SEEN 1.1

SEEN (Southampton Ecology & Evolution News)

SEEN 1.1

Lost correspondence of Francis Crick – scientists don’t always get on! Read the link below to get a flavour of the competition between Watson and Crick, at Cambridge University, and Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, at Kings College London, to publish the structure of DNA:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v467/n7315/full/467519a.html

The wisdom of bees – a review of a new book by Thomas D. Seely which tells us that we humans could learn a lot about group-living from honeybees:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v467/n7316/full/467658a.html

Cane toads are super-invaders – this BBC article summarises a new study on radio-tagged cane toads in Australia, where they are an introduced species. The results show that offspring inherit speed from their parents, enhancing their invasion of Australia. There is also a link to the original article in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9096000/9096795.stm

Strictly scientists – this week “Dance your PhD” was won by a Chemistry student. You can view the videos here:
http://gonzolabs.org/dance/videos/
You could analyse the dances for attractive features using this article published in Proceedings of the Royal Society at the start of September. It was also widely reported in the press:
http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/09/06/rsbl.2010.0619.full
Avatars of good and bad dancers are available here, should you wish you improve the attraction of your own dance moves:
http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/09/06/rsbl.2010.0619/suppl/DC1

Cryptic cats –  research published by the University of Bristol has found that cat coat patterns are linked to their environment, with spotty cats living in forests:
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/10/15/rspb.2010.1734

Wildlife mortality at wind turbines – in the week that plans for the Severn barrage were scrapped, a warning about another form of alternative energy, wind turbines. Research carried out at the University of Loughborough suggests that white turbines attract insects, which in turn attract bats:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/p4565vx242651518/

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Interesting websites:
Moth enthusiasts – some people love their moths, have a look here:
http://www.back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/content.php

Marwell zoo web-cams – for the first years who visited Marwell zoo on 15th October, you can now keep an eye on some of the animals you saw on their web-cams
http://www.marwell.org.uk/interactive_zone/webcams.asp?css=1

UK National Ecosystem Assessment – information on the benefit of UK ecosystems to society:
http://uknea.unep-wcmc.org/

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What’s on:
18 – 29 October 2010, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
You can find out more here:
-2010 International year of Biodiversity –http://www.biodiversityislife.net/
-Convention of Biological Diversity – http://www.cbd.int/

Autumnwatch Thursdays BBC2, 8:30pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/uk/

Apple day – Wednesday 27th October, 10-12 & 2-4pm,The Tea Rooms, Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley, Southampton SO31 5GA. Archery, cider & apple pressing, pin the maggot on the apple, apple produce for sale, guided walk around the orchard, face painting, longest apple peel competition. Admission free, but small charge for activities.

Evening debate at Natural History Museum London, 29th October:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/events/programs/naturelive/biodiversity%3A_the_next_step.html?date=29.10.2010

You can watch a clip of their last debate here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stc_CnQyW8A&NR=1

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Careers:
Isle of Wight zoo volunteering – anyone who is interested must apply by 30th November 2010:
http://www.isleofwightzoo.com/work-experience.aspx
You can also apply for an internship if you are planning on working in a zoo:
http://www.isleofwightzoo.com/internships.aspx

Society of Biology, Life Sciences Careers Conference, Kings College London, Wednesday 24th November, 12:30-6pm. Register here:
http://www.societyofbiology.org/education/careers/lscc

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Species of the week
The IUCN has a species of the day:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/species-of-the-day
Send in your suggestions for our species of the week

Don’t forget to send me your links: