be opportunities for fieldwork to complement the large-scale analysis. The successful candidate will already have experienced of advanced statistical analysis (e.g., path analysis, multi-level modelling) -or be able and willing to pick up these skills quickly-, in ecological theory and techniques, and will be motivated to pursue a career in quantitative ecology or conservation policy. You will work within the Ecology and Global Change group, joining a dynamic team researching on every tropical continent (see e.g. RAINFOR and AfriTRON websites). Collaboration with the World Conservation Monitoring Centre will ensure you are familiarised with the policy issues and will provide additional support up to £2K p/a. Project-related questions to Professor Oliver Phillips (Chair, Tropical Ecology) and Dr Simon Lewis (Royal Society Research Fellow) [email protected], [email protected] Application details: http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/postgraduate/applications.html Funding Notes UK citizens (or EU citizens who have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years) can apply for one of our departmental NERC Quota Awards. UK and EU citizens may also be eligible for one of a number of UOL scholarships available. please see: http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding.html Project details: http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/research/eco/projects.html 4) RAINFOR AMAZON FOREST INVENTORY NETWORK http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/projects/rainfor “About RAINFOR The Amazon Forest Inventory Network (Rede Amazônica de Inventários Florestais, Red Amazónica de Inventarios Forestales) is an international network that has been established to understand the biomass and dynamics of Amazonian forests. Since 2000 we have established a systematic framework for long-term monitoring of this region, which holds more biodiversity, water, and vegetation carbon, than any other region of the planet. RAINFOR has worked step-bystep, including partners across the nations of Amazon, taking account of the potentially strong modulating role of environmental variables like soil nutrition, and the need to help develop a new generation of Amazon ecologists.

RAINFOR was first established as part of CARBONSINK, the European contribution to the largescale biosphere-atmosphere experiment in Amazonia (LBA). The European Union supported overall co-ordination 2000-2, and some fieldwork, as well as training in 2004-6 ("PanAmazonia"). The Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (Germany) also contributed to co-ordination and fieldwork (2002-4). The National Geographic Society (US) and the Royal Society (UK) have also supporting fieldwork (Peru 2001, 2003). More recently the U.K. Natural Environment Research Council helped expand our network and support similar research activities in Africa (AfriTRON), Asia, and Australia. Since December 2007 RAINFOR has been supported by the Andes and Amazon Initiative of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.” 5) RESEARCH: SIGHTING OF BROWN BEAR IN MANASALU CONSERVATION AREA OF NEPAL We are working for Brown bear presence and absence survey in Nepal specially Manasalu Conservation Area (MCA) of Nepal. Our study conformed that there are Brown bears in MCA of Nepal. Please visit our web for details: http://www.brtf.org.np/information/news/43 Achyut Aryal, MSc Team Leader The Biodiversity Research and Training Forum (BRTF)- Nepal P.O.Bx-299, Pokhara, Nepal Tel: 00977-9846043903,Fax-00977-61536099 Email: [email protected] Website: www.brtf.org.np 6) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) Functional Ecology, Volume 23, Issue 1, 2009. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121640880/issue Pages: 119-125 Force-velocity trade-off in Darwin's finch jaw function: a biomechanical basis for ecological speciation? Anthony Herrel, Jeffrey Podos, Bieke Vanhooydonck, Andrew P. Hendry http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121448198/abstract If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let me know… -------------------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151

PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/ BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, FEBRUARY 2009, (No. 19) Summary: 1) New TEG post-graduate representative – meet Sarah Dale 2) BES web page relaunched – get your experience included! 3) Centre for Tropical Forest Science – Management posts available 4) Field skills training opportunity – are you interested? 5) Research highlights from BES journals and TEG members William -------------------1) NEW TEG POST-GRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE After careful consideration of a number of excellent candidates the TEG committee is pleased to announce that Sarah Dale as our new Post-graduate representative. Sarah will be an active member of the TEG committee and involved with post-graduate events within the group and the wider BES. Many thanks to all those who applied we hope you will all become active members of the group. Sarah Dale I have recently started a PhD at Lancaster University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama. The aim of this project is to explore the factors which regulate soil carbon dynamics in tropical forests, in the context of shifts in tree species diversity. This information will be used to determine the consequences of changes in tree species diversity, due to climate change and selective logging, for ecosystem carbon storage. I have a masters in Environmental Modeling and Forecasting in which I developed a keen interest in data presentation and in particular, Geographical Information Systems. For the past year I have been putting these skills into practice to support Environmental Impact Assessments for DEFRA. I am very pleased to get the chance to become more involved with Tropical Ecology Group, and I look forward to meeting everyone at the next Early Career Researcher Meeting! Sarah Dale Soil & Ecosystem Ecology Group Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster University 2) BES WEB SITE RELAUNCH – TESTIMONIALS REQUIRED! The BES is about to re-launch its web site and they are looking for ‘sound bites’ to use to illustrate the work of the society. These can relate to any aspect of involvement with the BES, should be no longer than a couple of lines (15-20 words) and be accompanied by a photo of

yourself. It would be great to get some testimonials regarding the TEG and related grant successes or publications. Please send these direct to Richard English (communications officer, [email protected]) and cc to me ([email protected]). 3) CTFS PROJECT MANAGER FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA The Center for Tropical Forest Science seeks a project manager for implementation of a fifty hectare forest dynamics plots in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The successful applicant is expected to coordinate the surveying, tagging, mapping and identification of woody plants by local counterparts at the Binatang Research Center (http://www.entu.cas.cz/png/parataxoweb.htm) and the PNG Forest Research Institute, as well as supervising various protocols for long-term monitoring of insect populations and insect-plant interactions within the plot. The start date for the position is May 2009 and applicant is expected to spend a minimum of 12 months in PNG under challenging field conditions. Background in surveying, forest ecology, plant taxonomy, entomology, database management, and/or international experience in a rural setting is preferred. The position may be suitable for current or prospective PhD students interested in rainforest plots. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Interested applicants should submit a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, a statement of career goals, and contact information for three character references to Dr. George Weiblen at the University of Minnesota ([email protected]). Consideration of applications will begin February 28th, 2009. 4) FIELD SKILLS TRAINING – ARE YOU INTERESTED? I have recently been contacted by Field Skills Expedition Services who are interested in organising a training event for the group. This could either be run in conjunction with an existing meeting or as a stand alone event. As a first pass I would like to know how may people would be interested in such an event. If there are sufficient people interested I can put in motion the process of getting BES support and organising a date. Information on the company: Fieldskills is a specialist training company offering support and training to fieldworkers, expeditioners and adventure travellers. We run regular open training courses around the country in expedition safety and fieldwork planning. We also offer specialist courses focussed on specific environments such as tropical forest safety, desert safety, savannah safety and mountain safety. We also provide nationally recognised first aid training with an emphasis on working in remote field locations. As well as our open courses we specialise in developing bespoke courses and run courses at a range of major Universities around the country. For further details, dates of our open courses or to find out about setting up a bespoke course for your organisation see our website www.fieldskills.com or contact Dominic Hall on 0845 293 7296. Dominic Hall UK Director Fieldskills Ltd www.fieldskills.com mobile: 07759 833849 ----------------------

Vojtech Novotny Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology Institute of Entomology Branisovska 31 CZ 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic e-mail [email protected] Phone +420 387 775 362 Fax +420 385 310 354 Web: http://www.entu.cas.cz/png/cv-novotny-vojtech.html PDFs of publications at http://www.entu.cas.cz/png/ptcpubl.htm 5) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) Marshall, A. J., Ancrenaz, M., Brearley, F. Q. et al. (2009) The effects of forest phenology and floristics on populations of Bornean and Sumatran orangutans: are Sumatran forests better orangutan habitat than Bornean forests? Orangutans: Geographic Variation in Behavioural Ecology and Conservation (eds. S. A. Wich et al.), pp. 97-117. Oxford University Press, UK. b) Journal of Animal Ecology. Volume 78, Issue 2, 2009. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122189437/issue Pages: 315-327 Beta diversity along environmental gradients: implications of habitat specialization in tropical montane landscapes Jill E. Jankowski, Anna L. Ciecka, Nola Y. Meyer, Kerry N. Rabenold http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121529660/abstract If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let me know… -------------------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151 PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/ BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, MARCH 2009, (No. 20) Summary: 1) Tropical@ – new group e-mail address 2) **NEW** Amazon research e-list – sign up now! 3) Tropical PhD project available in Cambridge – NERC funding available 4) Two Earthwatch lectures – RGS London 5) Global change in tropical ecosystems meeting – Costa Rica 6) Research highlights from BES journals and TEG members William [email protected] -------------------1) [email protected] The BES have provided each of the Special Interest Groups with a unique e-mail address to help with the coordination of group activities and provide continuity when group secretaries change. The TEG now has the rather fabulous e-mail address: [email protected] please use this to contact me regarding group activities! Also, check out the new official BES web site: http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/ 2) AMAZON RESEARCH E-LIST The goal of this site and email list is to provide a forum for communication between scientists who work in the Amazon and are based in UK institutions. The remit is very broad and includes researchers who study a wide range of environmental and social problems and issues, as well as those working at different spatial and temporal scales. The list is also open to those who have an active interest in research being conducted in the Amazon by the UK research community. This Network grew out of a very successful meeting in the Natural History Museum (London) in October 2008, where scientists from a wide range of disciplines met to discuss their research and ideas on how to encourage more effective communication and collaboration between individuals and institutions. It is our hope that this email-list will provide an important first step for sharing and exchanging research opportunities and challenges, ideas, funding calls, student positions, data availability, events, conferences, or whatever other kinds of information that can generally facilitate and catalyse more effective and interdisciplinary research. Our ability to confront the complex and large-scale questions that are so characteristic of the Amazon can only be enhanced by exploiting opportunities to improve communication amongst complementary research groups. We hope that this e-list will go someway towards achieving this goal. To sign up visit: https://lists.cam.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/ucam-amazon-ukresearch Dr Toby Gardner

http://www.tropicalforestresearch.org/people/tgardner.aspx 3) TROPICAL PH.D PROJECT AVAILABLE IN CAMBRIDGE The Department of Plant Sciences in Cambridge has one NERC funded Research Studentship available this year - closing date for applications 13 March 2009. Please draw this advert to the attention of well qualified candidates. The grant will be awarded to the best qualified applicant. One of the projects available is a study of roots in tropical forest. Anyone interested in this project should get in touch with Ed Tanner ([email protected]) before making a formal application. Root and mycorrhizal responses to changing nutrient availability in a tropical forest. Ph D project to be supervised by Dr Edmund Tanner. We know that roots and mycorrhizas respond to differences in nutrient availability, usually plants increase their root fraction in soils with low nutrient availability; however much of this work is based on crop plants and is done in pots. Working in tropical forest we have reduced nutrient availability by continuously removing litterfall for five years and our measurements of root biomass show that roots are reduced in the litter removal plots not increased, i.e. just the opposite of the paradigm (Sayer et al. 2006 Plant & Soil 281, 5-13). We also have plots where nutrients are increased by adding litter and these also show reduced root biomass. We now need to investigate these finding by measuring fine root and mycorrhiza production and turnover to establish whether production is reduced as well as standing biomass. Thus this project would quantify root and mycorrhizal production in forest plots using root scanning techniques and ingrowth cores combined with plastic meshes of two hole sizes (one to exclude roots the other to exclude mycorrhizas). We would then be able to answer the general question of how root and mycorrhiza production in tropical forest respond to changes in nutrients. Changes in nutrients are likely to become important in tropical areas as tropical developing countries increase their populations and increase the intensity of their agriculture, both of which will increase ‘accidental’ nutrient supplies to tropical forests. The project would be based at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, a large and well-established tropical research station. Dr Edmund Tanner http://www.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/research/edtanner.html 4) EARTHWATCH LECTURES a) Forests and Climate Change Thursday 26th March, 7.00pm-8.30pm at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR Our forests, home to an extraordinary range of biodiversity, and arguably one of our greatest safeguards against climate change, continue to be depleted at an alarming rate. How can we set about securing their future? Chaired by explorer Paul Rose, the speakers are Dr. Mika Peck of the University of Sussex (Climate Change, Canopies, and Wildlife in Ecuador), and Dr. Dan Bebber, Head of Climate Change Research, Earthwatch (The Footprint in the Forest). Website: http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/get_involved/events08/lecture09-forests/ Ticket only - free to students and current Earthwatch donors; otherwise a donation will be requested on the door.

