NEWSLETTER Animal Behavior Society Molly R. Morris, Secretary André Fernandez, Editorial Assistant			Vol. 49, No. 1 February 2004 A quarterly publication
	Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA

DIRECTION OF CORRESPONDENCE

ABS Newsletter and general correspondence concerning the Society:  Molly R. Morris, Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA. morrism@ohio.edu. Deadlines are the 15th of the month preceding each Newsletter. The next deadline is 15 April 2004. Articles submitted by members of the Society, and judged by the Secretary to be appropriate are occasionally published in the ABS newsletter.      The publication of such material does not imply ABS endorsement of the opinions expressed by contributors.

Animal Behavior Society Web Site:

http://www.animalbehavior.org/

Animal Behaviour, manuscripts and editorial matters: Animal Behavior Editorial Office, Indiana University, 2611 East 10th St., Office 170, Bloomington, IN 47408-2603, USA. Email: aboffice@indiana.edu, Phone (812) 856-5541. Fax (812) 856-5542.

Change of Address, missing or defective issues: Animal Behavior Society, Indiana University, 2611 East 10th St., Office 170, Bloomington, IN 47408-2603, USA. Email: aboffice@indiana.edu, Phone (812) 856-5541. Fax (812) 856-5542.

 

ABS OFFICERS

President: Bennett G. Galef, Jr., Dept. of Psychology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada. E-mail: galef@mcmaster.ca.

First President-elect: Ken Yasukawa, Department of Biology, Beloit College, 700 College St., Beloit, WI 53511 USA. Email: yasukawa@beloit.edu.

Second President-elect: Stephen Nowicki, Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0338 USA. E-mail: snowicki@duke.edu

Past President: Anne B. Clark, Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Developmental Psychobiology, Binghamton University (SUNY), PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA. E-mail: aclark@binghamton.edu.

Treasurer: Lee C, Drickamer, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona State University, Flagstaff AZ, E-mail: Lee.Drickamer@nau.edu

Secretary: Molly R. Morris, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA. Email: morrism@ohio.edu.

Program Officer: Philip K. Stoddard, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, Florida 33199, USA. E-mail: stoddard@fiu.edu.

Assistant Program Officer: Jennifer Fewell, Department of Biology, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287, E-mail: j.fewell@asu.edu.

Parliamentarian: James H. Benedix, Jr., Department of Biological Sciences, DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana 46135, USA. E-mail: jbenedix@depauw.edu.

Executive Editor: George Utez, Department of Biological Sciences, ML006, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0006, E-mail: uetzgw@email.uc.edu.

Members-at-Large:

Patricia L. Schwagmeyer, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-0001, USA. E-mail: plsch@ou.edu.

Hugh M. Drummond, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Instituto de Ecologia, UNAM, A.P. 70-275, Mexico DF, 04510, MEXICO. E-mail (Primary): hugh@servidor.unam.mx.

Lynette A.  Hart, Department of Population Health and Reproduction, and Director, UC Center for Animal Alternatives, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, E-mail: lahart@ucdavis.edu

Historian: Donald Dewsbury, Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. E-mail: dewsbury@ufl.edu.

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

PLEASE NOTE THE CRITERIA HAVE BEEN BROADENED IN ORDER TO RECOGNIZE A GREATER RANGE OF TALENTED MEMBERS.The recipient of this award receives recognition, a plaque from the Society, and the opportunity to organize an education-related event at the following annual meeting. Selection of the award recipient will be made by the Animal Behavior Society Education Committee and approved by the Executive Council. The award recipient will be announced at the annual meeting of the Society.

DEADLINE:Nominating letters should be submitted by 31 March 2004, to Dr. Penny Bernstein, Chair, Animal Behavior Society Education Committee, Kent State University Stark Campus, 6000 Frank Avenue, Canton, OH 44720 USA, pbernstein@stark.kent.edu.

CRITERIA and PROCEDURES:

1. Nominees must be current members of the Animal Behavior Society (NOTE: current officers and committee chairs are not eligible for nomination).

