WERC Highlights -- December 2001

Bringing Cheer to Island Foxes: Home for the holidays means an opportunity for Katie Chess, a biological technician at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, and family to care for 32 Santa Rosa Island foxes being bred in captivity to save the subspecies from extinction. This will be the second year the Chess family volunteers to support the Channel Islands National Park island fox recovery program, allowing NPS fox care staff to take a holiday break from the year-round island fox care duties. This work will be done in conjunction with a USGS vegetation project. Since 1994 island fox populations have crashed on four of the six Channel Islands where they occur, and those four subspecies were recently proposed for listing as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The NPS has established captive breeding facilities on two of the three park islands that support island foxes. For more information on this NPS issue see http://www.nps.gov/chis/naturalresources/IslandFox/fox.htm. (Katie Chess, Ventura, CA, 805-658-5759)

Safe Passage for Wildlife: Chris Haas, Lisa Lyren, and Greta Turschak, biologists at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, were interviewed for a story in Discover Magazine on wildlife corridors and carnivore conservation in southern California. Habitat fragmentation by roads and wildlife deaths from vehicular traffic continue to increase as urban populations expand in southern California. The scientists gave examples of current USGS projects documenting carnivore use of underpasses, such as results from their recent study of coyote and bobcat movement patterns and underpass use along CA 71, a freeway that bisects the eastern end of the Puente-Chino Hills wildlife corridor in urban Los Angeles. They also provided background on current and future projects at Coal Canyon (which links the Santa Ana Mountains and Chino Hills State Park) and the western end of the Chino-Puente Hills on properties managed by the Puente Hills Native Habitat Preservation Authority. (Chris Haas, San Diego, CA, 909-735-0774; Lisa Lyren, 909-735-0773; Greta Turschak, 909-735-0775)

Giant Trees Carry On: Giant sequoias growing in the Giant Forest Grove in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks saw Giant Forest Village, some 300 buildings strong, come and go. The few remaining buildings form a new park museum opening December 13. Nate Stephenson, a research ecologist at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, was interviewed by the Fresno Bee about the effects the buildings may have had on the giant trees. (Nate Stephenson, Three Rivers, CA, 559-565-3176)

What Happened to Oregon’s Sea Otters? Ron Jameson, a research wildlife biologist at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, was interviewed for a story in the Oregon Daily Astorian about DNA investigations that may help scientists understand why the reintroduction of sea otters failed in Oregon yet was successful in Washington. (Ron Jameson, Corvallis, OR, 541-754-4388)

Fire Ecology Lesson by USGS Scientist Taped for New Fire Course: Jon E. Keeley, a research ecologist at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, joined colleagues at Oregon State University to tape a series of videos on wildland fire ecology. This new “Wildland Fire Ecology” course will be launched next fall and is being designed for distance delivery via video. Keeley's 50-minute lecture discussed recent findings on historical patterns of burning in California chaparral and their management implications. (Jon E. Keeley, Three Rivers, CA, 559-565-3170)

Seeking Causes of Amphibian Decline: Approximately 230 species of frogs, toads, and salamanders make up the amphibian fauna of the continental United States. Their aquatic and terrestrial life stages and sensitivity to environmental conditions make them useful sentinels of environmental stress and a possible model for human health studies. Recent significant unexplained declines in protected areas in the western United States may be caused by contaminants, non-native species, or disease. In 2000, USGS launched the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative to determine the status of amphibians on or near DOI-managed lands, and identify the causes of the declines. This is an interdisciplinary initiative that involves water resources, mapping, and the biological components of USGS, as well as outside universities and sister agencies. On Dec 3-6, 70 participants will meet in Corvallis, Oregon to finalize a sampling regime and database structure for future field surveys. Participants will include 13 non-USGS agencies and universities as well as 6 biologists from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center. (Gary Fellers, Pt. Reyes, CA, 415-464-5185)

Sediment Still Impairs Redwood Creek: Mary Ann Madej, a research geologist at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, will testify at the California Regional Water Quality Control Board meeting Dec. 6 in Eureka, California regarding the listing of Redwood Creek as sediment impaired, under the federal Clean Water Act Section 303(d). The river basin is currently on the 303(d) listing, but is being considered for possible delisting. Madej is presenting evidence of continued accelerated sedimentation rates in lower Redwood Creek, which may adversely affect beneficial uses of the river. (Mary Ann Madej, Arcata, CA, 707-825-5148)

Desert Tortoises in the Western Mojave: Kristin Berry, a research wildlife biologist at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, was interviewed by the Associated Press for a story on Fort Irwin and desert tortoise issues. Berry discussed the status of the desert tortoise in the Western Mojave Recovery Unit, the effectiveness of mitigation measures, habitat conditions, and factors contributing to high mortality. (Kristin Berry, Riverside, CA, 909-697-5361)