Sustainable Ecosystems Institute (SEI) has been contracted to analyze, assess, and weight the reasons why the data, findings, and conclusions of King et al. differ from the data, findings, and conclusions of Ramey et al. The scientific review panel will primarily focus on the papers by Dr. King’s and Dr. Ramey’s groups and publications responding to those documents. SEI will convene a public meeting in front of a panel of experts to hear, question, and evaluate the evidence on the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse.

A public meeting will be held on July 6th and 7th on the campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. Details will be forthcoming. Please RSVP and/or send information requests to lisa@sei.org.

The ultimate goal of the process is to provide a comprehensive and transparent evaluation of the science. This will include a fair appraisal of the quality of the scientific information, and any uncertainties that are present. It will not include discussions on policy, management, nor will the panel make recommendations to USFWS on such issues.

As this is a process focused solely on the science, we ask that you not contact the members of the review panel. Instead please direct all inquiries to SEI staff at the contact information below as they are administering the process. Panel Members include:

Dr. Brian Arbogast
Assistant Professor and Curator of Mammals, Humboldt State University
Research interests: Evolution, Biogeography and Conservation Genetics of Vertebrates

Dr. John Dumbacher
Department Chairman and Assistant Curator, California Academy of Sciences
Research Interests: Molecular Ecology, Ecology and Evolution

Dr. Eric Routman
Department of Biology, San Francisco State University
Research Interests: Ecology (phenotype-environment interaction), Genetic Architecture, Population Structure, and History

Dr Scott Steppan
Assistant Professor, Florida State University
Research Interest: Molecular Phylogenetics and Quantitative Genetics

Dr. Ronald Van Den Bussche
Professor and Curator of Frozen Tissues, Oklahoma State University
Research Interest: Molecular Systematics, integration of molecular techniques in conservation biology and wildlife management, and evolution of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

Further information can be obtained from SEI at: 503-246-5008 or sei@sei.org