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CECB UPDATE Boston University • Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology • Fall 2005 GREETINGS FROM THE DIRECTOR Dear Friends and Colleagues: This edition of CECB Update is the eighth consecutive year that we have produced this newsletter to help keep you abreast of the activities, programs, and events associated with CECB. First of all, I am pleased to tell you that 2005 marks the 10th Anniversary of Boston University’s Tropical Ecology Program. Since 1996, over 300 undergraduate concentrators in biology and environmental science have participated in this semester abroad program in Ecuador. Students continue to rave about their experiences and the influence that their participation has had on their subsequent thinking and careers upon graduation. It is heartening to learn that this program has provided an important turning point in the lives of so many young people. We have celebrated this milestone by producing two DVDs, one highlighting the experiences of some of our former students in this special program, and another emphasizing the diversity of life that students experience in the tropical ecosystems that best characterize Ecuador—the Amazonian rainforest, the Andes Mountains, coastal South America, and the Galapagos Islands. In this Anniversary year, I am happy to tell you that the Tiputini Biodiversity Station (TBS) is undergoing a major facelift made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF)—with new student dormitories, an expanded laboratory building, and other amenities— including internet access and a new canopy tower that will replace the access tree to our canopy walkway. These changes will greatly benefit students who choose to participate in our Tropical Ecology Program during the next decade. The changes underway have drawn an increasing number of scientists from around the world to conduct research at the TBS—including CECB Associate Nathan Phillips—who was recently funded by NSF to investigate the physiological ecology of tropical palms. In collaboration with German scientists, Christian Voigt, Detlev Kelm, and Katja Rex, CECB Director Thomas Kunz has been assessing the biodiversity of bats at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station for the past several years. This research has led to the discovery that this region of the Amazonian rainforest may support the highest diversity of bats anywhere in the world. This finding complements similar findings by CECB Faculty Associate James Traniello and his students who also have discovered an extraordinary high diversity of ants at TBS, and other TBS researchers who have found similarly high diversity of tree and beetle species diversity at this site. GALAPAGOS SUMMIT ON EVOLUTION Last June, tropical biologists, evolutionary philosophers, historians, and students converged on the Galapagos island of San Cristobal for the first ever World Summit on Evolution, the first in a series of meetings to discuss evolution. The summit, hosted by CECB partner institution Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), was held in honor of the opening of the Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences (GAIAS). Set on a 4.5 hectare campus, GAIAS overlooks the bay of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and provides unparalleled access to these unique islands as the only educational facility in the archipelago. USFQ hopes GAIAS will become a premier educational institution for researchers and students that will promote biodiversity and encourage continued study of evolutionary theory. CECB Faculty Associate Thomas Kunz played an important role in this groundbreaking conference. Dr. Kunz was awarded a NSF grant to support the participation of 27 graduate students, two of whom (Polly Campbell and Pablo Jarrin) were from Boston University. Dr. Kunz served as one of eight summit organizers and chaired the second session, titled “What is Evolution?,” on June 12. Four researchers received honorary degrees from USFQ, including Dr. Kunz. CECB Associates continue their high visibility and productivity in teaching, research and publications that focus on ecology and the environment. We are especially pleased to welcome Dr. Pamela Templer, a new Faculty Associate who is conducting research on forest ecosystem processes and will be teaching courses in forest ecology and environmental sciences. As we face the many environmental challenges in the years ahead, with increasing pressures from global climate change, emerging diseases, and other threats to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, we seek your continued interest and support for educating and training the next generation of students by providing them with the necessary financial and logistics support to conduct research that promises to make a difference. We welcome your continued support of our programs and research activities. With best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year, Thomas H. Kunz 10 INCREDIBLE YEARS TROPICAL ECOLOGY PROGRAM The Spring 2005 semester of the Tropical Ecology Program officially marked the program’s 10th