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Special sessions
Ecological Responses Along a Human Disturbance Gradient (Sessions I, II, III, IV)
The US EPA Biocriteria program is supporting an EPA/USGS/State/Academic workgroup to
develop "state of the science" recommendations on how to use biological
assessments to set the highest attainable water quality goals for a waterbody for
implementation in State and Tribal water quality standards. In Water Quality Standards
'speak' - these goals equate with designated aquatic life uses, a part of water quality
standards. One of the first "deliverables" from the workgroup is a conceptual
model for narratively and numerically characterizing the response of the biological
community to human disturbance - a conceptual framework that should be nationally
applicable but allow for regional differences. In this session the workgroup members are
being asked to evaluate the conceptual model with their own data and from their own
regional or state perspective.
Contact: Susan Jackson, U.S. EPA, Washington, DC Jackson.Susank@epamail.epa.gov
Ecological Approaches to Managing the World's Rivers (Cancelled)
Landscape Perspectives in Stream Fish Ecology (Sessions I and II)(New)
Stream fish ecology faces many challenges, including managing fragmented habitat for
endangered species and counteracting invasions of nonnative species, but most research has
addressed questions at spatial and temporal scales much smaller than those at which
managers must provide answers. This session will draw together current empirical and
theoretical work attempting to bridge this information gap, including a synthesis
proposing a new approach to research and management that addresses continuous riverscapes.
Organizer: Kurt Fausch E-mail: kurtf@cnr.colostate.edu
Tel: 970-491-6457
Ecological Effects of Dam Removal (Sessions I, II, and III)
Restoration of connectivity and natural flow regimes via removal of dams has attracted
widespread media attention in the past five years. Dam removal has proven to be a
controversial political issue, yet debates regarding the decision to remove dams have
progressed with little scientific input. The purpose of this session is to present
research on physical, chemical, and biological changes resulting from dam removal, and
thus, provide a forum for evaluating the state of the science. Invited talks will focus on
quantitative analyses of ecosystem changes following breaching and decommissioning of
dams. Submission of contributed papers to this session are also encouraged.
Organizers: Martin Doyle and Emily Stanley
E-mail: mdoyle@purdue.edu ehstanley@facstaff.wisc.edu
Tel: 765-494-0258 608-263-2567
What can the Natural Abundance of Stable Isotopes Reveal about Aquatic Systems?
Divided in 3 oral (I, II, and III)
and a poster sessions
Stable isotope analysis has rapidly become an important tool for addressing many
different ecological questions. This session will bring together researchers who are using
the natural abundance of stable isotopes, of different elements, to explore diverse
questions in aquatic systems. The aim is to raise awareness of the range of applications,
their strengths and weaknesses, and to stimulate innovation. Anyone interested in
contributing to this session should send an email to Jill Lancaster. Please note that time
constraints may limit the number of speakers in this session.
Organizers: Jill Lancaster and Rick Doucett
E-mail: J.Lancaster@ed.ac.uk
Freshwater Mussel Ecology and Conservation (Sessions I and II)
The aim of this special session is to highlight the importance of unionid mussels as
major contributors to the structure and function of large river systems and to examine
current trends in mussel management. Despite the important role that mussels play in large
river systems, and the threat of their extinction, little is known about the ecology of
this group. This lack of knowledge is due to the difficulty of sampling these large
animals, their long span and their complex life-cycle. Due to the paucity of information,
conservation and management decisions are extremely difficult to make. The first part of
this session will focus on presenting the current state of knowledge about the biology and
ecology of freshwater mussels. The second part of the session will examine current efforts
to conserve current populations and to reintroduce individuals to former habitats that
have been reclaimed. This session will consist of both invited and contributed papers.
Please note that owing to time constraints the organizer may not be able to accommodate
all those wishing to participate in this session. An attempt will be made to organize a
portion of the poster session around this theme for those who cannot be accommodated in
the contributed session.
