Science Archives: Other
Ecosystem Simplification: Why a Patchwork Quilt is More Valuable than a Burlap Sack (2001)
The Science Office co-organized this half-day symposium at the 2001 SRM Annual Meeting, which focused on ecosystem complexity and the anthropogenic forces that are simplifying ecosystem structure, species composition, and processes. Topics covered included the hows and whys of ecosystem complexity, land use change impacts, impacts of global changes in climate and nutrients, and impacts of invasive species and extinctions, as well as how to manage for heterogeneity in resource use. The symposium was cosponsored by ESA , SRM, The Nature Conservancy, the USGS Biological Resources Division, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Sagebrush Steppe Communities: Origin, Ecology, Impacts, and Resources (2000)
The Science Office participated in the planning of a one-day symposium at the 2000 SRM Annual Meeting which focused on the ecology and natural resource use of these ecosystems. Topics included the ecological and evolutionary history of sagebrush steppe communities, ecophysiology and water relations, carbon and nitrogen balance, livestock grazing, weed invasion, fire, restoration, wildlife, and rare plant communities. The symposium was co-sponsored by ESA , SRM, and the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station.
The Art and Science of Wetland Restoration (2000)
The Science Office co-organized this symposium for the 2000 AAAS Annual Meeting. Speakers included: Bill Mitsch, Ohio State University , on "Creating and Restoring Wetlands: A Whole Ecosystem Experiment in Self-Design," Mark Kraus, National Audubon Society Florida State Office on "The Everglades: How Do You Begin an Ecosystem Level Restoration?" Jean Marie Hartman, Rutgers University , on "Developing a Reference Set for Restoration Assessment," and Beverly Getzen , U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, on "Wetland Restoration Policy and the Corps of Engineers." The presenters also participated in a stimulating discussion on whether wetland restoration works, on whether we monitor long enough to determine success, on whether our understanding of wetlands is sufficient to know if it works, and the evolving political, scientific, and societal cultures impacting wetland degradation and restoration.
Ecosystem Services: A Free Lunch? (2000)
The Science Office organized this symposium for the 2000 AAAS Annual Meeting, which paired talks on the science behind the ecosystem services of pollination and flood control and the application of this knowledge in resource management. Presentations were given by Kathy Ewel (coorganizer), Rebecca Sharitz, David Inouye and Jordi Bosch. AAAS featured this symposium in their press efforts and set up a press briefing prior to the symposium. The symposium and speakers were featured in an Environmental News Network article. A review of the symposium was published in the July 2000 ESA Bulletin (81(3): 222).
Non-Regulatory Approaches to Species Conservation (2000)
The Science Office co-organized this half-day symposium for the 2000 SRM Annual Meeting, which focused on alternative approaches to prevent the need to list declining species by taking action to remove threats and protect them before they become critically endangered. Topics included the need for nonregulatory approaches, Candidate Conservation (Safe Harbor Agreements) under the Endangered Species Act, conservation agreements and local partnerships, financial incentives for conserving species, and multi-species conservation strategies. The symposium was cosponsored by ESA , SRM, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Ecosystem Management Regional Briefings (1996 - 2000)
A series of briefings designed by the Science Office and regional EPA staff on ecosystem management for mid to senior level management staff was held in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regions 4 (Atlanta), 5 (Chicago), and 8 (Denver). Participants included Charles Peterson (UNC), Rebecca Sharitz (Savannah River Ecology Laboratory), and Elizabeth Blood ( Jones Ecological Research Center ).
Atmospheric Deposition to the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone (1999)
The Science Office organized a one-day workshop at the Estuarine Research Federation Annual Meeting to begin to answer questions about the role of atmospheric inputs to the hypoxic zone of the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of the workshop was to review our knowledge about the contribution of atmospheric deposition to the Gulf hypoxic zone and identify additional information needed to fully understand the significance of the relationship. A workshop report, Where Air and Water Meet: The Role of Atmospheric Deposition in the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone was completed. Cosponsors included EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, and Gulf of Mexico Program . It was one of a series of workshops focused on atmospheric inputs to coastal waters being undertaken jointly by EPA and ESA . (See also Atmospheric Deposition to the Pacific Coast , 2000)
Great Plains Grasslands at the Millennium (1999)
The Science Office co-organized a two-day symposium at the 1999 SRM Annual Meeting on the current knowledge and research on Great Plains grasslands. Topics included the ecological uniqueness and history of the central North American grasslands region, land use management patterns, climate change, biodiversity, invasive species, linking science and management, recreation, grazing by domestic livestock and native ungulates, the ecology of riparian areas in the region, and economic and sociological issues. The symposium also featured a poster session of additional research and management approaches on Great Plains grasslands. The symposium was cosponsored by ESA , the U.S. Forest Service, SRM , the USDA Agricultural Research Service, and the University of Nebraska 's Centers for Grasslands Studies and Great Plains Studies. Selected papers from the symposium were published as a special issue of Great Plains Research. A meeting summary was published in the ESA Bulletin (83(3): 219-222).
The Metropolis in the Millennium: Integrated Science and Urban Ecosystems (1999)
Urban ecology was featured in this Science Office-organized symposium at the 1999 AAAS Annual Meeting, which brought together key scientists from a variety of disciplines who are at the forefront of this emerging field to discuss innovative ways for understanding the interface between natural and human systems. Speakers included Mark R. Walbridge, Steward T.A. Pickett, William E. Rees, Carol Carmichael, and Timothy D. Hogan.