Anniversary. Since its inception in 1996, over 300 students have taken part in this unique, field-based program based in Ecuador that has provided aspiring biologists and environmental scientists with critical skills they will require in their future professions. Last spring, CECB sent the largest group to Ecuador in the history of the program, with 25 students in two sections. This fall, fourteen students departed for Ecuador to participate in this program, where they covered a wide range of topics, traveled to the mountainous regions of the Andes, sailed around the Galapagos Islands, and lived in the Amazon rainforest. Ever mindful for the future, the program continues to recruit students from across the United States. And, this 10th Anniversary has proved to be an exciting time at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station. A recent grant of $193,700 from the National Science Foundation has provided BU-TEP with the means to upgrade critical infrastructure, including the construction of a new laboratory and improvements to student and researcher housing. We ask you to join us in celebrating this program’s remarkable achievements. “THIS PROGRAM DEVELOPS INVALUABLE THINKING AND COOPERATIVVE SKILLS IN AN AMAZING ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING.” “THE ~SHANNON MCCOOK, 2005 OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME IN THE FIELD AND SPEND A SEMESTER IN ONLY SELF-INITIATED WORK WAS UNBEATABLE...” "AMAZING PROGRAM - FINALLY GOT TO GO BEYOND WHAT YOU LEARN IN A BOOK AND DECIPHER KNOWLEDGE FOR MY OWN. GREAT EXPERIENCE - OPENS YOUR EYES TO WHAT THE WORLD IS REALLY LIKE WHILE GAINING SO MUCH INSIGHT." ~ NICOLE SIMURO, 2005 ~ROSIE DENT, 2005 TROPICAL ECOLOGY PROGRAM ALUMNI Sean Dixon (Spring 2003) was a NOAA Fisheries Observer in Alaska following his graduation in 2004. Sean is now studying environmental law at Pace Law and Yale. ([email protected]) Gabby Fredman (Fall 2003) is currently persuing her Ph.D. in Oral Biology at BU, specifically studying inflammation and resolution of disease pathologies. ([email protected]) Denise Guillot (Fall 1999) has entered the Ph.D. program in Anthropology at Boston University. She is currently conducting her fieldwork with primates at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in Ecuador and interacting with current BU-TEP students. ([email protected]) Shannon Gustafson (Spring 1999) currently teaches seventh grade life, physical, and earth science classes in Milford, MA. Shannon still incorporates her Ecuadorian experiences into many of her daily science lessons. ([email protected]) Andrea Lucky (Spring 1999) is now a Ph.D. student at the University of California – Davis in Entomology, studying ant systematics and evolution. ([email protected]) Rex Malmstrom (Fall 1997) just completed her Ph.D. in Microbial Ecology at the University of Delaware. He will begin a post-doctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology later this fall. ([email protected]) Janice Markey (Spring 1997) worked for some time as a forester for an electric company in New Mexico. She has now resettled in Boston as an environmental scientist working for a company that deals with industrial waste water management. ([email protected]) Rachel Meddaugh (Fall 2002) graduated in May 2004 and has now finished her first year at the University of Rhode Island, where she is working on her Pharm.D. degree. ([email protected]) Brian Miller (Spring 2002) is currently enrolled in a marine science Ph.D. program at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. His research focus is sperm whale ecology. ([email protected]) Jessica Muhlin (Spring 2000) is currently a Marine Biology Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maine, focusing on the population genetic structure of rockweed. Presently, her research involves releasing labeled oranges off coastal points to measure dispersal potential and characterize circulation patterns. ([email protected]) Lydia Munger (Spring 1999) earned a Master of Environment Management from Duke University and is currently employed as a Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in Washington, D.C. ([email protected]) Bridget O’Neill (Fall 1999) is currently a graduate student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She works with Japanese beetles in the Entomology Department, investigating the effects of atmospheric change on herbivorous insects. ([email protected]) Julie Palakovich (Spring 2004) is a first year graduate student at the University of Minnesota – Duluth, where she is persuing research in ornithology. ([email protected]) Raymond Wright (Fall 2003) is currently enrolled at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he will be completing his Masters Degree this coming spring with the intention of becoming a secondary school biology teacher. ([email protected]) OUR SEARCH FOR MONKEYS TROPICAL ECOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP FUND BY: CRAIG O’CONELL AND NICOLE SIMURO Nothing will ever compare to our last day in the rainforest, when we were lucky enough to see all nine species of monkeys