Scales-project news last news from scales-project.net http://www.scales-project.net Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:44:11 +0200 WebDesign LTD. FeedCreator New paper published: Sampling and modelling rare species: Conceptual guidelines for the ... http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=400 05 March 2022

Jeliazkov, A., Gavish, Y., Marsh, C. J., Geschke, J., Brummitt, N., Rocchini, D., Haase, P., Kunin, W. E., & Henle, K. (2022). Sampling and modelling rare species: Conceptual guidelines for the neglected majority. Global Change Biology, 00, 1– 24. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16114 ]]> Sat, 05 Mar 2022 11:00:00 +0200 New paper published: A GIS-based policy support tool to determine national responsibilities and ... http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=398 06 December 2020

Lin YP, Schmeller DS, Ding TS, Wang YC, Lien WY, Henle K, Klenke RA (2020) A GIS-based policy support tool to determine national responsibilities and priorities for biodiversity conservation. PLOS ONE 15(12): e0243135. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243135]]> Sun, 06 Dec 2020 11:00:00 +0200 PhD position in ecological modelling and insect field ecology: University of Würzburg http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=397 14 June 2016

University of Würzburg is seeking a highly motivated PhD student with experience and interest in both ecological modelling and field ecology. Applicants should have a MSc or Diploma degree in ecology or related disciplines and combine a strong interest and expertise in ecological modelling, plant-insect interactions, experimental field research, statistical data analysis (preferably in R) and scientific writing in English. Knowledge in plant and insect identification as well as programming software are highly valued. A driver license is required. The candidate is expected to work independently and to be able to integrate into an interdisciplinary and international team. The PhD position will be located at the Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology (http://www.zoo3.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/) in close collaboration with the newly founded Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology (CCTB), Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Germany. For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter and Prof. Dr Juliano Sarmento Cabral. For more information and to apply, please download the official announcement, attached below:]]> Tue, 14 Jun 2016 10:00:00 +0200 Postdoc: Conservation Biologist - Global change & species conservation http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=396 21 October 2015

The Department of Conservation Biology offers a new postdoc position within the UFZ research program on landsharing / landsparing: Postdoc: Conservation Biologist - Global change & species conservation (m/f) Working time: 100 % (39 hours per week) Preferred starting time: between February and April 2016 Duration: 2 years Your tasks will be to contribute to one of our main research fields: - Global change effects on species, especially habitat fragmentation, connectivity and viability of species - Scaling in biodiversity conservation - Effects of renewable energies on species - Monitoring of status and trends in species In addition, your tasks will be to contribute to: - Supervision of PhDs and students - Acquisition of third-party funds Your profile: - PhD in a relevant discipline, preferably with a population biological background - Excellent statistical knowledge - Excellent track-records in terms of publications, acquisition of third-party funds, use/translation of scientific results for applied biodiversity conservation and international cooperations - Strong interest in interdisciplinary research Read more and apply on the official job offer webpage: https://recruitingapp-5128.de.umantis.com/Vacancies/631/Description/2]]> Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:00:00 +0200 Job Alert: Lecturer in Conservation Biology, University of Leeds http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=395 14 August 2015

The University of Leeds is seeking a dynamic and influential lecturer, with proven abilities to carry out teaching and research in the area of Conservation Biology and related topics, to contribute to our Biology and associated undergraduate degree programmes and to our Biodiversity and Conservation masters degree programmes, in the School of Biology. You will have previous teaching and research experience in the general area of Conservation Biology, with more extensive expertise in a specific aspect of Conservation Biology. Along with a PhD in Biological Sciences and postgraduate experience in Conservation Biology, you will ideally have a successful record of obtaining external research funding. The primary criterion for appointment will be academic excellence. For more information about the position and to apply, please visit: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/ALT075/lecturer-in-conservation-biology/]]> Fri, 14 Aug 2015 10:00:00 +0200 SCALES in the latest issue of Science for Environment Policy http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=394 06 August 2015

SCALES supported research has found its place in a policy brief featured in the latest Science for Enviroment Policy issue. The study looks into declining number of bee and wasp species in England and links the tendency to historic changes in land-use. Researchers say that policies which promote diverse landscapes offer more opportunities for bees and wasps to nest and forage and are best for conserving these insect pollinators. Find the full brief here: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/decline_in_bees_wasps_linked_to_agriculture_urban_land_use_changes_424na2_en.pdf]]> Thu, 06 Aug 2015 10:00:00 +0200 Job offer: Population Biologist / Conservation Biologist(Postdoc) http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=393 17 July 2015