For tickets and more information contact our Events Department on (01865) 318856; [email protected] b) Conserving Biodiversity in the Americas Thursday 7th May, 7.00pm-8.30pm at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR Speakers: Dr. Richard Bodmer (Durrell Institute of Conservation & Ecology, and the Wildlife Conservation Society) & Dr. Kathleen Sullivan Sealey (University of Miami). Chaired by explorer, writer and TV presenter Dr. George McGavin. The very fact that the Amazon and the Caribbean are such attractive locations renders them all the more vulnerable to over-exploitation. Hear how Earthwatch scientists are addressing this issue in the Peruvian Amazon and on the coasts of the Bahamas. Website: http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/get_involved/events08/lecture09-americas/ Ticket only - free to students and current Earthwatch donors; otherwise a donation will be requested on the door. For tickets and more information contact our Events Department on (01865) 318856; [email protected] Simon Laman Events Officer Earthwatch Europe Mayfield House 256 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7DE U.K. tel 44 - (0)1865 318856 fax 44 - (0)1865 311383 www.earthwatch.org/europe 5) GLOBAL CHANGE AND TROPICAL ECOSYSTEMS & LONG TERM CHANGES IN TROPICAL ECOSYSTEMS Organization for Tropical Studies 22 April – 13 May 2009 Costa Rica See flier attached: 03_09 e-bulletin 20-OTS flier.pdf 6) HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) TEG member’s research Simon L. Lewis, Gabriela Lopez-Gonzalez, Bonaventure Sonké, Kofi Affum-Baffoe, Timothy R. Baker, Lucas O. Ojo, Oliver L. Phillips, Jan M. Reitsma, Lee White, James A. Comiskey, MarieNoël Djuikouo K, Corneille E. N. Ewango, Ted R. Feldpausch, Alan C. Hamilton, Manuel Gloor,

Terese Hart, Annette Hladik, Jon Lloyd, Jon C. Lovett, Jean-Remy Makana, Yadvinder Malhi, Frank M. Mbago, Henry J. Ndangalasi, Julie Peacock, Kelvin S.-H. Peh, Douglas Sheil, Terry Sunderland, Michael D. Swaine, James Taplin, David Taylor, Sean C. Thomas, Raymond Votere & Hannsjörg Wöll. 2009. Increasing carbon storage in intact African tropical forests. Nature, 457, 1003-1006. Yadvinder Malhi, Luiz E. O. C. Aragão, David Galbraith, Chris Huntingford, Rosie Fisher, Przemyslaw Zelazowski, Stephen Sitch, Carol McSweeney, and Patrick Meir , 'Exploring the likelihood and mechanism of a climate change induced dieback of the Amazon Rainforest', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2009), published online before print Anderson, L.O., Malhi, Y., Ladle, R.J., Aragão, L.E.O.C., Shimabukuro, Y., Phillips, O.L., Baker, T., Costa, A.C.L., Espejo, J.S., Higuchi, N., Laurance, W.F., López-González , G., Monteagudo, A.,Núnez-Vargas, P., Peacock, J., Quesada, C.A., Almeida, S. and Vásquez, R., 'Influence of landscape heterogeneity on spatial patterns of wood productivity, wood specific density and above ground biomass in Amazonia', Biogeosciences Discussions (available for open review online) Malhado, A.C.M., Whittaker, R.J., Malhi, Y., Ladle, R.J., ter Steege, H., Aragão, L.E.O.C., Quesada, C.A., Araujo, A.M., Phillips, O.L., Peacock, J., López-González , G., Baker, T.R., Butt, N., Anderson, L.O., Arroyo, L., Almeida, S., Higuchi, N., Killeen, T.J., Monteagudo, A., Neill, D.A., Pitman, N.C.A., Prieto, A.,Salomão, R.P., Silva, N., Vásquez-M, R., Laurance, W.F., Alexiades, M.N. and Ramirez A., H., 'Spatial distribution and functional significance of leaf lamina shape in Amazonian forest trees', Biogeosciences Discussions (available for open review online) If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let me know… -------------------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151 PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/ BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, MARCH 2009, (No. 21) Summary: 1) TEG Early Career Researcher Meeting – Program now available! 2) Nouragues research grants program – work in French Guiana 3) Tropical forest plant diversity – volunteer opportunity Belize 4) African Journal of Ecology – TEG member appointed Associate Editor 5) Research highlights William [email protected] -------------------RD

1) 3 EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER MEETING TH ST - 30 & 31 MARCH 2009 The 2009 ECRM meeting is now fast approaching. Here is the schedule of what we have to look forward to over the two days. Many congratulations to Francis Brearley and Jennifer Rowntree who have worked so hard to pull all this together. I look forward to seeing you all there and hearing all the great talks! Day 1: 30th March 2009 12.00-13.00 Registration and lunch Welcome and Plenary lecture 13.00-13.45 Robin Chazdon Prospects for the regeneration of tropical tree species in human-modified landscapes 13.45-14.00 Short break Session 1 (Chair: Francis Brearley) 14.00-14.15 Lauren Gough The spatial ecology of Spartocytisus supranubius, a dominant endemic shrub in the high-altitude desert of Tenerife 14.15-14.30 Liza Comita Abiotic and biotic drivers of seedling survival in a hurricane impacted tropical forest 14.30-14.45 Royd Vinya Variation in hydraulic properties for ten miombo tree species growing on two sites with contrasting mean annual rainfall in Zambia 14.45-15.00 Alex Twyford Hybrid vigour and hybrid breakdown in Begonia section Gireoudia 15.00-15.15 Cordula Lennkh Classification and segmentation of a Neotropical rain forest 15.15-16.15 Coffee, cake and poster Session

Session 2 (Chair: Huw Lloyd) 16.15-16.30 Katy Morgan Pleistocene radiation of the forest-dependent Leucosphyrus group of Anopheles mosquitoes across Southeast Asia 16.30-16.45 Alan Lee Complex claylicks: Identifying environmental factors influencing southeastern Peru’s most common avian claylicks as a first step to understanding their usefulness as tools for monitoring parrot populations 16.45-17.00 Vicky Ogilvy Could colour influence mating success in a crepuscular treefrog species? 17.00-17.15 Romulus Abila Trophic relationships among six haplochromine cichlids of Lake Kanyaboli, a satellite lake of Lake Victoria basin, Kenya 17.15-17.30 Emma Shaw Population dynamics of the Mexican Redrumped tarantula (Brachypelma vagans) in Belize 18.30 Bar open – Hulme Hall 19.30 - late Dinner and entertainment – Hulme Hall Day 2: 31st March 2009 Plenary lecture 09.30-10.15 Charles Sheppard Effects of climate change in the oceans, with special reference to coral reefs 10.15-10.45 Coffee break Session 3 (Chair: Emma Shaw) 10.45-11.00 Johan Oldekop Understanding the lessons and limitations of conservation and development 11.00-11.15 Sravut Klorvuttimontara Modelling the effectiveness of protected areas for conserving species in Thailand under future climate warming 11.15-11.30 Jose Nuñez-Miño Drivers of biodiversity in tropical montane cloud forest 11.30-11.45 Lydia Cole Kaziranga’s corridors; for rhinos or for people? 11.45-12.00 Nathan Truelove An evaluation of local participation in rapid biodiversity monitoring of tropical rain forest in the Canton de Loreto, Ecuador Special lecture 12.00-12.30 Lloyd Peck NERC theme talk 12.30-13.45 Lunch

Session 4 (Chair: Jenny Rowntree) 13.45-14.00 Sharon Zytynska Community genetics in a tropical forest ecosystem: tree host genotype influences epiphyte community structure 14.00-14.15 Andrew Nottingham Tropical forest soil CO2 efflux: unravelling roots and mycorrhizae 14.15-14.30 Simon Queenborough Phylogenetic scale of niche partitioning and local neighbourhood effects on survival of tropical tree seedlings 14.30-14.45 Huw Lloyd Ecology of threatened high-Andean Polylepis bird species: implications for habitat restoration strategies 14.45-15.15 Lloyd Peck Antarctica to the tropics: large scale macrophysiology patterns in the sea 15.15-15.30 BES-TEG business & Meeting close 2) NOURAGUES RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM 2009 – DEADLINE 25/03/2009 French Guiana is a privileged region for developing research projects in biodiversity, systematics, conservation, ecology, biogeochemistry, and evolutionary biology. In 1986, the Nouragues Research Station was established in an undisturbed forest of central French Guiana to study the dynamics of plant and animal populations. The Research Station is a permanent field equipment of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France). It is over 100 km from the nearest village and can only be accessed by boat or by helicopter. Housing, food supply, electricity, laboratory space, and satellite internet access are available at the Station. For more information, see http://www.nouragues.cnrs.fr Jerome Chave Station de Recherche des Nouragues Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique UMR 5174, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse France Flier attached (04_09_TEG e-bulletin-Nouragues.pdf) 3) VOLUNTEER RESEARCH ASSISTANT: TROPICAL FOREST PLANT DIVERSITY – DEADLINE 06/04/2009 DESCRIPTION: Volunteer research position available to study the role of plant-pathogen interactions in maintaining tropical forest plant biodiversity. Field work will be based in Belize, in association with the University of Oxford, UK. The position will provide excellent research experience and training in tropical forest ecology including botanical and mycological techniques and field experiments. Responsibilities will include collecting, identifying and germinating seeds, maintaining seedlings in shadehouse conditions, establishing, maintaining and monitoring field experiments and sampling and preserving fungal

seedling pathogens. The RA will be working closely with two postdoctoral research associates and a PhD student. The field site is located adjacent to the Las Cuevas Research Station in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize, Central America, where the volunteer will be accommodated. Information about Las Cuevas can be found at: http://www.lascuevas.org/ QUALIFICATIONS: This temporary position would suit a recent graduate or an experienced field worker interested in tropical forest ecology. Previous field experience in tropical forests is desirable but not essential. Individuals who enjoy field work and working with others, pay attention to detail, and can work long hours under a variety of field conditions are encouraged to apply. SALARY: This is a volunteer position. Food, lodging, local transport and one return flight to Belize will be provided. DURATION: This is a temporary position of 3-4 months, ideally starting in May 2009. Start date is negotiable. There will be a six week probationary period. CLOSING DATE: Applications should arrive by 5 PM, 6 April 2009. TO APPLY: Send the following to Dr Rachel Gallery ([email protected]): 1. Cover letter that includes information about your interests and qualifications, dates of availability, and contact information. 2. Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of two referees who are familiar with your academic and/or field skills. 3. CV. Flier attached (04_09_TEG e-bulletin 21-Belize_Oxford.pdf) 3) NEWS: AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY APPOINT TEG COMMITTEE MEMBER AS ASSOCIATE EDITOR Prof. Bryan Shorrocks has just been appointed as the 'Associate Editor' of the African Journal of Ecology, that is published by Wiley/Blackwell. The journal is associated with the East African Wildlife Society, but the journal contents deal with all ecosystems in Africa, including the offshore islands. Find out more about the journal: http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=0141-6707 Professor Bryan Shorrocks Environment Department University of York Heslington York YO10 5DD [email protected] http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/eeem/people/shorrocks/shorrocks.htm

6) RESEACH HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) TEG member’s research OPEN ACCESS Menzel, F., Bluthgen, N. & Schmitt, T. Tropical parabiotic ants: Highly unusual cuticular substances and low interspecific discrimination Frontiers in Zoology http://www.frontiersinzoology.com/content/5/1/16 Marchant, R., Harrison, S.P., Hooghiemstra, H., Markgraf, V., Van Boxel, J.H., Ager, T., Almeida, L., Anderson, R., Baied, C., Behling, H., Berrio, J.C., Burbridge, R., Björck, S., Byrne, R., Bush, M.B., Cleef, A.M., Duivenvoorden, J.F., Flenley, J.R., De Oliveira, P., Van Geel, B., Graf, K.J., Gosling, W.D., Harbele, S., Van Der Hammen, T., S. Hansen, B.C., Horn, S.P., Islebe, G.A., Kuhry, P., Ledru, M.-P., Mayle, F.E., Leyden, B.W., Lozano-García, S., Melief, A.B.M., Moreno, P., Moar, N.T., Prieto, A., Van Reenen, G.B., Salgado-Labouriau, M.L., Schäsignbitz, F., Schreve-Brinkman, E.J., & Wille, M. (2009) Pollen-based biome reconstructions for Latin America at 0, 6000 and 18 000 radiocarbon years. Climate of the Past Discussions, 5, 369461. http://www.clim-past-discuss.net/5/369/2009/cpd-5-369-2009.html b) Journal of Applied Ecology Volume46, Issue2, 2009. 467-475 Disease, predation and demography: assessing the impacts of bovine tuberculosis on African buffalo by monitoring at individual and population levels P. C. Cross, D. M. Heisey, J. A. Bowers, C. T. Hay, J. Wolhuter, P. Buss, M. Hofmeyr, A. L. Michel, R. G. Bengis, T. L. F. Bird, J. T. Du Toit, W. M. Getz DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01589.x If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let me know… -------------------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151 PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/ BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, APRIL 2009, (No. 22) Summary: 1) 3rd Early Career Researcher Meeting – A belly full of success in Manchester! 2) TEG @ BES 2009 – Thematic session 3) JOB - Environmental Earth Science (The Open University) – 2 posts available 4) JOB - Biological Sciences (Aberdeen University) – Research Fellowship 5) Research highlights William [email protected] -------------------rd

