{"id":63,"date":"2014-07-15T11:52:25","date_gmt":"2014-07-15T11:52:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esa.org\/vegetation2\/?page_id=63"},"modified":"2023-08-29T19:20:19","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T19:20:19","slug":"news","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/esa.org\/vegetation\/news\/","title":{"rendered":"News"},"content":{"rendered":"

A<\/strong><\/span>ugust, 2023<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"We had another successful ESA Annual Meeting as our section contributed to several activities and events at the conference. A big thanks goes to many section members who helped as reviewers for meeting abstracts, event leaders, and award judges (e.g., Ton Damman Award). Others gave fantastic presentations, and others yet supported the section on ESA committees, task forces, the Vegetation Classification Panel, and editorial boards throughout the year. Many thanks to all!<\/p>\n

Here are a few specific updates related to the activities of the section at the meeting:<\/p>\n

(1) Once again the section helped start the annual meeting on Sunday (August 6) by organizing our now traditional short course titled\u00a0Quantitative Community Ecology in R<\/em> taught by Dr. Robert Smith, Data Scientist at Washington State University. The course was offered in person for the first time (it was offered online in the past years), and it filled to capacity with 25 participants. Many thanks to Rob for delivering another engaging and useful course on behalf of the section.<\/p>\n

(2) The section\u2019s Social Mixer drew quite a crowd this year as it was co-organized with the ESA Vegetation Classification Panel and the North American Chapter of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS) as a Joint Vegetation Social Mixer. We fully occupied a reception-style conference room for 60+ attendees from diverse career tracks and stages, including students, university professors, and NGO and agency professionals. The mixer included many great conversations and informal networking, as well as short updates on Vegetation Section activities and a brief award ceremony led by Martin Dov\u010diak, the section Chair. Updates on the ESA Vegetation Classification Panel were given by Esteban Muldavin, the Chair of the Panel. Thanks to all who attended the mixer and contributed to the great atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

McKinley Nevins (left) receiving her 2022 Ton Damman Award<\/a> certificate (photo by Seth Bigelow), and Alyssa Young (right) receiving her 2023 Robert P. McIntosh Award<\/a> certificate (photo by Page Turner) from Martin Dov\u010diak, the Chair of the Vegetation Section, during the Joint Vegetation Social Mixer at the 2023 ESA Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon.<\/span><\/p>\n

(3) A major activity of the section at each annual meeting is selecting the winner of the Ton Damman Award<\/a> for the best oral presentation in vegetation science by a graduate student or recent post-graduate. The field of candidates was particularly competitive this year. The section\u2019s executive committee received 14 applications and selected six of them as finalists to support by funding their registration fees (Zach Gold from Princeton University, Clayton Hale from the University of Georgia, Nathan Kiel from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Urmi Poddar from Stony Brook University, and Alex Siggers and Mary Linabury from Colorado State University), with the winner receiving an additional $400. Thanks to all applicants and to the finalists for presenting excellent and insightful talks at the conference. Based on the recommendation of the panel of four judges volunteering from within the section membership, the 2023 Ton Damman award was given to Zach Gold for his talk \u2018Herbaceous vegetation responses to experimental fire in savannas and forests<\/em>\u2019. Congratulations Zach! The details of his talk are here.<\/a> Congratulations are due also to two Honorary mentions awarded to talks who tied for a close second place; one to Urmi Poddar for her talk \u2018Finding common ground: Assembly processes of native and exotic plants along a soil gradient<\/em>\u2019 and the other to Nathan Kiel for his talk \u2018Sparse or failed postfire tree regeneration alters plant communities and reduces carbon stocks in Greater Yellowstone\u2019<\/em>. Finally, thanks to the award finalists and others who provided their research photos to contribute to our Photo of the Month<\/a> webpage.<\/p>\n