The Department of Conservation Biology at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) is offering a full-time position for a Population Biologist / Conservation Biologist (Postdoc) focussing on assessing past and future trends in species under land use and climate change and improving the design of monitoring schemes. The position will be part of the large-integrating EU-project EU BON “Building the European Biodiversity Observation Network”. The overall goal of the project is to integrate and harmonize European data relevant for biodiversity monitoring and to develop prototypes for biodiversity monitoring for the global GEO BON initiative. The project covers terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems and will cover taxonomic and distributional data of biodiversity and drivers of change. 35 partner organisations form the EU Bon consortium. The consortium includes taxonomists, ecologists, modellers, as well as institutions intensively involved in science policy dialogues. More information on the oficial job offer page: http://bit.ly/1MexC6Q]]> Fri, 17 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +0200 PhD positions opened at Leeds University http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=392 18 December 2014

There is a number of PhD projects offered by Sandro Azaele at Leeds University (Leeds York NERC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)). After the selection process, the strongest applicants will be funded and will have the opportunity to adapt projects to suit their own interests more closely. Spatial stochastic modelling of ecosystems The deadline for applications is February 2nd, 2015. Investigating the potential role of stochastic mechanisms in the sequential formation of repetitive structures in animals The deadline for applications is January 19th, 2015. Modelling general mechanisms driving evolution in natural populations The deadline for applications is February 2nd, 2015. Protecting the Peruvian rain forest in the face of land use and climate change The deadline for applications is February 2nd, 2015. More information on application and requeremenrs are available here: http://www1.maths.leeds.ac.uk/~fbssaz/projects.html]]> Thu, 18 Dec 2014 11:00:00 +0200 Scaling in ecology and biodiversity conservation explained in a book and an online tool http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=391 04 August 2014

The 5-year EU project Securing the Conservation of biodiversity across Administrative Levels and spatial, temporal, and Ecological Scales (SCALES) has come to an end in July 2014 resulting in a first of its kind description of challenges that arise in protecting biodiversity across different scales. A wide range of practical methods and recommendations to improve conservation at regional, national and supranational scales are included in a book published as a synthesis of project outcomes. The book "Scaling in Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation" was published in advanced open access via Pensoft Publisher's Advanced Books platform. This innovative format aimed at accelerating data publishing, mining, sharing and reuse, offers a range of semantic enhancements to book contents, including external sources. Results are also presented in an easy to use interactive SCALETOOL, specifically developed for the needs of policy and decision-makers. The tool also provides access to a range of biodiversity data and driver maps compiled or created in the project. Human actions, motivated by social and economic driving forces, generate various pressures on biodiversity, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, land use related disturbance patterns, or species invasions that have an impact on biodiversity. Each of these factors acts at characteristic scales, and the scales of social and economic demands, of environmental pressures, of biodiversity impacts, of scientific analysis, a...]]> Mon, 04 Aug 2014 10:00:00 +0200 The Spiral Project Handbook: Effective interfaces between science, policy and society http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=390 24 July 2014

The Spiral Project Handbook: Effective interfaces between science, policy and society was developed as part of the SPIRAL project. SPIRAL is an interdisciplinary research project that studies science-policy interfaces between biodiversity research and policy to draw lessons and improve the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This handbook provides a manual for projects and individuals interested in designing or improving interfaces between science, policy and society. It is challenging – but important – to establish appropriate connections between the diverse insights and perspectives of scientists and other knowledge holders, and the needs and interests of decision-takers, implementers and other knowledge users. These connections and interactions are the "science-policy interface" (SPI). Designing and improving SPIs of EU-funded research projects is the aim of this handbook. The handbook is structured around five main issues. It starts with a brief introduction to what SPIs are, and what they are not. Then moves on to the issue of why SPIs are needed before looking at certain important attributes of SPIs, namely credibility, relevance, legitimacy and iterativity. In the next part of the handbook, some steps and recommendations for designing, maintaining and improving the SPIs of EUfunded research projects are outlined. As part of this some factors facilitating successful SPIs are discussed. SPIRAL was funded under the EU 7th Framework Programme, contract number 244035. ...]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0200 New tool to identify best management plans for Natura 2000 sites http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=388 17 July 2014