2. Nominees must have demonstrated highly effective and innovative teaching in the classroom or an informal education setting (e.g. zoos, aquaria, museums, 4-H, research labs and field stations, environment centers) and have a reputation among peers and students for excellence in educating people about animal behavior.

3. Persons wishing to nominate an individual for the award should submit a one-page nomination letter providing evidence to support the nomination. The letter should also include names of at least two additional peer reviewers, and two current or former students or program participants.  If students are under 18 years old, the student/participant references should be accompanied by or attached to a letter from the appropriate teacher or youth program coordinator.  (NOTE: Department chairs, directors, supervisors, or colleagues may be helpful sources for this information if you are not at the same institution as the person you are nominating).

4. The Education Committee will solicit appropriate supporting materials including those indicated in nominating letters (e.g. documentation of other teaching awards, peer and student evaluations, additional references, evidence of innovation in curriculum development, development of educational tools, programs, or multimedia products, or other appropriate indicators of superior educating)..

NOTICE TO DEVELOPING NATION SCIENTISTS PLANNING TO ATTEND ABS 2004

The Latin American Affairs Committee can provide letters of invitation to help scientists (faculty or students) from developing countries obtain travel funding from their universities in order to attend the ABS meeting in 2004.   If such a letter would be useful in helping you to obtain funding, please contact  Zuleyma Tang-Martinez: zuleyma@umsl.edu  to request an invitation.  Please provide your name and address, as well as the title or topic of the paper you will be presenting at the conference.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR

ABS CAREER AWARDS

In recent years, the Animal Behavior Society has made a series of Career Awards. With these awards we recognize scholars in our discipline at various stages of their careers. These awards and their recipients are:

Distinguished Animal Behaviorist- outstanding lifetime achievement in animal behavior: J.P. Scott, W.D. Hamilton, P. Marler, J. Maynard Smith, G. Woolfenden, L. Brower, L.R. Aronson, J.P. Hailman, N. Collias, E. O. Wilson.

Exemplar Award- major long-term contribution to animal behavior: J.A. Stamps, D. Mock, J. Altmann, J. Alcock, D. Dewsbury, M. Bekoff, J. Endler.

Outstanding New Investigator- outstanding contribution by a new investigator: L.A. Dugatkin, A. Basolo, D.P. Chivers, H.K. Reeve, G. Grether, J. Podos.

Quest Award- outstanding seminal contribution: K. Sullivan, M. Zuk, J.C. Wingfield, P. A. Gowaty, C.R.B. Boake, D. Westneat.

Exceptional Service Award- sustained service contributions to the Animal Behavior Society: L. C. Drickamer; H. J. Brockmann; M. West.

Animal Behavior Society Distinguished Teaching Award- distinguished contributions in teaching animal behavior to undergraduates: R. Matthews; K. Wynne-Edwards; G. R. Michener; D. K. Candland; J. L. Gould; R. Jander; H. J. Brockmann.

To make a nomination: All members of the society are encouraged to prepare and submit nominations for these awards. To aid the selection committee and to help codify the procedures involved, the following items must be submitted for a nomination: (1) a letter of nomination indicating the award for which the nominee is being proposed. It should provide details on the reasons the nominee should be considered for that award, (2) a curriculum vitae of the nominee, and (3) additional supporting letters from colleagues solicited by the nominator. These materials (except for the McGraw-Hill Teaching Award; see below) should be sent to ABS Past President, Anne B. Clark, Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Developmental Psychobiology, Binghamton University (SUNY), PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA. E-mail: aclark@binghamton.edu. DEADLINE: March. 1, 2004

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: 2004 LATIN AMERICAN TRAVEL GRANTS

The Latin American Travel Grants are intended to help defray the cost of housing and meals at ABS meetings. They are restricted to Latin American graduate students enrolled in programs in Latin American institutions, who will be presenting a talk/poster at the ABS meeting. Given these restrictions, priority will be given to Ph.D. students who are attending an ABS meeting for the first time and who have not received a Latin travel award in previous years. Please send the following material: 1. A submission letter with your: (a) academic status; (b) e-mail and institutional address; (c) budget of meeting-related expenses, indicating the amount of funding from other sources; and (d) information on previous ABS meeting attendance as well as previous ABS grants received.  2. An abstract of your paper/poster. 3. Curriculum Vitae. 4. A letter of support from your advisor. Only completed applications, with all four of these components, will be considered.