at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station (TBS). It had been a goal of ours since the beginning to see every species, but as of the last day we still had yet to see the pygmy marmosets that inhabit the black water region. But on that last day, we took a boat float and were lucky enough to see these little guys and they were by far the cutest little mammals we have ever seen. But that was only the start to our day. On that boat float, we also spotted dusky titis (a rare sight), squirrel monkeys, and wooly monkeys. Once we completed out our boat trip, we decided to take a long day hike. To our surprise we quickly ran into saki monkeys, strange looking creatures with faces like those of a sumo wrestler. Later on the hike, we heard the loud, obnoxious yell of a howler monkey. We had heard the monkey’s howl many times prior to this, but we could never quite pinpoint its origins in the depths of the forest. With determination, we searched for it and finally found the monkey on top of a palm tree. When we stood underneath the tree, the howling was so loud and frightening, it sounded more like a movie monster than a primate. The CECB, in collaboration with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and the Office of Sponsored Programs, continues its fund-raising campaign to support scholarships for undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral scholars to conduct research in ecology and conservation biology. The CECB wishes to acknowledge and thank the following individuals and organizations for their generous support this past year. STRATOSPHERE CLUB (≥ $50,000) The National Science Foundation ECOSPHERE CLUB ($10,000 – $49, 999) The Earle Chiles Foundation Dr. Christopher Reaske, BU Development CANOPY CLUB ($5,000 - $9,999) Xerox DIRECTOR’S CLUB ($2,500 - $4,999) RAINFOREST CLUB ($1,000 - $2,499) Merrill Family Charitable Foundation Anthony and Gail Patt, BU Biology FRIENDS OF CECB (UP TO $999) Atop the Canopy Tower at TBS Later in the day, we decided to walk to the canopy tower so we could watch the sun set on our last day at Tiputini. To our surprise we spotted the last two diurnal species of monkeys, the spider monkeys and a large group of golden tamarins, when we reached the top. A short time later we found ourselves surrounded by woolly monkeys. Deciding this was another great photo opportunity, we quickly walked down several flights of stairs so we would be just below the forest canopy, rather than on top of it. As we sat silently, a baby woolly monkey with a head larger than its body came within five feet of us to eat fruit in the trees. It was such an amazing sight that we completely ignored the sunset and began furiously taking pictures. After being entranced by all this, we realized that we missed just about the entire sunset. But we quickly forgot about that afterwards as we rolled American Society of Mammalogists Todd Klipp, BU General Council Dr. Farouk El-Baz, Center for Remote Sensing down the Tiputini River towards the dining hall with the stars gazing down upon us. The night ended with us seeing our first night monkey, completing our ultimate goal of observing all species of monkeys in one full day. We will never forget the TBS and all the amazing experiences we had there. This beautiful place taught us life-changing lessons, encouraged us to savor every moment, and provided us with innumerable opportunities. We hope to return one day to a TBS that is just as diverse and enchanting as our last day in the rainforest. RESEARCH AND EDUCATION WATER AND FIENDS: EFFECTS ON HYLA EBRACCATA Both abiotic conditions and natural enemies can have dramatic effects on individual survival, plastic phenotypic responses, and population processes. But, little work has addressed how these factors interact. Justin Touchon, a Ph.D. student in the Warkentin lab, is currently conducting a study to show the effects of combined factors on the arboreal eggs and aquatic tadpoles of the neotropical treefrog, Hyla ebraccata. His study will augment various environmental factors, such as temperature, rainfall, and shading, as well as monitor the effects of such changes on egg and larval development, predation, and survival to maturity. Touchon conducted the past season’s field research in Gamoba, Panama, where he focused on two ponds where egg clutches are commonly found. There, he conducted two primary experiments. Touchon’s work has already produced some fascinating results, which will be submitted for publication in Spring 2006. A clutch of Hyla ebraccata eggs In order to effectively gauge tadpole response to predator cues, Touchon created three separate environments in which he reared Hyla ebraccata. Two environments contained separate and distinct predators and a third environment consisted of a control. The three tadpole groups showed significant differences in growth, and also differences in musculature and tail shapes when controlling for body size. Most interestingly, however, tadpoles reared under the influence of a predator did not show any increased fitness when exposed to that predator or any other predator. A second experiment evaluated the effect of changes in rainfall on