(4) The final update concerns changes in the Vegetation Section governance that traditionally occur following ESA annual meetings. Many thanks go to the outgoing section officers whose terms ended, Martin Dov\u010diak (Chair) and Morgan Forst (Student Representative), while a warm welcome is extended to the newly elected members of the governance: Andr\u00e9s Andrade from the Desert Research Institute, Nevada (new Vice Chair) and Emmanuel Komolafe from the University of Wyoming (new Student Representative). Many thanks also to Carissa Brown who moves up from section Vice Chair to Chair, and to Anita Thompson who continues in her role as the section\u2019s Secretary and Treasurer. Full information about the section governance is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

May, 2023<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Are you going to the ESA Annual Meeting in Portland<\/a> this summer? We are looking for (1) candidates (grad students or recent grads only) and (2) judges (anyone attending the meeting) for the Ton Damman Award for the best oral presentation in vegetation ecology given at the meeting<\/strong>. Receiving the award is a nice professional recognition; in addition, the winner and award finalists will receive a small award to help cover some of the conference costs. Apply for the award by May 31, 2023<\/strong>. The details and the application process (very easy!) are here<\/a>. We are looking forward to learn about your cool research and to help enhance your career; so please apply!<\/p>\n

For the judges: If you would like to help us judge the presentations for the award at the meeting, please send an email to esavegetation@gmail.com<\/em> to let us know. Your help is much appreciated!<\/p>\n

April, 2023<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We <\/span>are looking for<\/span> <\/span>candidates <\/span>for two <\/span>Vegetation Section <\/span>officers: Vice-Chair (2-year term) and a student representative (1-year term)<\/span> <\/span>by April 15<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/strong>If elected, t<\/span>he work is light<\/span>,<\/span> and a nice opportunity to help the section and network with colleagues.<\/span> <\/span>Both terms start after the ESA Annual Meeting. Vice-Chair position progresses to Chair (also a 2 year term). To qualify for the student representative the candidate must be a graduate student ideally through the 2024 annual meeting (or willing to help with the meeting if graduating earlier in 2024). <\/span>I<\/span>f you are interested in either of these positions<\/span>, <\/span>send an email to esavegetation@gmail.com<\/em><\/span>, state which position you are interested in AND include <\/span>a short <\/span>summary (a few sentences) <\/span>by <\/span>April 15<\/span>.<\/span> You can review the <\/span>summaries<\/span> by the current <\/span>section <\/span>officers<\/span> here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> Please do not hesitate to contact anyone from the current section governance team if you have any questions regarding these vacancies. <\/span>Please share this call with anyone who might be interested and able to help <\/span>(non-members can join ESA and the section prior to, or when, elected)<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

March, 2023<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Alyssa Young<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Congratulations to the winner of the 2023 Robert P. McIntosh Award for the best recent paper in vegetation ecology \u2013 Dr. Alyssa Young<\/strong> (University of North Carolina Greensboro) and colleagues for their paper on Heatwave implications for the future of longleaf pine savanna understory restoration<\/a>. It is fantastic to see such wonderful engagement of so many undergraduate students in this research while producing highly relevant information for restoration of an ecosystem threatened by heat waves under our changing climate!<\/p>\n

\"\"

Marcela Terra<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

We would also like to highlight honorable mentions for two additional excellent papers:<\/p>\n

Dr. Marcela C.N.S.<\/span>\u00a0Terra<\/span> and colleagues for the paper titled The inverted forest: Aboveground and notably large belowground carbon stocks and their drivers in Brazilian savannas<\/span><\/a>, and<\/p>\n

\"\"

Michelle Spicer<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Dr. Michelle Spicer for her paper with Dr. Carrie <\/span>Woods<\/span><\/span> titled <\/span><\/span><\/span>A case for studying biotic interactions in epiphyte ecology and evolution<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Thanks to all the authors for submitting their work for the award and to our award review committee for their time and consideration.<\/p>\n

You can learn more about the award and the past awardees here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

December, 2022<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Happy Holidays! Please remember to renew your membership in ESA and ESA Vegetation Section <\/strong>(https:\/\/esa.org\/membership\/<\/a>). If you are not already a member, this is a great time to join. ESA Vegetation Section members can grow their professional network, strengthen the field of vegetation ecology, and make use of the wonderful opportunities planned for 2023, described below:<\/p>\n