The deadline for receipt of applications for travel to the 2004 Oaxaca meeting in Oaxaca Mexico is midnight, May 2, 2004. Application materials may be e-mailed to Hugh M. Drummond, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Instituto de Ecologia, Email (Primary): hugh@servidor.unam.mx.  Applicants will be notified of results via e-mail by May 9, 2004.

DIVERSITY FUND STUDENT REGISTRATION FEE AWARDS

A limited number of awards will be made from the Diversity Fund to cover registration fees for graduate students attending ABS annual meetings. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application and must be members of under-represented minorities, including those living in North America who are of African, Asian, or Latin American descent and those who are of Native American heritage, citizens of Latin American countries, and non-white citizens of African countries. Awards will be made by a lottery of all valid applications received before 15 March 2004. A letter of application and a signed statement from the student’s major professor confirming the student’s graduate status should be directed to ABS Treasurer, Lee C, Drickamer, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona State University, Flagstaff AZ, E-mail: Lee.Drickamer@nau.edu

2004 WARDER CLYDE ALLEE

COMPETITION

The Warder Clyde Allee Competition for Best Student Paper will take place at the 2004 Annual Meeting in Oaxaca, Mexico, 12-16 June 2004. All eligible graduate students are encouraged to participate.

                     Eligibility requirements: Any independent graduate student research, (including, but not limited to, the doctoral dissertation) most of which is unpublished at the time of submission for the session will be eligible. The work presented may be part of a larger collaborative effort, but the graduate student should have the principal responsibility for the conceptualization and design of the research, collection and analysis of data and interpretation of results. Only single-authored papers are eligible (though they may eventually be published with other junior authors). Entrants cannot have completed defense of the doctoral dissertation before the preceding ABS annual meeting (July 2003) and an individual can enter the Allee Competition only once per lifetime.

                     To enter: Students must indicate their desire to be considered for the competition by checking the appropriate box on the abstract submittal form for the annual meeting, submit a written version of their paper which includes their addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, fill out a signed and dated form indicating that they meet all eligibility requirements (which will be supplied to entrants after receipt of their written papers), present a spoken version during the 2004 Annual Meeting, attend both the Allee welcoming dinner on the evening before the competition day, and attend the banquet during the Annual Meeting. The spoken portion of the competition is limited to 13 students. If more than 13 students enter, the Allee Judges will select the best 13 submitted papers for the spoken paper session and further eligibility. Four (4) copies of a written version of no more than 7 double-spaced text pages and no more than a total of 4 tables and/or figures (this limit does not include abstract, references or acknowledgments) must be received by ABS 2nd President Elect, Dr. Stephen Nowicki, Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0338 USA. E-mail: snowicki@duke.edu by the abstract deadline. THOSE INTERESTED IN THE COMPETITION MUST ALSO SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT FOR THEANNUAL MEETING BY THE ABSTRACT DEADLINE, 1 APRIL 2004. If significant new results arise after submission, students may submit a one page addendum to their papers up to 30 days before the first day of the Annual Meeting. Questions should be addressed to Dr. Stephen Nowicki, E-mail: snowicki@duke.edu

CALL FOR RESOLUTIONS

Resolutions that deal with timely and substantive political or social issues that members wish to submit for the consideration of the ABS membership should be submitted by 15 May 2004. Submitted resolutions should provide direction to the ABS President to facilitate prompt action and will be evaluated by the Public Affairs Committee for appropriateness. Resolutions will be voted on at the annual business meeting in Oaxaca. Approved resolutions reflect the views of the Animal Behavior Society membership and are sent to the appropriate external agencies, organizations or to the general public.  Send resolution proposals to Jill Mateo, Chair of the ABS Public Affairs Committee, University of Chicago, 5730 S Woodlawn Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60637 USA or electronically to jmateo@uchicago.edu.

