ASIH Members News and Notices
- 5 October 2008 - NOTICE FROM NATIONAL EVOLUTIONARY SYNTHESIS CENTER (NESC)
CALL FOR PROPOSALS – NESCENT POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS, SABBATICAL SCHOLARS, WORKING GROUPS AND CATALYSIS GROUPSThe National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is now accepting proposals for postdoctoral fellows, sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings. Proposals for postdoctoral fellowships are accepted at the December 1 deadline only. Proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings are accepted twice a year, with June 15 and December 1 deadlines. Proposals for short-term visitors are considered four times a year, with deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php. - 30 September 2008 - NEW PUBLICATION: CONSERVATION OF NORTH AMERICAN FISHES
The following publication was produced by several members of the ASIH Conservation Committee. The follow-up story in the Associated Press was provided to us by Frank McCormick, Chair, Conservation Committee.
Conservation Status of Imperiled North American Freshwater and Diadromous
Fishes. Jelks, HJ, SJ Walsh, NM Burkhead, S Contreras-Balderas, E
Diaz-Pardo, DA Hendrickson, J Lyons, NE Mandrak, F McCormick, JS Nelson, SP
Platania, BA Porter, CB Renaud, JJ Schmitter-Soto, EB Taylor, and ML
Warren, Jr. Fisheries Volume 33(8): 372-407.
http://www.fisheries.org/afs/docs/fisheries/fisheries--3308.pdf
An interactive map by the U.S. Geological Survey that shows status of fish
populations in 80 different regions of North America:
http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/development/map--object.html
Freshwater fish in N. America in peril, study says
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 10, 2008
Filed at 8:14 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- About four out of 10 freshwater fish species in North America are in peril, according to a major study by U.S., Canadian and Mexican scientists. And the number of subspecies of fish populations in trouble has nearly doubled since 1989, the new report says.
One biologist called it ''silent extinctions'' because few people notice the dramatic dwindling of certain populations deep in American lakes, rivers and streams. And while they are unaware, people are the chief cause of the problem by polluting and damming freshwater habitats, experts said.
In the first massive study of freshwater fish on the continent in 19 years, an international team of dozens of scientists looked not just at species, but at subspecies -- physically distinct populations restricted to certain geographic areas. The decline is even more notable among these smaller groups. The scientists found that 700 smaller but individual fish populations are vulnerable, threatened, or endangered. That's up from 364 subspecies nearly two decades ago. And 457 entire species are in trouble or already extinct, the study found. Another 86 species are OK as a whole, but have subspecies in trouble.
The study, led by U.S. Geological Survey researchers, is published in the current issue of the journal Fisheries. Researchers looked at thousands of distinct populations of fish that either live in lakes, streams and rivers or those that live in saltwater but which migrate to freshwater at times, such as salmon that return to spawn.
Some vulnerable fish are staples of recreational fishing and the dinner plate. Striped bass that live in the Gulf of Mexico, Bay of Fundy and southern Gulf of St. Lawrence are new to the imperiled list. So are snail bullhead, flat bullhead and spotted bullhead catfish. Sockeye, Chinook, coho, chum and Atlantic salmon populations are also called threatened or endangered in the study. More than two dozen trout populations are considered in trouble.
About 6 percent of fish populations that were in peril in 1989, including the Bonneville cutthroat trout, have made a comeback, said lead author Howard Jelks of the U.S. Geological Survey. But one-third of the fish that were in trouble in 1989 are worse off now, said the Gainesville, Fla., biologist. The study includes far more species and populations than those that are on the official U.S. government endangered species list. Jelks said the number of species in trouble was close to double what he expected and that means people should be ''considerably worried.'' The biggest cause, Jelks said, is degraded freshwater habitat, both in quality and quantity of water for fish to live in. Invasive species crowding out native fish is also to blame, he said.
Fish ''live in a freshwater habitat that's pretty much under assault by people,'' said Duke University marine biologist Larry Crowder, who wasn't part of the study. ''Things are tanking all around us. When does it have to be bad enough to get people's attention?''
Many of the species in trouble or already extinct are small minnows and darters whose absence is little noticed, but they play a vital role in the food chain.
Hardest hit is Mexico where nearly half the fish species are in trouble. One in three species in the United States are in peril -- up from about one in five in 1989. About 10 percent of Canadian species dwindled. In the United States, the most vulnerable populations are in the Southeast, not counting Florida. In the U.S., 263 fish species are in trouble or are already extinct, and nearly 500 have no problems. The number of fish species and subspecies in North America that went extinct rose from 40 to 61 since 1989.
Anthony Ricciardi, a McGill University biologist who was not part of the research, found that about 10 years ago freshwater extinctions were happening at a faster pace than on land or in the sea. And yet few people notice, he said. ''A lot of silent extinctions are happening,'' Ricciardi said. ''What we're doing is widespread, it's pervasive and it's rapid.'' - 9 September 2008 - ELECTROFISHING CERTIFICATION
The Natural Resources Extension Program at Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University-College), Nanaimo BC, is pleased to offer:
Electrofishing Certification:
Fort St John, Sept 13-14: http://mala.ca/nrep/courseinfo.asp?ID=1342
Castlegar, Oct 4-5: http://mala.ca/nrep/courseinfo.asp?ID=1343 NEW!
********************************************************************************************
Our training schedule: http://www.mala.ca/nrep/schedule.asp - 21 August 2008 - BLEEKER AWARD FOR INDO-PACIFIC ICHTHYOLOGY
The Scientific Advisory Committee for the Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (IPFC) offers an award for distinguished contributions to Indo-Pacific ichthyology. The award honours the “father” of Indo-Pacific ichthyology, Pieter Bleeker. The first Bleekers were awarded at the 7th IPFC, Taiwan, in 2005 to John E. Randall, and J. Howard Choat. Details of the winners may be found in Ichthyological Research 2006 53(2):205.
Nominations are now solicited for the 2nd round of Pieter Bleeker Awards for Excellence in Indo-Pacific ichthyology. The prize is awarded for "an outstanding body of published work in Indo-Pacific ichthyology, mainly in systematics and ecology" to an ichthyologist. The award consists of a plaque and prizes, and will be presented during the 8th IPFC , to be held in June 2009 in Perth, Western Australia ( http://www.ipfc2009asfb.com/ ). Nominations may be made by any ichthyologist, including self-nominations, and should include the nominee's curriculum vitae, details of the nominee's specific contributions and their impacts on ichthyology.