1) 3 EARLY CAREER RESERCHER MEETING University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University st 30-31 March 2009 Congratulations to Francis Brearley, Jennifer Rowntree, Emma Shaw and Sharon Zytynska for organising the major TEG event of 2009; and thanks to the staff at Manchester Metropolitan University and University of Manchester for being helpful hosts. This year seventeen UK and two overseas institutions were represented with the largest contingents from University of Oxford (6 delegates), University of Nottingham (5) and Manchester University (5). It is also worth noting that the two students who attended from the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh returned north with both the student prizes: best oral presentation (Alex Twyford), and poster (Jane Droop) – well done them in a very competitive field! Many thanks also go to our plenary speakers. Day one was kicked off by Prof. Robin Chazdon (University of Connecticut) who talked about the development of appropriate tools for understanding patterns of biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes. This was a fascinating insight into the powers of forest recovery following clearance; given favourable opportunities and conditions. Day two started with a ‘shocking’ talk from Prof. Charles Sheppard (University of Warwick) highlighting the devastating impact of sea surface temperature change on coral reef ecosystems. He also provided useful guidance on how to deal with politicians and princes, the use of the term “Sir” is apparently very handy! In addition, I would like to thank Prof. Lloyd Peck (British Antarctic Survey) for providing two talks. The first gave a useful insight into the NERC themes for funding 2007-2012 (http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/themes/), his take home message from this was GET INVOLVED! The second, comparing tropical and Antarctic ecosystems, argued that organisms in these two regions are particularly vulnerable to predicted global climate change because of recent (millions of years) stability within their respective climate zones. The twenty early career researcher talks over the two days were of an exceptionally high quality and wide ranging. These included examination of the physical characteristics of dry forest trees in Zambia, conservation policy development (for rhinos or for people?), drivers of biodiversity and phylogenetic niche partitioning. Away from the lecturer theatre entertainment was provided after the conference dinner by first, a belly dancing display, and second an opportunity to learn some belly dancing moves! This gave many of us the opportunity to discovered muscles that we didn’t know we had… whilst others escaped back to the bar! The meeting ran exceptionally smoothly and it was great to talk tropical ecology with so many enthusiastic researchers. I hope you all found it as useful as I did and that we are able to build on

this success next year. University of Nottingham has been proposed as a possible host for next year’s event; however, if you are interested in getting involved, or have suggestions for other events, please let me know… [email protected] 2) BES ANNUAL MEETING THEMATIC SESSIONS a) Life History and Functional Trait Variation in Tropical Systems TEG – THEMATIC SESSION Organiser: Simon Queenborough http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/meetings/current_future_meetings/2009_annual_meeting/t hematic_topics/tt_3.php The biogeographic variation of life has predominantly been studied using taxonomy, but this focus is changing. There is a resurging interest in understanding patterns in the distribution not only of taxa but also of the traits those taxa possess: Species vary widely in their life history strategies both within and among sites. While variation in some traits is correlated among species, there are several largely independent axes of variation. For example, in plants these include seed size, leaf size, mature height, and wood density. Patterns of trait variation shed light on fundamental questions in biology, including why organisms live where they do and how they will respond to environmental change: at the population level, it explains interspecific variation in demography, population structure, and dynamics; at the community level, it can contribute to niche partitioning and thus coexistence; and at the ecosystem level, the distribution of traits within a community affects virtually every whole-system metric including standing biomass and carbon fluxes. Although the subject has received much attention from plant ecologists, the amount of data available has increased, allowing much more rigorous analyses and whole communities to be compared. We also aim to attract animal and marine ecologists and encourage dialogue across the taxonomic divide. Keynote: Ian Wright, Macquarie University, Australia “An overview of plant functional trait research and future research directions” Confirmed speakers: • Lourens Poorter, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. Tropical trees and functional traits. • Jan Beck, University of Basel, Switzerland. Functional traits in tropical butterflies. • Gerlynd de Deyn, Lancaster University, UK. Plant functional traits and soil carbon sequestration. • David Burslem / Emily Swaine, University of Aberdeen, UK. Cascading effects of floral trait variation in tropical forest trees. b) The long view: palaeoecology and current environmental change Organisers: William Gosling, Ian Lawson and Katy Roucoux http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/meetings/current_future_meetings/2009_annual_meeting/t hematic_topics/tt_2.php The fundamental limit to ecological studies is the time period over which interactions can be observed. Recorded observations of ecological interaction extending over multiple decades are exceptional and most studies rely on a few years’ data. However, ecosystem function and the biogeography that we see today is the product of millions of years of environmental change. To develop an accurate understanding of ecological world that we live in it is necessary to develop a longer term perspective on the fundamental processes. Palaeoecological techniques offer the opportunity of studying ecological dynamics on timescales of tens, hundreds and even millions of years. In addition, insights can be gained into how plants and animals have responded to past climatic change and human pressures. Past ecosystems offer analogues for possible future

scenarios that we would not otherwise know about; for instance the more widespread tropical forests of the early Cenozoic might offer insight into potential changes under predicted future climate change scenarios. Palaeoecological work can also help set restoration targets for degraded ecosystems and provides insights into where and how biodiversity, in all its forms, arises. This session will aim to draw out some of the major lessons from palaeoecological work of recent years and bring together the palaeo and ecological communities to highlight the key questions for future research. Keynote: John Birks, Department of Biology, University of Bergen “How the secrets of the past can help future ecological predictions.” Invited speakers: • •

• •

Valentii Rull, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas,Institut Botanic de Barcelona, “Ecology and paleoecology: two approaches, one objective” Jane Bunting, Department of Geography, University of Hull, “Analogues for nonanalogue situations: using models to support reconstruction of 'extinct communities' from pollen diagrams” Thomas Giesecke, Department of Geography, University of Liverpoolm, TBC Alan Haywood, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, TBC

3) ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (THE OPEN UNIVERSITY) http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/ Senior Lecturer in Environmental Earth Science/Earth System Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science Lecturer in Environmental Earth Science/Earth System Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science The Department has an international reputation in both research and innovative distance teaching, and benefits from an unusually broad research community within the Open University’s Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomy Research (CEPSAR) that fosters crossdisciplinary collaboration. As part of the strategic development of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, we are seeking to appoint an academic member of staff with expertise in the key areas of Environmental Earth Sciences and/or Earth System Science. You will need demonstrable excellence in chemical oceanography, surface processes or Earth systems science, but we welcome applications from others with outstanding records of achievement in other areas of environmental Earth sciences. Closing date: 28 May 2009. Interview date: Wednesday 1 July 2009. For further details: Lecturer: http://www3.open.ac.uk/employment/job-details.asp?id=4498&ref=ext Senior lecturer: http://www3.open.ac.uk/employment/job-details.asp?id=4499&ref=ext

4) SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN RESEARCH FELLOW The position is part of an ERA NET BioDiversa project (CoForChange), lead by CIRAD-Forêt in Montpellier, France. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be employed by the University of Aberdeen but will be based in Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo (Brassaville). A summary of the project is appended. A version in French can be found on p. 8 of this .PDF file: http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/documents/aap/2008/finances/biodiversa-resumes2008.pdf The work is to set up, manage and analyse two experiments to screen a large number of target tree species for their responses to seasonal drought and to different irradiances. This is Workpackage 4 of the Biodiversa project which is lead by Dr Mike Swaine and Dr Bettina Engelbrecht. The results will be published in international peer-reviewed journals but will also be used by other Workpackages within the Biodiversa project. There will be opportunities for you to develop your own research. You will have a PhD in a relevant subject. A good working knowledge of French and experience of working in the tropics would be significant advantages. As this post is funded by NERC it will be offered for a period of 24 months. The salary will be paid at £29,704 per annum to start in July 2009 Informal enquiries may be made to Dr M.D. Swaine ([email protected]). Should you require a visa to undertake paid employment in the UK you will be required to fulfil the minimum points criteria to be granted a Certificate of Sponsorship and Tier 2 visa. As appropriate, at the time an offer of appointment is made you will be asked to demonstrate that you fulfil the criteria in respect of financial maintenance and competency in English. Please do not hesitate to contact Diane Norris, HR Adviser, for further information on this. To apply online for this position visit www.abdn.ac.uk/jobs or alternatively you may request an application pack by emailing your name and contact details to [email protected] or by telephoning our 24 hour answer service on (01224) 272727 quoting the job reference number YPL057R. The closing date for the receipt of applications is 30th April 2009. Promoting Diversity and Equal Opportunities throughout the University 5) RESEACH HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) TEG member’s research OPEN ACCESS Menzel, F., Bluthgen, N. & Schmitt, T. Tropical parabiotic ants: Highly unusual cuticular substances and low interspecific discrimination Frontiers in Zoology http://www.frontiersinzoology.com/content/5/1/16 Marchant, R., Harrison, S.P., Hooghiemstra, H., Markgraf, V., Van Boxel, J.H., Ager, T., Almeida, L., Anderson, R., Baied, C., Behling, H., Berrio, J.C., Burbridge, R., Björck, S., Byrne, R., Bush, M.B., Cleef, A.M., Duivenvoorden, J.F., Flenley, J.R., De Oliveira, P., Van Geel, B., Graf, K.J.,

Gosling, W.D., Harbele, S., Van Der Hammen, T., S. Hansen, B.C., Horn, S.P., Islebe, G.A., Kuhry, P., Ledru, M.-P., Mayle, F.E., Leyden, B.W., Lozano-García, S., Melief, A.B.M., Moreno, P., Moar, N.T., Prieto, A., Van Reenen, G.B., Salgado-Labouriau, M.L., Schäsignbitz, F., Schreve-Brinkman, E.J., & Wille, M. (2009) Pollen-based biome reconstructions for Latin America at 0, 6000 and 18 000 radiocarbon years. Climate of the Past Discussions, 5, 369461. http://www.clim-past-discuss.net/5/369/2009/cpd-5-369-2009.html b) Journal of Applied Ecology Volume46, Issue2, 2009. 467-475 Disease, predation and demography: assessing the impacts of bovine tuberculosis on African buffalo by monitoring at individual and population levels P. C. Cross, D. M. Heisey, J. A. Bowers, C. T. Hay, J. Wolhuter, P. Buss, M. Hofmeyr, A. L. Michel, R. G. Bengis, T. L. F. Bird, J. T. Du Toit, W. M. Getz DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01589.x If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let me know… -------------------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151 PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/ BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, MAY 2009, (No. 23) Summary: 1) Amazon and Andean research – 2 post-docs @ Oxford 2) Conservation Biology and Ecology in China – 2 PI positions available 3) Research highlights Please note I will be away, and out of e-mail range, until 8th June. William [email protected] -------------------1) TWO POST-DOCS IN AMAZON AND ANDES RESEARCH AT OXFORD Post Doctoral Research Assistant on modelling the ecophysiology and dynamics of Amazonian forests http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/news/vacancy/090408moore.php Post Doctoral Research Assistant on the dynamics and carbon implications of fires in the Andes http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/news/vacancy/090408andean.php -Yadvinder Malhi Professor of Ecosystem Science University of Oxford Environmental Change Institute School of Geography and the Environment South Parks Road Oxford OX1 3QY United Kingdom Web: http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/~ymalhi/ Tel Direct: +44 (0)1865 285188 Reception: 44 (0)1865 285070 Fax: +44 (0)1865 275885 Mob: +44 (0)7793 228922 2) CONSERVATION BIOLOGYAND ECOLOGY IN CHINA Two PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR POSITIONS (研究员) in ecology, conservation biology, and evolution, at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, based at the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ), Kunming, China. The Ecology, Conservation, and Environment Center (ECEC) at KIZ invites applications for two full-time PI positions in ecology and evolution, broadly defined. The rank is equivalent to an Assistant or Associate Professor in the US. The ECEC was recently established as a joint center between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of East Anglia (UK). The ECEC's mission is to conduct international-quality research in ecology and conservation biology, to train Chinese and foreign Ph.D. and postdoctoral researchers, to lead the development of ecology and conservation science in China and Southeast Asia, and to provide information necessary for