HOST THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ABS - The Animal Behavior Society is seeking hosts for its annual meetings in 2006 and 2007.  If you are interested in having the Society meet on your campus (or if you would like to serve as a “designated host” for a meeting in a commercial resort as will be happening in Oaxaca in 2004 and Snowbird, Utah in 2005), please contact the Society President at galef@mcmaster.ca to discuss the possibilities.

Meetings

October 14^th-17th: The 25th Annual Elephant Managers Association Conference -Hosted by Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum, Tulsa, OK. Pre and Post Trips scheduled to Dickerson Park Zoo and Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary (Oct 18th). For more info e-mail: karendunn@ci.tulsa.ok.us or visit www.elephant-managers.com and/or www.tulsazoo.org

41^st ANNUAL MEETING ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY

JUNE 12 - 16, 2004, OAXACA, MEXICO

June 12 – 16

Registration

Facilities for registration will be posted by ABS Central Office on the web site http://www.animalbehavior.org/ during the second week in February 2004.

Abstracts will only be accepted from registered participants. Abstracts will be due by midnight on April 1, 2004. The early registration deadline is midnight on March 15, 2004; late online registration will continue until the conference starts but online payment will end on June 4.

Cost (US dollars) of registration:

Up to March 15 (midnight)                 After March 15 

Regular member                    170                                                          220

Student member                     90                                                          120

Non-member                         220                                                          270

Guest or spouse*                   65                                                          90

*Entitled to attend reception, coffee breaks and excursion to Monte Alban

Deadlines

Early registration March 15 (midnight)

Online payment June 4 (midnight)

Abstract submission April 1 (midnight)

Banquet sign-up Limited to the first 330 people to reserve

Meal plan sign-up Limited to the first 120 people to sign up

Scientific Program (Talks will be scheduled from Sunday 13 June through Wednesday 16 June)

Keynote Address, Sunday, 13 June 2004

Tim Birkhead "Post-copulatory sexual selection – male and female effects"

Fellows Lecture, Monday, 14 June 2004

Stephen Emlen "The battle of the sexes when the female wins: Lessons from wattled jacanas"

Fellows Lecture, Wednesday, 16 June 2004

Michael Greenfield "Cooperation and conflict in the evolution of chorusing"

Symposia:  Sunday, 13 June 2004, "Environmental Impacts and Behavior" organized by Gil Rosenthal and Salvador Contreras-Balderas; Tuesday, 15 June 2004 "Current Perspectives on Sexual Conflict" organized by Carlos Cordero & Alex Cordoba; Wednesday, 16 June 2004 "An Integrative Approach to Sexual Communication: Brain, Behavior and Evolution in Túngara Frogs" organized by Michael Ryan

Other information will available on the website as it becomes available.

Hotels - The conference will be held in the Misión de los Angeles hotel, twenty minutes walk from the center (zocalo) of one of Mexico's loveliest old colonial cities. Rooms will be available in the Misión de los Angeles hotel and two additional hotels within walking distance. Misión de los Angeles hotel has green areas and a central swimming pool, although the pool is unfenced and without lifeguard. The Holiday Inn Express is three blocks and 7 min. walk (crossing a busy avenue) from the conference hotel, and close to the historic city center. Hotel Victoria also has an attractive swimming pool and overlooks the city from a site about 20 min walk uphill (along a busy avenue) from the conference hotel. These hotels will apply the same reduced rates to ABS registrants who reserve their rooms for up to three additional nights before the meeting or up to three additional nights after the meeting. Housing reservations can now be made by printing the form available on the web site and faxing it to InterMeeting (imeeting@infosel.net.mx) who will confirm your booking. Recommendations for other hotels can be obtained from InterMeeting (imeeting@infosel.net.mx).

Misiόn de los Angeles (Venue Hotel)		Room Rate (usd)per person per night.
		Single	Double	Triple
Special Package June 13 to 16 only	Includes room, breakfast buffet, light lunch, taxes and tip to maid	$ 102.90	$61.45	$ 55.43
Room only (no meals)	Includes room, taxes and tip to maid	$ 83.40	$ 41.95	$ 35.93

Holiday Inn Express (Includes maid tip, and continental breakfast buffet)

$ 105.63

$ 52.83

$ 46.91

Hotel Victoria (Includes taxes, maid tip)

$ 101.00

$ 50.50

$ 39.50

Bell Boy tips not included in any of the options and all rates are in US Dollars.

