WERC Highlights -- April 2006

USGS Scientists to Speak at Forest Conference: USGS scientists Jon Keeley and Nate Stephenson of the Western Ecological Research Center have been invited to give presentations at the Forest Disturbance, Biodiversity, and Management Symposium, to be held in Denver on April 26-27, 2006. The symposium is sponsored by the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry (NCSSF). Keeley will lay out some of the natural resource considerations that need to be factored into a complete cost-benefit analysis of postfire seeding in his presentation titled “Consideration of the Costs and Benefits of Postfire Seeding.” Stephenson’s presentation will pose the question: “Is it possible or desirable to restore ‘natural’ forests and fire regimes in the face of rapid global changes?” Stephenson will describe how useful future management alternatives might come to focus on maintaining biodiversity by enhancing forest resistance and resilience to stresses, even if the resulting forests have ‘unnatural’ structure and composition. For more: http://ncseonline.org/NCSSF/cms.cfm?id=777. (Jon Keeley, Three Rivers, CA, 559-565-3170, jon_keeley@usgs.gov; Nate Stephenson, Three Rivers, CA, 559-565-3176, nstephenson@usgs.gov)

Rattlesnakes: Photographs and information about two rattlesnakes -- southern Pacific and red diamond -- from the USGS website “Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Coastal Southern California” (http://www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide/) will appear on informational postings at visitor kiosks in the Center for Natural Lands Management’s Manchester Preserve, in San Diego County. (Robert N. Fisher, San Diego, CA, 619-225-6422, rfisher@usgs.gov)

Conservation Planning in Southern California: An article in the spring 2006 issue of MSCP News, the newsletter of the San Diego County’s Multiple Species Conservation Program gave an update on the East County MSCP Plan and a two-day workshop where eight independent science advisors, including USGS scientists Robert N. Fisher and Drew Stokes of the Western Ecological Research Center, were presented with information on the goals and structure of the planning process by the county and consultant team. A second workshop is scheduled for later this year. For more: http://dplu-mscp.sdcounty.ca.gov/Spring2006.pdf. (Robert N. Fisher, San Diego, CA, 619-225-6422, rfisher@usgs.gov)

Mohave Native Plant Restoration: USGS scientists Matt Brooks and Lesley DeFalco of the Western Ecological Research Center will participate in the Mohave Desert Native Plants for Revegetation Symposium and Workshop to be held in Las Vegas on April 18-19, 2006. Their symposium presentations will be: (Brooks) “Threats to Mohave Desert Ecosystems and the Needs for Revegetation” and (DeFalco) “Revegetation Methods in the Mohave Desert.” The workshop will consist of four breakout sessions, each focused on a major aspect of an integrated native plant materials development program for the Mohave Desert: priority native plant species; existing and needed facilities and equipment; native plant research and development; and seed increase strategies. The products of the breakout sessions will be used to develop a detailed 10-year plan for the native plant materials development project for the Mohave Desert as a component of an interagency conservation initiative to be submitted for funding through the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. The symposium/workshop is organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service. (Matt Brooks, Henderson, NV, 702-564-4615, matt_brooks@usgs.gov; Lesley DeFalco, Henderson, NV, 702-564-4507, lesley_defalco@usgs.gov)

USGS Migratory Bird Research and Avian Influenza: USGS scientist John Takekawa of the Western Ecological Research Center is presenting talks on avian influenza at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (April 4), PRBO Conservation Science (April 7), and Yolo Audubon (April 15). Focusing on the USGS Western Region science support plan for avian influenza response, he will summarize results from USGS migratory bird studies and discuss their relevance to understanding the potential spread of avian influenza. For more on the Yolo Audubon event in Davis, CA: http://www.yoloaudubon.org. (John Takekawa, Vallejo, CA, 707-562-2000, john_takekawa@usgs.gov)

Night Light Book: A review in the April 7, 2006, issue of the journal Science reported that the new book Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting “provides the scientific foundation for understanding the impacts of night lighting and then acting on research findings to reduce or, better still, avoid its damaging effects on wildlife.” USGS scientist Robert N. Fisher of the Western Ecological Research Center is a coauthor of a chapter on effects of artificial night lighting on reptiles. (Robert N. Fisher, San Diego, CA, 619-225-6422, rfisher@usgs.gov)