environmental policy-making. The KIZ is one of China's leading scientific research institutes for evolutionary biology, its faculty are internationally recognized, and the institute is building an ecology and conservation group on this foundation. This is a superb opportunity to pursue an independent research program, backed by a large research team and ample funding. Highly qualified candidates conducting research in all areas of ecology, evolution, and conservation biology are encouraged to apply. We especially encourage applicants with research programs involving molecular ecology and bioinformatics, theory and modeling, conservation planning and economics, and/or climate change. Responsibilities include contributing to the ECEC's mission, obtaining external funding, and publication in top, international journals. Considerable startup funding is available, generally at levels higher than those offered by European or US universities, and faculty will be members of the KIZ's State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution. Facilities at the KIZ include 454 next-gen sequencing and gene-chip facilities in a new, national barcoding center to be installed this year, extensive internet journal access, a zoological museum with over 600,000 specimens, and access to CAS field stations, datasets, and facilities around the country. In addition to opportunities for collaboration within the ECEC and KIZ, there are ample local opportunities for collaboration with ecologists and evolutionary biologists at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (xtbg.ac.cn & www.ecologicalevolution.org) and the Kunming Institute of Botany (www.kib.ac.cn), as well as local universities. In the near future, faculty from the three institutes, including the ECEC, will be combined to establish a new National Laboratory in biodiversity. The working languages at the KIZ are Chinese and English. All nationalities are welcome to apply, and most faculty have had international research experience. It is possible to conduct research outside China with grant monies from China. Candidates with a strong record of accomplishment should submit a CV, a statement of research interests and plans, and pdfs of three publications. Please also include the names, addresses, and contact details of three individuals who can provide letters of recommendation. A single, combined PDF or zipped file is preferred and can be emailed to . Informal enquiries can be made with the center's director, Dr. Douglas Yu . Ecology, Conservation, and Environment Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, #338, 32 Jiaochang Dong Lu, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China, 云南省,昆明市,教场东路32号 650223, China, ofc +86-871-519 9178, mob 1398-719-1275 Applications will be reviewed starting 30 May 2009 until filled. Background information: The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was established in 1949 and is China’s national research organization, funding research and training in basic science and technology across a countrywide network of research institutes. CAS’ goal is by 2010 to make 30 of its research institutes internationally recognized and 3 to 5 of them world class. KIZ (www.kiz.ac.cn): Established in 1959. Primary research areas have been evolutionary genetics and developmental biology, animal systematics, and animal and human disease models. There are about 200 staff, including 1 CAS member, and about 50 faculty, of which 7 PIs are supported by a CAS “Excellent Young Scientists Program.” There are about 100 MSc and 100 PhD students enrolled. From 2005-8, the institute published 812 papers (505 in SCI-indexed journals), including articles in Science, Am. J. Human Genetics, PNAS USA, The Plant Cell, Genome Res., PLoS Medicine,

and Human Molecular Genetics. 230 of these papers were published in journals ranked in the top 30% by the Thomson-Reuters Journal Citation Report. PIs have earned several patents and numerous awards from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other national bodies, plus 3 awards from international organizations. Two PIs head CAS-Max Planck Junior Scientist groups. See also recent news articles in Science and Nature concerning KIZ and XTBG: Stone, R. (2008) From remarkable rescue to restoration of lost habitat. Science 322: 184. Stone, R. (2008) Last stand for the body snatcher of the Himalayas? Science 322: 1182. Qiu, J. (2009) Where the rubber meets the garden. Nature 457: 246. Yunnan Province (Ywin-nan, 394,000 sq. km, population 44 million) covers approximately 4% of China’s area but is its most biodiverse province. Habitats range from tropical forest in the south, where it borders Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar (Burma), to the Himalayas in the northwest, bordering Tibet. High biological diversity is mirrored by high ethnic diversity, housing 24 of China’s 55 recognized minority ethnic groups, many still living in isolated areas. The province’s major industries are tobacco, mining, agriculture, and tourism, including nature-based tourism. Yunnan is one of the world’s most productive sources of edible mushrooms, and is one of China’s biggest producers of natural rubber, coffee, and tea. In fact, tea originated from Yunnan. Tourism is boosted by ethnic and habitat variety, a pleasant year-round climate, and the presence of some important cultural centers, including the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lijiang. Nonetheless, because of its remoteness from the manufacturing boom on China’s coast, and its mountainous terrain, millions still live below China’s official poverty line. Kunming (Kwin-ming, urban population 3 million) is known colloquially throughout China as Spring City because of its climate. Living conditions include a high-quality housing market, widespread internet access, extensive public transport, entertainment and cultural resources, both Chinese and Western (e.g., www.gokunming.com), easy access to the countryside, and well-developed retail outlets (incl. Carrefour, Metro, Wal-Mart, and B&Q). There is a local organic food movement (www.greenkunming.com) and an international school (www.kia-china.org). Dr. Douglas W. Yu School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ UK, 44-(0)1603-593-835 Ecology, Conservation, and Environment Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology #338, 32 Jiaochang Dong Lu, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China, 云南省,昆明市,教场东路32号 650223, China, ofc +86-871-519 9178, mob 1398-719-1275 http://www.uea.ac.uk/bio/people/YuD http://web.mac.com/dougwyu

3) RESEACH HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) Latest from RAINFOR Amazon Forest Inventory Network! http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/projects/rainfor/pages/publications_eng.html Phillips OL., Aragão LE., Lewis SL., Fisher JB., Lloyd JL., López-González G., Malhi Y., Monteagudo A., Peacock J., Quesada CS., van der Heijden GM., Almeida S., Amaral I., Arroyo L., Aymard G., Baker TR., Bánki O., Blanc L., Bonal D., Brando P., Chave J., Alves de Oliveira AC., Dávila Cardozo N., Czimczik CI., Feldpausch TR., Freitas MA., Gloor EU., Higuchi N., Jiménez E., Lloyd G., Meir P., Mendoza C., Morel A., Neill DA., Nepstad D, Patiño A., Peñuela MC., Prieto A., Ramírez F., Schwarz M., Silva JE., Silveira M., Sota Thomas A., ter Steege H., Stropp J., Vásquez R., Zelazowski P., Alvarez Dávila E., Andelman S., Andrade A., Chao KJ., Erwin T., Di Fiore A., Honorio E., Keeling HC., Killeen TJ., Laurance WF., Peña Cruz A., Pitman NCA., Núñez Vargas P., Ramírez-Angulo H., Rudas A., Salamão R., Silva N., Terborgh J., Torres-Lezama A. Drought Sensitivity of the Amazon Rainforest. Science. 2009, 323: 1344- 1347. Chao KJ., Phillips OL., Monteagudo A., Torres-Lezama A., Vásquez-Martínez R. How do trees die? Mode of death in northern Amazonia. Journal of Vegetation Science. 2009, 20: 260–268. Anderson LO., Malhi Y., Ladle RJ., Aragão LE., Shimabukuro Y., Phillips OL, Baker TR., Costa ACL., Espejo JS., Higuchi N., Laurance WF., López-Gonzalez G., Monteagudo A., Núñez-Vargas P., Peacock P., Quesada CA., Almeida S., Vásquez R. Influence of landscape heterogeneity on spatial patterns of wood productivity, wood specific density and above ground biomass in Amazonia. Biogeosciences Discussions. 2009; 6: 2039-2083. Fyllas N., Patiño S., Baker TR., Paiva R., Schwarz M., Arneth A., Czimczik C., Herrera R., Horna V., Mercado LM., Quesada CA., Santos A., Hilke I., Raessler M., Arroyo L., Jimenez EM., Luizão FJ., Neill DA., Silva N., Priante Filho N., Prieto A., Rudas A., Silviera M., Viera I., Peña Cruz A., Malhi Y., Phillips OL., Lloyd J. Basin-wide variations in foliar properties of Amazon forest: phylogeny, soils and climate. Biogeosciences Discussions. 2009; 6: 1–64. Malhado ACM., Whittaker RJ., Malhi Y., Ladle RJ., ter Steege H., Aragão LEOC., Quesada CA., Araujo AM., Phillips OL., Peacock J., Lopez-Gonzalez G., Baker TR., Butt N., Anderson LO., Arroyo L., Almeida S., Higuchi N., Killeen T., Monteagudo A., Neill D., Pitman N., Prieto A., Salomão R., Silva N., Vásquez Martínez R., Laurance WF, Alexiades, MN., Ramírez A H. Spatial distribution and functional significance of leaf lamina shape in Amazonian forest trees. Biogeosciences Discussions; 2009; 6: 2125-2162. Malhado ACM., Malhi Y., Whittaker RJ., Ladle RJ., ter Steege H., Aragão LEOC., Quesada CA., Araujo AM., Phillips OL., Peacock J., Lopez-Gonzalez G., Baker TR., Butt N., Anderson LO., Arroyo L., Almeida S., Higuchi N., Killeen T., Monteagudo A., Neill D., Pitman N., Prieto A., Salomão R., Silva N., Vásquez-Martínez R., Laurance WF. Spatial trends in leaf size of Amazonian rainforest trees. Biogeosciences Discussions. 2009; 6: 1837-1876. van der Heijden G., Phillips OL. Environmental effects on Neotropical liana species richness. Journal of Biogeography. 2009; X: XXX-XXX . Baker TR., Phillips OL., Laurance WF., Pitman NCA., Almeida S., Arroyo L., DiFiore A., Erwin T., Higuchi N., Killeen TJ., Laurance SG., Nascimento H., Monteagudo A., Neill DA., Silva JNM., Malhi Y., López Gonzalez G., Peacock J., Quesada CA., Lewis SL., Lloyd J. Do species traits determine patterns of wood production in Amazonian forests?. Biogeosciences. 2009; 6: 297-307. Malhi Y., Aragão LEOC., Galbraith D., Huntingford C., Fisher R., Zelazowski P., Sitche S., McSweeney C., Meir P. Exploring the likelihood and mechanism of a climate-change-induced dieback of the Amazon rainforest. Proceedings of the National Academy os Sciences. 2009;

pnas.0804619106. Malhi Y., Aragão LEOC., Metcalfe DB., Paiva R., Quesada CA., Almeida S., Anderson L., Brandok P., Chambers JQ., da Costa ACL., Hutyra LR., Oliveira P., Patiño S., Pyle EH, Robertson AL, Teixeira LM. Comprehensive assessment of carbon productivity, allocation and storage in three Amazonian forests. Global Change Biology. 2009. Aragão LEOC., Malhi Y., Metcalfe DB., Silva-Espejo JE., Jiménez E., Navarrete D., Almeida S., Costa ACL., Salinas N., Phillips OL., Anderson LO., Baker TR., Goncalvez PH., Huamán-Ovalle J., Mamani-Solórzano M., Meir P., Monteagudo A., Peñuela MC., Prieto A., Quesada CA., RozasDávila A., Rudas A., Silva Junior JA., Vásquez R. Above- and below-ground net primary productivity across ten Amazonian forests on contrasting soils. Biogeosciences Discussions. 2009; 6: 2441-2488.

If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let me know… -------------------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151 PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/ BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, JUNE 2009, (No. 24) Summary: 1) TEG @ BES annual meeting – thematic session details 2) BES Photo competition – show off your spectacular field work snaps! 3) Shameless plug – palaeoecology & ecology thematic @ BES 4) Amazon scholarship program – money for research 5) The Ecology of Tropical East Asia – new book! 6) Research papers William [email protected] -------------------1) TEG @ BES ANNUAL MEETING: THEMATIC SESSION – PROVISONAL DEATILS BES Annual Meeting, University of Hertfordshire 8 - 10 September 2009 Oral Session TT3: Life History & Functional Trait Variation in Tropical Systems Chair: DR SIMON QUEENBOROUGH WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 13:30 Current and future directions in plant functional trait research WRIGHT, I.J. (Macquarie University, Australia) Through understanding the basis for trait-based ecological strategy dimensions we gain insight into life-history trade-offs that operate within and between environments, and thus into phenomena such as trait-shifts along geographic gradients, and processes such as community assembly. Several exciting current and future research directions will be highlighted. 14:10 Functional differentiation of tropical tree species POORTER, L. (Wageningen University, NL) Tropical rain forests are characterized by horizontal and vertical gradients in light availability. Tree species partition these gradients through variation in regeneration light requirements and adult stature. Both strategy axes are related to different functional traits; regeneration light requirements to carbon gain and persistence- adult stature to architecture and reproduction. 14:30 Plant functional traits and soil carbon sequestration. DE DEYN, G.B.1, CORNELISSEN, JHC2, BARDGETT, R.D.1 (1 Lancaster University, UK, 2 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, NL) Plant functional traits control soil carbon storage through carbon assimilation, its transfer and storage in belowground biomass, and its release from soil via respiration, fire and leaching. Here, we present a mechanistic plant trait based framework to enhance our understanding of how vegetation composition will affect soil carbon sequestration. 14:50 Cascading effects of floral traits on pollination ecology and fecundity of tropical trees. BURSLEM, D.R.R.P.1, KETTLE, C.K.1, MAYCOCK, C.R.1, HOLLINGSWORTH, P.2, GHAZOUL, J.3 (1 University of Aberdeen, U.K., 2 Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, U.K., 3 ETH Zurich, Switzerland)