Meal plan - The conference meal plan includes breakfast and a light, cold lunch (with vegetarian options) in the Misión de los Angles hotel. The meal plan can be reserved as you reserve housing (check ‘special package’ on the reservation form below) and will be limited to the first 120 people who request it.  Breakfast buffet will be served in the main hotel restaurant.  Lunch will be served in the Patio de los Laureles and the main hotel restaurant. A Lunch Package at the Misión de los Angeles will also be available.  If you wish, you can buy a package of four light lunches (Sunday to Wednesday for $41.60 USD), which will be served at the venue hotel gardens according with conference program and will include a salad, main dish, dessert, water and coffee.  This package will be sold at the front desk of the Misión de los Angles hotel..

Visit to Monte Alban -On Tuesday morning, buses will transport registrants from the Misión de los Angeles hotel to this archaeological site perched on a mountaintop about 20 min away, for walking tours of the site and its small museum led by English-speaking guides. The costs of transportation, entry and guiding are included in the standard conference registration fee.  For more information please see http://www.surf-mexico.com/states/Oaxaca/monte_alban.htm or http://www.mexonline.com/oaxaca/oxarc101.htm

Reception, Saturday evening - Participants are welcome to attend an outdoor Reception under a Ficus tree, in the "Patio de los Laureles" of the Misión de los Angeles Hotel, with marimba live music and delicious Oaxacan food, from 1800-2100 hrs on Saturday the 12th. Drinks will be available from a cash bar.

Banquet - The closing banquet will be held in what in the 16th Century was a convent chapel, currently known as "La Capilla", in the restored and delightful Camino Real Hotel, in the pedestrian zone of the historical city center. By courtesy of the state ministry of tourism, the evening will end with the presentation of the Guelaguetza, a colorful spectacle of traditional dances and costumes from the 7 different regions of Oaxaca.  The menu will be Mexican with a (as yet unspecified) vegetarian option.  Cost of the meal is 30 dollars, drinks not included.  Beer can be ordered at table for about 4 dollars and soda drinks will also be on sale. Wine can be ordered at table by the glass (copa) or bottle.

Bring your own wine, and pay 8 dollars per bottle for decorking.

Student host program

Intention: For foreign delegates, this program aims to provide an excellent opportunity to explore Oaxaca with a local, Spanish-speaking companion; for Mexican students, the program aims to facilitate academic interactions with foreign delegates with similar academic interests. Once during the meeting, 1-2 Mexican students will accompany the foreign delegate who signs up around town, to visit craft shops, restaurants, markets, and so on. The activity and date will be set by the participants. We ask foreign delegates to consider that students may be attending the conference under a low budget, which should not be stretched by visiting expensive restaurants and the like.

To participate: On your registration form mark the "Student host program" box and indicate your fields of academic interest. Before the conference, both the student and the foreign delegate will receive an email with the name and email address of his/her companion. They can then make their own arrangements. Although last minute signing up will be possible, we encourage those of you interested to indicate this on your registration form, to facilitate matching.

41^st ANNUAL MEETING ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY

JUNE 12 - 16, 2004, OAXACA, MEXICO

HOTEL REGISTRATION FORM

Complete this form in capital letters and send it by Fax to InterMeeting (52) 55 5536 7309

1. General Information

Name

Family Name

City

Country

Phone

Fax

E-mail

2. Hotel Information: Please fill in the blank spaces of your choice

HOTEL CHOICE Misión de los Angeles    Special Package                                           Room Only             The following choice is subject to availability Ground floor                     First floor  By the (unfenced) pool    yes       no	ROOM OCCUPANCY Single        Double: 1 bed                                     2 beds   	ARRIVAL DATE	DEPARTURE DATE
Holiday Inn Express    		Smoking
Victoria                        

3. Payment: The reservations will only be made with Credit Card. There will be no charge to the credit card. Payment will be done at your arrival to the Hotel. One night no-show charge will apply; see below conditions and cancellation policy.  Fill in the Credit Card Information:

Card Holder Name

American Express

Master Card

Visa

Issued by Bank

Card No.