Nominations should be submitted as an e-mail attachment (Word or rtf) by 31 January 2009 to the Chair of the Bleeker Award Committee, Dr. Jeffery Leis of the Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia, e-mail: Jeffl@austmus.gov.au. - 8 August 2008 - WORKSHOP FOR GRAD STUDENTS/POSTDOCS IN HERPETOLOGY
Workshop on Predictive Modeling Using Tree Data - For Graduate Students and Postdocs in Herpetology
AmphibiaTree, an NSF-funded consortium of biologists from Harvard University, the University of Texas, the University of Kansas, and the University of California, Berkeley, will hold a workshop on “Predictive Species Distribution Modeling Using Tree Data” on December 5-6, 2008, at UC Berkeley.
The workshop will feature 5 invited speakers and hands-on training for all participants. Its emphasis will be the creative use of phylogenetic, i. e., tree, data to reconstruct ancestral ranges, phylogeographic patterns and climate change, historical-present-future biogeographic scenarios, etc., understanding and using the latest climate data and species distribution modeling applications in a spatial context. The general format includes presentations that illustrate conceptual issues (e. g., “are niches conservative over time?”) and practical considerations (e. g., understanding climate models, data preparation and organization, model choice, implementation, and GIS execution). Workshop participants will bring a dataset to work on during hands-on sessions to learn techniques; participants can then leave the workshop with real acquaintance with the tools. We will use the GIS computer lab of the Geospatial Imaging and Informatics Facility in the College of Natural Resources at Berkeley. A summary of techniques and results will be posted on the AmphibiaTree website (http://amphibiatree.org).
We expect to fund travel and accommodation for 10 graduate students and postdocs. US and foreign/overseas students are welcome to apply. Please send your cv and a statement of your interests relevant to the workshop, and what you hope to gain from it, to David (wakelab@berkeley.edu) and Marvalee (mhwake@berkeley.edu) Wake, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 3101 VLSB, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3160, by 15 September 2008. Participants will be notified by 1 October and provided the workshop details.
- 5 June 2008 - JOE SLOWINSKI BIOGRAPHY PUBLISHED
Jamie James recently published a book about former ASIH member Joe Slowinski called Snake Charmer. Stories about the author and Joe have circulated on the web. You can learn more about the publication by visiting the website for the book: http://snakecharmerbook.com/index.html.
- 12 APRIL 2008 - WORLD CONGRESS OF HERPETOLOGY 2008
The World Congress of Herpetology will meet in Manaus, Brazil 17-23 August 2008. For more information visit the Congress website: www.worldcongressofherpetology.org
- 10 APRIL 2008 - REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Call for Proposals – NESCent Sabbatical Scholars, Working Groups and Catalysis Meetings
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is now accepting proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings. Proposals for postdoctoral fellowships are accepted at the December 1 deadline only. Proposals for sabbatical scholars (one semester to a full year), working groups and catalysis meetings are accepted twice a year, with June 15 and December 1 deadlines. Proposals for short-term visitors (2 weeks to 3 months) are considered four times a year, with deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php. - 23 MARCH 2008 - XX INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ZOOLOGY
- SUMMER COURSES - SHOALS MARINE LABORATORY (11 March 2008)
Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML) features small class sizes and an experiential learning environment where everyone learns by first-hand observation. The close-knit community we create each summer on Appledore Island gives SML the feeling of a residential college, where even a casual conversation with a faculty member or teaching assistant can turn into a life-changing one. Being on an offshore island also means that every class includes adventure and learning opportunities far beyond any normal classroom. We still have openings in each of the courses listed below, but our deadline for applicants seeking financial aid is fast approaching. Please take a minute to review some of our exciting offerings and call them to the attention of students - and plan to join us on Appledore Island this summer!
Diversity of Fishes
Study with Bruce Collette to learn about the global diversity of fishes with a special focus on taxa from the Gulf of Maine: http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_sfishes.html
Introduction to Marine Conservation Biology
How can we integrate management of marine fisheries with marine ecology? http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_introconserv.html
Comparative Embryology and Life History Strategies
Study invertebrate and vertebrate embryos to understand links between development and ecology:
http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_compembryo.html
Forensic Science for Marine Biologists
Explore the expanding interface between marine science, criminal justice and civil litigation with famous forensic scientists and criminologists:
http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_fsmb.html
Anatomy and Function of Marine Vertebrates
Explore the structure and function of marine fishes, birds, reptiles and mammals:
http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_cc_anatfunc.html
To view SML's complete list of college credit courses for Summer 2008, please go to: http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_students_creditcourses.html - Clark Hubbs Obituary by Ann Hubbs (sent in by Bob Cashner - Feb. 2008)
During World War II he served in the army in the 96th Infantry Division Headquarters, including the invasions of Leyte and Okinawa. After the war, he obtained his PhD from Stanford in 1951 under the GI bill. He met his wife of 58 years, Catherine, while on a field trip with the Stanford Natural History Club.
In 1951, Clark Hubbs became an assistant professor of zoology at the University of Texas and subsequently became an associate and then full professor. From 1974 to 1976, he was chairman of the Biology Department and from 1978 to 1986, he was chairman of the Zoology Department. He was professor emeritus at the time of his death. During his long career, he published more than 300 articles. He was still collecting field data for his studies in January 2008. He was editor of Copeia, the journal of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists for more than a decade and a former president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, the American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists, the Southwestern Association of Naturalists, Texas Organization for Endangered Species, and the Texas Academy of Sciences. He is Chair Emeritus Science Committee Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute. He was a tireless supporter of the Edwards Aquifer and Defense of Endangered Species. Four different species were named after him.
Clark Hubbs was preceded in death by his mother, father, and two sisters, Marjorie Anne Hubbs and Frances Miller. He is survived by his wife, Catherine, his brother Earl, daughters Laura Hubbs-Tait and Ann Hubbs, son John Hubbs and four grandchildren, Aaron and Aiden Tait, Eric Hubbs, and Adam Weissman as well as hundreds of students, colleagues, and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute (<http://www.hswri.org/>www.HSWRI.org) or a charity of your choice. Memorial services will be held at the Congregational Church and at a scientific meeting. Dates to be arranged in the future.
