October 21, 2008

Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB)-International course: Species Interactions and Global Change Impacts January 5-20, 2009 Coyhaique, Chile

The objective of the course is to show the state of the art in our knowledge about the modulating role that interspecific interactions among plants can play in the ecological responses to global change. The course is based on intensive field and classroom work.
 
Enrollment is limited. For application, send an e-mail to ecobiosis@gmail.com attaching a CV and a cover letter explaining why you want/need this course.

June 30, 2008

Publication of new paper in Science generates huge interest in the international media

On June 27, Science published the paper “A Significant Upward Shift in Plant Species Optimum Elevation During the 20th Century”, by J. Lenoir, J.C. Gégout, P.A. Marquet, P. de Ruffray y H. Brisse,

Dr. Pablo Marquet leads the IEB focus Biogeography and Paleoecology. This paper has generated huge interest in the international and national media.

News at international media:

• CNN
• New Scientist Environment
• CBS News

 
… see the new in El Mercurio

June 3, 2008

Charismatic Species Workshop
How to implement a charismatic species?

This workshop, organized by the University of Magallanes (Puerto Williams - Headquarters), the IEB and the Omora Foundation, will be carried out from the 16th to the 17th of June 2008 in the campus of the University of Magallanes in Punta Arenas.

Its objective is to make a contribution to conservation in Chile and the world by providing an understanding of the definition and utility of charismatic species for biological conservation. Upon completing the workshop, participants will have the ability to design case studies that take into account their own local situations and reality.

More information:
Ximena Arango: (56 61) 621305, ximena.arango@umag.cl
Paula Caballero: (56 61) 209385, pp.caballero.s@gmail.com

June 2, 2008

International Workshop: Confronting Global Change with a Network of Socio-Ecological Research Sites in the South of the Americas

This workshop will be held between June 8-13 2008 in Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams (Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region, Chile). Coordinated by the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), the Universidad de Magallanes (UMAG), and Chile Program University of North Texas (UNT). Financed by the Chilean Ministry of Planning, Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnología (CONICYT), and the Hispanic Global Initiative.

Background
One of the greatest challenges for biological and cultural conservation initiatives is the need to integrate the ecological and social dimensions of environmental problems. To confront this challenge, the academy must design new strategies to not only generate scientific knowledge, but also to incorporate that information in decision-making and social processes. To achieve this goal, three complementary approaches have been developed and implemented throughout the world, including:

• The creation of Long-Term Socio-Ecological Study Networks (LTSER), whose mission is to integrate and transfer to society knowledge about the interdependent and long-term social and ecological patterns and process of our biosphere;
• The creation and implementation of biosphere reserves in association with UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MaB) Program;
• International and interdisciplinary field education programs, conducted by consortia of institutions.

Working Groups
During this workshop, participants will divide into two working groups focused on:

1) LTSER: Establishment, objectives, questions, and plan for the technological implementation of the nascent Chilean LTSER network.
Coordinators: Juan J. Armesto, Julio R. Gutiérrez and Christopher B. Anderson.

2) International Research and Education Consortia: Establishment, objectives and implementation of an international and interdisciplinary field education program on biocultural conservation associated with Chilean LTSER sites and biosphere reserves.
Coordinators: Ricardo Rozzi, Andrés Mansilla, Robert Frodeman, Mary T. Kalin Arroyo.

… see program

April 7, 2008

Results of IEB call for master fellowship 2008

Five students have been selected for the IEB master fellowship. Candidates selected are:

January 21, 2008

President Michelle Bachelet visits Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve.

During her first visit to Puerto Williams this week, President Michelle Bachelet spent the day reviewing public work projects in the town before embarking with the navy to visit Cape Horn.

After inaugurating the new public nursery school, masters students from the University of Magallanes presented the Minister of Education Yasna Provoste and the National Director of the JUNJI (the state-supported nursery school system) Estela Ortíz with gifts that included the books and educational materials that researchers of the Omora Park (Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity and University of Magallanes) have prepared in conjunction with the local teachers for pre-school children.