We examined the role of flower size variation in pollination ecology and fruit production in dipterocarp species in Borneo. We found evidence that variation in flower size established a trade-off between flower number and pollination success that contributed to equalizing per-capita fecundity among species, thus promoting their coexistence. 15:10 Biodiversity, geographic distributions and life history patterns in tropical Lepidoptera BECK, J. (University of Basel, Switzerland) Lepidoptera are suitable to study patterns of distribution and biodiversity in insects. Furthermore, their variability in ‘life-history syndromes’ allows across-taxonomic comparisons. I will report of my work in both fields, focusing on Southeast-Asia. Furthermore, I will point out how fusing these fields will provide insights into functional aspects of distribution. 15:30 Trait Variation and Phylogenetic Structure in Inga (Fabaceae) Communities in Panama and Peru DEXTER, K.G.1, PENNINGTON, R.T. 2, KURSAR, T.A. 3, COLEY, P.D.3 (1 CNRS, Universite de Toulouse, France, 2 Royal Gardens at Edinburgh, UK, 3 University of Utah, USA) We investigate the role of resource-use versus herbivore defence traits in contributing to coexistence of species in the tropical tree genus Inga (Fabaceae). We find that, despite very different underlying phylogenetic community structures, co-occurring species in both Panama and Peru show greater divergence in herbivore defence traits than expected by chance. Further information Become a member http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/meetings/current_future_meetings/sessions.php?session= TT3 2) BES PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION NOW OPEN ***Would be great to see some top tropical entries!*** The 2009 Photographic competition is now open for entries. The deadline is 5th July 2009. Winners will be announced at the annual meeting in September. Prizes The overall winner will receive £750 and the overall runner-up will receive £250. The Student award winner will receive £100. Winning entries for each category will be exhibited at the BES Annual Meeting, published in the BES Bulletin and possibly other publications. Oxford University Press are also offering £30 worth of book vouchers to each winning entry who does not receive the overall, overall runner-up or student prize. For further information visit: http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/meetings/current_future_meetings/2009_annual_meeting/ photographic_competition.php

3) A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR ‘PALAEO’ THEMATIC SESSION @ BES MEETING BES Annual Meeting, University of Hertfordshire 8 - 10 September 2009 Provisional program Oral Session TT2: The Long View - Palaeoecology & Current Environmental Change Chair: Dr William Gosling TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 16:00 Ecology and palaeoecology: two approaches, one objective. RULL, V. (CSIC-Botanic Institute of Barcelona, Spain) Ecology and palaeoecology have progressed historically as well separated disciplines. Here, a theoretical analysis of the causes and a proposal for terminological clarification are provided. A palaeoecologist is not a palaeoscientist whose data may be of interest for ecology, but an ecologist working on another time scale, with different methods. 16:20 Long-term population dynamics in the Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus and Chironomidae in a Scottish loch STEPHEN J. BROOKS1, STUART BENN2, RICHARD J. TELFORD3 (1 Natural History Museum, London, UK, 2 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, UK, 3 University of Bergen, Norway) Records since 1970 of productivity of the rare Slavonian Grebe on Loch Ruthven show large inter-annual fluctuations. High resolution chironomid analysis of a sediment core reveals a significant positive correlation between midge abundance and grebe productivity. Lake productivity rather than climate appears to be driving the system. 16:40 The Holocene spread of trees in Europe – a change in distribution or abundance? GIESECKE, T. (University of Göttingen, Germany) The European vegetation history since the Last Glacial Maximum is commonly viewed as the survival of trees in southern refugia and their northward spread with climate warming. Thus, the order of the appearance of species could at least to some extend be explained by dispersal mechanisms and distance to refugia. Already in 1930 Rudolph [Beihefte zum Bot. Centralbl.] proposed a different hypothesis, suggesting that most trees and shrubs might have spread during the Late Glacial and survived in habitats with favourable microclimate. He then interpreted the staggered appearance of these taxa as the expansion of small isolated populations in response to changes in climate or soil. Macrofossil evidence suggests that some species occurred further north during the Last Glacial Maximum than previously anticipated. Also, studies revealing the ancestry of species point to the existence of populations in more northern areas, which is often referred to as cryptic refugia. In the light of these considerations Rudolph’s hypothesis is gaining new meaning. Both the breadth of pollen analytical results and detailed studies using pollen accumulation rates can be used to explore the explanatory power of the hypothesis. For example the near synchronous expansion of Corylus avellana populations throughout much of Europe may be explained by a spread of the species at low abundance with a subsequent expansion triggered by a change in climate. Also the distribution of haplotypes in extant populations of Fagus sylvatica suggests that the supposed Holocene spread of this species is at least in some regions the expansion of existing populations rather than a change in distribution. As suggested by Rudolph, climate may not have been the only determinant triggering the expansion of populations. For example it can be shown that human action changing the competitive balance between species has accelerated the population expansion of Fagus sylvatica. Thus, in many situations it may not have been the distribution of a species that has changed but its abundance and, we have to look into factors determining abundance rather than presence in order to better understand Holocene vegetation history.

17:00 Analogues for non-analogue situations: using models to support reconstruction of 'extinct communities' from pollen diagrams BUNTING, M.J. (University of Hull, UK) Pollen data interpretation assumes that the relationship between vegetation distribution around a point and the pollen assemblage deposited at that point is comprehendible and consistent, therefore models of this relationship can be used to simulate the pollen signal of vegetation communities which don't exist in the present-day landscape. 17:20 Vegetation in a warmer world: Reconstructing and modelling land cover during the midPliocene warm period. HAYWOOD, A.M1, SALZMANN, U.2, DOWSETT, H.J.3 (1 University of Leeds, UK, 2 British Antarctic Survey, UK, 3 U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.A.)) The Mid-Pliocene Warm Period (MPWP; ~3 million years before present) provides a unique opportunity to examine the equilibrium climate and environmental response to current or near future concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Under the umbrella of the PRISM Project (Pliocene Research Interpretation & Synoptic Mapping), the MPWP has provided the focus for a co-ordinated and sustained international data collection and synthesis effort which, over the past 20 years, has produced a series of iterative data sets describing environmental conditions at this time (including vegetation type and distribution) that can be used to constrain or validate outputs from palaeoclimate modelling experiments using advanced numerical models of Earth's climate (e.g. GCMs). In this talk previous PRISM vegetation reconstructions (PRISM0 to 2) will be described along with the methods employed in the construction of the current PRISM hybrid data/model land cover data set (PRISM3). The significance of these results for our knowledge of Earth's last period of greater global warmth will be discussed in detail with the PRISM3 reconstruction compared with model-predicted scenarios for future climate and vegetation change. 17:40 How the secrets of the past can help future ecological predictions H. JOHN B. BIRKS (University of Bergen, Norway) I will explore the unique palaeoecological record to consider (1) how rapidly can trees spread in response to rapid climate change? Is 'assisted migration' relevant in conservation planning? (2) what are the implications of multiple refugia of trees during the last glacial maximum to understanding and conserving genetic diversity?, and (3) why did certain plants go extinct regionally at different times in the Quaternary. Are there any 'general rules of extinction'? http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/meetings/current_future_meetings/sessions.php?session= TT2 4) THE AMAZON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME (ASP) The CREES Foundation in Peru wishes to attract students, professionals, and established researchers in biology, economics, anthropology, and engineering to work in the upper Madre de Dios River, on the border of Manu National Park, Peru. Details are available at the following URL: http://www.crees-foundation.org/education_scholarship.htm The objective is to promote research in sustainable development in this part of the world. Doug Dr. Douglas W. Yu Ecology, Conservation, & Environment Center (ECEC), Kunming Institute of Zoology #338, 32 Jiaochang Dong Lu, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China, 云南省,昆明市,教场东路32号 650223, China, ofc +86-871-519 9178, mob 1398-719-1275 School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia

Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ UK, 44-(0)1603-593-835 http://www.uea.ac.uk/bio/people/YuD http://web.mac.com/dougwyu, http://public.me.com/dougwyu for pdfs 5) NEW BOOK: The Ecology of Tropical East Asia Published by Oxford University Press in May, 2009 http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780199532469 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ecology-Tropical-East-Asia/dp/019953246X cheapest! http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ecology-of-Tropical-East-Asia/Richard-TCorlett/e/9780199532469 http://www.naturesniche.com/en/naturesbooks/books/ecology/0/1/1130199532469/ in Singapore "The Ecology of Tropical East Asia is the first book to describe the terrestrial ecology of the entire East Asian tropics and subtropics, from southern China to western Indonesia. It deals with plants, animals, and the ecosystems they inhabit, as well as the diverse threats to their survival and the options for conservation. This book provides the background knowledge of the region's ecology needed by both specialists and non-specialists to put their own work into a broader context. The accessible style, comprehensive coverage, and engaging illustrations make this advanced textbook an essential read for senior undergraduate and graduate level students studying the terrestrial ecology of the East Asian tropics, as well as an authoritative reference for professional ecologists, conservationists, and interested amateurs worldwide." Richard Corlett Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Republic of Singapore 3) RESEACH HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) Members papers Struebig MJ, Kingston T, Zubaid A, Le Comber S, Mohd-Adnan A, Turner A, Kelly J, Bozek M and Rossiter SJ 2009. Conservation importance of limestone karst outcrops for Palaeotropical bats in a fragmented landscape. Biological Conservation. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2009.04.005 If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let me know… -------------------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147

Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151 PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/ BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, AUGUST 2009, (No. 25) Summary: 1) TEG @ BES annual meeting – 2) New TEG web site address - www.britishecologicalsociety.org/tropical 3) 5th International Canopy Conference in Bangalore 4) Research Assistant post – Manchester Metropolitan University 5) Lecturer in Conservation Ecology - Manchester Metropolitan University 6) Research papers William [email protected] www.britishecologicalsociety.org/tropical -------------------1) TEG @ BES ANNUAL MEETING BES Annual Meeting, University of Hertfordshire 8 - 10 September 2009 Now rapidly approaching I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the meeting we have a excellent program for our thematic session this year (organized by Simon) and wine and nibbles will be laid on for the group meeting (thanks to the BES)! Make sure YOU come along and have your say in developing our program for 2009-2010! a) Thematic session Oral Session TT3: Life History & Functional Trait Variation in Tropical Systems Chair: DR SIMON QUEENBOROUGH WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 13:30 Current and future directions in plant functional trait research WRIGHT, I.J. (Macquarie University, Australia) Through understanding the basis for trait-based ecological strategy dimensions we gain insight into life-history trade-offs that operate within and between environments, and thus into phenomena such as trait-shifts along geographic gradients, and processes such as community assembly. Several exciting current and future research directions will be highlighted. 14:10 Functional differentiation of tropical tree species POORTER, L. (Wageningen University, NL) Tropical rain forests are characterized by horizontal and vertical gradients in light availability. Tree species partition these gradients through variation in regeneration light requirements and adult stature. Both strategy axes are related to different functional traits; regeneration light requirements to carbon gain and persistence- adult stature to architecture and reproduction. 14:30 Plant functional traits and soil carbon sequestration. DE DEYN, G.B.1, CORNELISSEN, JHC2, BARDGETT, R.D.1 (1 Lancaster University, UK, 2 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, NL) Plant functional traits control soil carbon storage through carbon assimilation, its transfer and storage in belowground biomass, and its release from soil via respiration, fire and leaching. Here,

we present a mechanistic plant trait based framework to enhance our understanding of how vegetation composition will affect soil carbon sequestration. 14:50 Cascading effects of floral traits on pollination ecology and fecundity of tropical trees. BURSLEM, D.R.R.P.1, KETTLE, C.K.1, MAYCOCK, C.R.1, HOLLINGSWORTH, P.2, GHAZOUL, J.3 (1 University of Aberdeen, U.K., 2 Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, U.K., 3 ETH Zurich, Switzerland) We examined the role of flower size variation in pollination ecology and fruit production in dipterocarp species in Borneo. We found evidence that variation in flower size established a trade-off between flower number and pollination success that contributed to equalizing per-capita fecundity among species, thus promoting their coexistence. 15:10 Biodiversity, geographic distributions and life history patterns in tropical Lepidoptera BECK, J. (University of Basel, Switzerland) Lepidoptera are suitable to study patterns of distribution and biodiversity in insects. Furthermore, their variability in ‘life-history syndromes’ allows across-taxonomic comparisons. I will report of my work in both fields, focusing on Southeast-Asia. Furthermore, I will point out how fusing these fields will provide insights into functional aspects of distribution. 15:30 Trait Variation and Phylogenetic Structure in Inga (Fabaceae) Communities in Panama and Peru DEXTER, K.G.1, PENNINGTON, R.T. 2, KURSAR, T.A. 3, COLEY, P.D.3 (1 CNRS, Universite de Toulouse, France, 2 Royal Gardens at Edinburgh, UK, 3 University of Utah, USA) We investigate the role of resource-use versus herbivore defence traits in contributing to coexistence of species in the tropical tree genus Inga (Fabaceae). We find that, despite very different underlying phylogenetic community structures, co-occurring species in both Panama and Peru show greater divergence in herbivore defence traits than expected by chance. Further information Become a member http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/meetings/current_future_meetings/sessions.php?session= TT3 b) Tropical Ecology Group Meeting Short presentation on activities 2008-2009, discussion of proposal for 2009-2010 (YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE AN INPUT) and hand over of secretary job to Simon Queenborough! Tuesday 8 September 20.30 – 21.30 Room N108 Catering red/white wine, water, juice and ‘nibbles’ (nuts/crisps) 2) NEW TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP WEB ADDRESS (AGAIN) I am please to report that we have a new shorter web link within the BES site, find us now at: www.britishecologicalsociety.org/tropical 3) 5TH INTERNATIONAL CANOPY CONFERENCE IN BANGALORE Dear all, I would like to invite abstract contributions to our proposed symposium at the 5th International Canopy Conference in Bangalore, 25-31 October. If you have new findings/synthesis/work in progress that would contribute to the theme, please write to [email protected]. We are investigating how we can support people to attend the conference/symposium. We would welcome a co-organiser.

