WERC Highlights -- December 2002

Man, Climate, and Fire Regimes: A new book brings together research conducted in western North and South America, areas of a great deal of collaborative work on the influence of people and climate change on fire regimes. USGS fire ecologist Jon Keeley of the Western Ecological Research Center and C. J. Fotheringham of the University of California, Los Angeles, co-authored the chapter titled “Impact of past, present, and future fire regimes on North American Mediterranean shrublands,” pp. 218-262. The 462-page book, “Fire and Climatic Change in Temperate Ecosystems of the Western Americas,” is edited by T. T. Veblen, W. L. Baker, G. Montenegro, and T. W. Swetnam, and published by Springer-Verlag New York as vol. 160 in the Ecological Studies series. Information about the volume is at:
http://www.springer-ny.com/detail.tpl?cart=10413661251244242&isbn=0387954554
(Jon Keeley, Three Rivers, CA, 559-565-3170)

Ducks: USGS Joe Fleskes of the Western Ecological Research Center wrote a story titled "Tulare Basin Waterfowl and Central Valley Duck Hunters" for the Dec 2002/Jan 2003 issue of California Waterfowl (pages 12-13). (Joe Fleskes, Dixon, CA, 707-678-0682 x628)

Mercury: USGS scientist Steve Schwarzbach was quoted about effects on waterbirds from mercury contamination of the Guadalupe River and San Francisco Bay in news stories by the San Francisco Chronicle and Associated Press (AP story appeared in San Jose Mercury News and San Mateo County Times). (Steve Schwarzbach, Sacramento, CA, 916-379-3745)

San Francisco Bay and Delta Science: About two dozen USGS scientists will present papers at the Second Biennial CALFED Science Conference: Advances in Science and Restoration in the Bay, Delta and Watershed, in the Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, Calif., Jan. 14-16, 2003. The goal of the conference is to make new information (i.e., results, models, syntheses, analyses) available to the broad community of scientists, engineers, and managers working on CALFED-related issues. For more information about the conference: http://www.iep.ca.gov/calfed/sciconf/2003/index.htm. (Steve Schwarzbach, Sacramento, CA, 916-379-3745)

USGS Science Support for FWS: Four project proposals submitted by USGS scientists at the Western Ecological Research Center, from a total of 20 submitted by this and other centers competing for about a $145,000 in funding, were selected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manager for Calif.-Nev. for approval by the USFWS director. These selections were based in part on the applicability and regional scope of the proposal, the emphasis on programmatic priorities, the cross-programmatic and practical applicability of the proposal, species, and budget. The selected projects are: 1) Wetland Restoration of Salt Ponds in San Francisco Bay - San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge; 2) Monitoring Partners for Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration Program Project Areas for Use by Federally Threatened Giant Garter Snakes-Partners For Fish and Wildlife; 3) Survial and Mortality of Sage Grouse in Mono County-Las Vegas Fish and Wildlife Office; 4) Population Modeling for the Lane Mountain Milk-vetch-Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office. (Karen Phillips, Sacramento, CA, 916-379-3744)

Marine Reserves: USGS research ecologist Jim Estes of the Western Ecological Research Center is among the coauthors of a new report to the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary titled “A Review of the Ecological Effectiveness of Subtidal Marine Reserves in Central California.” The report, available online at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary web site (http://bonita.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/welcome.html) is in two PDF files. “Part I: Synopsis of Scientific Investigations” provides summaries of several research projects conducted within the three existing marine reserves in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and one marine reserve in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and also includes lessons learned and economic considerations. “Part II: Summary of Existing Marine Reserves in Central California and their Potential Benefits” compares existing information with predicted benefits of seven potential goals for marine reserves. (Jim Estes, Santa Cruz, CA, 831-459-2820)

USGS Wildlife Research Included in Geography Textbook: An article on wildlife corridors that appeared in Sept. issue of Discover Magazine is now included in a student activity for a chapter on environmental geography in the 2nd edition of the book titled "Human Geography in Action" by Mike Kuby, John Harner, and Patricia Gober. USGS scientists of the Western Ecological Research Center had been interviewed for the Discover Magazine story, which included three of the scientists’ photographs of wildlife movements (coyote, mountain lion, and fox) captured by motion-triggered cameras. The book, on CDrom by Wiley Higher Education, is a combination of lab manual and textbook and is used in dozens of college courses in the U.S. and Canada, and also for some Advanced Placement high school classes. Information about the book is available at: http://jws-edcv.wiley.com/college/tlp/0,9842,SOCSC-GEC-GEX2C-GE11C_0471400939_BKS,00.html (Lisa Lyren, Corona, CA, 909-735-0773)

Wildfires and Forest Management: USGS scientist Nate Stephenson of the Western Ecological Research Center was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times for an upcoming article on wildfires and forest management practices, with a focus on California's recent 150,000-acre McNally wildfire. Stephenson spent a day touring portions of the McNally burn with the reporter. (Nate Stephenson, Three Rivers, CA, 559-565-3176)

Sea Otters: USGS scientists Brian Hatfield and Jim Estes of the Western Ecological Research Center were interviewed by Associated Press for an upcoming story on California sea otters, which will reference sea otter presentations at a recent carnivore conference and the fall census of California sea otters. (Brian Hatfield, San Simeon, CA, 805-927-3893)