In the afternoon, before embarking for Cape Horn, Drs. Ricardo Rozzi, Francisca Massardo and Christopher Anderson were asked by Congresswoman Carolina Goic to present the President, the head of the Chilean Navy Admiral Rodolfo Codina, and Rear Admiral Felipe Ojeda with these educational materials, plus ecotourism guide books and other publications produced by the scientists of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve.

At the meeting with the president, the researchers explained the importance of the Omora Park as a long-term ecological study site, as well as the urgent need to continue implementing the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve as a model of sustainable development being created “from the South”.

President Bachelet received the ad hoc class with enthusiasm, showing her own knowledge of important issues in the archipelago, such as invasive species, and was very pleased to find out that this was one of the research groups to recently receive the “Fondos Basales” award through the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, which will help consolidate the infrastructure, investigation and outreach activities that are being conducted in the region, thus reenforcing this long-term, world class initiative.

As Dr. Rozzi explained to President Bachelet, "We are working so that the Omora Park will be to the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve what the Darwin Station has been to the Galapagos Islands Biosphere Reserve, providing a critical link between science and sustainable development to improve social well being and biocultural conservation."

Dr. Ricardo Rozzi, IEB researcher, discusses the Omora Park’s education program in Puerto Williams with  Estela Ortiz, the national director of the government-supported system of nursery schools.	Ximena Arango, of Science Outreach Program, gives a gift to Minister of Education Yasna Provoste. The gift consisted of the numerous books and educational materials produced by the Omora Park for use in elementary schools in Chile.	Drs. Christopher Anderson and Ricardo Rozzi were surprised by the President's knowledge of pressing issues in Cape Horn, such as problems with invasive exotic species.	Before embarking, the President and the Admirals get a quick lesson in “Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve 101”from the professor!

December 10, 2007

The Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) receives significant new funding from the CONICYT Basal Financing Program for Chilean Centres of Excellence in Science and Technology.

The IEB proposal was among the eight selected among 33 submitted proposals in different research areas.

The proposals selected were:
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB)
- Centre of Excellence in Astrophysics
- Centre for Oceanographic Research in the Eastern South Pacific (COPAS)
- Centre for Scientific Studies (CECS)
- Foundation for the Sciences of Life
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling (CMM)
- Unit for Technological Development
- Centre for Research on Aging and Regeneration
These eight centres will receive funding for a period of 10 years, pending a mid-term evaluation. The Program will assign around 9 billion Chilean pesos (US$ 18 million) per year to the above proposals. The funds come from the Chilean Fund for Innovation and Competitivity.
Members of the Executive Panel of the Program were Ms. Vivian Heyl, President of CONICYT (President), Mr. Bruno Philippi, Dr. Manuel Krauskopf, Dr. Francisco Claro and Dr. Jorge Katz. The Exectuve Panel was in charge of developing the strategic basis of the Program and named the International Advisory Panel, which selected the proposal for funding.

Members of the International Advisory Panel were:

Ford, Kenneth W.: Ph.D. in Physics, Princeton University,  1953. Consultant and writer.

Hedley, Mary Lynn: Ph.D. in Molecular Inmunology, Southwestern Medical Center, Texas, 1988. Postdoctorate, Harvard University, 1989-1994. Charge: Executive Vicepresident and Scientific Director of MGI PHARMA.

Hexner, Tom: Licenciate in Economics and MBA, Harvard University. Charge: President of Hexner Inc.

Hovaguimian, Andre: Ph.D., Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures, Paris, France, 1970. Charge: Vicepresident of Swietelsky Baugesellschaft and Member of Investment Committee of Mena Invest.

Mahan, Gerald Dennos: Ph.D. in Physics, University of California at Berkeley, 1964. Charge: Physics Professor, Pennsylvania State University.

Mayer, Lawrence Michael: Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hannover, New Hampshire, USA, 1976. Charge: Oceanography Professor, University of Maine.

Mc Pherson, Malcom Frederick: Ph.D. in Economics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass, USA, 1980. Charge: Senior Reasercher, Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Jhon F. Kennedy School of Government and Adviser of United Nations Development Program (Liberia).

Tarragó Colominas, Joseph: Ph.D. in Veterinary and Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, 1972. Charge: General Director of Institute of Investigation and Technology for Food and Agriculture (IRTA), Cataluña, Spain.

