With apologies for cross-posting, I would like to draw your attention to a
conference being held at Stirling University (Scotland) on 18-19th January
2010 on the use of long-term datasets in habitat management.
Many ecosystem processes and population dynamics operate over timescales
far in excess of ecological datasets, which are commonly <10 yrs duration and
rarely span 50 yrs. As a result, conventional monitoring systems may not
provide sufficient information to reveal existing trends, the role of disturbance
regimes in maintaining desired systems or the drivers influencing ecosystem
function. Over the past 15-20 years, a growing number of papers have
described the potential contributions from palaeoecology and other long-term
(>decadal) records to conservation, biodiversity and habitat management.
However, this potential is seldom applied in management. The conference aims
to bring together palaeoecologists and ecologists using long-term sources
covering a variety of timescales, with ecologists and practitioners to
encourage discussion on how to improve communication and how we can
translate long-term datasets into terms and formats that will bridge this gap
between long-term sources, and applied ecology, conservation, management
and policy.
Information and registration forms are available on the conference website:
http://www.sbes.stir.ac.uk/long-term_ecology_conference/index.html
There is an early-bird discounted registration rate until 30th November!
Best wishes,
Althea
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