A new decision-making aid to identify the best type of management plan for Natura 2000 sites has been developed by researchers. Using extensive data on different facets of biodiversity and human impacts, the researchers created two indices to show where conservation measures need to be integrated with socio-economic development. This study used sites in Italy as a case study but the method is widely applicable to all Natura 2000 sites, the researchers stress. Integrating biodiversity protection with sustainable socio-economic development is a key challenge for policymakers. The Habitats Directive1 identifies management plans as potentially valuable tools to support the establishment of the necessary conservation measures. For this study, researchers developed a system using multi-criteria analysis to integrate measures of biodiversity and human activity and to aid decision makers in identifying the best types of management plans for different Natura 2000 sites. They then applied the system to a case study of 97 sites in the Italian region of Umbria. Using the standard data collected for every Natura 2000 site, the researchers asked a group of scientists and decision makers to identify 12 unique biodiversity indicators to characterise the specific nature of each site. These included measures such as the percentage land cover of different habitat types, the conservation status of the habitat types and the numbers of species of birds, mammals and other types of wildlife. Once the 12 biodiver...]]> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0200 Article alert: Initial population trends from a 5-year butterfly monitoring scheme http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=389 17 July 2014

Journal of Insect Conservation (2014) doi: 10.1007/s10841-014-9644-6Wouter T. Staats, Eugenie C. ReganThe Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme started in 2007. The main objective of this study was to examine initial population trends from data gathered over 5 years (2008–2012) by approximately 150 volunteers across the Republic of Ireland. Nine of the 15 species analysed showed changes in population over the 5-year period; three species showed steep or moderate increases while six species showed moderate or steep declines in population. Some of these population changes are due to the highly variable weather conditions over the five years of monitoring, particularly the unusually cool, wet summer of 2012. However, factors affecting butterfly population trends are many and varied, so longer-term data are required to assess trends more reliably. A further six species had indeterminate trends over the 5-year period however, as the scheme develops, longer-term trends will have greater statistical reliability and give a clearer insight into Irish butterfly populations. The Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme is important in the national context, as there is little other countrywide systematic monitoring of insect populations. Furthermore, with a growing number of such standardised monitoring schemes internationally and development of bioindicators, it is now possible to monitor and track butterfly populations at larger spatial scales. We recommend that the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme i...]]> Thu, 17 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0200 Job alert: Lecturer in Agro-ecology and Sustainable Agriculture (University of Reading, UK) http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=386 09 July 2014

University of Reading is seeking to appoint a talented individual capable of undertaking internationally competitive research and dynamic teaching in the area of agro-ecology and sustainable agriculture. The opportunity arises because of the strategic desire to further enhance the research within the internationally recognised Centre for Agri-Environmental Research (CAER , www.reading.ac.uk/caer) within the School and to support a new undergraduate programme in Environmental Management.

Application closing date: 05/08/2014.

For more information please see the link below.]]> Wed, 09 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0200 Job alert: Associate Professor in Agro-ecology and sustainable agriculture (University of ... http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=387 09 July 2014

University of Reading is seeking to appoint a talented individual capable of leading internationally competitive research in the area of agro-ecology and sustainable agriculture. The opportunity arises because of the strategic desire to further enhance the research within the internationally recognised Centre for Agri-Environmental Research (CAER, www.reading.ac.uk/caer ) within the School. The appointee will make a significant contribution to the strategic development of the research agenda of CAER in association with the current Director and to establish their own research group.

Application closing date: 05/08/2014

For more information please see the link below.]]> Wed, 09 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0200 Job alert: EU Nature Directives Reporting Officer http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=385 03 July 2014

The European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity - ETC/BD (http://biodiversity.eionet.europa.eu), one of the six topic centres of the European Environment Agency (http://www.eea.europa.eu), is seeking a EU Nature Directives Reporting Officer for its office in Paris.

Closing date for application: 18 August 2014, at 12.00 (Central European Time)

For more information please see the attached pdf file.]]> Thu, 03 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0200 Article alert: From supply to social demand: a landscape-scale analysis of the water regulation ... http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=384 01 July 2014

