Academic Research in the 21st Century: Maintaining Scientific Integrity in a Climate of Perverse Incentives and Hypercompetition
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/ees.2016.0223
Search found 1144 matches
- September 26th, 2016, 8:22 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: An interesting article on the place of science in society
- Replies: 68
- Views: 42140
- September 14th, 2016, 2:16 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Videos of salamanders eating in the rain
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4257
Re: Videos of salamanders eating in the rain
That is some cool footage! Thanks for sharing.
I've been doing a lot of work with bats lately. They really hate the light and squint and close their eyes. Maybe it is an intensity issue?
I've been doing a lot of work with bats lately. They really hate the light and squint and close their eyes. Maybe it is an intensity issue?
- September 12th, 2016, 1:45 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: An interesting article on the place of science in society
- Replies: 68
- Views: 42140
Re: An interesting article on the place of science in societ
Filled with possibly, maybe , could be, probably must be etc. To me, that is the definition of science's place in society. Pushing the bounds of possibility, maybe and could be. That's what its all about. Great folks doing great science. Watch out for the sharp end Ernie. I hear those things can ma...
- September 7th, 2016, 4:30 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: An interesting article on the place of science in society
- Replies: 68
- Views: 42140
Re: An interesting article on the place of science in societ
Do you have a citation for that abstract? I'd like to read it.
Like it or not, the open source journals are here to stay. Whether they completely replace the society journals, complement them, or something different I don't know.
Like it or not, the open source journals are here to stay. Whether they completely replace the society journals, complement them, or something different I don't know.
- September 6th, 2016, 6:26 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: When is habitat restoration for herps a good thing?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 28326
Re: When is habitat restoration for herps a good thing?
Recent paper: Johnson, B. D., J. P. Gibbs, T. A. Bell, and K. T. Shoemaker. 2016. Manipulation of basking sites for endangered eastern massasauga rattlesnakes. The Journal of Wildlife Management 80:803-811. Generating open-canopy basking sites via manipulation of vegetative cover has been proposed a...
- September 6th, 2016, 11:03 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: An interesting article on the place of science in society
- Replies: 68
- Views: 42140
Re: An interesting article on the place of science in societ
Yeah, the people problems I consider scientifically "easy" but technically very hard. That's why we've been passed the baton and will probably pass the baton to our successors on many of these issues. I keep coming back to bighorn sheep but that was my conservation wake up call. I thought ...
- September 5th, 2016, 7:39 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: New Mexico Questions
- Replies: 11
- Views: 3869
Re: New Mexico Questions
Well best of luck. If you get rain the snakes all seem like possibilities. I found a Gyalopion several years ago, highlight of my trip. It did the cloacal popping.
New Mexico is a whiptail paradise (or nightmare) depending on good you are with keys.
New Mexico is a whiptail paradise (or nightmare) depending on good you are with keys.
- September 5th, 2016, 7:21 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: New Mexico Questions
- Replies: 11
- Views: 3869
Re: New Mexico Questions
Any species in particular you are interested in?
- September 5th, 2016, 7:18 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: An interesting article on the place of science in society
- Replies: 68
- Views: 42140
Re: An interesting article on the place of science in societ
Using enclosures and exclosures can be a great tools to understand mechanism. The part about why changes are happening. Sometimes using the enclosures impacts the study organisms and the project results. Sometimes not. A lot of time and effort goes into the experimental design to minimize the effect...
- September 5th, 2016, 5:50 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: New Mexico Questions
- Replies: 11
- Views: 3869
Re: New Mexico Questions
A couple vital tools I recommend. A big atlas/gazateer of New Mexico, like the Delorme Reptiles and amphibians of New Mexico book You can find a lot of good stuff with these and find some nice areas to road cruise. I don't have any good recommendations for camping. I usually just find a place that I...
- September 5th, 2016, 5:37 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: An interesting article on the place of science in society
- Replies: 68
- Views: 42140
Re: An interesting article on the place of science in societ
There's not nearly enough presented on the forest canopy study to say if its flawed or not. Ideally they would have used control sites and compared those to their treated sites. Besides abundance, there are other demographic parameters that could be measured that are more relevant than abundance. Eg...
- September 4th, 2016, 11:22 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: An interesting article on the place of science in society
- Replies: 68
- Views: 42140
Re: An interesting article on the place of science in societ
We hold the Manhattan project in such high regard. They figured out how to blow it up. We still haven't figured out how to harness the energy safely. Or make the case to society that we can do it safely.... I think there are two categories of conservation problems. The easy ones tend to be more peop...
