We propose research to fill key gaps in the areas of population and community ecology, based on a National Science Foundation workshop identifying funding priorities for the next 5–10 years. Our vision for the near future of ecology focuses on three core areas: predicting the strength and context‐dependence of species interactions across multiple scales; identifying the importance of feedbacks from individual interactions to ecosystem dynamics; and linking pattern with process to understand species coexistence. We outline a combination of theory development and explicit, realistic tests of hypotheses needed to advance population and community ecology.

are homozygous and their genotypes can be reproduced by different research groups for repeated experiments Molecular markers provide a rapid approach to breeding for dein a variety of environments (Mather and Jinks, 1977). sired agronomic traits. To use them, it is necessary to determine the linkage between quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and such markers. The

A large recombinant inbred population of soybean has been characterized for 220 restriction fragmentlength polymorphism (RFLP) unlinked locus (which, by itself, is not associated with trait variation). This type of interaction is shown schematically in Fig. 1. In this example, a difference in height produced by different alleles at locus 1 is conditional upon the presence of a Noir 1 allele at locus 2. Only the RI lines with the Noir 1 allele at locus 2 will show differences in height produced by the first locus. To identify such pairs of loci, we chose as the first locus QTL that had been found to explain significant variation in a quantitative trait. We then scanned through unlinked second loci, dividing the population of RI lines into four genotypic classes by pairing each of the alleles at the first locus with each of the alleles at the second locus. These pairwise comparisons have identified second loci with substantial epistatic effects on plant height and on other traits such as seed yield. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe soybean RI population used here and the measurement of the traits have been described in detail (7). Briefly

Right whales (Eubalaena australis) that gather on a wintering ground off southern Brazil have been aerial surveyed and photographically identified since 1987. As of 2003 the Brazilian Right Whale Catalogue has 315 different individual whales of which 31 were resighted in other years (23 females, 3 yearlings and 5 whales of unknown age/sex). No resightings occurred prior to 1994 and 71% (n=24) were recorded in 2003. The modal observed interval between calving events is 3 years, consistent with successful reproduction. From 1997 to 2003 the number of reproductive females in the Central Survey Area off Brazil increased at a rate of 29.8% per year (95% CL 15.7, 44.0), and at 14% per year (95% CL 7.1, 20.9) from 1987 to 2003. These rates are significantly different from zero (t=4.133, p<0.009 and t=4.06, p<0.004, respectively). The increase from 1997 to 2003 is higher than the rates observed for right whales in other wintering grounds in the South Atlantic. The right whales on the Brazilian wintering ground are not just transients. Ten percent of the whales have been resighted. If the number of whales continues to increase they will probably expand their distribution throughout their historical 2,400km range and come into increasing conflict with human activities.RESUMO: As baleias francas (Eubalaena australis) que freqüentam a área de concentração reprodutiva de inverno no sul do Brasil têm sido monitoradas através de levantamentos aéreos e fotoidentificadas desde 1987. Até 2003, o catálogo brasileiro de identificação das baleias francas conta com 315 baleias identificadas individualmente, das quais 31 foram reavistadas em outros anos (23 fêmeas, 3 baleias de um ano de idade e 5 baleias de sexo/idade indeterminados). Nenhuma reavistagem foi registrada antes de 1994 e 71% (n=24) foram registradas em 2003. O intervalo modal observado entre o nascimento dos filhotes foi três anos, o que é consistente com o sucesso reprodutivo. De 1997 a 2003, o número de fêmeas registradas com filhotes na Área Central sobrevoada no sul do Brasil aumentou a uma taxa de 29,8% ao ano (95% CL 15,7 -44,0), e de 14% ao ano (95% CL 7,1 -20,9) de 1987 a 2003. Essas taxas são significativamente diferentes de zero (t=4,133, p<0,009 e t=4,06, p<0,004, respectivamente). O aumento de 1997 a 2003 é maior que as taxas observadas para as baleias francas nas outras áreas de concentração reprodutiva de inverno no Oceano Atlântico Sul. As baleias francas na área de concentração reprodutiva de inverno no sul do Brasil não são apenas transientes. Dez por cento das baleias têm sido reavistadas. Se o número continuar a aumentar, pode-se esperar que as baleias francas reocupem sua área de distribuição histórica ao longo de cerca de 2400km de costa, aumentando a possibilidade de conflitos entre as baleias francas e atividades humanas.

Background: Treatments for health care-associated infections (HAIs) caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria and Clostridium difficile are limited, and some patients have developed untreatable infections. Evidence-supported interventions are available, but coordinated approaches to interrupt the spread of HAIs could have a greater impact on reversing the increasing incidence of these infections than independent facility-based program efforts. Methods:Data from CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network and Emerging Infections Program were analyzed to project the number of health care-associated infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria or C. difficile both with and without a large scale national intervention that would include interrupting transmission and improved antibiotic stewardship. As an example, the impact of reducing transmission of one antibiotic-resistant infection (carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae [CRE]) on cumulative prevalence and number of HAI transmission events within interconnected groups of health care facilities was modeled using two distinct approaches, a large scale and a smaller scale health care network. Results:Immediate nationwide infection control and antibiotic stewardship interventions, over 5 years, could avert an estimated 619,000 HAIs resulting from CRE, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), or C. difficile. Compared with independent efforts, a coordinated response to prevent CRE spread across a group of inter-connected health care facilities resulted in a cumulative 74% reduction in acquisitions over 5 years in a 10-facility network model, and 55% reduction over 15 years in a 102-facility network model. Conclusions:With effective action now, more than half a million antibiotic-resistant health care-associated infections could be prevented over 5 years. Models representing both large and small groups of interconnected health care facilities illustrate that a coordinated approach to interrupting transmission is more effective than historical independent facilitybased efforts.Implications for Public Health: Public health-led coordinated prevention approaches have the potential to more completely address the emergence and dissemination of these antibiotic-resistant organisms and C. difficile than independent facility-based efforts.