Nominate yours or your friend\u2019s\/colleague\u2019s\/student\u2019s paper for the Robert P. McIntosh Award for the best paper in vegetation ecology<\/strong> (all nominations must be made by a section member; self-nominations are accepted). The deadline is February 1. <\/strong>The details are here:\u00a0 https:\/\/esa.org\/vegetation\/awards\/robert-p-mcintosh-award\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Become Vegetation Section\u2019s Vice-Chair or Student Representative<\/strong> to help advance your field and learn about ESA. Nominations are due by April 15 <\/strong>(details forthcoming).<\/p>\n

Go to the ESA Annual Meeting in Portland (https:\/\/esa.org\/portland2023\/<\/a>) at a discounted rate to learn, network, and partake in Vegetation Section events such as the Social Mixer or a short course on Quantitative Community Ecology in R<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Apply for the Ton Damman award for the best oral presentation in vegetation science at the ESA Annual Meeting<\/strong> (grad students\/recent grads only) to gain recognition and cover some of the conference costs (https:\/\/esa.org\/vegetation\/awards\/ton-damman-award\/damman-award-winner\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Feature your plant research or favorite plant community on the web<\/strong>. Just send me a photo with a brief text: https:\/\/esa.org\/vegetation\/category\/photo-of-the-month\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Stay informed.<\/strong> Follow our website (https:\/\/esa.org\/vegetation\/<\/a>), Ecolog-L listserv, or Twitter @ESAVegetation (https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESAVegetation<\/a>).<\/p>\n

If you are interested in any of the above, do not wait and renew your ESA and Vegetation Section memberships today!<\/p>\n

(https:\/\/esa.org\/membership\/<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

August, 2022<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"It was great to be back to an in person ESA Annual Meeting! A big thanks goes to all who helped to make the meeting a success. Many helped as reviewers for meeting abstracts, event leaders, and award judges (e.g., Ton Damman Award). Others gave fantastic presentations, and others yet supported the Section on ESA committees, task forces, the Vegetation Panel, and editorial boards throughout the year. Many thanks to all!<\/p>\n

Here are a few specific updates related to the activities of the Section at the meeting:<\/p>\n

To kick-off the annual meeting on Sunday morning (August 14) we once again organized a virtual short course titled\u00a0Quantitative Community Ecology in R<\/em> taught by Dr. Robert Smith, Data Scientist\u00a0at Washington State University. The course was filled to capacity with 25 registered participants. Many thanks go to Rob for a very engaging and useful course!<\/p>\n

The Section\u2019s Social Mixer was in person this year (!) and included updates on sectional activities, good conversations, and networking opportunities (and free food and \u2018botanical water\u2019 to quench everyone\u2019s thirst). We had about 25 people in attendance from different career stages and career tracks (students to university professors to NGO and agency folks). Thanks to all who were able to make it and contribute to the conversation; we hope for even more robust showing next year!<\/p>\n

\"\"

McKinley Nevins, Wash. State Univ.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

One of the Section highlights at each annual meeting is giving the Ton Damman Award<\/a> for the best oral presentation in vegetation science by a graduate student or recent post-graduate. This year is the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the award! We had four finalists (Anna Crofts from Universit\u00e9 de Sherbrooke, Sera Grover from the University of Saskatchewan, McKinley Nevins from Washington State University, and Jordon Tourville from the State University of New York) \u2013 each receiving $210, and the winner receiving an additional $400. Thanks and congratulations to all four finalists for delivering interesting and worthy talks, and for the beautiful photos related to their work that we will be sharing on our website and Twitter as Photos of the Month. Based on the recommendation of the panel of four judges, the 2022 Ton Damman award goes to McKinley Nevins. Congratulations McKinley! The details of her talk are here.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"

Anita Thomson, Univ. of Arizona.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Finally, some of the Vegetation Section officers\u2019 terms ended at the close of the Annual Meeting (secretary\/treasurer, student rep), and new officers joined. We did not hold elections since we had only one candidate for each of the two open positions. Many thanks go to Lisa Kluesner, our secretary and treasurer of the past two years, whose term ended, as well as to Anita Thomson from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension who replaced Lisa in this position. Many thanks also to Morgan Frost who agreed to continue as our student representative for another 1-year term. Following next year\u2019s meeting, we will need a new Vice-Chair and a new student rep; please consider being a candidate. Reach out to any of the Section officers at any time to express your interest! It is a great opportunity to serve the Section and interact with other members and with the broader ESA community and leadership. The full information about the current Section governance team is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

July, 2022<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We <\/span>are looking for<\/span> <\/span>candidates <\/span>for two <\/span>Vegetation Section <\/span>officers: a secretary (2-year term) and a student representative (1-year term)<\/span> <\/span>by July 31<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/strong>If elected, t<\/span>he work is light<\/span>,<\/span> and a nice opportunity to help the section and network with colleagues.<\/span> <\/span>Both terms start after the ESA annual meeting. <\/span>I<\/span>f you are interested in either of these positions<\/span>, p<\/span>lease <\/span>send an email to esavegetation@gmail.com<\/em><\/span> AND<\/span> include <\/span>a <\/span>2-4 line<\/span> summary <\/span>by <\/span>July 31<\/span>.<\/span> You can review <\/span>summaries<\/span> by the current <\/span>section <\/span>officers<\/span> here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> <\/span>Please share this call with other <\/span>Vegetation s<\/span>ection members who you think may be <\/span>able to contribute and <\/span>interested in one of these positions.<\/span><\/p>\n

We <\/span>are<\/span> also <\/span>looking for candidates and judges for Ton Damman Award<\/a><\/span>\u00a0for the best student <\/span>talk <\/span>in vegetation <\/span>science<\/span><\/strong> at the ESA annual meeting<\/strong> <\/span>by July 31.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If you are <\/span>a student or recent graduate <\/span><\/strong>interested in this award, please follow this process<\/strong>: If your abstract was accepted by ESA annual meeting organizers, send an email to esavegetation@gmail.com<\/em> and include the following (all in a single attached pdf file): (1) a copy of your ESA abstract with author names and affiliations, (2) a succinct paragraph describing how the paper to be presented relates to the objectives of the Ton Damman Award, and (3) information on your section membership and status as a current graduate student or recent postgraduate (see the Damman award description for eligibility and other details). Applications should be submitted by July 31.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you would like to help judging the abstracts and talks, please let us know too <\/span>by sending an <\/span><\/strong>email to<\/strong> esavegetation@gmail.com<\/em> .<\/span> <\/span>Graduate students, post-docs, previous Ton <\/span>Damman<\/span> awardees, and other section members attending the ESA annual meeting are welcome to serve as judges. The <\/span>judges <\/span>will need to <\/span>read the abstracts and evaluate the talks<\/span> in person at the meeting<\/span>. We have had ~5-6 candidates per judge<\/span> <\/span>in the past<\/span>, so this should not be overwhelming. <\/span>Many t<\/span>hanks to everyone who can help the section this way.<\/span><\/p>\n

June, 2022<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Vegetation Section Social Mixer at the ESA Annual Meeting in Montreal is scheduled for Tuesday, August 16 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. We will have good food, botanical water, and excellent company of fellow vegetation ecologists from all backgrounds and career stages\u2013all free for registered meeting participants! Please stop by if you are at the ESA Annual Meeting!<\/p>\n

May, 2022<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The remote short course \u2018<\/strong>Quantitative Community Ecology in R<\/em>\u2019<\/strong> hosted by the Ve<\/span>getation Section<\/span> at this year\u2019s<\/span> ESA a<\/span>nnual m<\/span>eeting <\/span>will take place on<\/span> Sunday morning (August 14; 9-12)<\/span>. This is a shorter version of the<\/span> course from <\/span>last year\u2019s <\/span>meeting, and will be taught again<\/span> by Dr. Robert Smith<\/span> of Washington State University<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

