Fall is the time of year when our local tiger population jumps
dramatically. In other seasons, the MU athletic teams, along with a couple
of dozen "tiger" businesses and hundreds of "tiger" promotions, maintain
our exposure to tiger-themed news, events and advertisements at a pretty
steady level. However, during MU's annual homecoming, tigers take over the
residences and streets of the campus, and also of large parts of the city.
Much like the paleolithic cave paintings showing prehistoric people in
contests with prehistoric animals, our local tigers are depicted in
various contests with the current year's football rivals, for 2003, the
Texas Tech Red Raiders. And just like in the cave paintings, our tigers
win every fight.
But how are real tigers doing? Just in the last hundred years,
the world tiger population has gone from 100,000 to less than 7,000, and
the Bali, the Caspian and Java tigers have all gone extinct. The South
China tiger will probably disappear next, leaving only 4 subspecies out of
the 8 that entered the 20th century with humans. That will leave the
Bengal (MUÕs mascot), the Amur, Sumatran and Indo-Chinese subspecies.
The decimation of these wild tiger populations led one former MU
PhD student, Michael Baltz, to launch an effort to save the Bengal Tiger
in the wild. There are loads of tigers in zoos, and probably even more in
pens in people's backyards, but that isn't the same thing. With the
support of MU Chancellor Richard Wallace, the university launched a
program focused on the conservation of its mascot, the first such program
ever. Today Tigers for Tigers works to raise awareness about tiger
conservation, fund projects that benefit tigers and the people that share
space with them, and create educational and research opportunities that
will contribute to tiger conservation.
Saving tigers from extinction in the wild is a complex and
challenging problem, but at least they are getting some serious attention.
Ecologists estimate that 13% of plants, and 20 - 30 % of vertebrates
(fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) face extinction in the
near term. Stuart Pimm, an ecologist specializing in the study of
extinction, figures that 50% of the worldÕs fauna and flora will disappear
in the next 100 years through the collective impact of human activity.
Tigers are endangered by wildlife trade that seeks their skins, bones, and
internal organs for traditional remedys and status symbols. In addition
to hunting and over fishing, other species are disappearing because of
paving, clearcutting, conversion of land to agriculture, polluting of
streams and rivers with sediments and heavy metals, the alteration of the
atmosphere by ozone eating chlorine compounds and greenhouse gas
accumulation, and the spread of exotic and invasive species as a result of
expanded global trade. No single event or person, rather the myriad
activities of billions of people are steadily wiping out one species after
the other.
There have been 5 mass extinctions in the history of earth,
periods when the extinction of species occurred at a rate 10 to 1000 times
higher than backround rates. The last one was 65 million years ago when
an asteroid hit the planet somewhere in the neighborhood of the Yucatan
peninsula and sealed the fate of the dinosaurs. Most ecologists and
wildlife biologists believe we are on the threshold of a 6th mass
extinction. It is sobering to consider that the most lasting legacy of
humanity, at least on a geologic time scale, wonÕt be the pyramids, going
to the moon, or the invention of democracy. It will be that we presided
over a world-wide loss of half of the earthÕs species.
Read more about it -
Bio Regional Quiz: What endangered species live in Boone County?
Job of the Month: GIS TECHNICIAN - POSITION # LWD/GIS/10/28/03. Position
available with the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands,
to be assigend to the U.S. Army Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM)
staff, RAnge Control Office, Foret Leonard Wood, Missouri. Required:
BS/BA degree in geography, natural resources or environmental
science/studies withe Geographic Information System (GIS) emphasis, or
closely reltated field. One year of work experience in GIS. Desired:
Demonstrated knowledge of ArcGIS8.x software, skills in GIS database
development, ArcGIS GEODatabase and ArcGIS SDE. Knowledge of Enterprise
GIS systems. Demonstrated experience working with GIS applications in
land management, natural resources management, digital cartography, and
the military. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Responsibilities: Perform duties associated with themanagment of ITAM
GIS. Function as part of the ITAM team. Create and update required GIS
data layers, field data collection (GPS), digitizing an drectification of
aerial photography. Create maps and conduct daatabase analysis in support
of ITAM projects. Provide GIS products and information for reports and
presentations, map development and production. Salary range $32,000 -
$38,000. To apply: Submit (1) letter of application noting position
number and responding specifically to each of the qualifications; (2)
resume; (3) one copy of transcripts fromeach college attended and
documentation of degree conferral; and (4) list of names, addresses, and
telephone numbers of individuals who have first-hand knowledge of
applicants professional abilities. All materials must be received in Room
110 VoEd Building no later than 4:30 pm, Ocotober 28, 2003. Incomplete
applications cannot be considered. Send to: Mrs. Mary Huwa, CEMML,
Colorado State University, 1490 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO
80523-1490, voice (970) 491-6620. See complete listing at
http://www.cemml.colostate.edu. CSU is an EEO/AA employer.
Special Events/Classes/Programs/Talks
MU Organization Meetings and Contact Information
Organization Meetings and Contact Information
Answer to BioRegional Quiz: A partial list: Cerulean warbler (wet or
floodplain mature deciduous forests); Regal Fritillary [butterfly] (damp
prairies or marshes); Indiana bat (caves in winter); Grey bat (caves in
summer); Topeka shiner [fish] (small pools in clear upland creeks). Most
are disappearing because of loss or degredation of habitat.
http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/endangered/endanger/index.htm
Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing
it. Submit it by email (envstudy@missouri. edu), snail mail
(Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan
Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is
published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions
expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this
newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.