Toneguzzo, Frances: Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Mc Master University, 1979. Charge: Director of Technological Transfer, Massachusetts General Hospital.

… see more

5 de Octubre de 2007

IMoSEB Consultation with Chilean and Argentinian ecologists.  Your opinion is valuable!

Considering the petition taken at the meeting “Survey IMoSEB to Argentinian and Chilean ecologists” (Consulta IMoSEB a los Ecólogos Argentinos y Chilenos) which was conducted on October 3th 2007 during the the III Binational Ecology Meeting en La Serena (Chile), (III Reunión Binacional de ecología) we are suggesting a mechanism of participation at this intial level, mainly for those who were not able to assist. For more details please look at PDF document.

IMoSEB, International Mechanism of Scientific Expertise on Biodiversity, has at its main objective is to effectively link biodiversity knowledge with correct processes of decision making at the global scale. In 2007 surveys to the scientific community of North America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Latin America were taken. A potential model for the possible IMoSEB can be the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

In November 2007, the IMoSEB executive committee will hold a meeting in Montpellier (France), with the objective of synthesizing final recommendations to be presented to the international community in 2008. Therefore, the participation of Argentinian and Chilean researchers in this survey is critical. You can still participate by answering the online survey that can be found at:

http://www.imoseb.net/regional_consultations/south_america

September 4, 2007

IEB participates in the 4th Workshop of Young Scientists in the Millennium Scientific Initiative

The 4th Workshop of Young Scientists organized by the Millennium Scientific Initiative (Iniciativa Científica Milenio -ICM) took place in Mantagua - Con Con. The objective of this workshop was to provide a space where young scientists associated with the Institutes and Research Centres sponsored by ICM could meet and interact and establish bonds that could result in future collaborations. Similarly, this could increase knowledge about different areas, institutions and research activities that are part of the Initiative. In this workshop people from 15 institutes and centres participated.

In this workshop the different reasearch themes of the IEB were represented: Wara Marcelo (Impacts of Global Change), Rodrigo Estévez (Conservation and Society), Pamela Morales (Microevolution), Esteban Sagredo (Paleoecology and Biogeography) and Rocío Jaña (Ecosystems Ecology). Young scientists showed their current work within different areas of the Institute and these interactions facilitate diverse networks between those working in Optical physics, Theoretical Physics, Seismology, Biotechnology, and Plant Ecology. These yearly workshops provide a unique and rich opportunity that young scientists can hugely benefit from.

See summaries of presented works

More information: workshop website.

August 31, 2007

Internacional postgraduate course "Advanced topics in behavior ecology"

Between the 24th and 30th of September 2007, the IEB will host an international postgraduate course entitled “Advanced topics in behavior ecology,”. The course will be financed by the IEB, the ICM Network, the regional Scientific Cooperation Office of France and CNRS-France. The course will be validated by the Postgraduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of the University of Chile.

The course will be attended by students from different regions in Chile, as well as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay. The course will be conducted by both Chilean and foreign professors:

Dominique Allainé: Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université Claude Bernardd, Lyon, France.

Carlos Bernstein: Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, France.

Luis A. Ebensperger: Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Juan C. Reboreda: Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Tania Zaviezo: Departamento de Fruticultura y Enología, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Rodrigo A. Vásquez (coordinator): Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Wouter van Dongen: Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Dates:
- classes: 24 to 29 September 2007 (morning and afternoon).
- submission of final essay: until the 30th of November 2007

Venue: IEB, Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago.

Dr. Rodrigo A. Vásquez. Phone: (56 2) 9787385. E-mail: rvasquez@uchile.cl

August 29, 2007

The Conservation Genetics Network (ReGeneC) announces the IVth Latin American Conservation Genetics Workshop, sponsored by IEB

The Conservation Genetics Network (ReGeneC) gathers together scientists with experience in different areas of the conservation genetics thematic who work in the region. Interested in the training process of latin american students and professionals on the conservation subject, the ReGeneC has taken the initiative of organizing conservation genetics courses. The IVth Latin American Conservation Genetics Workshop will be held between December 4-14 2007 in Santiago, Chile. The course is given in spanish, has a postgraduate level and seeks, among other aspects, to train and favour the integration of human resources facilitating the conservation and the appropriate use of the regional biological richness. Dr. Elie Poulin, the organizer of this course, is one of the main researchers of IEB, institution sponsoring this Workshop. Information regarding the programme, participating lecturers and pre-inscription can be found at the Workshop's web site.