- February 7, 2008
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DR. CLARK HUBBS
The Hubbs family has asked me to invite anyone coming to the Friday, February 8 memorial event at 6:00 PM at the UT Pickle Research Campus to bring digital photos they might have from their time with Clark. Multiple Windows laptops and projectors will be available for anyone to run their own short PowerPoints or display images. Bring files on a USB drive or CD and, if possible, automate your show it so it can run unattended. Files may also be emailed before Thursday evening to Dean Hendrickson (deanhend@mail.utexas.edu).The family also wishes to again alert those planning on going to the church service at 2:30 that traffic jams are anticipated and both parking and space capacities at the church will most likely be exceeded. Come early or plan to attend only the more informal 6:00 PM event where space is more than ample and free parking is abundant and close.
Complete Information about both of the February 8 memorial services for Dr. Clark Hubbs is posted at http://desertfishes.org/obits/ch/Clark_Hubbs.html. Please feel free to link to this page from other websites, and to distribute this announcement to others who knew Dr. Hubbs, etc. - January 6, 2008
Beginning with the first issue for 2008, Copeia will adopt a new style and page format that includes a color photograph on the front cover of each issue. The feature photograph (of amphibians, reptiles, or fishes) may be chosen from among the illustrations appearing in that issue. Authors of the selected photograph will receive a waiver of color reproduction charges for one plate ($300 value). Alternatively, the feature cover photograph may be selected from among images contributed by the ASIH membership at-large. The contributor will be acknowledged and a brief title caption for the photograph will be included in the table of contents on the outside back cover of that issue. For students in particular, this is a great way to get your artwork published in a high-visibility print publication.
If you have high-quality color photographs involving fishes and/or herps that you would like to offer for the Copeia front cover, please contact Editor Schaefer (copeia@amnh.org). Images must be 600 dpi TIFF format, RGB color mode, and final maximum print size will be 175 mm width by 150 mm length. For optimal results, images should contain roughly 14.5k pixels total, or about 4,135 pixels across the top and 3,550 pixels along the length. Sample low-res images (file size under 4 MB) may be sent via email attachment for initial consideration. Contributors must hold the copyright to the image, which is transferred to ASIH upon publication.
- November 15, 2007
SMITHSONIAN RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM: 26 MAY 2008 - 1 AUGUST 2008
Application Deadline: 1 February 2008
The Research Training Program is a museum-based, in-residence program exclusively for currently enrolled, English proficient, college-level undergraduate students interested in a career in the biological, geological or anthropological sciences. Through a competitive review process approximately 20 outstanding students from around the world are selected each year to participate. Students partner with a Smithsonian scientist to investigate a natural history research topic as well as participate in a series of lectures, workshops, demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours, and field trips that focused on exploring natural history science and developing the skills necessary to become effective researchers. Students, in collaboration with their Smithsonian research advisor, develop and test a scientific hypothesis and communicate the results through written manuscripts plus oral and poster presentations. Research is conducted in-residence at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC utilizing the vast research facilities and collection of the Museum including 126 million natural history specimens.
Participants are provided stipend ($3,000), plus housing and travel. Detailed information and application materials are available electronically at http://www.nmnh.si.edu/rtp/ For more information contact: Mary Sangrey; Director, Research Training Program; Head, Office of Academic Services; phone: 202-633-4548; fax: 202-786-0153
- October 10, 2007
NATIONAL EVOLUTIONARY SYNTHESIS CENTER - CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Call for Proposals – NESCent Postdoctoral Fellows, Sabbatical Scholars, Working Groups and Catalysis Groups
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is now accepting proposals for postdoctoral fellows, sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings. Proposals for postdoctoral fellowships are accepted at the December 1 deadline only. Proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings are accepted twice a year, with June 15 and December 1 deadlines. Proposals for short-term visitors are considered four times a year, with deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php.
- September 11, 2007
The Third International Symposium on the Biology of Cypriniformes will be held 10-16 November 2007 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The link to the websitefor information on the symposium, registration, accomodations, excursions, etc. is:
- September 4, 2007
INVASIVE ANURAN CONFERENCE-ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS
The Coqui Frog Working Group is hosting the first international conference on the coqui frog and other invasive anurans on the Big Island of Hawaii 7-9 February 2008. Anyone interested in herpetology, invasive species management, or amphibian ecology is encouraged to attend. For more information, please see the conference website at:http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/coqui/conf08.asp
BULLETIN #25 ALABAMA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The Alabama Museum of Natural History announces the publication of Bulletin #25. This issue contains two articles of interest to ichthyologists:
Powers, Steve and Richard Mayden. Systematics, Evolution, and Biogeography of the Etheostoma simoterum species complex (Percidae: subgenus Ulocentra).
and
Egge, Jacob. The osteology of the stonecat, Noturus flavus (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae), with comparisons to other siluriforms.
Bulletin #25 is currently on sale for $20. Orders or other inquiries should be sent to Carolyn Averett (caverett@bama.ua.edu).
- July 20, 2007
STUDENT TRAVEL AWARDS - INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ZOOLOGICAL SCIENCES
The International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS) is devoted to bettering the field of zoology (www.globalzoology.org). ISZS is responsible for publishing Integrative Zoology, the official journal of ISZS, as well as organizing the International Congress of Zoology (ICZ), which takes place every four years. The XX ICZ will be held in Paris in August 2008 (http://icz2008.snv.jussieu.fr).
To encourage student attendance at this event, ISZS and the XX ICZ are co-sponsoring a number of student grants. Before April of next year, ISZS will select the top 20 papers that have been submitted to Integrative Zoology by students. The winning students will receive funding to assist them with their travel and accommodation expenses. (The money will only be awarded if the students attend the ICZ).
All papers must be submitted by February 15th 2008 in order to be eligible for consideration for this award. A cover sheet for submitted papers must be headed: 2008 International Zoological Congress Student Grant Application, below this should be the Title, the Author‚s name, their supervisor’s signature and a copy of their student ID.
For details about submitting papers, please check our website at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/inz or contact Zhang Wei (iszs@ioz.ac.cn) or Dustin Odle (iszs2@ioz.ac.cn).