Exp. Date

FROM:

TO:

Code						Only for American Express	CONDITIONS AND CANCELLATION POLICY - ALL HOTEL RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE THROUGH INTERMEETING. CANCELLATION MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING BEFORE MAY 21, 2001. AFTER THAT DATE A CHARGE OF ONE NIGHT WILL BE MADE. A CONFIRMATION WILL FOLLOW VIA FAX OR E-MAIL. NO RESERVATION WILL BE PROCESSED WITHOUT CREDIT CARD DATA.
	CARD HOLDER SIGNATURE I authorize the charge to my credit card given

                      Official Agency:  InterMeeting   Filadelfia  119-501 Col. Nápoles C.P. 03810

                         Mexico City. Phone: (52) 55-36-81-51 / 55-36-86-16 Fax. (52) 55-36-73-09

                              E-Mail: imeeting@infosel.net.mx www.intermeeting.com.mx

OPPORTUNITIES

ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS -- The Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis invites applications and nominations for a position in the Section of Evolution and Ecology at the tenure-track ASSISTANT PROFESSOR level. Candidates must have a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in the biological sciences or related fields, and are expected to have a strong record of research in animal behavior, preferably on topics related to ecological and evolutionary issues. Teaching responsibilities may include an undergraduate course in introductory biology, evolution, or ecology, and specialized courses in animal behavior. Applicants should send copies of (1) a curriculum vitae, (2) a description of current and projected research, (3) a summary of teaching interests and experience, (4) no more than 5 publications (paper only); and have three letters of recommendation (electronic preferred) sent to:  Chair, Animal Behavior Search Committee, Section of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8755; bashaneyfelt@ucdavis.edu.  Closing Date:  Open until filled, but all application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be received by March 1, 2004 to assure full consideration.  The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the development of a climate that supports equality of opportunity and respect for differences.

ASSISTANT RESEARCHER IN BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY, University Bielefeld --  At the Faculty of Biology, Department of Animal Behavior, a position of Assistant Researcher (Wissenschaftlicher Assistent, C1) in the field of Behavioral Ecology is available from 15th May 2004.

The applicant should work in the field of behavioral ecology – preferably using vertebrates as model organisms. Experience in physiology, molecular biology or mathematical modelling is of advantage. The applicant should involve herself/himself actively in the interdisciplinary group on Behavioral biology and Neurobiology (see also http://www.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de/GK518/). Participation in teaching animal behavior and physiology within our new Bachelor and Master-curricula is required.

The applicant must have completed a PhD. Handicapped persons with equal qualifications will be employed preferentially. The University wants to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions and, therefore, especially encourages women to apply.

Send applications with the usual information (CV, list of publications and research plans) until 31st January 2004

to Prof. Dr. Fritz Trillmich, Lehrstuhl für Verhaltensforschung, Fakultät Biologie, Universität Bielefeld, Postfach 100131 33501 Bielefeld. Further requests for information to: fritz.trillmich@uni-bielefeld.de.

