Welcome from the Ecological Society of Australia

Welcome to Brisbane, Australia for the 10th International Congress of Ecology – the first of the INTECOL Congresses to be held in the southern hemisphere. With our trans-Tasman colleagues in the New Zealand Ecological Society, the Ecological Society of Australia is pleased to be hosting this significant event. Ecological research and its application for managing environmental systems are flourishing in Australia and New Zealand and we are keen both to share our problems, research experiences and successes with delegates from over 50 other countries.

The theme of the Congress has drawn out a wide range of oral and poster presentations on the great challenge our time: a world in the midst of the most rapid period of ecosystem and climate change that has been documented. The number and diversity of symposia on offer at the Congress is a reminder of the breadth of the topic of ecology and the complexity of the systems that we are charged with understanding and repairing.

This Congress is based on the dedication and tireless work of many people. I sincerely thank all of those on the Organising Committee, the Scientific Program Committee, the International Program Committee and the good folk at Arinex Pty Ltd (formerly Tour Hosts) who have given much of the time to this event over the past four years. I would also like to thank the host societies for their support, the generous sponsors who make so many of the special aspects possible, and exhibitors whose contributions so enrich the meeting.

I hope that you have a stimulating and rewarding time over the coming week as you delve into the program of talks and other activities that are planned.

Sincerely,

Craig James
Co-Chair – Australia, INTECOL 10

Welcome from the New Zealand Ecological Society

Ko te pae tawhiti kimihia kia mau, ko te pae tata whakamaua kia tīna
"As you seek the distant horizon, hold fast to that which you treasure"

The New Zealand Ecological Society warmly welcomes you to the 10th International Congress of Ecology 2009 in Brisbane, Australia. We are proud to co-host this event with our Australian colleagues, the Ecological Society of Australia.  This is the first INTECOL to be held in the Southern Hemisphere and our members eagerly look forward to learning and debating with the wealth of international wisdom and ideas that will be present.

This year's conference theme "Ecology in a Changing Climate - two hemispheres one globe" reflects the commonalities of the ecological challenges that increasingly confront us, and the diversity of perspectives and responses from different parts of the world.  The stimulating scientific programme is designed to explore these points of similarity and difference, and we hope that you will be enriched and excited by the opportunities it provides. The social programme and fieldtrips in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia offer further opportunities to network and explore biodiversity and natural and social histories that are unique to this part of the world.  We hope you will return from Brisbane with greater knowledge and understanding of southern hemisphere ecology and its practitioners.

Our thanks to the sponsors, organizers and volunteers of the Congress for their generosity and hard work that will make this an outstanding meeting.

Bruce Burns
Co-Chair - New Zealand, INTECOL 10

Shona Myers
President NZ Ecological Society