- May 31, 2007
EIGHTH ASIAN FISHERIES FORUM
The 8th Asian Fisheries ForumThe 8th Asian Fisheries Forum, will be held held in Kochi, Kerala 20-23 November 2007. The website: http://www.8aff2007.org has additional details concerning the meeting. A hardcopy brochure can be obtained by from the organizers. Prof.Dr.Mohan Joseph Modayil, Director, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi & Convener, 8th Asian Fisheries Forum - 2007, Kochi.
- May 29, 2007
USE OF COLLECTIONS AT THE U.S. NATIONAL COLLECTION - SMITHSONIAN
The collections of the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution) are scheduled to be moved from the Natural History Building on the National Mall to a new storage wing at the Museum Support Center in Suitland, Maryland beginning about 1 October 2007 and continuing through the first week of April 2008.
It is anticipated that the collection management staff will be devoting significant amounts of time to preparing the collection for the move as well as moving the collection. It is realistic to assume that there will be significant periods of time between now and when the collection move is complete when there will be delays in processing loan requests and times when parts of the collection will not be available for examination by visitors. Visitors in particular should contact us well ahead of their projected visits to assure that collections will be available for their use. The collection will be moved by major taxonomic units. Each unit will be unavailable for study during the time that unit is being moved to the new facility.
Once the move has been completed, we will send out an announcement, including new contact information for the collection management staff as well as appropriate addresses to use for loan returns.
ICHTHYOLOGICAL CONGRESS IN CROATIA
The European Ichthyological Congress is hosting a meeting in September in Croatia. President Mayden attended a meeting in Croatia last September and the weather was great, people were great, swimming was fantastic, etc.Please click on the link for the meetings, symposia, workshops, etc.http://www.biol.pmf.hr/~ecixii/
- May 17, 2007
2007 GOPHER TORTOISE COUNCIL MEETING - SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS
The meeting will take place Oct 12-13, 2007 and will be hosted by Adventures Unlimited, Milton, Florida. Abstracts and Meeting Registration are due Aug 31, 2007. There is still space available for contributed presentations, and graduate students are particularly encouraged to present their research.
Please see the GTC website for information on how to register, submit an abstract, lodging, and field trips: http://www.gophertortoisecouncil.org/events.php
Margaret S. Gunzburger, PhD, Phone: (850) 585-3297, Email: gunzburger@nokuse.org
SUMMER COURSES - SHOALS MARINE LABORATORY
Shoals Marine Laboratory (http://www.sml.cornell.edu) still has places and financial aid in several college credit courses this summer. A complete listing of our courses and their dates is available at http://www.sml.cornell.edu/sml_students_creditcourses.html. Courses of special interest to vertebrate biology students include: Marine Vertebrates (6 credits), Diversity of Fishes (6 credits), Sharks: The Biology, Evolution and Conservation of Sharks and Their Allies (2 credits), Functional Morphology of Marine Organisms (4 credits), and Forensic Science for Marine Biologists (2 credits). All SML classes are small, intensive, taught by leading experts, and award credit at Cornell University that can be transferred to other institutions.
- April 5, 2007
CALL FOR PROPOSALS (NESCENT)
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is now accepting proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings. Proposals are accepted twice a year, with June 15 and December 1 deadlines. Proposals for post-doctoral fellowships are accepted at the December 1 deadline. Proposals for short-term visitors are considered four times a year, with deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php.
- February 11, 2007
COURSE - LARVAL MARINE FISHES (ECOLOGY & IDENTIFICATION)
This is a graduate-level course for students and technical staff with an interest in ichthyology, systematics, taxonomy, larval fish ecology, fisheries science, and biological oceanography. It is presumed that students will have some experience and background in those areas. Prerequisites include an undergraduate degree in a biological discipline and permission of the instructors.Instructors: Professors John Olney (Virginia Institute of Marine Science) and Edward Houde (University of Maryland). Laboratories and lectures to be held at the Marine Science Center of the University of New England (Biddeford, Maine), 29 July-15 August 2007. For more information, please see the course web site: http://www.vims.edu/adv/657/
ANNOUNCING THE SABIN AWARD FOR AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION
The Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) announces a new annual award to recognize individuals and groups who have made a significant contribution to promoting the conservation of globally threatened amphibians. The award will be open to individuals or groups from all disciplines relevant to amphibian conservation and research anywhere in the world. Nominations of individuals from developing countries are highly encouraged.Individuals or groups will be considered based on contributions in any area. Examples include: Habitat Protection, Capacity Building-Education/Awareness Policy, Species Recovery Projects, Threat Mitigation, Innovative Conservation.
The award of 25,000 USD will be presented to the selected recipient at Conservation International's New York dinner in April. Award recipients and their work will be featured on the ASG website.
Please submit nominations to asg@conservation.org before March 15.
Nominations should include the name of the individual or group and a detailed description of what they have done and its significance for amphibian conservation. Nominees will be assessed by a review panel representing a broad cross-section of disciplines.
CONTACT: asg@conservation.org
- Janaury 12, 2007
Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society
The ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY‚s 44th annual meeting will be held 21-25 July 2007 in Burlington, VT, USA. For futher information see http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABS/Program or contact the designated host Ken Yasukawa (yasukawa@beloit.edu).
- January 5, 2007
Obituary - Bruce A. Thompson
Bruce A. Thompson, a 40-year member of ASIH, passed away in the early morning of Friday, January 5, 2007. Bruce succumbed to an aggressive kidney cancer that was first diagnosed just three weeks earlier. Bruce, a long time faculty member of the Coastal Fisheries Institute and Louisiana State University, was active in studies involving freshwater fishes in North America, as well as estuarine and marine species worldwide. His research interests included systematics, life histories, biodiversity, ecology and conservation. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Kathy , and their three children, Ethan, Wendy and Melanie. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 pm on Monday, January 8, at Jefferson United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. (submitted by Robert C. Cashner).
Graduate Student Positions at Auburn
I am seeking 1-2 graduate students, MS or PhD, interested in the behavioral ecology of freshwater fish acoustics. Flexible starting date. Positions will include graduate research assistantships; field-oriented people preferred. Please contact Carol Johnston (cjohnsto@acesag.auburn.edu; 334 844-1781) for more information.
