WERC Highlights -- February 2000

New Interactive Website to Document Migration of Northern Pintails: With funding from the Tuscany Research Institute, through Ducks Unlimited, Inc., waterfowl biologists from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, DU's Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research, and the California Waterfowl Association are using satellite telemetry to track spring migration of female northern pintails that winter in the Central Valley, California. They are striving to discover why the North American breeding population of northern pintails has declined over the last 30 years. In 1999, the breeding population was 3.0 million, well below the long-term average and objective level established by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan of 5.6 million. Visitors to the website can follow the local movement patterns of several female ducks in the Central Valley, read the duck researchers' log, and speak directly with the researchers on an internet forum. The address is http://www.werc.usgs.gov/pinsat. (Gloria Maender, Tucson, AZ, 520-670-5596) Official news release

Planning for Biodiversity in Southern California: Southern California is recognized as a major center of biodiversity, but it is also home to an expanding human population with needs that conflict with the habitat requirements of many species. Land managers and resource managers, scientists and researchers, and local decision makers will meet at a symposium to discuss issues related to managing resources to protect biodiversity in remaining habitats while providing opportunities for other appropriate uses of the land. "Planning for Biodiversity: Bringing Research and Management Together," sponsored by the USGS and the U.S. Forest Service, will document the current state-of-the-art science, identify knowledge gaps, and provide a synthesis of research strategies to improve the understanding of the biology and management of biodiversity in southern California. The symposium is February 29 through March 2 at the Kellogg West Conference Center, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. A website has detailed information about the conference: http://www.werc.usgs.gov/socal/. (Barbara Kus, San Diego, CA 619-594-4357) Official news release