From:    Chris Lusk 
Subject: Course for Latin American students

"FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY IN ECOSYSTEMS"

An international course presented by:
-    Doctoral Program in Biological Sciences, Universidad de Concepcion
-    Doctoral Program in Science, Universidad de Chile.

January 7-12 2001, University of Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile

Applications are invited from graduate students of ecology and botany,
throughout LATIN AMERICA.

Participants:

Juan Armesto (Universdad de Chile)=20
Todd Dawson (University of California at Berkeley, USA)=20
Fabian Jaksic (Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile)
Clive Jones (Institute of Ecosystem Studies, USA)
Chris Lusk (Universidad de Concepci=F3n, Chile)
Peter Reich (Univesity of Minnesota, USA)
Osvaldo Sala (Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Outline of course aims and content:

This course is intended to familiarize students with some recent conceptual
and empirical developments in understanding the relationships between
species diversity, functional diversity of organisms, and ecosystem
functioning. "Functional diversity" refers to  variation in "what organisms
do" in ecosystems, especially regarding their use of resources, tolerance
of physical conditions, and their interactions with other species.=20
In the last two decades, ecologists have taken a more explicit interest in
the influences of species and community traits on ecosystem function. To a
large extent, this change has been spurred by the documentation of rapid
anthropogenic changes in both biodiversity and global biogeochemical
cycles. In order to predict, and hence manage, the consequences of the
changes currently in progress, we need to understand relationships between
species diversity, species functional traits, and ecosystem processes.=20

Global change has hastened the quest for general rules in ecology. Given
the teeming richness of life on Earth, functional classifications of
organisms are necessary if we are to develop general models for predicting
responses of ecosystems to changes in physical, chemical and biotic changes
in the biosphere. Zoologists have had considerable success in identifying
and understanding the dynamics of animal guilds. However, while plant
ecologists have made some progress in identifying correlated suites of
traits, plant functional classifications of general utility have so far
proved elusive.=20

Hypotheses about the effects of species diversity on ecosystem function
date back to the 19th century. A number of recent experimental studies have
suggested that greater species richness enhances ecosystem productivity,
sustainability and stability. A common interpretation is that these trends
are not related to species richness per se but to functional diversity,
such as the degree of species differentiation in resource use and tolerance
to environmental stress.  Among the major tasks for ecologists are the
evaluation of this plausible hypothesis, determining what aspects of
functional diversity are most important in influencing ecosystem function,
and analyzing the implications for conservation biology and ecosystem
management.

Lectures will be given in English

Course topics:

-    Defining plant and animal functional diversity=20
-    Experimental studies of diversity and ecosystem function
-    Community structure and ecosystem function
-    Functional diversity and conservation priorities

Funded by:

Chilean Ministry of Education
School of Postgraduate Studies, Universidad de Concepcion
Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Research on Biodiversity (U. de
Chile)=20

Registration:

By November 30th. Cost of registration is $50 for students from outside U.
de Chile and U. de Concepcion. A small number of grants are available to
cover costs of inscription and accommodation.

Inquiries:

Juan Armesto (jarmesto@uchile.cl)
Chris Lusk (clusk@udec.cl)


Chris Lusk
Plant Ecologist
Departamento de Bot=E1nica
Universidad de Concepci=F3n
Casilla 160-C
Concepci=F3n
CHILE
e-mail clusk@udec.cl
Phone 56-41-203418
Fax 56-41-246005