- January 2, 2007
Are you thinking about planning a symposium for the 2008 Annual Meeting in Montreal? If so, Proposals are DUE to Dr. Deanna J. Stouder, dstouder@fs.fed.us by 1 March 2007. Your proposal should contain the following: 1. Symposium Title (or Topic); 2. Name of the Symposium Chair (phone number and e-mail address) with the names of Associated Co-organizers; 3. Information on topic and background; 4. What benefit is the topic to the Society?; 5. List of potential speakers and topics; 6. Length of symposium (1/2 day, 1 day); and 7. Sources of funding other than ASIH; 8. ASIH funding requested and rationale (maximum per request = $1,500).
- December 8, 2006
Call for Proposals - US Forest Service
The Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service is announcing aRequest for Proposals (RFP) to pursue new research in the Lake Tahoe Basin
through support from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. This
request identifies six science theme areas in which these research
proposals are solicited. The due date for proposals is January 26th, 2007.
Please read the RFP carefully for important details. The RFP and more
information can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/.
- December 4, 2006
Survey of American ichthyological and herpetological collections
The ASIH Collections Committee is conducting an on-line survey of American ichthyological and herpetological collections. This online survey will provide valuable data that will enhance long-term support and maintenance of collections. Based on previous surveys by Poss & Collette (1995) and Collette & Lachner (1976) of ichthyological collections, this survey captures general collection information, as well as more specific information on collection and data management policies (e.g., availability of electronic catalogs). This survey addresses a need for detailed information about ichthyological and herpetological collections, while other ongoing initiatives, such as the Legacy Infrastructure Network for Natural Environments (LINNE), seek to more broadly identify existing collections for inclusion into an accessible network for the scientific community. Results from the survey will be summarized and submitted for publication in Copeia and will be also be available from the main ASIH website, including an improved index to collections.
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY:
http://chelydra.unm.edu/asihsurvey
- November 28, 2006
We are happy to announce that all current and archived issues of our journal are now available to our members.
To access the archived copies of Copeia, please go to: http://www.asihcopeiaonline.org/perlserv/?request=get-archive
Once you click the archive you will have to enter your userid (the last six digits of your ID, please drop leading zeros that show on your Copeia mailers) and your password which is your last name. The last name must be capitalized (the entry is case sensitive).
Eighth International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology (ICVM8)
The congress will be held 16-21 July 2007 in Paris, France. To obtain more information please visit: http://www.icvm8.snv.jussieu.fr
12th European Congress of Ichthyology
The 12th European Congress of Ichthyology will be held 9-13 September 2007 in Cavtat (Dubrovnik), Croatia. The details can be found at: www.biol.pmf.hr/~ecixii
- November 27, 2006
Fifth Conference on the Biology of Plethodontid Salamanders
The fifth conference on the biology of plethodontid salamanders will be held in Colegio de la Frontera Sur in Chiapas, Mexico from 3-6 August 2007. For information, please visit: http://www.ibiologia.unam.mx/barra/congresos/salamandra/salamandra.html or send an email to vsalamanders@biologia.unam.mx.
- October 28, 2006
NANFA To Again Award Up To $1000 For Conservation Research
The North American Native Fishes Association (NANFA) will again award up to $1000 for research that can aid the conservation of North America's native fishes, particularly those that are threatened or endangered. Professionals and hobbyists are all eligible for the award. To qualify for the award, applicants must submit to NANFA a proposal of two double-spaced pages, a budget and timeline for the research, a one-page resume, and a letter of recommendation from an academic professor, research advisor or someone familiar with the applicant's background and research history. Applicant must also be a member ofNANFA and can opt to join when they submit their proposals. The deadline for applying is January 20, 2007. The award decision will be announced by March 31, 2007. Additional details on the award are available from NANFA's website, http://www.nanfa.org.Questions about the award may be addressed to Dr. Bruce Stallsmith, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899. Dr. Stallsmith may also be contacted by telephone at 256-824-6992 or by e-mail at stallsb@uah.edu.
National Museum of Natural History (USNM) Fish Collection is Moving
The Smithsonian Institution’s USNM fish collection will be moving to a new building in the spring and summer of 2007. The new building will provide badly needed space for expansion and decompression of the fish collection. The new building is nearing completion at our Museum Support Center at Suitland, Maryland, about a 25 minute drive from our current location in Washington, DC. The research staff and library will remain at the Natural History Museum but the collection-support staff will move to the new facility. We will need to close the collection in March 2007 and will probably not open for business again until September 2007. If you anticipate requesting a loan of specimens, or are planning to visit the fish collection next year, please note the dates (March – September 2007) when the collection will be closed and plan accordingly.
Jeff Williams (williamsjt@si.edu)
Dave Johnson (johnsond@si.edu)
- October 17, 2006
NSF PEET Competition
The National Science Foundation’s program Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET) is running a competition for 2007. The deadline for proposals will be Monday, March 5. The PEET program is a biennial competition that has been in existence since 1995 and 70 projects have been funded through the PEET program. We invite you to view the solicitation (announcement NSF 04-606; http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04606/nsf04606.htm) for further details on the program and proposal guidelines.
The Cognizant Program Officer is Dr. Juan Carlos Morales (sbbi@nsf.gov).
- October 12, 2006
Job Announcement:
The California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California is hiring TWO Animal Physiologists. Applications are due 11/20/2006. For more information see https://www.calpolyjobs.org/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1160180079133 or http://tinyurl.com/goh6w
- October 2, 2006
Job Announcement:
As part of our strategic plan to strengthen research in 1) environmental stress and 2) ecology & evolutionary biology, the Department of Zoology at Oklahoma State University invites applications for four tenure-track faculty positions; one at open rank in area (1) above and three at the assistant professor level in either (1) or (2). We are seeking a complementary set of scientists with expertise in, but not limited to, areas such as ecotoxicology, invasive species, multiple stressors, ecology of infectious diseases, behavioral ecology, physiological ecology, population genetics, or evolutionary developmental genetics. Ideal candidates will have a Ph.D., postdoctoral research experience, teaching experience, and success in obtaining extramural funding. Application review will begin November 1, 2006. Please see http://zoology.okstate.edu for more information and application instructions.