- September 2nd, 2016, 2:56 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: An interesting article on the place of science in society
- Replies: 68
- Views: 42140
Re: An interesting article on the place of science in societ
On the other hand, the folks at fivethrityeight make a strong case that science is doing just fine. Maybe we have solved the easy problems, and the problems at hand are just more complex.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/sci ... nt-broken/
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/sci ... nt-broken/
- September 1st, 2016, 2:23 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: An interesting article on the place of science in society
- Replies: 68
- Views: 42140
Re: An interesting article on the place of science in societ
For me, the real win, win in conservation and ecology is to do both. Answer the applied question and try to get at some bigger questions too. Its not always possible but often times there is considerable overlap. So anyway...I guess I'd have to admit I'm a strong proponent of managing research. I ag...
- September 1st, 2016, 9:43 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: An interesting article on the place of science in society
- Replies: 68
- Views: 42140
Re: An interesting article on the place of science in societ
Thanks for posting this article. I read it with interest. As someone trying to finish a dissertation, I felt a lot of pressure to emphasize the novelty of my research and show that my research was pushing the boundaries of knowledge. This is what good science should do, and this applies to basic and...
- August 7th, 2016, 12:44 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Why You Dont Collect
- Replies: 279
- Views: 1425167
Re: Why You Dont Collect
I see what you did there and declare you my enemy for life.Generalizations are without exception a great tool for making enemies.
- August 4th, 2016, 3:51 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: When is habitat restoration for herps a good thing?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 28326
Re: When is habitat restoration for herps a good thing?
I agree that decisions should be made on a case by case basis. Also, what kind of restoration, passive or active? With any restoration, there will be winning and losing species. Everything decision, including the decision to not act, has consequences and involves trade-offs. A couple positive exampl...
- July 29th, 2016, 11:54 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Dishonesty in government
- Replies: 121
- Views: 40750
Re: Dishonesty in government
Thanks for the follow up comments Richard. I'm fortunate enough to live in a state where research is pretty easy but I do have experience in other states where its not so easy. That link doesn't work btw.
- July 29th, 2016, 11:06 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Gila Monsters threatened by climate change?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 15603
Re: Gila Monsters threatened by climate change?
Possibly different but lots of similarities. In almost all terrestrial vertebrates, respiratory moisture loss is a big part of their water budget. That's controlled primarily by the difference in humidity between saturated respired air and the environmental air. Gilas have two lungs, boas one functi...
- July 29th, 2016, 10:20 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Gila Monsters threatened by climate change?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 15603
Re: Gila Monsters threatened by climate change?
Interesting though RIchard. Thanks for sharing. I'm not even sure that condensation is necessary as long as the relative humidity is high in the burrows. For example, a lot of water is lost during breathing. Kangaroo rats and other heteromyid rodents maintain positive water balance partially by spen...
- July 28th, 2016, 9:46 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Gila Monsters threatened by climate change?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 15603
Re: Gila Monsters threatened by climate change?
Because the only thing that matters for a reptile species is that its main food is abundant. And gilas only feed on quail. And quail will certainly respond well to climate change. And gila monsters only occur in Arizona. And rainfall will certainly increase under every climate change projection. And...
- July 28th, 2016, 7:25 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Why You Dont Collect
- Replies: 279
- Views: 1425167
Re: Why You Dont Collect
As someone doing mark recapture, I appreciate this perspective.
- July 28th, 2016, 7:17 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Gila Monsters threatened by climate change?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 15603
Re: Gila Monsters threatened by climate change?
Thanks Van for taking the time to make those posts. Very good points and remarkably civil. I wish I could communicate scientific thought as concisely as you.
- July 28th, 2016, 7:12 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Dishonesty in government
- Replies: 121
- Views: 40750
Re: Dishonesty in government
I can appreciate your frustration. I've been there. I do think that overall non-game departments are doing just what you want them to in terms of prioritizing habitat for many non-game species. Its incongruent to many that a species that needs management and requires land aquisitions should then be ...
- July 28th, 2016, 5:13 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Dishonesty in government
- Replies: 121
- Views: 40750
Re: Dishonesty in government
I resemble that remark but my horse isn't high. I don't live in Colorado. I understand the principle thing. I've just learned to choose my battles.
- July 28th, 2016, 4:25 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Dishonesty in government
- Replies: 121
- Views: 40750
Re: Dishonesty in government
This is all such a pointless discussion. If there is no demand, then who cares if collection was banned? Not me. It pains me to say it but BRIAN HUBBS is right!