Proposed Symposium for the International Canopy Conference, Bangalore, 25-31 October 2009 Challenges and opportunities for research into canopy function and service provision in the face of climate change Global Canopy Programme (& co-organiser?) In several ways, forest canopies are in the front line in the fight against climate change. Policy makers are increasingly aware of the potential role of forests in both mitigating and adapting to climate change. The very presence of a canopy defines a forest within international policies, but many policy makers may not be aware of the role canopies play at the interface between biodiversity and the atmosphere. An understanding of the functioning of canopies (e.g. photosynthesis, pollination and volatile production) and an appreciation of the resulting services (e.g. carbon sequestration, microclimate regulation, disease vector regulation, cloud condensation) is of fundamental importance to our ability to guide policies on conservation and sustainable management of forest resources. It is therefore important to synthesise existing knowledge related to this issue from the perspective of canopy science. This symposium will bring together canopy research focusing on (i) the role of forest canopies in providing regulating and supporting ecosystem services* that promote mitigation of and resilience to climate change; and (ii) the potential impacts of climate change on those services and the provision of services to local populations, such as medicinal plants. The symposium will conclude with a discussion of lessons learned and the potential for coordinated research and capacity-building to apply the science for emerging conservation mechanisms such as Payments for Ecosystem Services, currently being developed by the international community. [* The Millennium Assessment (MA) defines ecosystem services (ES) as the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems, including food, natural fibers, a steady supply of clean water, regulation of pests and diseases, medicinal substances, recreation, and protection from natural hazards such as floods. Human well-being consists of security, the basic materials for a viable livelihood (food, shelter, clothing, energy, etc., or the income necessary to purchase them), freedom and choice, good health, and good social-cultural relations. The MA divided ES into four types: supporting, regulating, provisioning and cultural.] Best wishes, Mandar -Mandar Trivedi, D.Phil Global Canopy Programme John Krebs Field Centre, Wytham, Oxford, OX2 8QJ, United Kingdom +44 (0)1865 724222 - [email protected] - www.globalcanopy.org 4) RESEARCH ASSISTANT – PLANT-SOIL-MICROBIAL INTERACTIONS Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences (Plant-soil-microbial interactions) (Fixed Term Contract - 9 months full-time from Date of Appointment, ideally 1st October 2009)

Salary Grade 5: Fixed Point - £20,226 per annum, pro-rata Following recent success in the Research Assessment Exercise, we are looking to develop the area of plant-soil-microbial interactions and therefore seek applications for a Research Assistant to work in this field. Specifically, you will examine microbial community structure (root-inhabiting mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria) in tropical and temperate ecosystems using molecular methodologies such as PCR, DGGE, T-RFLP and sequencing. In addition, you will be required to prepare ecological materials for basic nutrient analyses (such as carbon, nitrogen, and total elemental concentration using acid digestion). The ability to construct phylogenetic trees would be an advantage. You should have a minimum of a good BSc (Hons) degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of biology, ecology, or microbiology, an excellent knowledge of relevant molecular techniques and a good knowledge of mycorrhizal or bacterial ecology and/or soil science. For further information about the post please contract Dr Robin Sen ([email protected], 0161 2476208) or Dr Francis Brearley ([email protected], 0161 2471717). It is anticipated that interviews will be held in mid-September 2009. For more information and to apply online, visit http://www.jobs.mmu.ac.uk If you do not have access to the internet or require an application in an alternative format please contact Human Resources on 0161 247 6464 quoting reference SN/056. Closing date for receipt of applications is 27th August 2009. ************************************************************* Francis Q. Brearley Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences Manchester Metropolitan University Chester Street Manchester M1 5GD +44 (0)161 2471717 http://www.egs.mmu.ac.uk/brearley.html 5) LECTURER IN CONSERVATION ECOLOGY Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences Manchester Metropolitan University Salary Grade 8: £30,594 - £36,532 per annum, pro rata (0.7FTE, Fixed-term until 31 March 2011, in the first instance) The Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, one of the largest of its kind in the country, with over 800 students, and highly commended research in the most recent RAE exercise wishes to appoint a Lecturer in Conservation Ecology. You will contribute to our longstanding successful undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and your research and enterprise interests should complement those of other staff in the Department. An interest or experience in any of the following would be of particular interest: Global biodiversity conservation Tropical ecology Bird ecology and conservation Field research and analytical methods

Possessing a PhD (or equivalent) and relevant experience is essential. Ideally, a good track record in research will be demonstrated by publications and there will be a drive towards developing new research projects while in post. For an informal discussion please contact Dr Stuart Marsden (Tel 0161 247 6215, [email protected]). 6) RESEACH HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) Members papers Webber BL & McKey D. (2009) Cyanogenic myrmecophytes, redundant defence mechanisms and complementary defence syndromes: revisiting the neotropical ant-acacias. New Phytologist. 182: 792-794. Webber BL & Woodrow IE. (2009) Chemical and physical plant defence across multiple ontogenetic stages in a tropical rain forest understorey tree. Journal of Ecology. 97: 761-771. b) Journal of Ecology http://www.journalofecology.org Growth properties of 16 non-pioneer rain forest tree species differing in sapling architecture Masahiro Aiba, Tohru Nakashizuka Published online on Jun 08, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01522.x (p 992-999) Defoliation and ENSO effects on vital rates of an understorey tropical rain forest palm Miguel Martínez-Ramos, Niels P.R. Anten, David D. Ackerly Published online on Jul 10, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01531.x (p 1050-1061) If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let me know… -------------------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151 PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/ BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP http://www.besteg.org

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP, SEPTEMBER 2009, (No. 26) Summary: 1) TEG secretary handover: William Gosling – Simon Queenborough 2) TEG @ BES annual meeting - report 3) TEG engagement with NERC Biodiversity theme? 4) Call for LEEDS 2010 thematic session – what do YOU want discussed? 5) Research papers William and Simon [email protected] www.britishecologicalsociety.org/tropical -------------------1) TEG SECRETARY HANDOVER: WILLIAM GOSLING - SIMON QUEENBOROUGH At the annual meeting I handed over responsibility for the TEG to Simon. After three years in charge (and with looming increase in teaching load) I felt it was time to step down from this role. I have enjoyed running the group and think that it has evolved to provide a useful service for our academic community. I am pleased that we have maintained a significant presence at the last three annual meetings through thematic sessions and group meetings. In particular I have fond memories of the buffet meal in the Kibble Palace (Glasgow Botanic Gardens) during the 2007 meeting. The birth, and continued success, of the Early Career Researcher Meetings (ECRM) has also been exciting. Providing the opportunity of the somewhat disparate tropical community in the UK to come together is, I think, valuable for the development of related research in this country. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the BES, and in particular Hefin Jones (Chair of Meetings Committee) and Richard English (Communications Officer), for their help and support throughout the last three years. They have been very keen to encourage TEG activities and we have always managed to overcome any difficulties satisfactorily. None of the events would have happened without the financial backing of the BES and I hope this support continues for our proposed 2009-2010 program! Looking to the future I hope to maintain an interest in running the TEG as a committee member and am also considering standing to become an Ordinary Member of the BES council. I think that the provisional program for the ECRM in Nottingham looks exciting. This will include the normal program of talks and invited speakers with the addition of a statistics training day (see below for further details). From a wider point of view, I hope that the TEG can develop stronger links with other related international organisations (particularly the ATBC) and think of ways in which to utilise the new opportunities provided by the BES investment in lecture theatre facilities at the new offices in London. Finally, many thanks to all those who helped with, and participated in, the various TEG activities over the last three years. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have. I am sure that the group will continue to grow and expand its activities with Simon at the helm. Will -------------------William D. Gosling The Open University

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

2) TEG @ BES ANNUAL MEETING BES Annual Meeting, University of Hertfordshire 8 - 10 September 2009 a) Thematic session Oral Session TT3: Life History & Functional Trait Variation in Tropical Systems Chair: DR SIMON QUEENBOROUGH “To investigate the problems concerning the economy of plants [all organisms], the demands that they make on their environment, and the means that they employ to utilize the surrounding conditions and to adapt their external and internal structure and general form for that purpose” This quote comes from an English translation of a book by the German oecologist (as the word was then written) Warming, in 1909. It provided the first definition of ecology and how the traits of organisms are related to function. The TEG Thematic Session was a great success again this year. With between 40 and 80 delegates at each of the talks, we were one of the best attended sessions that I went to. A great overview of the field of functional trait research, its history and future directions was provided by Ian Wright. He emphasised the role of early German and British ecologists in developing the ideas (although it was not called ‘functional traits’ at the time), and provided the reference above! He also presented an outline of how one might go about a traits-based research programme (in whatever system), and smoothly segued into Lourens Poorter’s discussion of leaf traits in aiding the coexistence of tropical trees in Bolivia and Liberia. In one of the few questions in the session that time allowed (!), Lourens clarified that the ‘sun’ leaves often referred to in papers are not necessarily leaves grown in full sunlight, but those of the outer canopy of the tree. Gerlinde de Deyn then provided a good introduction to soils and how soil processes might influence plant traits. David Burslem gave a fascinating account of how coexistence in dipterocarps is aided by pollinators and flowers of different sizes. The number of pollen bags and flowers monitored in this study (high up in the canopy!) was very impressive. The entomological theme was continued by Jan Beck, who discussed the life histories of Malaysian butterflies and moths and how this was related to their food. Finally, Kyle Dexter gave an overview of his research on Inga in Peru and discussed coexistence in relation to herbivore defences. It was a stimulating session that offered plenty of ideas, as well as a glimpse of some of the excellent work being done in this area. b) Tropical Ecology Group Meeting The meeting was attended by over twenty people who all seemed to enjoy the wine and nibbles provided by the BES. I presented a short review of the years activities and Markus Eichhorn th presented proposals for the 4 Early Career Researcher Meeting in Nottingham, which should th take place on the 7-9 April 2010 (subject to BES backing) with a theme of ‘Dealing with Diversity’. We have already obtained provisional acceptance from three plenary speakers: Prof Anne Chao, Prof Alexandre Diniz-Filho and Dr Francis Gilbert. The first two will each be running half-day workshops dealing with sampling and analysing data from hyperdiverse communities at local (Anne Chao) and regional (Alexandre Diniz-Filho) scales. Francis Gilbert will be speaking on how diversity studies can be translated into practical conservation and used to influence policy makers. All early-career researchers (PhD or post-doc) are welcome to present their tropicalrelated research either with a talk or poster. For more information contact Markus Eichhorn ([email protected]) or Richard Field ([email protected]).

To conclude the meeting I handed over the ‘power’ to Simon and most people hung around to discus tropical ecological matters in a serious manner for some time… (or at least until the wine ran out). 3) TEG ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NERC BIODIVERSITY THEME At the BES annual meeting there was a presentation by Prof. Ken Norris as the new NERC Biodiversity Theme leader. His talk provoked some discussion at the TEG group meeting related to NERC definitions of biodiversity, why biodiversity is important and how the TEG might engage with the NERC theme. The talk by Prof. Norris also revealed that the Biodiversity Theme is currently thinking about a developing calls related around “Human modified tropical forests” and “Biodiversity and the carbon cycle” both of which I am sure will have relevance to TEG members. I suggest that people either contact Prof. Norris directly or, I am happy to collate some ideas and put them forward on behalf of the group. Will ([email protected]) NERC Biodiversity theme http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/themes/biodiversity/ NERC Biodiversity theme leader Professor Ken Norris http://www.rdg.ac.uk/caer/staff_ken_norris.html 4) CALL FOR THEMATIC SESSION PROPOSAL FOR LEEDS 2010 The TEG has presented thematic sessions at the last three BES annual meetings: 2007: Climate change impacts on tropical ecosystems 2008: Integrating genetic and biogeographic research: the key to understanding diversity in the tropics? 2009: Life history & functional trait variation in tropical systems The BES has supported these by providing money for invited speakers. If YOU have an idea for a thematic session at the next BES annual meeting in Leeds please e-mail [email protected] and we will be happy help out with the submission and to discuss putting it forward with the support of the TEG. Proposals need to be presented at the next meetings committee meeting in October and should comprise 1 side of A4, containing abstract and list of suggested speakers. So please get in touch ASAP! Leeds 2010: http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/meetings/current_future_meetings/2010_annual_meeting/i ndex.php 5) RESEACH HIGHLIGHTS FROM: BES JOURNALS AND TEG MEMBERS a) Members papers Long-term drivers of change in Polylepis woodland distribution in the central Andes

Gosling, William D.; Hanselman, Jennifer A.; Knox, Christopher; Valencia, Bryan G. & Bush, Mark B. Journal of Vegetation Science Early View (Articles online in advance of print) http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122587386/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 Taxonomic scale of niche partitioning and local neighbourhood effects on survival of tropical tree seedlings Queenborough, S.A., Burslem, D.F.R.P., Garwood, N.C., Valencia, R. Proceedings of the Royal Society, B., doi: 10.1098/rspb.2009.0921 Seed mass, abundance and breeding system among tropical forest species: do dioecious species exhibit compensatory reproduction or abundances? Queenborough, S.A., Mazer, S.J., Vamosi, S.M., Garwood, N.C. & Valencia, R. 2009 Journal of Ecology 97, 555-566. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01485.x b) Journal of Ecology, Volume 97 Issue 5 (September 2009) Global patterns in plant height Angela T. Moles, David I. Warton, Laura Warman, Nathan G. Swenson, Shawn W. Laffan, Amy E. Zanne, Andy Pitman, Frank A. Hemmings, Michelle R. Leishman DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01526.x (p 923-932) Defoliation and ENSO effects on vital rates of an understorey tropical rain forest palm Miguel Martínez-Ramos, Niels P.R. Anten, David D. Ackerly Published online on Jul 10, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01531.x (p 1050-1061) c) Functional Ecology, Volume 23 Issue 4 (August 2009) Differences in growth patterns between co-occurring forest and savanna trees affect the forest– savanna boundary Davi Rodrigo Rossatto, William Arthur Hoffmann, Augusto César Franco Published online on Apr 14, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2009.01568.x (p 689-698) d) Journal of Animal Ecology, Volume 78 Issue 5 (September 2009) Pollination networks of oil-flowers: a tiny world within the smallest of all worlds Elisângela L.S. Bezerra, Isabel C. Machado, Marco A. R. Mello Published online on Jun 08, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2009.01567.x (p 1096-1101) e) Journal of Applied Ecology, Volume 46 Issue 4 (August 2009) Conservation value of cacao agroforestry for amphibians and reptiles in South-East Asia: combining correlative models with follow-up field experiments Thomas C. Wanger, Akbar Saro, Djoko T. Iskandar, Barry W. Brook, Navjot S. Sodhi, Yann Clough, Teja Tscharntke Published online on Jun 05, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01663.x (p 823-832) Trade-offs between specificity and regional generality in habitat association models: a case study of two species of African vulture Andrew J. Bamford, Ara Monadjem, Mark D. Anderson, Angus Anthony, Wendy D. Borello, Marilyn Bridgeford, Peter Bridgeford, Pete Hancock, Bill Howells, James Wakelin, Ian C.W. Hardy Published online on Jun 12, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01669.x (p 852-860)

Spatial covariance between biodiversity and other ecosystem service priorities Barbara J. Anderson, Paul R. Armsworth, Felix Eigenbrod, Chris D. Thomas, Simon Gillings, Andreas Heinemeyer, David B. Roy, Kevin J. Gaston Published online on Jun 22, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01666.x (p 888-896) Assessing biodiversity by remote sensing in mountainous terrain: the potential of LiDAR to predict forest beetle assemblages Jörg Müller, Roland Brandl Published online on Jun 22, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01677.x (p 897-905) Editor's Choice: Assessing biodiversity by remote sensing in mountainous terrain Jos Barlow Published online on Jul 01, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01684.x (p 946-946)

If I’ve missed anything or you want YOUR paper featured here just let SIMON know… [email protected] -------------------William D. Gosling RCUK Academic Fellow Earth & Environmental Sciences CEPSAR The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA UNITED KINGDOM Tel. +44 (0)1908 655147 Fax. +44 (0)1908 655151 PALAEOECOLOGY AT THE OU http://www.open.ac.uk/science/earthsciences/palaeo/ BES TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP www.britishecologicalsociety.org/tropical

SUMMARY 1. BESTEG Early Career Researcher Meeting 7-9 April 2010: ‘Dealing with Diversity’ 2. New BES journal: Methods in Ecology and Evolution 3. Kew Tropical Plant ID course 10-21 May 2010 4. Frugivore and Seed Dispersal workshop: Montpellier 13-18 June 2010 5. Field Skills 6. JOB: Director, Tropical Conservation & Development, University of Florida 7. New CTFS blog Simon [email protected]

www.britishecologicalsociety.org/tropical

1. BESTEG Early Career Researcher Meeting 7-9 April 2010: ‘Dealing with Diversity’ th The 4 ECRM will take place at Nottingham University, with plenary lectures from Prof. Anne Chao, Prof. Alexandre Diniz-Filho, and Dr Francis Gilbert. Two days of presentations will be followed by two half-day workshops dealing with how to effectively sample and analyse data from hyper-diverse communities at local (Anne Chao) and regional (Alexandre Diniz-Filho) scales. Both workshops will introduce free bespoke software for the recommended analyses. All post-doc and PhDs are welcome to present their tropical-related research at the meeting with a talk or poster, and delegates will be able to register separately for the workshops if desired. Registration will open in the New Year, but please place the dates in your diary. 2. New BES journal: Methods in Ecology and Evolution The BES’ new journal was launched recently, and the first issue will be available in 2010: Methods in Ecology and Evolution publishes methods papers in all areas of ecology and evolutionary biology, including statistical, analytical, field and lab methods. The journal provides authors with a cutting edge means of dissemination and readers with easy access to methods via online supplements and support. MEE brings together papers from previously disparate sub-disciplines to provide a single forum for tracking methodological developments in all areas of ecology and evolution. See www.methodsinecologyandevolution.org for more info. Why publish in Methods in Ecology and Evolution? Rapid review: papers are normally reviewed and decision made within 4 weeks of submission. Rapid publication: article by article 'Early View' publication ensures papers are published online in their finished format, without waiting for issue compilation. High visibility: online access to MEE will be free for all individuals in the first year of publication (2010). Librarians can also register for free online access in perpetuity for the first two years of publication (2010 and 2011). BES member access: members of the British Ecological Society will be able to access the journal. Developing world access: MEE will be made available to institutions in developing countries through the AGORA, OARE and INASP philanthropic initiatives. Open Access: MEE is part of Online Open, which allows authors to fund their article to be open access from publication. Online submission: efficient and author-friendly web-based system for submission and review. No author fees: no charge for additional online material or colour in main text. LaTeX submission: we accept submissions in LaTeX as well as Word.

3. Kew Tropical Plant ID course 10-21 May 2010 The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is organizing a two-week Tropical Plant Identification Course from 10 to 21 May 2010. The course has been designed for conservation and environment professionals, and is also suitable for graduate students, ethnobotanists, ecologists and zoologists. Taught by Kew’s botanists, all with an in-depth knowledge of the plants and habitats of the tropics, the course will give participants an overview of 70 of the most commonly encountered tropical plant families, as well as an introduction to plant morphology and identification tools. Through short illustrated lectures, and extensive hands-on practical sessions, Kew’s botanists will demonstrate the key characters for each family, sharing their expert tips for identification. Students will join identification sessions focused on different regions in the tropics; and a visit to the living collections will provide a chance to apply this knowledge ‘in the field’. The course fee for non-Kew staff is £700: this covers teaching costs and course materials; funds for travel to Kew and subsistence must be sought elsewhere. It is likely that the BES will provide some level of support. See www.britishecologicalsociety.org/tropical for more information and booking form. Contact: Tim Utteridge ([email protected]) or Gemma Bramley ([email protected]).

4. Frugivore and Seed Dispersal workshop: Montpellier 13-18 June 2010 Call for symposia proposals: deadline: January 14, 2010 Paper and poster topics reflecting the FSD2010 Symposium’s main themes are particularly encouraged, including: (1) Organismal and natural history oriented research; (2) Movement ecology, dispersal kernels, and genetic effects; (3) Ecology and evolution of frugivory and seed dispersal; and (4) Impact of anthropogenic disturbance and climate change on seed dispersal systems. Research on plant-animal interactions from all habitat types and global regions will be considered, and we encourage submission of original research from all scholars, including students, junior researchers, and senior scientists. See www.fsd2010.org for further information

5. Field Skills FieldSkills Expedition Services and Logistics provide training and support for many activities: www.fieldskills.com

6. JOB: Director, Tropical Conservation & Development, University of Florida Deadline: 30 November 2009-10-29 The Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida (UF) seeks to hire a Director for its Tropical Conservation and Development (TCD) Program. The Director will lead and advocate for an innovative, worldclass research and training program with over 100 faculty affiliates; foster, maintain and strengthen partnerships with colleagues and institutions at UF and with partner organizations throughout the world; secure extra-mural funding; and help strengthen a dynamic research and training program with a long-range vision for the future. The Director of TCD reports to the Director of the Center for Latin American Studies and will hold a joint appointment at the rank of Professor or Associate Professor between the Center and a relevant disciplinary department. See www.britishecologicalsociety.org/tropical for further information.

7. New CTFS blog http://ctfsnews.blogspot.com/

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP e-BULLETIN #28

NOVEMBER 2009

SUMMARY 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

TEG Early Career Researcher meeting 7-9 April 2010 Gratis books scheme JOB: MMU Leverhulme Visiting Fellow NERC Peer Review College call POSTDOC: Biodiversity Science and Informatics PHD: 2 PhD Positions in Ecology, Biogeography and Conservation

Reminders of Meetings & Courses (click to link): a) Kew Tropical Plant ID course 10-21 May 2010 b) Frugivore and Seed Dispersal 13-18 June 2010 c) ATBC, Bali 19-23 July 2010 Simon [email protected]

www.britishecologicalsociety.org/tropical

1. TEG Early Career Researcher Meeting, ‘Dealing with Diversity’ 7-9 April 2010

The 4th annual early-career researchers meeting of the Tropical Ecology Group will be in Nottingham from 7-9th April 2010. The overall theme is ‘Dealing with Diversity: Description and analysis of hyperdiverse ecosystems’, though we will welcome talks or posters on any topic within tropical ecology. The meeting will comprise two days of talks followed by an optional one-day workshop introducing techniques for diversity analysis at both local and regional scales. Our plenary speakers will be Prof. Anne Chao (Taiwan) and Prof. Alexandre Diniz-Filho (Brazil), each of whom will run a workshop session. There will also be a special seminar by Dr Francis Gilbert (Nottingham) on the use of diversity studies to inform policy and conservation. Abstract submission and registration will open in the New Year, but if you have any general enquiries about the meeting please send them to [email protected].

2. Gratis books scheme The Gratis Books Scheme provides ecology and conservation books to those outside Western Europe, North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand who would otherwise be unable to obtain them. The simple purpose of this scheme is to spread ecological knowledge as widely as possible. Books made available through this scheme are free to eligible applicants. Unfortunately due to a web server failure all applications for Gratis Books from January to the end of September 2009 have been lost. NHBS are appealing to pass on information about the Scheme to students and colleagues who may have applied and whose details have been lost. They also ask that you forward this information to students and colleagues in eligible countries who may wish to apply for the first time. The books currently in the Gratis Books Scheme are: Invasive Species Management, Amphibian Ecology and Conservation, Habitat Management for Conservation, Forest Ecology and Conservation, Bird Ecology and Conservation, The Conservation Handbook. The scheme is run by NHBS Environment Bookstore and the postage is funded by the British Ecological Society. The authors and publishers whose titles appear in this scheme have provided free copies for use by Gratis recipients. Details on applying and eligibility criteria can be found at http://www.nhbs.com/Conservation/gratis-books.php

3. JOB: MMU Leverhulme Visiting Fellow Francis Brearley

http://www.egs.mmu.ac.uk/brearley.html

Manchester Metropolitan University has just been awarded a grant from the Leverhulme Trust to bring two visiting fellows to the university for a period of 9-12 months. We potentially have one position in our research group and are looking for a candidate with up to eight years post-doctoral experience who may be interested. If you are a non-UK citizen who is interested, or know of non-UK citizens who might be interested, then please contact Francis and include a short statement (< 250 words) of how you feel your research would compliment that of our department (www.egs.mmu.ac.uk; particularly look at the interests of myself, Caporn, Dise, Marsden, Sen & Thomas). The fellow will be paid a stipend of £1800 per month.

4. NERC Peer Review College call NERC is calling for new members of its Peer Review College: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/assessment/peerreview/members-call.asp

5. POSTDOC: Postdoctoral position in Biodiversity Science and Informatics (Biodiversity informatics, Species distribution modeling, GIS, Conservation of East African vertebrates) Jetz Lab, Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), Yale University One 2-3 year position is available starting between January and July 2010. We are looking for an expert in the analysis, management, and visualization of large quantities of spatial (and phylogenetic) biodiversity data. Knowledge of the major biodiversity informatics initiatives, the design of relational databases, species distribution modeling, and GIS are required. The successful candidate will likely have deep working knowledge in most of the following: SQL/postgreSQL, PostGIS, ArcGIS, Python, PHP, Java, R. Experience in Unix/Linux will be a benefit. A number of basic or applied research opportunities based on databases in the Lab are possible and will be developed jointly with the successful candidate. One specific research opportunity is an assessment of the fate of East African terrestrial vertebrates under climate change. This project will include time in the field with collaborators in Kenya, and close interactions with the African Conservation Center, the Natural History Museum in Nairobi, and the Kenya Wildlife Service. RESEARCH GROUP: In the Jetz Lab, the successful candidate will interact with two PhD students and four postdoctoral fellows. For further information see: http://www.yale.edu/jetz. Yale has a thriving community of postdocs and graduate students in ecology, evolution and global change science. The postdoctoral fellow will benefit from interactions with the EEB Department, the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies (http://www.yale.edu/yibs), the Peabody Museum (both physically connected to EEB), the Yale Climate & Energy Institute, and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (http://environment.yale.edu). APPLICATION: Please email short letter of interest, C.V., and the names and contact details of three referees (ideally all combined in one pdf) to [email protected] – subject line: Biodiversity Postdoc. Submission of at least partial materials before 4 Dec is encouraged. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until late December, or until the position is filled.

