ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAMMALOGISTS
The American Society of Mammalogists will meet 21–25 June 2008 at South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota. Conference and registration information are available by following the link on the ASM web page ( www.mammalsociety.org) or at http://wfs.sdstate.edu/wfsdept/asm2008/home.htm. Full details were published in the February 2008 issue of the Journal of Mammalogy, 89:258-259.
OLIVER P. PEARSON AWARD
This award honors Oliver P. Pearson's remarkable 6 decades of work in Latin America and his continual, steadfast support for Latin American mammalogists of all ages and degrees of professional development. The award offers financial support to young professional mammalogists who hold academic or curatorial positions in Latin America, to help them establish or consolidate their research programs. A single award in the sum of $5,000 will be given each year. Up to an additional $2,000 are offered for the recipient to attend the annual meeting of ASM in the year following the award. The funds may be used to carry out fieldwork, purchase supplies or specialized equipment, attend scientific meetings, visit collections or other academic institutions, and other research-related activities.
Applicants may be of any nationality. At the time of application, he or she must have the following qualifications: 1) a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree conferred within the previous 5 years; 2) an academic (post-doctoral, teaching, curatorial, or other comparable research-oriented) position in a Latin American institution; and 3) membership in the American Society of Mammalogists.
Acceptable formats for application materials include pdf (preferred) and Word (doc and rtf files). Letters scanned in jpeg format are also acceptable. Applications should include the following elements: 1) a 1-page statement that describes a) the nature and responsibilities of his or her academic position, b) professional interests and goals for the next few years, and c) detailed justification documenting how and why the award would benefit the applicant's research program; 2) a curriculum vitae; 3) a copy of 1 published or accepted research paper; and 4) 2 letters of recommendation from established professionals familiar with the applicant, based either in Latin America or abroad.
To be considered, all application materials must be sent electronically to Dr. Enrique P. Lessa, Chair, eplessa@unm.edu (Phone: +598 2 525 8618 ext [7] 143) by APRIL 15.
The recipients will be announced at the Annual Banquet of the American Society of Mammalogists, but awardees need not be present to receive the award.
PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE OLIVER P. PEARSON AWARD:
2004. Ulyses Pardiñas, Centro Nacional Patagónico, CONICET, Puerto Madryn, Argentina.
2005. Yuri Leite, Departamento de Ciências Biologicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil.
2006. Luis Fernando Aguirre, Centro de Biodiversidad y Genética, Universidad San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia.
2007. Eduardo Secchi, Departamento de Oceanografia, Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil.
ONLINE ACCESS FOR JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY AND MAMMALIAN SPECIES
Journal of Mammalogy and Mammalian Species are now available online to all ASM members with back issues available via JSTOR. Members will also receive print copies of the Journal for an annual membership fee of $45 for regular members ($35 for students), or they may elect to receive online only versions of both publications for an annual fee of $30 ($20 for members in developing countries). Institutions may subscribe at a rate of $205 for print and online access to the Journal, $55 for online-only access to Mammalian Species, or $250 for both publications.
PDF files for the first 739 Mammalian Species accounts (1969 to 2003) are also available online via the URL below: http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/default.html.
MAMMALIAN SPECIES ACCOUNTS
Twenty-four to 30 accounts are planned for publication in 2007. Each account is 2–14 pages in length and reviews the biology of a particular species in a standard format.
Mammalian Species accounts are produced by assignment only. Upon written request to the Editor for Mammalian Species, exclusive privileges to produce an account will be granted for 3 years; a 1-year extension may be requested if a manuscript is near completion at the end of the initial assignment. At the Editor's discretion, assignments not submitted at the end of this period may be cancelled. A maximum of 5 species may be reserved at 1 time. No free copies are given to authors; page charges may be paid on a voluntary basis.
Mammalian Species will be available online only to all ASM members, beginning in 2006; print copies will no longer be published. Orders for yearly sets of accounts within the past 5 years should be sent to Kathy Votaw, ASM Association Manager, 810 East 10th Street, P.O. Box 1897, Lawrence, KS 66044; 785-843-1235; FAX -1274; asm@allenpress.com. Individual accounts are no longer available for purchase. Requests for assignment of species and other editorial queries should be addressed to Meredith Hamilton, Editor of Mammalian Species, Department of Zoology, 430 Life Sciences West, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, 405-744-9685; FAX -7824; mjh@okstate.edu.
MAMMAL IMAGES LIBRARY
The Mammal Images Library is a non-profit education service of the American Society of Mammalogists with the goal of providing images of mammals for educational purposes worldwide. The present collection consists of >1,500 images depicting nearly 800 species, 440 genera, 100 families, and 24 orders. More than 110,000 images are now in use at >3,000 institutions in about 50 countries. Most of the images are available for non-profit use, in a form suitable for optical projection, on the Mammal Images Library webpage at the ASM website ( http://www.mammalogy.org/imagelibrary). In addition to optical projection for non-profit instruction, many of the images can be employed (with permission) for other purposes, including commercial uses. To obtain a catalog that describes the images and gives other information, send US$4 (US$5 outside USA) to Elmer J. Finck, Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, 600 Park Street, Hays, KS 67601-4099; 785-628-4214; efinck@fhsu.edu. A simple listing of the images can be obtained free from the same address. For permission to use images for purposes other than non-profit optical projection, contact the committee chair: Matthew E. Hopton; hoptonm@email.uc.edu; 513-759-6551.
The Library continually seeks new images for the collection and urges anyone having images to contribute them. For information about contributing images, contact the committee chair. The committee thanks the 160 persons who have contributed images thus far.