Organizer: Daniel J. Hornbach, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN 55105
E-mail: hornbach@macalester.edu
Tel: 651-696-6160 Fax: 651-696-6075
Nitrogen Cycling in Large Rivers (Sessions I
and II)
Increased international awareness and concern of elevated nitrogen concentrations in
many large rivers has recently heightened interest in various aspects of nitrogen cycling
in these systems. The intent of this special session is to communicate research that
concentrates on the sources, sinks, cycling, and/or effects of nitrogen in large riverine
ecosystems. The session will consist of a series of invited presentations followed by a
panel discussion featuring the presentation authors and anyone else who wishes to
participate. If you would like to present a paper in this special session, please send an
email or fax to Eric Strauss as soon as possible. Please note that time constraints may
prevent accommodation of all those wishing to present.
Organizers: Eric A. Strauss and Emily H. Stanley
E-mail: eric_strauss@usgs.gov
Tel: 608-731-6282 Fax: 608-783-6066
Large River Processes (Sessions I and II)
This session will include speakers who will address issues of importance to large river
ecosystems. We interpret processes broadly to include, but not to be limited to, topics
related to nutrient dynamics, watershed approaches, biodiversity, and riverine physical,
chemical, and biological responses to different hydrological and climatic regimes. We want
to have broad geographical representation of rivers in different parts of the world. This
session will include invited papers, and contributed papers are also welcome.
Organizer: Amy Ward
E-mail: award@biology.as.ua.edu
Tel: 205-348-1796 Fax: 205-348-1403
Ecology and Conservation of Crayfish (Sessions I,
II, and III)
Crayfish are becoming increasingly recognized for their important ecological role in
the functioning and biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems. Additionally, the emergence of
widely distributed habitat loss and invasive species problems has increased interest in
their ecology and concern for the conservation of native crayfishes worldwide. The goals
of this special session are to (1) highlight the ecological importance of crayfish by
reviewing recent research advances, (2) present problems, recent advances and strategies
for native crayfish conservation, and (3) provide a forum for professionals working on
crayfish ecology and conservation to meet and interact. This session will consist of
invited papers presented by established crayfish professionals and contributed papers and
posters. Session organizers will also sponsor a daylong crayfish identification workshop.
Please contact Bob DiStefano if you are interested in participating in this special
session. Please note that due to time and space constraints the organizers may not be able
to accommodate all those wishing to participate in the contributed sessions.
Organizers: Robert J. DiStefano, Daniel D. Magoulick and Charles F.
Rabeni
E-mail: dister@mail.conservation.state.mo.us
Tel: 573-882-9880 (ext.3264) Fax: 573-882-4517
This special session should be seen as a forum for papers dealing with the trophic
interactions between benthic organisms of the pico-, nano- and micometer size-range. The
aim of the special session is to present and discuss the current scientific knowledge on
the importance of predator-prey interactions, diversity and disturbance for the
functioning of benthic microbial food webs. The special session will commence with invited
papers dealing with general aspects on the function of the benthic microbial food web.
Contributed papers on the topic are welcome.
Organizers: Desiree Dietrich.
E-mail: desidiet@zedat.fu-berlin.de
Stephen Wickham, Universitaet zu Koeln,Germany
Ulrike Berninger, University Kiel, Germany
Urban Stream and Watershed Ecology (Session I, II, and III)
Urbanization is a pervasive and significant phenomenon of our times, as over half the
world's population soon will live in cities (compared to fewer than 10% a century ago).
Ecologists have at last begun work to understand the ecology of cities and the ecosystems
within them. The objectives of this symposium are to bring together scientists from a
variety of perspectives who work on urban rivers, streams, and watersheds to share results
of their research, highlight the diversity of research in these systems, and begin to
frame a comprehensive view of urban watershed-stream ecology and management. The special
session will consist of a half-day of invited papers focusing on watershed-stream
interaction, stormwater management, in-stream community dynamics, biogeochemistry,
ecosystem function, and restoration. NABS members are encouraged to submit contributed
papers on the topic, which will be organized into a companion session.
Organizers: Nancy Grimm and Jennifer Edmonds
E-mail: jedmonds@asu.edu
Tel: 480-965-6478 Fax: 480-965-5831
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