- September 29, 2006
Job Announcement:
DEPARTMENT HEAD OPENING: The Dept. of Zoology at Oklahoma State University invites applications for the position of Department Head to increase our national prominence in: 1) Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and 2) Environmental Stress. Applicants should have the academic rank of Professor, a nationally recognized research program in (1) or (2) above, demonstrated success in obtaining extramural grant support, significant administrative experience, a commitment to supporting innovative teaching, and a vision for curricular reform that will produce students highly qualified for careers in research, teaching, and other professional positions. Please see http://zoology.okstate.edu for more information and application instructions.
- September 14, 2006
The Sarah and Daniel Hrdy Visiting Fellowship in Conservation Biology
The Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University invites nominations and direct applications for the Hrdy Visiting Fellowship in Conservation Biology. The Hrdy Visiting Fellowship is available either at the senior faculty level or at the junior (i.e., postdoctoral) level, for the academic year 2007-08. Duties will include teaching one course and/or giving lectures in conservation biology, as well as research and collaboration with members of the Harvard community. Applicants should identify a faculty sponsor(s) with whom they will collaborate. Please send a cover letter with a statement of intent, CV and representative publications, and arrange to have three letters of reference sent to: Committee for Hrdy Fellowship in Conservation Biology, Dept. of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. Harvard University is an equal opportunity employer. Review of applications will be begin on October 1st.
Job Announcement:
The California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California is hiring a Behavioral Ecologist with expertise in Evolutionary Biology. Applications are due 10/13/2006. For more information see: www.calpolyjobs.org/applicants/Central?quickFind=159894
Job Announcement:
Soka University of America, a liberal arts university located in Aliso Viejo, California, seeks an Assistant Professor of Biology with emphasisin Environmental Aquatic Microbiology. Deadline for applications isNovember 15, 2006. See http://www.soka.edu/page.cfm?p=936 for application instructions.
- September 13, 2006
Past-President Meg Stewart died August 2, 2006 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Gifts in Meg's memory may be made to The University at Albany Foundation with notationfor the Margaret Stewart Biodiversity Fund and sent to Dr. Sorrell Chesin at the Foundation,UAB-201, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222.
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: The Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Biology at Iowa State University seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor who studies the ecology and evolution of organisms. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in a biological science and are expected to develop a nationally recognized research program and contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching. See http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/search/ for application instructions. Direct questions to Dr. Carol Vleck, Search Committee Chair (cvleck@iastate.edu). The department is committed to fostering a culturally diverse educational environment. ISU is an EO/AA Employer.
- September 11, 2006
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: Fish ecology, evolution, and/or systematics. Assistant or Associate Professor level. Major curatorial responsibilities. Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Review of applications begins 20 October 2006. For details, see http://eeb.bio.utk.edu/jobs.asp.
The ASIH website is now live. Please send comments about the page to asih@fiu.edu .
Thanks to funding from the Mexican Comisión para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad [CONABIO]) we are working on a translation to Spanish of Freshwater Fishes of Mexico by Robert Rush Miller, W.L. Minckley and Steven M. Norris (2005, University of Chicago Press). We hope to have the manuscript of Peces Dulceacuícolas de México ready for publication by early 2007 and invite readers of the book to help compile a list of errors and suggested updates via the form available at
http://www.desertfishes.org/MX_fishes_book/MX_fishes_errata_submission.html
2004 Systematic Ichthyologists Database and Newsletter of Systematic Ichthyology.
Dear Colleagues,
In the Fall of 2004 the Field Museum's fish collection will be moving to it's new facility at the southeast corner of the Museum. In preparation for the move, loan activity will stop June 1, 2004 and the collections will be closed to visitors September 1, 2004. A few exceptions will be made for visitors with special circumstances, depending upon the timing of their visit. We will continue to welcome all loan returns throughout the duration of the move. We hope to have the move completed by Summer 2005. Many thanks for your patience through this transition. -- Your friends in the Division of Fishes, Field Museum
Mark Westneat (mwestneat@fmnh.org; 312-665-7734) Mary Anne Rogers (marogers@fmnh.org; 312-665-7732) Phil Willink (pwillink@fmnh.org; 312-665-7735) Kevin Swagel (kswagel@fmnh.org; 312-665-7736)
Due to recent reports of problems with carrying alcohol-preserved specimens on planes and of uncertainties involved in transporting museum specimens into and out of Manaus, the following institutions will not be bringing specimens to the 2003 ASIH meetings in Manaus and will not accept any specimens for hand-carrying back to the US:
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (ANSP)
California Academy of Sciences - Ichthyology (CAS)
Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates (CU)
Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH)
Illinois Natural History Survey - Ichthyology (INHS)
Museum of Comparative Zoology - Ichthyology (MCZ)
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History (USNM)
Fishes of the Gulf of Maine Returns to Print
Originally published in 1953, the Fishes of the Gulf of Maine (Fishery Bulletin 74) by Henry Bigelow and William C. Schroeder, provided a handbook for the easy identification of the fishes that occur in those waters, with summaries of what was known about the distribution, relative abundance and life history of each species. The Blackburn Press has just returned this classic book (first revision) to print, making it available again to libraries, scholars, marine biologists, ecologists, fisheries scientists and managers, coastal resource managers and commercial fishermen who wish to own or replace an invaluable reference.
Fishes of the Gulf of Maine by Henry Bigelow and William C. Schroeder, ISBN 1-930665-60-1, Hardcover, 561 pages, $64.95
For more information, we invite you to point your browser to: http://www.blackburnpress.com/fisofgulofma.html
SCHEDULE FOR THE 2002 JOINT MEETING OF HERPETOLOGISTS AND ICTHYOLOGISTS
The schedule for the 2002 joint meeting of herpetologists and ichthyologists in Kansas City is now available at the following link:
We look forward to seeing you in Kansas City.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FOR 2002 MEETING OF ICHTHYOLOGISTS AND HERPETOLOGISTS - KANSAS CITY IS EXTENDED TO 11 MARCH 2002
Because of the technical difficulties associated with the submission of abstracts, the deadline for abstract submission has been extended to 11 March 2002. If you have heard from the Secretary's office confirming receipt of your abstract, you can disregard this message.