VOLUNTEER RESEARCH ASSISTANTS needed for study of behavioral ecology of Utah prairie dogs.  Topics of research include multiple paternity, alarm calling, infanticide, communal nursing, levels of inbreeding, demography, and population dynamics.  Study colony is in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.  Field season starts 05 March 2004 and ends 15 July 2004.  Academic credit is possible, and several previous assistants have applied research towards senior thesis.  Volunteers participate in all aspects of research with a fascinating mammal in acute danger of extinction.  For details, please contact John L. Hoogland, The University of Maryland, Appalachian Laboratory, Frostburg, Maryland, 21532.  Telephone: 301-689-7130 (work) or 301-689-8076 (home).  FAX: 301-689-7200;  E-mail: hoogland@al.umces.edu.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FIELD COURSE IN ANIMAL BEHAVIOR - Georgia Tech and Zoo Atlanta present a four-week field course in animal behavior from June 14 - July 11, 2004 (tentative dates) for six semester credits in psychology.  The course takes place in Atlanta (4 days at the zoo) and Africa (location(s) to be determined but likely to include one or more of the following countries: South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya).  The goal of the course is to provide intensive instruction in animal behavior and observational methodologies.  In Atlanta, students are taught data collection methods and their application and general behavioral profiles for various taxonomic groups (i.e. primates, carnivores, ungulates, birds).  This information is then applied in the field through daily observations designed to permit comparisons of the same species in different habitats, as well as comparisons of closely-related species.  In addition, students are assigned several small-scale research projects to further their understanding of scientific methodology.  Observational assignments are supplemented by readings, discussions, and lectures by field scientists.  The course also places a strong emphasis on conservation, with a number of readings and discussions focused on issues related to conservation in eastern Africa.  Students visit a variety of locations, including national parks and reserves, private research centers, sanctuaries, and private game reserves, as well as local cultural centers.

Space is limited to 12 students.  The approximate cost of the course is $6500 and applications are due by February 15, 2004.  For an application, please email the Study Abroad Office at Georgia Tech (study.abroad@gatech.edu); for specific information on the course, please contact Dr. Tara Stoinski at tstoinski@zooatlanta.org.

Obituary: Dale Lott, UC Davis Professor of Animal Behavior, Expert in American Bison Behavior- UC Davis professor emeritus Dale Lott, a wise counselor to his colleagues and an irrepressible travel guide to his friends, died Monday, Jan. 26, 2004. He was 70 years old.

                Lott’s death, from longstanding pulmonary fibrosis only recently diagnosed, was unexpected. Just last September he led his friends on a canoe trip tracing Lewis and Clark’s route on the Upper Missouri River, and he had recently been working on plans for a new prairie-based wildlife reserve in western Montana as well as a book about that project.

                Although he wrote numerous papers and a book on animal behavior in his 31 years at UC Davis, he waited until he retired in 1994 to write a book for general audiences about bison, which were his passion. Characteristically, said longtime colleague Peter Moyle, he prepared thoroughly for the task – in this instance, by taking UC Extension courses in non-fiction writing and working with a group of other writers.

                Writing “American Bison” was “my gift to myself in retirement,“ Lott told his wife, Laura. It was published in 2002 by the University of California Press and was well received. “In this rich and enthusiastic narrative, Lott uses exuberant humor and great passion for his subject … [T]he scenes he sketches … bring his story to life,” wrote a book reviewer in the Los Angeles Times.

                “The study of bison behavior was his true love and his true academic calling,” said his close friend and colleague Ben Hart. In fact, Lott was born on the National Bison Range, where his grandfather was range superintendent and his father was an employee. Another close friend and colleague, Don Owings, said, “Bison are a theme of not only Dale’s professional life but his personal life as well. He drew from talents he had developed in both and wrote a beautiful book.”

                Lott’s decades of studying animal behavior and social organization took him around the world. Besides his bison research, he investigated animal behavior before earthquakes and interactions between nomadic herdsman and their cattle in Kenya, and was one of the first scientists to study the possible impact of tourists on wildlife.

                Lott was the founding chair of the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology. He served as chair for six years, from 1973 to 1979. Lott also helped found the Animal Behavior Graduate Group at UC Davis, which has become the largest body of faculty working in animal behavior at any campus in the world.  For his numerous accomplishments in the field, he was elected a fellow of the Animal Behavior Society in 1991.

                He was a leader in another forum, too: He was one of the earliest advocates for bicycle traffic lanes and paths in Davis, with his first wife, Donna. This remained a strong interest for Dale and he wrote an opinion article on the topic in September for the Davis Enterprise.

                In honor of Dale Lott’s dream of establishing a fully functioning prairie ecosystem on the American Plains that would include the reintroduction of wild bison, his family requests that memorial contributions be made to: American Prairie Foundation, PO Box 908, Bozeman, Mont. 59771. For more information, e-mail Dakota@prairiefoundation.org. 

(Excerpts from the obituary released by the UC Davis campus news service, Davis Enterprise)