6. PHD: 2 x PhD Positions in Ecology, Biogeography and Conservation (Jetz Lab), Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Yale University Up to two fully-funded PhD positions are available starting Fall 2010. We are interested in students with research experience who are excited about interdisciplinary work spanning a range of ecological scales. Applicants should have a strong interest in combining theory, data analysis and modeling, and potentially fieldwork to address questions in Community ecology, Community phylogenetics, Geographical ecology, Movement ecology, Biodiversity science, Biogeography, and Global change ecology. Our preferred study system is terrestrial vertebrates, but work on other groups (including plants) is possible. The student will be integrated in the department’s thriving graduate program in ecology and evolution and will be able to interact closely with related programs in the neighboring Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. Annual stipends are ca. $27k. RESEARCH GROUP: In the Jetz Lab, the successful candidate will interact with two finishing PhD students and four postdoctoral fellows. For further information see: http://www.yale.edu/jetz. There are excellent additional training opportunities in the EEB Department, the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies (http://www.yale.edu/yibs), the Peabody Museum (both physically connected to

the EEB Department), and the Yale Climate & Energy Institute - e.g. in GIS, macroecology, phylogenetics, phylogeography, macroevolution, biodiversity science, climate change science, global change ecology, and more. APPLICATIONS: Please note that applications are due December 4, 2009. For further information see http://www.yale.edu/eeb/grad/index.htm and http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/admissions/index.html

Tropical Papers: Rachel E. Gallery, David J. P. Moore, James W. Dalling. (2009) Interspecific variation in susceptibility to fungal pathogens in seeds of 10 tree species in the neotropical genus Cecropia. Journal of Ecology. Early View. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01589.x Vamosi, S.M. & Queenborough, S.A. Breeding systems, phylogenetic diversity and abundance along a large-scale elevational gradient. Journal of Biogeography. Early View: doi:10.1111/j.13652699.2009.02214.x Aryal, A.& Kreigenhofer, B. 2009. “Summer diet composition of the Common Leopard Panthera pardus (Carnivora: Felidae) in Nepal”. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 1 (11): 562-566. . (Download PDF). Robert Bagchi, Malcolm C. Press, Julie D. Scholes. Evolutionary history and distance dependence control survival of dipterocarp seedlings. Ecology Letters. Early View: DOI: 10.1111/j.14610248.2009.01397.x

Journal of Ecology Local versus landscape-scale effects of savanna trees on grasses Corinna Riginos, James B. Grace, David J. Augustine, Truman P. Young Published online on Sep 02, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01563.x (p 1337-1345) Abiotic and biotic drivers of seedling survival in a hurricane-impacted tropical forest Liza S. Comita, Maria Uriarte, Jill Thompson, Inge Jonckheere, Charles D. Canham, Jess K. Zimmerman Published online on Aug 05, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01551.x (p 1346-1359) Response of recruitment to light availability across a tropical lowland rain forest community Nadja Rüger, Andreas Huth, Stephen P. Hubbell, Richard Condit Published online on Aug 05, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01552.x (p 1360-1368) Functional Ecology Phosphorus economics of tropical rainforest species and stands across soil contrasts in Queensland, Australia: understanding the effects of soil specialization and trait plasticity Sean M. Gleason, Jenny Read, Adrian Ares, Dan J. Metcalfe Published online on Jun 08, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2009.01575.x (p 1157-1166)

Journal of Animal Ecology Structuring of Amazonian bat assemblages: the roles of flooding patterns and floodwater nutrient load Maria João Ramos Pereira, João Tiago Marques, Joana Santana, Carlos David Santos, João Valsecchi, Helder Lima de Queiroz, Pedro Beja, Jorge M. Palmeirim Published online on Jul 14, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2009.01591.x (p 1163-1171)

Ecology Letters Are the dynamics of tropical forests dominated by large and rare disturbance events? (p E19-E21) Jon Lloyd, Emanuel U. Gloor, Simon L. Lewis Published Online: Nov 8 2009 11:28PM DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01326.x Lack of intermediate-scale disturbance data prevents robust extrapolation of plot-level tree mortality rates for old-growth tropical forests (p E22-E25) Jeffrey Q. Chambers, Robinson I. Negrón-Juárez, George C. Hurtt, Daniel M. Marra, Niro Higuchi Published Online: Nov 8 2009 11:28PM DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01398.x

TROPICAL ECOLOGY GROUP e-BULLETIN #29

DECEMBER 2009

SUMMARY 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

TEG Early Career Researcher meeting 7-9 April 2010 JOB: Lecturer in Plant Ecology at Lund University, Sweden POSTDOC: Spatial Ecological Modelling, Carlton University, Canada JOB: Botanist/Plant Ecologist for Suriname TEAM site PAPERS

Reminders of Meetings & Courses (click to link): a) Kew Tropical Plant ID course 10-21 May 2010 b) Frugivore and Seed Dispersal 13-18 June 2010 c) ATBC, Bali 19-23 July 2010 Simon [email protected]

www.britishecologicalsociety.org/tropical

1. TEG Early Career Researcher Meeting, ‘Dealing with Diversity’ 7-9 April 2010

The 4th annual early-career researchers meeting of the Tropical Ecology Group will be in Nottingham from 7-9th April 2010. The overall theme is ‘Dealing with Diversity: Description and analysis of hyperdiverse ecosystems’, though we will welcome talks or posters on any topic within tropical ecology. The meeting will comprise two days of talks followed by an optional one-day workshop introducing techniques for diversity analysis at both local and regional scales. Our plenary speakers will be Prof. Anne Chao (Taiwan) and Prof. Alexandre Diniz-Filho (Brazil), each of whom will run a workshop session. There will also be a special seminar by Dr Francis Gilbert (Nottingham) on the use of diversity studies to inform policy and conservation. Abstract submission and registration will open in the New Year, but if you have any general enquiries about the meeting please send them to [email protected].

2. JOB: Lecturer in Plant Ecology at Lund University A position of a Tenure-track Lecturer in Plant Ecology within the Department of Ecology, Lund University is now being advertised. I'd like to emphasize that this position is NOT designed with a particular person in mind and we welcome applications from both within and outside Sweden. Honor Prentice Professor Department of Ecology Lund University Sweden For details see: http://www.planteco.lu.se/lecturer091123.pdf

3. POSTDOC: Spatial Ecological Modelling, Carlton University, Canada Postdoctoral Position in Spatial Ecological Modelling: A postdoctoral position is available at Carleton University in spatial ecological modelling. The objective of the research is to build a set of hypotheses that predict the spatial scale over which landscape structure affects population dynamics. The position is available for up to three years, beginning April 2010, at a salary commensurate with an NSERC PDF. enquiries: [email protected].

4. JOB: Botanist/Plant Ecologist for Suriname TEAM site The Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) Network is looking for a Tropical Botanist/Plant Ecologist consultant with expertise on the flora of the Guiana Shield (particularly trees), strong interest in monitoring of tropical forests, a broad interest in tropical plant ecology/botany, and a commitment to creating a global public data resource on tropical forest ecosystems. The TEAM Botanist/Plant Ecologist would be responsible for the technical implementation of the TEAM Vegetation Protocol at our monitoring site in Central Suriname Nature Reserve (CSNR), Suriname, following TEAM’s standardized protocol implementation manual (http://www.teamnetwork.org/en/protocols/bio/vegetation). Work expected includes the setup of six 1-ha plots, training of technical personnel, data collection, data management and data upload to the TEAM portal within a specified period of time. The TEAM Botanist/Plant Ecologist is expected to travel to Suriname between March-April 2010 and complete the setup of six 1-ha plots no later than June 30, 2010. He/She is expected to travel again in August-September 2010 to carry out the first census of these plots. The TEAM Botanist/Plant Ecologist should have a professionally vested interest in long-term research in the tropics and is essentially the person responsible for the scientific quality of the data collected under his/her supervision and whose name will appear on every record of data collected for this particular protocol at the site. The TEAM Botanist/Plant Ecologist must work in close coordination with the TEAM Site Manager in Suriname and TEAM Technical Director to ensure data is collected according to TEAM schedule and

with the highest scientific standards outlined in the TEAM protocol. The position will be hired as a consultant by Conservation International-Suriname and will include transportation to Suriname, field expenses and a modest compensation. We envision this position to be a multi-year contract with annual trips to Suriname for 2-4 months during the dry season (August-November) for plot re-census work and data reporting. Qualifications M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Biology, Ecology, Botany, Environmental Sciences or related field. A minimum of 3 years of experience working in the field measuring and identifying trees in vegetation plots, familiarity with Guiana Shield/Amazonian flora and taxonomic expertise collecting and identifying plant specimens from these regions. Vested interest in long-term research in tropical forests and a publication record that reflects it. Willingness to spend extended periods in remote field sites under harsh field conditions. Ability and experience managing, training and coordinating field technicians who will aid in the data collection Proven ability to work successfully with a broad range of people from different cultural and educational backgrounds. Willingness to assume the responsibilities associated with timely collection and reporting of data as part of regular TEAM network activities. Commitment to making all data collected immediately publically available, in accordance with the TEAM Data Use Agreement.

Please send Cover letter, CV and names/addresses of three references to Jorge A. Ahumada ([email protected]) no later than February 15, 2010. TEAM’s mission is to generate real time data for monitoring long-term trends in tropical biodiversity and ecosystem services through a global network of field stations, providing an early warning system on the status of biodiversity to effectively guide conservation action. For more information about TEAM please visit http://www.teamnetwork.org.

PAPERS: Lewis, S.L. Lloyd, J., Sitch, S., Mitchard, E.T.A., Laurance, W.F. 2009. Changing Ecology of Tropical Forests: Evidence and Drivers. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 40, 529-549. Parabiotic associations between tropical ants: equal partnership or parasitic exploitation? F.Menzel† and N. Bluthgen. Journal of Animal Ecology 2009 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2009.01628.x Scatter hoarding by the Central American agouti: a test of optimal cache spacing theory Galvez et al. 2009 Animal Behaviour 78, 1327-1333.

Journal of Ecology Drivers of lowland rain forest community assembly, species diversity and forest structure on islands in the tropical South Pacific Gunnar Keppel, Yvonne M. Buckley, Hugh P. Possingham. Published online on Nov 04, 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01595.x (p 87-95) Higher treefall rates on slopes and waterlogged soils result in lower stand biomass and productivity in a tropical rain forest. Bruno Ferry, François Morneau, Jean-Daniel Bontemps, Lilian Blanc, Vincent Freycon. Published online on Nov 17, 2009. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01604.x (p 106-116) Shifts in species and phylogenetic diversity between sapling and tree communities indicate negative density dependence in a lowland rain forest. Mailyn A. Gonzalez, Aurélien Roger, Elodie A. Courtois, Franck Jabot, Natalia Norden, C. E. Timothy Paine, Christopher Baraloto, Christophe Thébaud, Jérôme Chave., Published online on Nov 27, 2009. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01607.x (p 137146) Interspecific variation in susceptibility to fungal pathogens in seeds of 10 tree species in the neotropical genus Cecropia. Rachel E. Gallery, David J. P. Moore, James W. Dalling. Published online on Oct 27, 2009. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01589.x (p 147-155)

Journal of Applied Ecology Competition in an invaded rodent community reveals black rats as a threat to native bush rats in littoral rainforest of south-eastern Australia. Vicki L. Stokes, Peter B. Banks, Roger P. Pech, David M. Spratt. Published online on Nov 26, 2009. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01735.x (p 1239-1247) Growth history and crown vine coverage are principal factors influencing growth and mortality rates of big-leaf mahogany Swietenia macrophylla in Brazil. James Grogan, R. Matthew Landis. Published online on Oct 10, 2009. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01720.x (p 1283-1291) Functional Ecology Phosphorus economics of tropical rainforest species and stands across soil contrasts in Queensland, Australia: understanding the effects of soil specialization and trait plasticity. Sean M. Gleason, Jenny Read, Adrian Ares, Dan J. Metcalfe. Published online on Jun 08, 2009. DOI: 10.1111/j.13652435.2009.01575.x (p 1157-1166)