The "resubmission" form on the web is not compatible with Internet Explorer 6.0. You must use an older version of Internet Explorer or use Netscape as your web browser. Go to the NEW submission site: http://www.fiu.edu/~asih. Reload the page. Please enter the proper data in the proper fields. Check to see that the data are correct and go to the bottom of the page and hit submit. If you were successful, you will get a message back that says "Thank you for submitting your proposal". You will get a message from the ASIH secretary's office within 2 business days informing you that your abstract has been received.
If you only have access to Internet Explorer 6.0, please follow the instructions on page 12 of the call for papers for submitting abstracts by email. Please do not send attachments. Each line of the email corresponds to the information we need. We will enter your data into the database. You will receive an email from the ASIH secretary's office within 2 business days.
If you have questions, please contact Mo Donnelly, ASIH Secretary (asih@fiu.edu).
We apologize for all of the problems you have had with abstract submission and we look forward to receiving your abstract soon.
Mo Donnelly ASIH Secretary
The meeting abstract submission site is functional and is accepting abstracts. If you experience problems with http://www.fiu.edu/~asih try using Nescape as your browser. Reload the page and when you are sure all information is correct hit the submit button at the very bottom of the page.
Please be sure to include your email address so we can contact you.
When the form is submitted, you will get a message saying: Thank you for submitting your abstract. You will get an email message from the Miami office confirming date of receipt of your abstract.
I apologize for all the problems associated with abstract submission and look forward to seeing you in Kansas City.
Mo Donnelly ASIH Secretary
U.S. National Science Foundation Funding Opportunity for ASSEMBLING THE TREE OF LIFE (electronic solicitation NSF 02-074 for Fiscal Year 2002)
A flood of new information, from whole-genome sequences to inventories of earth's biota, is transforming 21st century biology. Along with comparative data on morphology, fossils, development, behavior, and interactions of all forms of life on earth, these new data streams make even more critical the need for an organizing framework for information retrieval, analysis, and prediction. Phylogeny, the genealogical map for all lineages of life on earth, provides an overall framework to facilitate information retrieval and biological prediction. Currently, single investigators or small teams of researchers are studying the evolutionary pathways of heredity within particular phyla or domains. Assembly of a framework phylogeny, or Tree of Life, for all 1.7 million described species requires a greatly magnified effort by large teams working across institutions and disciplines. This is the overall goal of the Assembling the Tree of Life activity. The National Science Foundation invites research proposals from multidisciplinary teams to conduct creative and innovative research that will resolve phylogenetic relationships for large groups of organisms on the Tree of Life. Teams of investigators also will be supported for projects in data acquisition, analysis, algorithm development and dissemination in computational phylogenetics and phyloinformatics.
Please see the Program Solicitation (NSF 02-074) soon to be posted on the NSF website (www.nsf.gov in the Documents Online section) for description of the activity and guidance on proposal preparation; note the deadline of May 17, 2002 and the optional Letter of Intent requested by March 29, 2002.
Dear ASIH Member,
Due to unforseen technical problems with a server at FIU, the abstracts submitted to the website are lost in cyberspace. Regrettably, all abstracts need to be resubmitted as soon as possible. The new site is live and ready to receive your abstract. The new abstract submission form can be found at: http://www.fiu.edu/~asih. The new form indicates that you are sending a new submission. You will receive a message back from the ASIH office in Miami confirming receipt of your abstract within 48 hours. After the program planning meeting in mid-March 2002, the schedule for the meeting will be posted on the web.
Please use the format described in the call for papers when you resubmit your abstract.
The abstract submission deadline has been extended to 2 March 2002. Revised content of the abstracts will be accepted at least through 9 March 2002. Please continue to check the meeting website (http://www.asih.org/annualmeetings andhttp://www.dce.ksu.edu/dce/cl/2002jointmeeting/) for details concerning our upcoming meeting.
I apologize for this inconvenience and I look forward to seeing you in Kansas City.
Sincerely,
Mo Donnelly ASIH Secretary
The 2002 meeting will be held from 3--8 July 2002 in Kansas City. The website for the meeting is: http://www.dce.ksu.edu/dce/cl/2002jointmeeting/ The website for abstract submission is: http://www.fiu.edu/~asih Abstracts are due by 15 February 2002. If you want to give a power point presentation, you will have to bring a projector. Rental of power point projectors would have greatly increased registration costs so we decided not to rent them and hold costs down. We look forward to seeing everyone in Kansas City.
The position of Ichthyological Information Coordinator has been filled. Mollie Cashner is the new coordinator and the ASIH thanks her for volunteering to fill this important outreach position for the society.
The ASIH is searching for a new Ichthyological Information Coordinator (IIC). Steve Norris has done this job for many years but now must step down. The IIC answers "fish" questions for the ASIH. The requests for information come to Secretary Donnelly and she passes them to the coordinator. Most of our requests for information come electronically but there are occassional written requests. If you are interested in filling this important outreach post, please contact Mo Donnelly (donnelly@fiu.edu).
New ASIH travel reimbursement form. (PDF)
Abstracts from the 2001 meeting are posted on the website. Please visit the "meetings" link and go to the 2001 meeting. The documents are html and pdf files.
Announcement List: We have established an announcement list for the ASIH. I will use this list to send members periodic announcements regarding the ASIH. This is a "one-way" list. Please do not "reply" to the messages you receive. Please visit the directory link on the website to make sure your current email address is on file. As you update your information, the announcement list will also be updated.
I am pleased to announce that the ASIH Bulletin Board is once again functioning properly.
If you posted a message and it is not listed on the Bulletin Board, please repost it. Several messages were overwritten due to the problems caused by the redirection script.
Thank you.
LETTER OF INVITATION - ANNUAL MEETING 2002
If you require a formal letter of invitation for the 2002 annual meeting to help acquire visas or funding, please contact Mo Donnelly (donnelly@fiu.edu).
As many of you may have noticed, the Bulletin Board is not functioning properly. This was due to someone using a redirection script, in their post, to redirect people to an online casino site. I have removed the offending post; however, this script has caused several problems with the Bulletin Board program and I am still working to get them all sorted out.
I have disabled the ability to use scripts, in future posts to the Bulletin Board, to prevent this, or something similar, from happening in the future.
The Bulletin Board should be up and running again soon. I will post a message as soon as it is working correctly.
