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John, could you please send this to everyone.  Thanks.
Bob

_______________________________________________________________________

To: VCR colleagues inolved in the synthesis book

From: Bob Christian

Date: 27 September 1996

If you check your schedule for the VCR books activities, youll see that
outlines of chapters are due on 1 Dec. so that we can distribute them before
the all-scientists meeting.  Things have gotten a little more complicated,
however.

Weve gotten feedback from Oxford Univ. Press on our prospectus, and
there is a major concern.  They want the book to have a broader perspective
and vision than was obvious from what we supplied.  Based on our
meeting last winter, the outline was developed as a synthesis of our work.
Oxford is looking toward a larger audience than is often given site specific
books.  Therefore there have to be some changes.

We need to demonstrate that our work has a broad significance and must
explicitly relate what we are doing to a broader picture.  At a minimum this
means sections in each chapter linking our work to that of other systems.
But this may also mean that we add or drastically revise chapters or sections.

Bruce indicated that in a class Jay has been addressing the application of
ecological theory to the coastal zone.  (Is that right, Jay?)  This might be one

approach.  What aspects of ecological theory would we address?  Are there
other directions we can take?

So what do I need from you, besides sympathy?  First, I think we need
thought on the overall theme of the book.  Apparently, detailing our work
related to our central hypothesis is not enough.  By 21 October, could you
send your ideas on the general theme.  You could do this via the web page
we have set up, e-mail, or the old fashioned ways by phone or letter.  Ill try
to respond in early November, so that we can still write outlines by early
December.

Thanks.

Robert R Christian, Professor
East Carolina University
Biology
Howell S-105 Greenville, NC 27858 (919) 328-1835
                             FAX: (919) 328-4178
Bitnet: BICHRIST@ECUVM1   Internet: BICHRIST@ECUVM.CIS.ECU.EDU