- July 28th, 2016, 1:59 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Why You Dont Collect
- Replies: 279
- Views: 1425167
Re: Why You Dont Collect
Thanks for the kind words Thom. I happen to know that you know the snakes in your area better than anyone. I've seen the pictures! Really interesting perspective on availability and access. I notice the same thing. I used to be obsessed with western rattlesnake species. Now knowing I'm short drive f...
- July 28th, 2016, 1:15 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Why You Dont Collect
- Replies: 279
- Views: 1425167
Re: Why You Dont Collect
The more I learn about snakes, their social lives and natural histories, the less likely I am to put one in a box for the rest of its life. They are far more complex than we give them credit for.
- July 27th, 2016, 11:04 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Why You Dont Collect
- Replies: 279
- Views: 1425167
Re: Why You Dont Collect
I collect occasionally for science and museums, very rarely for myself. I collect a lot of data which to me is critical to effectively manage and protect reptile and amphibian populations. I also do more and more observing. I enjoy just standing back and watching and taking in the situation. Science...
- July 19th, 2016, 5:02 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: TN and VA Salamander location help
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1464
Re: TN and VA Salamander location help
I'd love to get exact locations in order to cut down on the amount of time spent hiking and maximize the number of lifers. I know locations are not given due to collection reasons. So you know that locations are not allowed but thought you would ask anyway? Some of the fun for me is learning about ...
- July 19th, 2016, 12:04 pm
- Forum: Reading Room
- Topic: Why do snakes cross roads (or not)
- Replies: 1
- Views: 11081
Why do snakes cross roads (or not)
I really enjoyed this paper. Another well done study by Colorado State and the USGS.
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2012/07/ ... -mind-gaps
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 2.1292/pdf
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2012/07/ ... -mind-gaps
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 2.1292/pdf
- July 7th, 2016, 7:18 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: NEW BOOK: Snakes of Mexico
- Replies: 90
- Views: 106961
Re: NEW BOOK: Snakes of Mexico
That's why we write books, so we can remember what we forget.Scotttriv wrote:I would bet you a beer that I have forgotten more about snakes and snake hunting then you will ever learn
- July 7th, 2016, 7:13 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: What would you do if you found a Copperhead in your yard?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 7300
Re: What would you do if you found a Copperhead in your yard
I've always thought it odd that a snake that has been somewhere for who knows how long, is suddenly an emergency because its detected.
Sounds like you have enough space for her. Pretty awesome you're willing to co-exist with a venomous snake. I do appreciate that.
Sounds like you have enough space for her. Pretty awesome you're willing to co-exist with a venomous snake. I do appreciate that.
- July 5th, 2016, 5:27 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Arizona Sistrurus
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4667
Re: Arizona Sistrurus
Very nice! I've herped that area before and I'm glad to hear its still possible to find numbers like that. Love Sisturus!
- June 30th, 2016, 12:06 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: USGS Fraud brought to light
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4865
Re: USGS Fraud brought to light
We do have fun on here. How exactly would a mass spectrometry lab affect field herping? The lab we're discussing measured isotope ratios of inorganic samples.
To the boardline robin...
To the boardline robin...
- June 23rd, 2016, 10:05 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Anuroctonus phaiodactylus collecting methods
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3754
Re: Anuroctonus phaiodactylus collecting methods
Welcome desert scorps. You might consider introducing yourself on the biography or roll call post. You're pretty new here and while I doubt anyone really cares if you collect and breed a few scorpions, bringing up collecting right away raises some red flags. Keep in mind this is a reptile and amphib...
Re: Spring lutosus encounters.
Nice work Jason. Those snakes are breeding in the spring? They need to read my paper and learn that they are supposed to breed in the summer and fall.... Really cool observations.
I also like the picture with the cheatgrass in the background. I might use that if you wouldn't mind?
I also like the picture with the cheatgrass in the background. I might use that if you wouldn't mind?
- May 24th, 2016, 3:53 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Introduction of Myself - New Herper - Advice on Books, etc.
- Replies: 9
- Views: 6180
Re: Introduction of Myself - New Herper - Advice on Books, e
The new edition of the Peterson field guide to eastern reptiles and amphibians is critical.
Also Harry Greene's Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature.
Also Harry Greene's Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature.
- May 9th, 2016, 9:54 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: School Me on Size Sets
- Replies: 7
- Views: 5314
Re: School Me on Size Sets
I wasn't aware that female copperheads were larger than males. There are some odd behaviour in that species involving males. Chapter 5 of Snake Ecology and Behavior has a section on copperheads and gives a good overall paradigm for mating systems. Male combat is only a piece of the puzzle. I've hear...