August 10, 2007

IEB Master's fellow wins a prize at a Congress in Australi

Jean Pierre Francois, IEB Master's fellow, wins a prize for one of 10 best student posters, at XVII INQUA Congress 2007, Cairns, Australia.
Jean Pierre is currently a Master student at the Universidad de Chile. He’s theses advisor is Dr. Patricio Moreno (IEB associate scientist).
The title of his work is Variations of the southern margin of the Southern westerlies during the last 14,000 years.

May 15, 2007

Mariela Núñez former IEB fellow won the 2006 Australian Journal of Botany Prize for the best paper published by a student.

Mariela Núñez was awarded for her Masters' thesis work on the history and genetic diversity of the “olivillo” (Aextoxicon punctatum) in Chile. Her thesis was undertaken with the support of a graduate fellowship from "Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Research on Biodiversity" (MCEB). Mariela is currently a Doctoral student at the Universidad Austral de Chile.

Simone Farrer, editor of the Australian Journal of Botany, indicated that “young scientists need all the encouragement they can get; it is not easy to find a suitable career path in the botanical sciences at the present time.”




Núñez-Avila, Mariela C. & Juan J. Armesto (2006) Relict islands of the temperate rainforest tree Aextoxicon punctatum (Aextoxicaceae) in semi-arid Chile: genetic diversity and biogeographic history. Australian Journal of Botany 54: 733-743.

... load paper PDF

December 29, 2006

International Course "Conservation and Society: Bio-cultural diversity and environmental ethics"

This course is organized by Milenium Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) and the Omora and Senda Darwin Foundations. It will be carry out at the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, and Senda Darwin Foundation, Chiloé, March 5-18, 2007.

The loss of biodiversity and other forms of environmental degradation ultimately stem from social and cultural causes. Therefore, to achieve effective strategies of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development it is necessary to integrate in creative ways both social and ecological perspectives.  This course is devoted to the examination of such interdisciplinary links, though the analysis of the interface between biocultural conservation and environmental ethics. Such understanding will stimulate critical thinking about the current state and the future prospects of bio-cultural diversity within Latin America, and its relation to the improvement of living conditions for local people.

The first part of the course (Module I: Fundaments of environmental ethics for bio-cultural conservation) will offer a characterization of the Latin-American bio-cultural scenario, with an emphasis in the southern cone of South America, and will introduce concepts and fundamental texts of bio-cultural conservation and environmental ethics. We will also analyze some artistic expressions of cultural diversity.  Module I will be taught at Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago (March 5-9, 2007).

The second Module (Module II: Ecological approaches to bio-cultural conservation) will analyze some theoretical and practical approaches developed to integrate ecological and social dimensions in bio-cultural conservation initiatives, such as the Convention of Biological Diversity, the Biosphere Reserve System and private conservation areas, the ecosystem and/or adaptative management approach, restoration ecology, ecological education and ecotourism. This Module will be taught at Senda Darwin Biological Station, Chiloé (March 11-15, 2007).

The third and last part (Module III: Integratin environmental ethics and ecological approaches to conserve frontier ecosystems in southern South America) corresponds to an International Workshop, with participation of leading ecologists and environmental ethicists, where we will explore and discuss new approaches and strategies to tackle the conservation of “frontiers ecosystems” in southern of South-America. This Module will be taught at Senda Darwin Biological Station, Chiloé (March 16-18, 2007).

REGISTRATION PERIOD WAS CLOSED IN NOVEMBER 2006.

See program and reading material (only for registred students)

"El curso cuenta con el auspicio de la Red Latinoamericana de Botánica - RLB (RLB-CP07-01)."