clutches of eggs. Hyla ebraccata lays its eggs on leaves above water where these eggs develop very rapidly. Because of the rapid development of its eggs, short-term changes in water exposure can alter its embryonic development. Naturally, these eggs develop in three environments: eggs receiving heavy rain, eggs receiving little or no rain, and eggs developing underwater. To determine the effects of changes in water exposure, Touchon simulated these three environments and recorded hatching times and development periods. He found significant variations upon doing so. Eggs that hatched underwater hatched later and produced smaller, immature tadpoles than eggs exposed to either heavy or little rain. Touchon continued this experiment by exposing the resulting tadpoles to predation in the fall. Large Hyla ebraccata tadpole Hyla Ebraccata metamorph without tail Touchon and Warkentin hope that this research will improve understanding of the interacting processes affecting amphibian populations and offer predictions about effects of climate and habitat change. This research will be informative to amphibian conservation efforts and environmental education in a world where climate and habitat change holds ever increasing importance. A WHOLE NEW CAN OF ANENOME Sometimes, a routine sampling trip can yield unexpected results, as GRS Biology students Adam Reitzel and James Sullivan discovered after collecting some ctenophores off the coast of Woods Hole, MA during the summer of 2004. What originally began as a population study of a little known sea anemone that parasitizes a common local ctenophore, Mnemiopsis leidyi, has expanded into a broad project aimed at understanding how clonality is involved in a host’s parasite load, a better understanding of the evolution of a common life-history strategy (parasitism), and a test of a proposed method of invasive species control. Together with CECB Faculty Associate John Finnerty, Reitzel and Sullivan have conducted novel research on a “worm-like” parasitic anemone called Edwardsiella lineata. Early parasitic infection When surveying Mnemiopsis leidyi at Woods Hole, Reitzel and Sullivan found the Edwardsiella lineata parasites in dense numbers. Edwardsiella lineata parasitizes the ctenophore, feeding off of ingested prey by positioning its oral end in the ctenophore’s gut, growing up to 1.5 cm in length, sometimes longer than the host! After an indeterminate period of infection, it morphs into a pelagic larval stage and leaves the ctenophore, using tiny cilia to propel itself through the water. Experimental results have shown that at this stage the larva can either reinfect a second ctenophore or morph again, this time into a star-shaped adolescent. After developing a full crown of tentacles and eight mesenteries, the juvenile reaches a sexually mature state, looking like a typical anemone. Reitzel and Sullivan intend to use the 400 parasites they have collected to determine the role of larval stage asexual reproduction in shaping the population structure of this curious anemone. Parasite burrowing out of a ctenophore Further study of the anemone may also provide support for proposed methods to control the invasive host species, Mnemiopsis leidyi. This voracious predator, native to waters off the coast of North and South America, has invaded numerous Mediterranean seas, choking fisheries dependent on zooplankton. Some researchers have suggested that Edwardsiella lineata could be used to control this invasive species. But, Reitzel and Sullivan caution this approach, stating that the parasite should be further studied, particularly given the results of their ongoing experiments and the general lack of knowledge regarding this species’ overall role in ecosystem function. UPCOMING RESEARCH PROJECTS Paul Barber recently began a collaborative project with Conservation International to investigate the genetic connectivity of the Raja Ampat Seascape in Indonesia. This project will help to integrate genetic connectivity data into marine conservation planning. Farouk el-Baz has received a two-year project grant from the National Science Foundation entitled, “Nearsurface drainage within a groundwater basin in southwest Egypt using radar data.” The project will examine the environment of groundwater from channels beneath the desert. Les Kaufman recently partnered with Conservation International on a large project called the Marine Management Area Science (MMAS) program, to study ecosystem effects of management in four tropical nearshore systems: Caribbean, Brazil, eastern tropical Pacific, and Fiji. Nathan Phillips has been awarded a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation to study the physiological ecology of palm Mauritia flexuosa at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in Ecuador. NEW CECB FACULTY ASSOCIATES The CECB would like to welcome Dr. Pamela Templer as its newest faculty associate. Professor Templer is broadly interested in ecosystem ecology and the influence that plant-microbial interactions have on nutrient cycling, retention, and loss. Particularly, she is interested in the impact of human activity, such as fossil fuel