- May 8th, 2016, 6:11 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: A day to remember - milk flip-a-thon
- Replies: 12
- Views: 7452
Re: A day to remember - milk flip-a-thon
That is some great work out there. I know how hard you work at this. Yesterday (Fri May 6) Mark H and I went out to the west desert on another of our usually quixotic pyro hunts, in which we look for them in places nobody else has ever found them. Usually - but not always - we have the same result o...
- May 3rd, 2016, 10:31 am
- Forum: News
- Topic: NILE CROCODILES IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA
- Replies: 1
- Views: 3563
NILE CROCODILES IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA
Cool paper by our own Mike Rochford. The introduction to the abstract is bomber
"The state of Florida, USA, has more introduced herpetofauna than any other governmental region on Earth. "
http://www.herpconbio.org/Volume_11/Iss ... l_2016.pdf
"The state of Florida, USA, has more introduced herpetofauna than any other governmental region on Earth. "
http://www.herpconbio.org/Volume_11/Iss ... l_2016.pdf
- May 3rd, 2016, 10:29 am
- Forum: Reading Room
- Topic: Herpetological Conservation and Biology
- Replies: 0
- Views: 12228
Herpetological Conservation and Biology
This is a great journal for herp conservation enthusiasts. All open source and very relevant to our community.
http://www.herpconbio.org/
http://www.herpconbio.org/
- April 17th, 2016, 11:44 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: SnakeDays time again
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3578
Re: SnakeDays time again
What exactly are "SnakeDays" and how do we find out more about them?
- April 16th, 2016, 4:50 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Best GPS for field use
- Replies: 16
- Views: 6915
Re: Best GPS for field use
Another big advantage with the trimble units are their data dictionaries. They can really help organize and manage your data which is critical when you have a lot of GPS points. Especially critical when you have technicians or volunteers collecting data. For example you can have a drop down menu for...
- April 13th, 2016, 4:31 pm
- Forum: Reading Room
- Topic: Peterson Field Guide to Eastern/Central...Fourth Edition
- Replies: 7
- Views: 16855
Re: Peterson Field Guide to Eastern/Central...Fourth Edition
I just got mine today. I'll take a look and let you know what I think.
- April 12th, 2016, 10:05 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Mojave Desert in the spring, St. George, Utah Apr 2016
- Replies: 8
- Views: 6200
Re: Mojave Desert in the spring, St. George, Utah Apr 2016
Damnn son! That's how we do it!
Nice work Jeremy. That's an incredible pay-off.
Nice work Jeremy. That's an incredible pay-off.
- April 11th, 2016, 11:09 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Best GPS for field use
- Replies: 16
- Views: 6915
Re: Best GPS for field use
I've noticed the newer models with color and touch screens, do not have the battery life of the older, cheaper models. I used to get 2-3 days of use from my garmin now I can't get a full day of batter life.
- April 11th, 2016, 10:56 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Fungal Disease in Wild Snakes?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 10909
Re: Fungal Disease in Wild Snakes?
Some updated information on salamander fungus:
National Wildlife Health Center
Wildlife Health Bulletin 2016-03
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal):
An Emerging Disease of Salamanders
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/w ... 0Final.pdf
National Wildlife Health Center
Wildlife Health Bulletin 2016-03
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal):
An Emerging Disease of Salamanders
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/w ... 0Final.pdf
- April 11th, 2016, 10:55 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Don't Tread On Me... BLEACH & BOOTS
- Replies: 43
- Views: 16824
Re: Don't Tread On Me... BLEACH & BOOTS
A recent report by USGS on salamander fungus:
National Wildlife Health Center
Wildlife Health Bulletin 2016-03
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal):
An Emerging Disease of Salamanders
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/w ... 0Final.pdf
National Wildlife Health Center
Wildlife Health Bulletin 2016-03
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal):
An Emerging Disease of Salamanders
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/w ... 0Final.pdf
- April 11th, 2016, 10:53 am
- Forum: News
- Topic: Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal): An Emerging Diseas
- Replies: 0
- Views: 3924
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal): An Emerging Diseas
National Wildlife Health Center
Wildlife Health Bulletin 2016-03
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal):
An Emerging Disease of Salamanders
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/w ... 0Final.pdf
Wildlife Health Bulletin 2016-03
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal):
An Emerging Disease of Salamanders
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/w ... 0Final.pdf