News Release

Ecological Society Of America To Host Symposia At AAAS

Meeting Announcement

Ecological Society of America

The Ecological Society of America has organized three symposia for the AAAS Annual Meeting, to be held January 21-26, 1999 in Anaheim, California. For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Nadine Lymn during the meeting at the AAAS Newsroom Headquarters, Anaheim Hilton & Towers Hotel, 714-703-0122.

The Metropolis in the Millennium: Integrated Science and Urban Ecosystems.
Saturday, January 23, 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Ecologists have historically tended to focus their studies on "pristine" systems. But as the number of large cities increases and the population of the globe continues to rise, it is important to create awareness about how closely the quality of human life is tied to living systems and their complex interactions. This symposium will explore the effects of urbanization on water quality and animal life. New prototypes for integrating social, cultural and economic processes into sustainable urban systems will be suggested. Also, the concept of an "ecological footprint" will be examined, as speakers discuss the amount of land needed to sustain a population and its consumptive habits.

Alien Invasions! Impacts and Control of Non-indigenous Species.
Sunday, January 24, 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Expansion of global trade and increases in human mobility have led to unprecedented invasion by nonnative species. These biological invasions produce severe, often irreversible impacts on agriculture, recreation, and our natural resources. Introduced species often find no natural controls in their new habitat and may therefore be extremely successful, to the detriment of native species. This symposium will examine some examples of invasions and explore options for management of the invaders. Technological developments, management and control practices, and policy options for controlling alien species will all be a part of the presentation. In addition, the potential role of the agricultural industry and the federal government will be addressed.

Understanding Land-use Change: Research and Application at the Cutting Edge.
Monday, January 25, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Everyday, we alter the land around us to provide food, shelter, and products for human use. The effects of these actions, referred to as land-use change, are now recognized as an issue that is environmentally significant in its own right. This symposium will provide a context for understanding the significance of land-use change, and describe approaches for addressing its consequences. Speakers will also address some of the challenges that land managers, landscape architects, urban developers and decision makers face when trying to address the environmental consequences wrought by human action. In addition, the symposium will provide a first look at the preliminary results of an Ecological Society of America paper examining the ways that land-use decisions are made and how applying the principles of ecological science can help improve those decisions.

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The Ecological Society of America (ESA) is a scientific, non-profit, over 7000-member organization founded in 1915. Through ESA reports, journals, membership research, and expert testimony to Congress, ESA seeks to promote the responsible application of ecological data and principles to the solution of environmental problems. ESA publishes four scientific, peer-reviewed journals: Ecology, Ecological Applications, Ecological Monographs, and Conservation Ecology. Information about the Society and its activities are published in the Society's newsletter, NewSource, and in the quarterly Bulletin.



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