October 11, 2006

IEB y SERNATUR presentaron a los medios de comunicación cuatro nuevos Libros-Guías Temáticas de Turismo de Intereses Especiales del Cabo de Hornos

El 6 de octubre de 2006 se realizó una conferencia de prensa en dependencias de SERNATUR, Santiago, para presentar estos libros escritos por Ricardo Rozzi y varios colaboradores en el marco del Programa de Diversificación del Ecoturismo para Cabo de Hornos.

La presentación estuvo a cargo de Oscar Santelices, Director Nacional de Sernatur, Christian Miranda, Director Sernatur Región de Magallanes, Ricardo Rozzi, autor de los libros y científico de la Universidad de Magallanes, de la University of North Texas (EEUU) y del Instituto Milenio de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), y Mary Kalin, directora del IEB.

Estas Guías se basan en la investigación científica realizada durante los últimos cinco años en la zona del Cabo de Hornos por un vasto equipo multidisciplinario de investigadores del Parque Etnobotánico Omora, asociados a la Universidad de Magallanes, al Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB) y otras instituciones nacionales y extranjeras. Según Christian Miranda “como Estado no podríamos pagar todo el esfuerzo científico que hay detrás de estos libros y la idea es que esta información llegue al público”.

Esta investigación ha llevado a descubrir áreas temáticas nuevas, propias del extremo austral de América, tanto para la ciencia y la conservación de la biodiversidad, como para el turismo de especialidades. Para Ricardo Rozzi, “lo más importante es detenernos a mirar, descubrir e inventar, para compensar la importación de modelos”. En este sentido, el científico agrega que “Cabo de Hornos no tiene nada que envidiarle a Galápagos, donde hay gran oferta turística basada en la actividad científica. Gracias a su paso por Tierra del Fuego y al contacto que tuvo con los indígenas de esa zona, Darwin pensó que los seres humanos éramos producto de la evolución y esto puede ser muy importante para el turismo”.

En este contexto, las ciencias ecológicas contribuyen a una diversificación de las temáticas y actividades del turismo de naturaleza, conllevando beneficios para la actividad económica regional y nacional. El sector productivo vinculado al turismo se verá enormemente beneficiado con la publicación de estas guías ilustradas y al mismo tiempo la aplicación de los conceptos de sustentabilidad al turismo permitirá que los ecosistemas -como fuente de vida para la flora y la fauna- puedan conservarse en el largo plazo. Según Rozzi, “el país tiene que entender que estos ecosistemas valen más sin un hotel que con un hotel; el hotel puede estar cerca y los visitantes pueden contratar un servicio de navegación para llegar a zonas hermosas”.

Según Mary Kalin Arroyo, directora del IEB, “este trabajo es pionero en Chile y en el mundo, y se podría exportar a otros países como novedad para el turismo, como know-how. En otras partes del país hay información igualmente buena que permitiría hacer cosas similares, pero no está disponible para la gente como en el caso de estos libros, sino que está en museos, en papers”.

El concepto de turismo de especialidades (Turismo Biológico, Histórico y de Naturaleza) representa una manera novedosa de difundir el conocimiento generado por la ciencia a todas aquellas personas con intereses particulares, muchas de las cuales apoyarán las iniciativas de conservación de los ecosistemas subantárticos una vez que conozcan su belleza, contribuyendo así a los objetivos del desarrollo sustentable. Según Oscar Santelices, “el esfuerzo esta vez se ha concentrado en la Patagonia, pero también queremos llevarlo a otras zonas donde hay otro tipo de riquezas, paleontológicas, arqueológicas, etc.”. Al respecto, Christian Miranda agrega que “esta es la primera vez que el Estado hace una puesta en valor del territorio, ya que esto siempre ha estado en manos de los empresarios”.

Los títulos de los libros, escritos en español e inglés, son los siguientes:

Los bosques en miniatura del Cabo de Hornos (The miniature forests of Cape Horn)
La ruta de Darwin en los archipiélagos del Cabo de Hornos (The route of Darwin through the Cape Horn archipelago)
Los paisajes vírgenes de la Reserva de Biosfera Cabo de Hornos (The virgin landscapes of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve)
La etnoecología más austral del planeta: artesanía y conocimiento ecológico tradicional yagán  (The world´s southernmost ethnoecology: yahgan craftsmanship and tradicional ecological knowledge)

October 10, 2006

Results of IEB call for postgraduate thesis fellowship

Six students have been selected for the IEB postgraduate thesis fellowship.

