SEEN 1.11

Dear all,

Welcome to the final edition of SEEN before the Easter holidays. There will only be one more edition before the end of semester, so send in your links!

Third years – You will remember that in February recent graduate presented data collected on biodiversity monitoring projects which are part of our research collaboration with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Southampton City Council. This scheme will be running again this summer. The wildlife trust projects are currently advertised here:http://www.southampton.ac.uk/careers/employability/workexperience/excel_southampton_uk_opportunities.html

Students need to download the Application Form from this page and read the Job Description listed under HIWWT. All applications need to be submitted to placements@soton.ac.uk by noon on Monday, 11th April.

The projects will look at:

– comparison of methods to enhance bumblebee diversity in agricultural environments

– comparison of artificial reptile refugia

– the extent and management of invasive non-native plants in the New forest

The projects with Southampton city council (bat and great-crested newt monitoring on Southampton Common) will be advertised soon, as well as a new project in collaboration with Marwell zoo. This will investigating the regeneration of a grassland system. So keep checking your emails and the placements website.

Tuesday 10th May 7:30pm Building 85  – Southampton Natural History Society butterfly identification talk. All school of biological sciences students are welcome to attend for free.

Thank-you to Biosoc for organising George McGavin’s talk last week. It was very enjoyable. Just in case you didn’t notice I was the geek at the end getting George to autograph my copy of his book!

There is an essay question on the UK Centre for Biosciences website with a prize of £300. You have to write about maths on your course.

Details here: http://www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/funding/essay/award11.aspx

Are botanic gardens to blame for invasive plants?

http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110318/full/news.2011.169.html – review

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VJ1-5287X04-1&_user=126770&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F2011&_rdoc=9&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_origin=browse&_zone=rslt_list_item&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%236081%232011%23999739995%233016737%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=6081&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=13&_acct=C000010399&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=126770&md5=82b01fcaf70d687cfb7096d4d6238266&searchtype=a– original article

Climate change and extinction, it’s not a simple relationship, find out more here

Older does mean wiser in elephants

Fish are important for seed dispersal

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v471/n7340/full/471551c.html – review

http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2011/03/16/rspb.2011.0155 – article

http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110323/full/news.2011.177.html – review

Fish are also important for temperate rainforest

Parasitic parasite – the first virus that attacks viruses has been found, suggesting another level of diversity

Humans have been causing climate change since long before the industrial revolution

Phenotypic plasticity – more predators à mothers produce offspring with longer wings

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2011.01834.x/abstract – article

Why did sauropods have such long necks? To suck up leaves, like a vacuum cleaner

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/03/how-a-dinosaur-is-like-a-vacuum-.html?ref=hp – review

http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2011/03/16/rsbl.2011.0116 – article

Wasps throw away ants (N.B. the ants are a lot smaller than the wasps in the videos)

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/03/watch-out-below-wasps-battle-ant.html?ref=hp – review + video

http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2011/03/25/rsbl.2011.0165 – article

Ruminating primate

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/03/video-monkeys-chew-the-cud.html?ref=hp – review + video

http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2011/03/30/rsbl.2011.0197  – article

Research sites have high species diversity

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/03/animals-find-sanctuary-with-scie.html?ref=hp – review (link to original article, also in Biology Letters)

Oil beetle survey – get counting!

The truth about lions – if you didn’t watch it have a look on BBC iPlayer

2050 energy calculator – how can we cut Carbon Dioxide emissions, have a go here:

What kind of bird is big bird? This presentation will tell you (it is funny):

The first years, a few second years and a few very select members of staff (yes, including me!) are heading to Spain on Sunday for the field course, which we’re all looking forward to.

I hope you all have a good Easter break, and if you find something for SEEN whilst you are revising don’t forget to send it to me,

Judith