The summary of business that will be published in Copeia 2000 (4) is now available on the website (see the Annual Meetings link and look at the 2002 meeting).
We have also posted the ballots used during the 2001 election and the Board of Governors book for 2001.
I am pleased to announce that the ASIH Bulletin Board is once again functioning properly.
If you posted a message and it is not listed on the Bulletin Board, please repost it. Several messages were overwritten due to the problems caused by the redirection script.
Thank you.
LETTER OF INVITATION - ANNUAL MEETING 2002
If you require a formal letter of invitation for the 2002 annual meeting to help acquire visas or funding, please contact Mo Donnelly (donnelly@fiu.edu).
As many of you may have noticed, the Bulletin Board is not functioning properly. This was due to someone using a redirection script, in their post, to redirect people to an online casino site. I have removed the offending post; however, this script has caused several problems with the Bulletin Board program and I am still working to get them all sorted out.
I have disabled the ability to use scripts, in future posts to the Bulletin Board, to prevent this, or something similar, from happening in the future.
The Bulletin Board should be up and running again soon. I will post a message as soon as it is working correctly.
The summary of business that will be published in Copeia 2000 (4) is now available on the website (see the Annual Meetings link and look at the 2002 meeting).
We have also posted the ballots used during the 2001 election and the Board of Governors book for 2001.
Abstracts will be converted to PDF files and should be posted soon. Please visit this link regularly to see if there are new postings.
Recently Dr. Thomas Orrell contacted the ASIH Secretary regarding a letter he received from PETA. The address on the letter from PETA matched the ASIH directory entry. This letter has been received by some, but not all, ASIH members.
We regularly rent out our membership list (in the form of mailing labels) to book, journal and magazine publishers, manufacturers, and other societies to generate revenues that help support the general operation of the ASIH. While we enjoy these revenues, we do not want ASIH members to receive unwanted or offensive materials.To many, including me, the PETA materials are unwanted and I apologize to all or you who have received such materials.
To prevent this from happening again, all requests for our mailing list (in the form of labels) will pass through me. I will do my best to ensure that ASIH members only recieve information that will foster the scientific study of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles.
The information on Gaige and Raney grants to support student research is posted on the website (Grants and Awards). Information on format is available on the page. Grant applications are due on 1 March 2002. Awards are typically made by May. The winners will receive grant funds directly and certificates will be presented at the annual banquet. Winners should try to attend the Kansas City meeting and the banquet so they can be recognized for their accomplishments by the membership.
The chair of the Gaige Committee for 2002 is: Dr. Joe Pechmann, Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, joe.pechmann@uno.edu.
The chair of the Raney Committee for 2002 is: Dr. Keith B. Gido, Assistant Professor, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66503, kgido@ksu.edu.
Additional information on the annual Gaige and Raney competition will be published in Copeia 2001 (4).
www.disl.org/~conference/larvafish
The 2000 meeting program is now on the Web. Go to http://www.uabcs.mx/asih/.
The local committee has witnessed problems with hotel reservations and are doing a city-wide evaluation of what's still available. There are still accommodations to be had, but realize it's difficult for foreigners to find them, so they ask that anyone looking for accommodations contact them at asih@uabcs.mx and they will help them out.
Flights to La Paz are full or going for very high prices. Those still looking for flights should investigate flying to Los Cabos and transferring to the shuttle to La Paz for about $80 round trip.
ASIH is happy to report that word from Allen Press indicates that orders for Special Publication 4, Fishes of Bermuda, will be fulfilled this week (January 10). If you ordered a copy, it should be on its way to you by the end of the week. Thanks for your patience and for your order. R. K. Johnson, ASIH Secretary.
A complete listing of past ASIH meetings ordered by year and venue and including presiding society officers has been compiled by Dr. Joseph S. Nelson of the University of Alberta. This listing is available under the Annual Meetings directory on the home page of the ASIH website. Our thanks to Dr. Nelson• for this useful contribution.
The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia is currently in the process of filling the position of Collection Manager. During this time requests for information and loans will be answered, but we ask that any large or non-urgent requests be postponed until the position is filled. Any requests should be sent by e-mail to fishman@acnatsci.org after September 20,1999. Thank you for your patience during this transition.
I have received a number of requests for the postal address for Dr. Carlos Villavicencio, Chair, Local Committee for the Year 2000 Meetings. Here it is:
Dr. Carlos Villavicencio
Laboratorio de Elasmobranquios Depto. de Biologia Marina, UABCS
A.P. 19-B. La Paz, B.C.S. Mexico
Cp 23080
cvilla@calafia.uabcs.mx
The ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING will be held 26 June - 1 July1999 at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Plenary speakers include Gail Michener, Lynne Houck, and Steve Nowicki. Symposia include"Educating about Animal BehaviorA Broader Perspective". For further information see http://www.cisab.indiana.edu/ABS/index.html or contact local host, Michael Pereira [mpereira@bucknell.edu, (717) 524-1430].
The Center for Field Research at Earthwatch Institute is now acceptingproposals from scientists conducting fieldwork in the natural and applied sciences. Earthwatch Institute is a non-profit institution that sponsors scholarly field research in the biological, physical, social and cultural sciences. Please view CFR's homepage (http//www.earthwatch.org/cfr/cfr.html) for information on field grant application guidelines, proposal forms, and recent Grants Lists. You may also review our Requests for Proposals at http://www.earthwatch.org/cfr/CFRrfp.html
- Job Announcement: Herp Collection Manager at the LA County Natural History Museum
- Conference announcement: The First National Conference on Marine Bioinvasions (link unavailable)
- Due to mail delays in delivery of meeting announcements to society members, the local hosts realize that some members may not be able to submit abstracts by the initially stated March 13 deadline. They have therefore indicated that they "would like to have all the abstracts by the first week in April if at all possible but will entertain additional abstracts on a case by case basis."
- Amphibian related post-doc posistions announced
Interested parties can request to be added to the mailing list, or visit the home page for complete details and updates.
African Fish and Fisheries: Diveristy and Utilization Conference
JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology
Private Bag 1015
Grahamstown, 6140
South Africaemail: fishcon@ru.ac.za homepage: http://www.ru.ac.za/affiliates/jlb/fishcon/
"Biotic Recoveries from Mass Exctinctions," September 12-14, 1997, Prague, Czech Republic