Candidates selected are:

October 10, 2006

IEB Director, Dr. Mary Kalin Arroyo, is between World Technology Awards nominees in Environment category

This year, at San Francisco City Hall in a gala ceremony on the evening of November 3rd, the 2006 World Technology Award Winners will be announced by James P. Clark, the World Technology Network's founder and chairman, from amongst the short-listed nominees.

The World Technology Awards have been presented annually since 2000 to the outstanding innovators from each sector within the technology arena for innovative work of the greatest likely long-term significance -- both as a way to honor those innovators, and as a vetting mechanism to determine the newest WTN members. Current individual members of the WTN make the nominations and also vote their preferences among the member-nominated pool. The Awards are announced each year in a gala ceremony at the close of the annual World Technology Summit.
 
Short-listed nominees comprise the top five - or a few more in some cases where there were ties in the voting - who received the most votes by the judges (individual WTN members) from amongst all of this year's member-nominated nominees. All short-listed nominees are automatically inducted into the World Technology Network (WTN) as new individual WTN Fellows or, as the case may be, Corporate Members.
 
The sponsors are: CNN, Time, NYSE (New Cork Stock Exchange), Dow, AAAS, Science, Fortune.

The categories are: arts, biotechnology, biotechnology-corporate, communications technology, communications technology-corporate, design, education, energy, energy-corporate, entertainment, environment, environment-corporate, ethics, finance, finance-corporate, health and medicine, health and medicine-corporate, IT hardware, IT hardware-corporate, IT software, IT software-corporate, law, marketing communications, materials, materials-corporate, media and journalism, policy, social entrepreneurship, space, space-corporate.

August 19, 2006

Global Biodiversity Crisis

Dr. Mary T. K. Arroyo, IEB Director, is coauthor, along with 18 other scientists from 13 countries, of a paper in Nature warning about the consequences of the global biodiversity crisis.

Warning that Earth is on the verge of “a major biodiversity crisis,” 19 of the field’s most distinguished scientists and policy experts today called for a new global coordinating mechanism to provide a united, authoritative scientific voice to inform government decision-making internationally.

And they called upon the wider scientific community and stakeholders to lend active support to a newly established consultation process designed to create just such an international organizing and unifying mechanism for science advice on biodiversity.

…see more

…see article published in Nature

In Chilean newspapers
July 20 "La Nación", "El Mostrador",
July 21 "El Mercurio", "La Tercera"

August 01, 2006

1º IEB Millenium Expedition

On July 30th, 2006 researchers, postdoctoral researchers and other personnel from IEB visited the Experimental Station located in Quebrada Las Vacas valley, within the Fray Jorge Forest National Park, IV Region.

Since 1989, long-term ecological research has been carried out in this site, completing 17 years of continuous record for abundance of vegetation, small mammals and vertebrate predators (foxes and raptors). The environment corresponds to a thorn scrub semiarid community which is characteristic of the coastal zone of north-central Chile. Dr. Gutiérrez gives a brief talk on the studies carried out in this site. Then the group of researchers visited the relict forest located on the top of the coastal range. Dr. Juan Armesto made a brief description of studies carried out by himself and Dr. Pablo Marquet in the forest. This visit allowed members of the group to discuss and plan new joint IEB studies.

The group included: Mary T.K. Arroyo, Juan Armesto, Martín Carmona, Julio R. Gutiérrez, Carolina Henríquez, Claudia Hernández, Claudio Latorre, Luis Letelier, Antonio Maldonado, Joaquín Morales, Mariela Núñez, Elie Poulin y Sra., Mariela Sovino, Francisco A. Squeo, Andrea Troncoso, Rodrigo Vásquez, Aurora Gaxiola y Christopher Anderson.

July 26, 2006

Sudden death of Dr. Alejandro Muñoz Cabrera

IEB regrets the sudden death of Dr. Alejandro Muñoz Cabrera, outstanding young Chilean ecologist

Alejandro carried out his thesis titled “Evaluación experimental de la importancia de efectos indirectos descendentes y ascendentes sobre el éxito reproductivo de Chuquiraga oppositifolia (Asteraceae) en la Cordillera de Los Andes en Chile Central" in the laboratory of Dr. Mary T. K. Arroyo, receiving his doctorate in the year 2003.