combustion, the introduction of non-native plant species and land use change on global elemental cycles. Her lab currently examines a variety of nitrogen (N) sources, including rain, fog, and anthropogenic N deposition and the tracking of N inputs in forest ecosystems to learn whether they are assimilated by plants and microorganisms, transformed to different forms of nitrogen, or lost from the ecosystem. She and her graduate students currently work in temperate forests of the northern United States, redwood forests of California, and tropical rainforests in Puerto Rico. NEW CECB FACULTY PUBLICATIONS Thomas Kunz co-edited (with Akbar Zubaid and Gary F. McCracken) a new book entitled Functional and Evolutionary Ecology of Bats (ISBN: 019515472X, 400# pp., Oxford University Press). This book presents some of the latest research findings on the physiological ecology, functional morphology, and roosting ecology and population biology of bats. Cutler Cleveland co-edited (with Christopher Morris) the Dictionary of Energy (ISBN: 0080445780, 512# pp, Elsevier Science), a reference resource for researchers and policy makers that contains over 8,000 definitions and 100 essays written by experts covering the scientific, historical, and social significance of energy. FACULTY AND STUDENT AWARDS CECB Faculty Associate Paul Barber was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. The award is the highest honor presented by the Federal government for professionals in their early careers. Thomas Kunz received an honorary doctorate from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito during the World Summit on Evolution in the Galapagos this summer. It was presented to him in honor of his tireless efforts in promoting conservation biology in Ecuador. Farouk El-Baz was elected as a member of the Board of International Scientific Organizations (BISO) for the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. His membership on the NAS Committee on Human Rights was also extended for another term. Adam Reitzel of John Finnerty’s lab was awarded a 3-year EPA-STAR fellowship to study population genetic structure in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella. Pat Burton was awarded the Belamarich Award for best dissertation in the Department of Biology in 2005. His dissertation compared gene expression during larval development, regeneration, and asexual reproduction in Nematostella. Mutlu Ozdogan of the Department of Geography and the Center for Remote Sensing recently completed his Ph.D. and has won a NASA award to spend one year to do research on land use and land cover change at the Goddard spaceflight Center in Maryland. Eric Crandal a PhD candidate under Paul Barber received a grant from the National Science Foundation for doctoral dissertation improvement and will spend the winter conducting fieldwork in the South Pacific. Benita Chick of Paul Barber’s lab was awarded a Lerner-Gray grant to conduct her graduate fieldwork. Joshua Drew of Paul Barber’s lab was awarded the Humes Alumni Award for upcoming fieldwork in the Solomon Islands. TROPICAL ECUADOR DVD AVAILABLE Produced in collaboration with the Office of Development, International Programs, and BU’s Media Group, the CECB has released a new 22-minute DVD entitled Boston University Tropical Ecuador: An Invitation to the Tropics. This instructional DVD, filmed entirely on location in Ecuador and the Tiputini Biodiversity Station, highlights the extraordinary biodiversity found in Ecuador’s diverse ecosystem. Individuals who wish to receive a copy of this DVD can contact the CECB administrator at [email protected]. Price: $12.50 (includes shipping). Our 13-minute promotional DVD Boston University’s Tropical Ecology Program, which highlights student experiences from BU-TEP and program specifics, is also available for purchase. Price: $12.50 (includes shipping). NEW CECB WEB SITE DEBUTS This summer, the CECB redesigned its web site to provide greater content and improved navigability. In addition to featuring up-to-date information on CECB news, the new web site features five video clips of the Tropical Ecology Program, a TEP student blog titled Destination: Ecuador!, and the latest information from the Tiputini Biodiversity Station. The new web site’s features will continue to expand in the coming months. Upcoming features will include a new career and internships web page for ecology students and a Digital Symposium of student BU-TEP projects. Check back regularly for new features and the latest information at http://www.bu.edu/cecb. BU-TEP T-SHIRTS ON SALE The CECB continues to offer T-shirts to promote and commemorate the Tropical Ecology Program in Ecuador. T-shirts are currently on sale for $20 (includes shipping and handling). To purchase a T-shirt, please send a check payable to CECB at 5 Cummington St., Boston MA 02215. All proceeds go to support the Tropical Ecology Program. CONTACT CECB MAIL: Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology Boston University 5 Cummington St. Boston, MA 02215 PHONE: (617) 353-6982 FAX: (617) 353-5383 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: http://www.bu.edu/cecb