In 1992, the Library instituted a program whereby grants in the form of images can be obtained by educational institutions in developing countries. About 60 grants to applicants from 20 countries have been awarded thus far. Institutions can select up to 50 images of their choice, and can reapply annually. Information about the program can be obtained from John O. Whitaker, Jr., Department of Life Sciences, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809; jwhitaker3@isugw.indstate.edu. The Mammal Images Library urges ASM members to assist this effort by supplying information about appropriate institutions.
SPONSOR FUND
The ASM Membership Committee has devised a method of providing membership in ASM to mammalogists from outside the United States and Canada who wish to become members, but simply cannot afford to. Some members already sponsor ASM membership for foreign mammalogists on a continual basis. However, others who are unable to provide a full membership on a continual basis, may wish to contribute a partial membership or a full membership during some years. Such is now possible through contributions to the Sponsor Fund. The Fund will be handled as follows:
a. From time-to-time, a form on which a member can state his or her name, address, and amount of donation to the Sponsor Fund will be printed in the back of the Journal of Mammalogy and on the reverse of the mailing label that accompanies the Journal.
b. When money in the Fund reaches any multiple of the current amount for annual dues, dues for a mammalogist in need of sponsorship will be paid. Contributions will be used directly to sponsor foreign members: the Fund will not be of the type from which only the interest is used to pay memberships.
c. Money in the Fund will be managed through the Secretary-Treasurer's office.
d. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be designated as the sponsor of record.
e. At the end of 3 years members of the Membership Committee will verify that sponsored individuals still need and want sponsorship. Sponsorship from the Fund could extend to a maximum of 5 years.
Members should submit names and mailing and e-mail addresses of foreign mammalogists in need of sponsorship to the chair of the Membership Committee: Michael R. Gannon, Department of Biology, Penn State University, 3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, PA 16601-3760; 814-949-5210; mrg5@psu.edu.
MAILING AND ADDRESS CHANGES
Members and subscribers are advised that the Journal of Mammalogy is mailed in February, April, June, August, October, and December. Address changes MUST be in the hands of Christy Classi, ASM Association Manager, 810 East 10th Street, P.O. Box 1897, Lawrence, KS 66044; 785-843-1235; FAX -1274; asm@allenpress.com by the 1st day of the month of mailing. United States addresses must have zip codes. Address changes are expedited if former address, with zip code, is included.
ONLINE SUBMISSIONS
The Journal of Mammalogy accepts submissions of manuscripts via the Internet. The online system, AllenTrack, allows authors to submit manuscripts online and will speed transmission of manuscripts between reviewers and editors. Submit manuscripts at http://jmamm.allentrack.net.
Buddy System for Authors
ASM has a “buddy system” to assist authors who are not native English speakers. “Buddies” are mammalogists who have offered to preview manuscripts that need editorial revision for English. Authors interested in having a manuscript previewed should contact the Journal Editor or an Associate Editor for Journal of Mammalogy. Individuals interested in having their names added to the list of "buddies" should contact Alicia Linzey (avlinzey@verizon.net).
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: NESCent POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS, SABBATICAL SCHOLARS, WORKING GROUPS AND CATALYSIS GROUPS
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is now accepting proposals for postdoctoral fellows, sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings. Proposals for postdoctoral fellowships are accepted at the December 1 deadline only. Proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings are accepted twice a year, with June 15 and December 1 deadlines. Proposals for short-term visitors are considered four times a year, with deadlines on January 1, April 1, July 1 and September 1. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RODENT BIOLOGY ANNOUNCEMENT
The 11th International Conference on Rodent Biology (formerly called Rodens et Spatium) will be held 24–28 July 2008 in Myshkin, Russia. The Conference, hosted by the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Theriological Community, and Myshkin Municipal District Administration, seeks to bring together scientists studying rodents from all over the world, to associate mammalogists from East and West for future collaborations, and to exchange scientific information and experiences. The 3 most recent Rodent Conferences have been held in Belgium (2002), Poland (2004), and Italy (2006), with 130–150 “rodentologists” from 25–30 countries in attendance at each. Myshkin (literally “little mouse town”) is a village of 6,000 located 250 km north of Moscow, on the Volga River in the historical region of old Russia. Because 2008 is the Year of the Mouse on the Oriental Calendar and has been declared a Festival Year in Myshkin, this is a special time and place for those studying rodents to meet and discuss their researches. Conference information can be obtained from the website www.sevin.ru/rodensetspatium/index.html or by contacting Olga Osipova (o_osipova@mail.ru) or Tatyana Chistova (tachi@mail.ru) of the Organizing Committee.
CLASSIFIED ANNOUNCEMENTS
Copies of classified announcements should be submitted to the Advertising Manager, Allen Press, Inc., 810 East 10th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044; phone 800-627-0932, ext 262; FAX 785-843-1853; e-mail jriling@allenpress.com. These announcements must be received at least 2 months prior to the publication date and should specify the number of issues the announcement is to appear in. The charge will be $90.00 for 5 lines and $5.00 each additional line. This charge will be billed after each insertion.
Translations of Czech, German, Russian, and Slovak original texts. Have them done by a fellow mammalogist! Dr. Emil Kucera, 74 Deer Lodge Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3J 2B8, (204) 885-4071; www.kucera.mb.ca.
AUSTRALIAN MAMMAL SOCIETY MEETING
The 54th Australian Mammal Society Conference will be held in Darwin between 29 September and 1 October 2008. For further information you may contact Simon Ward at Simon.Ward@nt.gov.au. Tour companies will offer post-conference trips to Kakadu and/or Litchfield National Parks and other scenic localities. The timing of the Conference presents exceptional opportunities to view wildlife because wetlands and waterholes are drying up in this season.