As of last year and at the present time he was developing a FONDECYT  postdoctoral project, " Experimental assessment of the impacts of an introduced plant species on the reproductive output of native plants in the Andes of Central Chile: competition for pollinators or facilitation of pollination?" with Dr. Lohengrin Cavieres at the Universidad de Concepción. He was being considered for a future position of “Young Scientist” at the IEB.

IEB researchers, students, and administrative staff extend their condolences to his family, Dr. Paulina Chacón, Gabrielito, his friends and colleagues.

June 18, 2006

Results of Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) call for Postdoctoral Fellowships - 2006

IEB is pleased to announce the results of the call for postdoctoral positions- IEB, as per the guidelines published in www.ieb-chile.cl on 18 April 2006. Close to 50 persons enquired about the IEB postdoctoral opportunities. The IEB Fellowship Committee reviewed 13 full proposals that received explicit backing of an IEB scientist.

 Candidates selected for two-year postdoctoral fellowships:

1. Dr. Christopher Anderson, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
2. Dr. Leah Dudley, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
3. Dr. Aurora Gaxiola, Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom.   
4. Dr. Fabio Labra, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.    
5. Dr. Wouter van Dongen, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Our congratulations are extended to the selected candidates. We also thank all those persons who expressed interest in the opportunities offered by IEB.

Dr. Mary T. K. Arroyo
Director
Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB)

April 14, 2006

The Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) in Chile is offering a number of two-year postdoctoral positions for carrying out research in Chile related to the main research foci of the Institute. Fellowships include a monthly stipend and an allowance for research expenses. Interested applicants should already be in possession of a Ph.D. degree or equivalent by May 30, 2006. The two year positions are open to Chilean citizens and foreigners living in and outside Chile, and may be held at any of the institutions associated with IEB. Fellows may use their stipends to support up to two months stay in a foreign country if this is necessary to carry out part of the proposed research.

IEB is a recently created research institute (one of three) of the Chilean Millennium Science Initiative (ICM). http://www.mideplan.cl/milenio/icm.htm IEB replaces and expands former CMEB (Millennium Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Research on Biodiversity).

The main research foci of IEB are:

1. Palaeoecology and Biogeography
2. Ecosystems Ecology
3. Microevolutionary Processes
4. Conservation and Society
5. Global Change Impacts.

IEB functions in a network mode and encourages collaborative and comparative research. Its lead scientists are academics at the Universidad de Chile Chile (Santiago), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Santiago), Universidad de La Serena (La Serena), Universidad de Concepción (Concepción) and Universidad de Magallanes (Punta Arenas).

More detailed information on the research foci and the CVs of the lead researchers, including full listing of their scientific publications can be found at www.ieb-chile.cl.

Persons who are interested in applying for a postdoctoral award should:

a) Establish formal contact with an IEB scientist.

b) Send the following materials to: The Fellowship Committtee, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB).

1. Evidence of completion of a Ph.D. in the last three year and at the time of the closure of the competition.
2. CV, including full bibliographic citations of all scientific publications, academic positions held, other experience, any previous postdoctoral awards, current telephone numbers, fax and e-mail.
3. Two letters of recommendation from scientists who are familiar with your work. One letter must be from the candidate's major professor (thesis advisor). The letters should rank the intellect, performance, writing skills, and capacity for collaborative research of the applicant in relation to other peers.
4. One page outline (single-spaced) of your research goals and the questions to be addressed for the period of the fellowship. Include a statement describing how the proposed research fits into the research themes developed at IEB and what products can be expected.
5. A letter from an IEB scientist indicating his/her willingness to host the research

Application materials should be sent to:

Fellowship Committee, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile.

For courier packages, use the following street address: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñunoa, Santiago, Phone 56(2) 9787345.

Materials can be sent by e-mail to: ieb@uchile.cl, cc: chenriqu@uchile.cl

Selected applicants will be advised on or before 9 June 2006. Contracts must be signed before 15 September 2006.