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Information about several papers discussed at a symposium entitled "Generalist Flowers: Their Evolution, Biology and Animal Associations" is presented. Topics include the pollination modes in tropical floras, gymnospermous pollination systems, and the classical morphological view of botany. Papers on how pollination ecologists examine generalist flowers and how to compare the ecological, functional, and phenotypical generalization of fruits are also presented in the symposium.

Information about several papers discussed at the symposium entitled Mitochondrial DNA Sequences in Plant Phylogenetics and Evolution in Vienna, Austria on July 17-23, 2005 is presented. The symposium featured seven papers including the studies by H. Ong, C. de Pamphilis and J. D. Palmer. The ability of land plant mitochondrial genomes to export or import DNA is discoursed. The topics also involved RNA editing.

At the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, investigators of ecosystem science and biogeochemistry gathered in a series of sessions sponsored by the National Science Foundation to examine what is known about the coupling of chemical elements in biochemistry and thus in global biogeochemical cycles. As an introduction to the topic, this paper offers some philosophical thoughts about the origins and implications of coupled biogeochemical cycles on Earth. The chemical characteristics of Earth have carried the imprint of biology since the first appearance of life more than 3.5 billion years ago. Movements of about 30 chemical elements essential to life are coupled, so that the behavior of one element can often be used to predict the behavior of other elements - in both the natural and human-perturbed settings of the world. The coupling of biochemical elements stems from basic stoichiometry (the relative quantities of chemical elements in living biomass), the oxidation-reduction or "redox" reactions (in which one substance is oxidized [loses electrons] and another is reduced [gains electrons]) of metabolic activity, and chelation (in which a metal ion binds to an organic compound). Many anthropogenic environmental problems - climate change, eutrophication, acid precipitation, metal pollution - originate from the release of non-stoichiometric and toxic quantities of chemical elements to the environment. Geoengineering pro-posals as solutions to certain global environmental problems must be consistent with the underlying constraints of coupled biogeochemical cycles. Biogeochemistry has much to offer to policy makers, and biogeochemists must contribute to current deliberations about how to solve environmental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the symposium "Concepts of Systematic Biology From Linnaeus to the Present" which was held on July 11, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois is presented. The symposium was designed to chronicle many of the changes and attendant perspectives, with papers discussed by Gordon Reid who assessed the contributions of Carl Linnaeus. In addition, Peter Stevens gave comments on the developments of the natural system of plant taxonomy.

Information about several papers discussed at the International Riversymposium and Environmental Flow Conference in Brisbane, Australia on September 3 to 6, 2007 is presented. It was attended by more than 800 delegates from 57 countries to discuss the challenges of protecting the world's rivers. It also featured more than 150 presentations that explores the ongoing degradation of rivers and the socioeconomic effects to the livelihood of people who depended on rivers.

Information about the meeting by representatives from Central and South American countries held in Managua, Nicaragua is presented. It discussed the replacement of paper permits with an electronic tracking system to help guarantee a legal international wildlife trade. It features John Scanlon, secretary general of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), explaining that the import, export, and introduction of the species must be monitored.

Information about several papers discussed at the leadership conference on water industry hosted by the New England Water Works Association in April 2006 is presented. The conference highlighted a young professional town meeting which discusses about cooperation and sharing among present and future leaders and talks about perceptions and frustrations. The conference brought on the general agreement of communication as a key to continue the planning and management of the water business.