Exploring the “density-benefit” relationships of alien species

The disastrous impacts of invasive alien species are well-documented. However, there is growing evidence that some alien species can also have positive effects in their new environments, adding complexity to their management. Classic density-damage relationships are used to determine cost effective densities at which to control alien populations and limit their adverse effects. In this thesis I proposed that the ecological benefits of alien species are also related to population density, and I hypothesised the different types of relationships that may exist. I then investigated the "density-benefit" relationships of three common alien species through a series of manipulative field experiments. Firstly, I examined the effect of population density on the pollination behaviour of alien black rats, Rattus rattus, that provide a pollination function for an Australian native plant. I found black rats at high densities behave in a way that may reduce their pollinator efficacy. I next investigated the effect of density upon an alien plant, Lantana camara, providing refuge for small native reptiles. I found that the abundance of reptiles was related to L. camara density in a U-shape, showing a benefit at high densities only. Then I conducted a simulation experiment to compare the digging activities of native marsupials and alien European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) at different densities. Digging density was significantly related to the germination and survival of seedlings. However, I detected a difference in the quality of the ecological function provided by these analogous alien and native species. Together, these results suggest that “density-benefit” relationships need to be integrated into the management of alien species densities. This work will advance the current understanding of alien species ecology, guide the management of alien species with complex impacts and ensure that significant ecological benefits provided by alien species are not lost unnecessarily

Identity in research infrastructure and scientific communication: Report from the 1st IRISC workshop, Helsinki Sep 12-13, 2011

Motivation for the IRISC workshop came from the observation that identity and digital identification are increasingly important factors in modern scientific research, especially with the now near-ubiquitous use of the Internet as a global medium for dissemination and debate of scientific knowledge and data, and as a platform for scientific collaborations and large-scale e-science activities.

The 1 1/2 day IRISC2011 workshop sought to explore a series of interrelated topics under two main themes: i) unambiguously identifying authors/creators & attributing their scholarly works, and ii) individual identification and access management in the context of identity federations. Specific aims of the workshop included:

• Raising overall awareness of key technical and non-technical challenges, opportunities and developments.
• Facilitating a dialogue, cross-pollination of ideas, collaboration and coordination between diverse – and largely unconnected – communities.
• Identifying & discussing existing/emerging technologies, best practices and requirements for researcher identification.

This report provides background information on key identification-related concepts & projects, describes workshop proceedings and summarizes key workshop findings

Transdisciplinarity seen through Information, Communication, Computation, (Inter-)Action and Cognition

Similar to oil that acted as a basic raw material and key driving force of industrial society, information acts as a raw material and principal mover of knowledge society in the knowledge production, propagation and application. New developments in information processing and information communication technologies allow increasingly complex and accurate descriptions, representations and models, which are often multi-parameter, multi-perspective, multi-level and multidimensional. This leads to the necessity of collaborative work between different domains with corresponding specialist competences, sciences and research traditions. We present several major transdisciplinary unification projects for information and knowledge, which proceed on the descriptive, logical and the level of generative mechanisms. Parallel process of boundary crossing and transdisciplinary activity is going on in the applied domains. Technological artifacts are becoming increasingly complex and their design is strongly user-centered, which brings in not only the function and various technological qualities but also other aspects including esthetic, user experience, ethics and sustainability with social and environmental dimensions. When integrating knowledge from a variety of fields, with contributions from different groups of stakeholders, numerous challenges are met in establishing common view and common course of action. In this context, information is our environment, and informational ecology determines both epistemology and spaces for action. We present some insights into the current state of the art of transdisciplinary theory and practice of information studies and informatics. We depict different facets of transdisciplinarity as we see it from our different research fields that include information studies, computability, human-computer interaction, multi-operating-systems environments and philosophy.Comment: Chapter in a forthcoming book: Information Studies and the Quest for Transdisciplinarity - Forthcoming book in World Scientific. Mark Burgin and Wolfgang Hofkirchner, Editor