Landscape Ecology (2014) doi: 10.1007/s10980-014-0032-0Quintas-Soriano C, Castro AJ, García-Llorente M, Cabello J, Castro HWorldwide water managers and policy makers are faced by the increasing demands for limited and scarce water resources, particularly in semi-arid ecosystems. This study assesses water regulation service in semi-arid ecosystems of the southeastern Iberian Peninsula. Comparisons between the supply–demand sides were analyzed across different landscape units. We mapped the biophysical supply as the potential groundwater recharged by aquifers and water supplies from reservoirs. The social demand was focused on an analysis of water consumed or used for irrigation and the stakeholder’s perceptions regarding water regulation importance and vulnerability. Results show that some landscape units are able to maintain and conserve water regulation service when the volume of recharge water by aquifers and the water supply from reservoirs is greater than its consumption (e.g. rural landscape units). However, we also found potential social conflicts in landscape units where water consumption and use is much greater than the water recharge and supply. This particularly occurs in the non-protected littoral areas with the highest water consumption and where water is perceived as a non-important and vulnerable natural resource. Overall, our results emphasized the importance of assessing ecosystem services from both supply to demand sides, for identifying social conflicts and ...]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0200 Job alert: Postdoctoral position on Biological Invasions at Doñana Biological Station ... http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=383 23 June 2014

Funded by the "Severo Ochoa" Excellence Program awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, the Doñana Biological Station (www.ebd.csic.es) seeks a Postdoctoral fellow for two-years with the aim to conduct research in the field of Biological Invasions. EBD-CSIC is interested to examine the multifaceted causes and consequences of biological invasions, a key component of global change. The ultimate goal is to improve our knowledge of the factors that influence the success and impacts of invasions by plants and vertebrates. For this purpose, we investigate species traits conferring invasive potential, the vulnerability of ecosystems to be invaded, and the sensitivity of native biodiversity to invasions under different environmental conditions and scenarios of global change.

Deadline for interested applicants: 17th June-17th July, 2014

Please see attached file for more details.]]> Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0200 New EU reform fails on European biodiversity http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=382 12 June 2014

Experts show in the scientific journal Science that the European Union’s recent agricultural reform is far too weak to have any positive impact on the continent’s shrinking farmland biodiversity, and call on member states to take action. • About half of all farmland and at least 88% of EU farmers are exempt from Ecological Focus Areas, the main “greening measure” that could help wildlife on farmland. • Meeting EU’s own biodiversity targets for 2020 now relies on initiatives from member states. • Experts from leading organisations offer six ‘immediate actions’ needed to be taken by member states, and six actions for the EU to avoid reforms that allow on-going agricultural intensification under a ‘green’ label. The EU spends 40% of its budget on agriculture, (approx. 360 billion ˆ in the period 2013-2020) this influences the management of half of EU territory and has strong effects on biodiversity. Latest reforms of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have been declared significantly “greener” by the Members of the European Parliament, following promises to make the environment and climate change ‘core issues’ for the new CAP. However, leading conservation experts writing in the journal Science warn that after three years of CAP negotiations the environmental reforms are so diluted they will be of no benefit to European wildlife, and biodiversity will continue to decline across the continent. Under the new CAP almost a third of direct payments to farmers...]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0200 Article Alert: China in the anthropocene: Culprit, victim or last best hope for a global ... http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=381 11 June 2014

China, from 2015 the world's biggest economy, is its worst polluter already now. It has not yet, but will be most probably climbing the top position also with regards the aggregate contribution to climate change (historical emission residues included), called the climate debt. At the same time, it is the largest victim of environmental change, and the leading country in cleaning-up the environmental mess - the government has taken bold steps towards improvement. Could the largest polluter become the world's last best hope for establishing a global ecological civilisation? Dr. Joachim H. Spangenberg from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) seeks the answer to this question, analysing the ranking of China and other main agents regarding fossil fuel production, trade and consumption, climate and environmental policies, and the resulting climate debt of countries. In a recent paper published in the open access journal BioRisk he finally suggests 3 fields for action which would permit China to start reducing not only its climate footprint bit even the accumulated climate debt within the next decade. The anthropocene is the age where human influences are determining the development of the planet's ecosystems and thus the bio-physical basis of future human civilisations. As the world's largest economy China is the world's largest consumer of all kinds of resources and is also the worst polluter, with per capita greenhouse gas emissions surpassing those of EU citizens. However, ...]]> Wed, 11 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0200 How biodiversity protection efforts can achieve more - SCALES project story http://www.scales-project.net/news.php?n=379 10 June 2014

By European Commission - Horizon 2020

Protecting nature’s biodiversity is key to the survival of our planet and high on the European agenda. The European Union (EU) Habitats Directive, together with the ‘Birds Directive’, has identified over 1,000 animals and plant species in over 200 so-called habitat types, such as special forests, meadows or wetland.]]> Tue, 10 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0200