A Sixth Mass Extinction?
by Jan Weaver
MU Tigers for Tigers - http://www.missouri.edu/~tigers/
Mass Extinctions -
http://www.amnh.org/science/biodiversity/extinction/Intro/OngoingProcess.html
More on MU's Environmental Majors -
Last month the newsletter featured the
new Environmental Science major in Soil and Atmospheric Sciences. At
least three other programs at MU offer specialized degrees in
environmental science (instead of the more general preparation provided by
the Soil and Atomspheric Sciences department) These are the AB in
Environmental Geology (http://web.missouri.edu/~geolwww/degree/ba.html),
the BS in Biological Engineering
(http://www.engineering.missouri.edu/biological.htm) and the BS in Civil
and Environmental Engineering
(http://www.engineering.missouri.edu/civil.htm).
FORUM ON COLUMBIA SEWER BOND ISSUE: Wednesday October 1, 7 pm Boone
County Chambers. An opportunity to find out about the multi million dollar
bond issue and its impact on ColumbiaÕs future. sponsored by Boone Co
Smart Growth Coalition
MARCH FOR ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: Saturday October 4, 8:30 am
Devil's Ice Box parking lot (lower lot) Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.
Sign In, 9-9:30 Bike (helmet required), Run, Hike, Orienteer (must be 18),
Eco-Challenge Walk (great for families). $15 for individuals (includes
t-shirt or patch); $20 for families (2 shirts, patches or one of each);
Free for recognized youth groups (does not include patch or shirt).
Registration forms at the park, download a form at http://rockbridge.
missouri.org (click on the March link), or call 815-9255. MO DNR and
Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.
MIDNIGHT RAMBLE: Saturday October 4, fundraiser for Flat Branch Park,
register 9 pm, ride10- midnight, FB park, downtown
EXPLORE ROCK BRIDGE: Saturday, Oct 11, Park Office (upper lot), 9 am to
noon(ish). Search for the Biggest Tree. Learn how to identify trees,
estimate their size, then go hunting in the park for the biggest specimen
WILD ONES : Saturday October 11, seed collecting/planting at Forum Nature
Area, 10 am. Bring trowels, shovels, clippers
AUDUBON FIELD TRIPS: Saturday October 11, South Farm and Bradford Farm,
7:30 am R-1 Lake lot at Sugar Grove Rd.; Saturday October 18, Little Dixie
Conservation Area, 9 am commuter lot at Hwy 63 and AC; Saturday October
18, Wild Haven, noon, Wild Haven; Saturday November 1, Thomas Hill
Resevoir, 7 am lot north of PatriciaÕs at Keene St and I-70; Saturday
November 8, Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area, 7 am lot north of PatriciaÕs
at Keene St.and I-70. http://columbia-audubon.missouri.org/ftfall03.htm
for complete trip description and contact information.
NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY: Saturday October 18, trip to Kansas City Discovery
Center -npshawth@hotmail.com for more info
SIERRA CLUB: Tuesday October 21, 7:30 pm- John Coffman (former Columbia
Council Person) ÒColumbiaÕs Power Supply and the Need to Use Reneweable
Resources for at Least a Portion. Hillel Foundation, 1107 University
Avenue
SUSTAINABLE LIVING FAIR: Saturday, October 25, Doors open at 9 a.m.,
workshops 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Unity Center, 1600 W. Broadway The booths
and workshops will focus on practical steps you can take in your everyday
life and general environmental and energy policies.Workshops include
energy conservation, sprawl, bicycle commuting, eating lower on the food
chain and natural parenting. For more info - 875-0539
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL:
http://www.missouri.edu/~jesse105/committees/pages/environmental.htm
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES EXEC COM: 882-7116
RECYCLING COMMITTEE: 882-3091
STUDENT SIERRA CLUB: 882-7116 Wednesdays at 7:30 pm, meet in A&S lobby
or 103A A&S
AUDUBON SOCIETY; 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed
7:30 pm, USGS, 4200 New Haven
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION; http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st
Wednesdays 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING; 875-0539 or http://peaceworks.missouri.org/
CHOUTEAU GROTTO; http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm,
Community Room of the Boone Electric Coop
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE; 882-7463 or email hendricksonm@missouri.edu for
information.
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS; 874-6271 or
http://www.ci.columbia.mo.us/dept/pubw/
COMMUNITY STORMWATER PROJECT:
http://www.GoColumbiaMo.com/PublicWorks/StormWater/cswp.html
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES:
http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE STATE PARK; 874-0171 or
http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Meet 4th Tuesdays, 7 pm
GREENBELT COALITION; 442-4789 or http://greenbelt.missouri.org Meet 1st
Tuesdays, 7 pm, Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
MISSOURI NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY; npshawth@hotmail.com Meet every other
second Monday (Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov) at 7:00 p.m., Unitarian
Universalist Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd, Columbia, MO.
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK; 443-0292 or http://mrcn.missouri.org/
PEDNET COALITION; email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK; 449-7402 or
http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION; (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or
www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB; 443-4401 or http://sierra.osage.missouri.org Meet 3rd
Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Foundation, 1107 University Ave
WILD ONES; 499-3749 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com,
http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays. Call for location