April, 2022<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Meghna

Meghna Krishnadas\u00a0 @MeghnaSrishti<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

We would like to thank to all who submitted excellent papers for consideration for this year\u2019s McIntosh award. The competition was strong as always, and this year\u2019s award was given to\u00a0Meghna Krishnadas and Simon Maccracken Stump for their paper titled \u2018Dispersal limitation and weaker stabilizing mechanisms mediate loss of diversity with edge effects in forest fragments<\/a>\u2019 (Journal of Ecology, <\/em>2021; 109: 2137\u20132151). Congratulations to Meghna and Simon!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

February, 2022<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Abstract submissions for the ESA-CSEE Annual Meeting in Montr\u00e9al (August 14-19) are now rolling in! The deadline is March 3<\/strong>. Details are\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Current and recent graduate students giving a talk at the meeting can apply for the Ton Damman award <\/strong>to offset some of the cost \u2013 the details are here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We are looking for<\/strong> abstract reviewers<\/strong>.<\/strong> Any ESA member is eligible, including graduate students and postdocs, as long as they can commit to reviewing in March. If you can help, <\/strong>please email <\/strong>mdovciak@esf.edu<\/a> with your name, institution, and e-mail address by<\/strong> Friday, February 18th<\/strong>. It will be much appreciated!<\/p>\n

January, 2022<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Nominate a deserving paper for the Robert P. McIntosh Award for the best paper in vegetation ecology<\/strong> published in the previous year (all nominations must be made by a section member). The deadline is February 1. <\/strong>More details are here.<\/a><\/p>\n

December, 2021<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Happy New Year! Thank you to all who have already renewed their ESA and Vegetation Section memberships. If you are still looking to renew your membership, or join as a new member, you can do so here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

September, 2021<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Rachel Reeb<\/p><\/div>\n

Congratulations to Rachel Reeb of the University of Pittsburgh for receiving the 2021 Ton Damman Award for the best oral presentation in vegetation science at the Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America in what was an excellent and very competitive field of contenders this year. Rachel presented a paper titled \u2018Phenological timing and sensitivity to climate differs between the native and introduced range of an invasive plant species\u2019 coauthored by Mason Heberling and Sara Kuebbing. Details of the paper are here.<\/a> Details of the Ton Damman award are here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

August, 2021<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Thank you to all vegetation scientists who contributed to making the virtual ESA Annual Meeting a success! The Vegetation Section organized a popular full-day short course Quantitative Analysis in Plant Community Ecology using R!<\/em> lead by Dr. Robert Smith, ORISE Postdoctoral Fellow at USDA Forest Service. The course was in high-demand and filled to capacity with 30 participants attending.<\/p>\n

The Section\u2019s virtual social mixer included a memorial for our esteemed colleagues and leaders in vegetation ecology, Michael Barbour and Eddy van der Maarel, who passed away earlier this year. We appreciate their substantial scientific and personal contributions to the development of both our field and our community of vegetation science. They will be greatly missed. Many thanks to the colleagues who shared their personal memories and stories of Michael and Eddy during the social.<\/p>\n

The close of the annual meeting is traditionally the time for rotations in the executive committee of the Section. Kyle Palmquist completed her second year as the Chair of the Section and passed the baton to Martin Dovciak who will shift from Vice Chair to serve as the new Chair. Carissa Brown, Associate Professor at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, joined the executive committee as the new Vice Chair. In the role of Section\u2019s student representative, Sam Jordan completed his term and was replaced by Morgan Frost from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Thank you to Kyle and Sam for their leadership and contributions during their terms and welcome to Carissa and Morgan. Lisa Kluesner remains in her position as the secretary and treasurer of the Section. Information about the current members of the Vegetation Section governance is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

May, 2021<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/span>Congratulations to the seven finalists to compete for the 2021 Ton Damman Award for the best oral presentation in vegetation science given by a graduate student at the ESA Annual Meeting. The Vegetation Section awards each finalist a $200 travel grant to support their participation at the meeting. The names and affiliations of the finalists are below; the overall winner is announced following the meeting.<\/p>\n

\n