Spartan Daily, September 19, 2005

Volume 125, Issue 13https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/10156/thumbnail.jp

Spartan Daily, December 5, 2006

Volume 127, Issue 54https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/10312/thumbnail.jp

The Victorian Naturalist

v.114 (1997

The assessment report of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services on pollinators, pollination and food production

The thematic assessment of pollinators, pollination and food production carried out under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aims to assess animal pollination as a regulating ecosystem service underpinning food production in the context of its contribution to nature’s gifts to people and supporting a good quality of life. To achieve this, it focuses on the role of native and managed pollinators, the status and trends of pollinators and pollinator-plant networks and pollination, drivers of change, impacts on human well-being, food production in response to pollination declines and deficits and the effectiveness of responses

The oral repellent – Science fiction or common sense? Insects, vector-borne diseases, failing strategies, and a bold proposition

Over the last decades, unimaginable amounts of money have gone into research and development of vector control measures, repellents, treatment, and vaccines for vector borne diseases. Technological progress and scientific breakthroughs allowed for ever more sophisticated and futuristic strategies. Yet, each year, millions of people still die or suffer from potentially serious consequences of malaria or dengue to more recent infections, such as zika or chikungunya, or of debilitating consequences of neglected tropical diseases. This does not seem value for money. In addition, all current vector control strategies and personal protection methods have shortcomings, some serious, that are either destructive to non-target species or unsatisfactory in their effectiveness. On the other hand, the rapid decline in insect populations and their predators reflects decades-long aggressive and indiscriminate vector control. This major disruption of biodiversity has an impact on human life not anticipated by the well-meaning killing of invertebrates. The objective of this paper is to re-examine current control methods, their effectiveness, their impact on biodiversity, human and animal health, and to call for scientific courage in the pursuit of fresh ideas. This paper brings together topics that are usually presented in isolation, thereby missing important links that offer potential solutions to long-standing problems in global health. First, it serves as a reminder of the importance of insects to human life and discusses the few that play a role in transmitting disease. Next, it examines critically the many currently employed vector control strategies and personal protection methods. Finally, based on new insights into insect chemo-sensation and attractants, this perspective makes a case for revisiting a previously abandoned idea, the oral repellent, and its use via currently successful methods of mass-application. The call is out for focused research to provide a powerful tool for public health, tropical medicine, and travel medicine

Responses to risks and opportunities associated with pollinators and pollination

The overall aim of the thematic assessment of Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production is to assess animal pollination as a regulating ecosystem service under pinning food production in the context of its contribution to nature'sgifts to people and supporting a good quality of life. Toachieve this, the focus is on the role of native and exoticpollinators, the status of, and trends in pollinators andpollinator-plant networks and pollination, drivers of change,impacts on human well-being, food production in responseto pollination declines and deficits and the effectiveness ofresponses from various governance systems to pollinationdeclines and deficits. The scope is global, covering allcontinents except Antarctica, where no pollinators areknown. The assessment brings together contributions notonly from natural, social and economic science perspectives but also from knowledge of indigenous and local community stake holders and practitioners.The assessment strives to critically review the broadest range of evidence and make its findings readily availableto support policy and management responses to declinesand deficits in pollination. The report represents the firstIPBES thematic assessment deliverable that aims toidentify policy-relevant findings for decision-making ingovernment, the private sector and civil society, as wellas helping to demonstrate how an essential ecosystem service could potentially contribute to the post-2015 development agendaFil: Dicks, Lynn. University of Cambridge; Reino UnidoFil: Viana, Blandina Felipe. Universidad federal de Bahia; BrasilFil: del Coro Arizmendi, Maria. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Bommarco, Riccardo. Mid Sweden University.; SueciaFil: Brosi, Berry. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Cunningham, Saul. Australian National University; AustraliaFil: Galetto, Leonardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Lopes, Ariadna. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Taki, Hisatomo. University of Florida; Estados Unido