485 opportunity for a Coastal Plant student

Have you taken MARB 430? Did you enjoy the plant excursions? If so, I have a 485 position for you to consider. I would like a former MARB 430 student to help me revise and update the plant field guide and start creating an online database of plant pictures. Email Dr. Armitage (armitaga@tamug.edu) if you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity.

Technician Position available at FIU

Wetland Algal Ecology Field and Laboratory Technician

The Southeast Environmental Research Center (http://casgroup.fiu.edu/serc/) at Florida International University (http://www.fiu.edu) is seeking a full time research technician to aid in collection, processing and identification of algae from the Florida Everglades. The technician will participate in several multidisciplinary studies that investigate effects of long-term natural and anthropogenic environmental change on Everglades communities. Field work includes traveling by helicopter and airboat to collect algae from Everglades wetlands, and entails long days in hot, wet conditions. Laboratory responsibilities include sample processing for biomass and nutrient analyses, microscopic identification of algae and data entry. Enthusiasm for rigorous field work and previous experience with algae are desirable.

FIU has an exceptional interdisciplinary history of research in ecological sciences, particularly in the Everglades and adjacent marine habitats. In particular, FIU is home to the NSF–funded Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research Program (FCE-LTER) which is comprised of >130 scientists from 27 institutions conducting research on ecological processes and coupled human interactions in the South Florida landscape (http://fcelter.fiu.edu/). The FCE-LTER, together with programs associated with the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program, create a stimulating atmosphere for Everglades research.

Qualifications: B.S. with experience or M.S. in biology or related field. Salary commensurate with experience.

To Apply: Applicants should send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae and contact information for three references by e-mail to Dr. Evelyn Gaiser (gaisere@fiu.edu). Selection process will begin 1 March 2011. For more information see: http://algae.fiu.edu/.

EPA Fellowships For Undergraduate Environmental Study

See this link for information on EPA Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships For Undergraduate Environmental Study.

Wetland restoration: How should success be measured?

What should you measure when trying to determine if a wetland restoration project has been successful? This poster, presented at the Ecological Society of America meeting this year, shows some of our latest findings on that topic (click on the poster to see a larger version). If we only look at emergent plant characteristics, then restoration seems to be successful. If we incorporate water, soil, and aquatic plant and animal characteristics, then the restoration sites appear to be very different from the reference area.

What are the real long-term impacts of the oil spill?

It's been interesting to watch the pendulum of public opinion swing in response to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In the weeks immediately following the spill, worst case scenarios involving oil entering the loop current and death to the Atlantic Ocean were headlining the news (and my facebook friends' status updates). Now, following the NOAA report on the fate of the DH oil, public opinion seems to have swung in the other direction - common headlines now laud the rapid recovery of the marshes and the "disappearance" or "capture" of the spilled oil, and some articles and commenters even go as far as ridiculing those scientists that still worry about long-term impacts of the oil. (Note: I realize that facebook updates or comments on online articles are not representative of public opinion as a whole - these observations are simply qualitative food for thought.)

Most likely, the actual outcome of the spill will fall somewhere between these two extremes, but the truth is that no one really knows what the long-term impacts will be. Although some components of wetlands may take decades to recover, other features may recover more quickly. A recent article in the Palm Beach Post highlighted some of the debate about the trajectory of wetland recovery, but every scientist who expressed worry about long-term recovery (including me!) has a lot more questions than answers. Impacts and recovery are complex, long-term processes, but that doesn't make a good sound bite.

It is dangerous to think that wetland recovery from the spill will be easy - that makes it seem like there are no consequences of massive oil spills. It is also irresponsible to hype up worst case scenarios and create panic, which ultimately hurts local economies by scaring off consumers like tourists.

So what will the real long-term impacts of the oil spill be? No one knows for sure, but it's our job as scientists to try to find out and adapt our management and conservation practices in accordance with the most recent scientific findings. That's a pretty boring sound bite, isn't it?

The Wetlands Lab moves into a new building

We have moved into a brand new science building, and it is quite an upgrade from the old building! Check out the new digs:

The pigment corner for the HPLC and spectrophotometer, complete with a solvent fume hood and black-out curtain.

Look at all the counter space!

More space!

The sleek and comfortable graduate student cubicles.

In the news

Dr. Armitage was recently interviewed by the local NPR station, KUHF, for a story about the possible interactions between hurricanes and oil spills. Read and/or listen.