Alien Invasions!: Impacts and Control of Non-indigenous Species (1999)
The Science Office co-organized this 1999 AAAS Annual Meeting symposium, which explored the issues involved in exotic species invasions and efforts to control them. Participants included: Andrew N. Cohen, San Francisco Estuary Institute; Thomas Fritts, USGS BRD; William Gregg, USGS BRD; Don Schmitz, Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and Isi Siddiqui, Deputy Under-Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at USDA.
Understanding Land-use Change: Research and Application at the Cutting Edge (1999)
The Science Office co-organized this 1999 AAAS Annual Meeting Symposium. Understanding land-use change, and providing guidance to inform land-use decisions, is inherently an interdisciplinary undertaking. The causes and impacts of land-use change have both biophysical and sociopolitical dimensions. This symposium examined these multiple dimensions as they are being explored in both theoretical and applied settings. Speakers reported on current efforts to understand land-use change, its causes and consequences; provide input into the land-use decision-making process; and design and implement alternative future land-use scenarios.
Ecological Perspectives on Land Use (1999)
In collaboration with Virginia Dale, the Science Office organized this symposium for the Association of American Geographers 1999 Annual Meeting, which reported on the ESA white paper “Ecological Principles for Managing Land Use”. In addition, the symposium featured papers on land-use decision making processes in the United States and case studies examining the interplay of ecological factors and land use decisions in specific areas of the country ( New Jersey pine lands, greater Yellowstone ecosystem, and mid-western agricultural lands).
Implementing Ecological Principles for Forest Management (1999)
With Virginia Dale, the Science Office organized this symposium for the National Center for Environmental Decision Making 1999 Annual Meeting. The symposium explored the connections between forest land management and ecological principles that can be used to guide land use and management decisions, and featured presentations from federal and state forest management agencies, as well as private forest wood lot owners.
Interagency Watershed Training Course (1998)
ESA 's Science Office worked with the Interagency Watershed Training Cooperative (EPA, NRCS, COE , USFS, FWS) to develop a course entitled "Working at a Watershed Level," and recruited Robert Naiman ( University of Washington ) to develop curricula for two units: Watershed Ecology and Agents of Change in the Watershed. A pilot offering of the course occurred in June to agency resource managers and others, including Naiman as instructor.
EMAP Program Review (1998)
ESA 's Science Office supported EPA's Office of Research and Development in undertaking a one-day review of EMAP program components in March 1998. The review focused on EMAP's approach to collection and analysis of geographic data in the mid-Atlantic region with regard to design of a western EMAP pilot program.
Fossil Fuel Energy Use Symposium (1998)
The Science Office developed a symposium with Orie Loucks of Miami University for the 1998 AAAS Annual Meeting, entitled "Fossil Fuel Consumption: Aggregated Costs and Options for Alternatives." Speakers included Orie Loucks, Paul Runci ( University of Maryland ), and Paul Jefferiss (Union of Concerned Scientists).
Advanced Technologies for Ecological Research (1995 – 1997)
The Science Office participated in a project with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Army Environmental Policy Institute ( AEPI ) to promote dialogue among ecologists on opportunities to incorporate advanced technologies, such as satellite remote sensing and image processing, into ecological research. Activities included two discussion sessions at the 1996 ESA Annual Meeting and a discussion session and workshop at the 1997 ESA Annual Meeting.
Conversation on Forest Health Policy (September 1996)
The Science Office convened a nongovernmental organization focus group to solicit input regarding the U.S. Forest Service draft Interim Directive on Forest Health Policy, producing a set of comments and recommendations on the proposed forest health policy.
Conversations on Ecosystem Management (1995 - 1996)
The Science Office organized a series of informal focus group discussions that gathered stakeholders from all segments of society to address challenges involved in implementing an ecosystem-based approach to management of natural resources. Incorporating Local Values into Ecosystem Management, Small Businesses and Ecosystem Management, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Ecosystem Management.
Department of Defense Ecosystem Management Technical Support (1994 - 1996)
The Science Office provided technical support to address ecosystem management policy development and implementation issues on the 12.5 million acres which the Army manages. Products included four policy white papers and several staff seminars.
Using Inferential Studies to Assess Ecosystem Dynamics (1993 – 1996)
This project included a workshop and review process designed to produce studies on broad scientific questions of relevance to global climate change. The resulting five papers, “ Inferential Studies of Climate Change ,” were published in Ecological Applications (August 1997).
Habitat Sensitivity Program (1992 – 1995)
The Science Office assisted EPA in evaluating the state-of-the-art in assessing the impact of global climate change on habitats. Using an eight member Scientific Review Committee, SBI facilitated dialogue between outside scientists, EPA personnel, and the Principal Investigators of three EPA-funded projects designed to develop methodologies for assessing climate change impacts on habitats. Outreach activities following the project included: a discussion session at the 1995 ESA Annual Meeting, and a symposium at the 1996 AAAS meeting, "Assessing Ecological Implications of Changes in Climate." A summary article was published in the April 1996 ESA Bulletin (Eddy, J.O.F. and T.D. Fuad. 1996. Global Climate Change Impacts on Habitats: Assessing Ecological Implications of Changes in Climate .)
Ecosystem Management Roundtable (1993)
The Science Office collaborated with Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), and the Association of Ecosystem Research Centers (AERC) to convene a high level policy discussion of ecosystem management. Participants included the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, the President's Science Advisor, two members of Congress, representatives of four other executive branch agencies, and ten ecological scientists.
