WERC Highlights -- February 2001

California Riparian Bird Studies at Conference: USGS research ecologist Barbara Kus of the Western Ecological Research Center will present two papers at the Western Section of The Wildlife Society’s Riparian Habitat and Floodplains Conference, March 12–15 in Sacramento. She will discuss the status of the endangered least Bell’s vireo and southwestern willow flycatcher following efforts to restore habitat and control cowbird parasitism, and what should be addressed by future research. While vireo populations have increased, flycatchers have not, indicating that other factors appear to be limiting population growth. Kus will also present an approach for monitoring bird communities to assess the progress of restored riparian sites. Monitoring 13 species representing groups of birds that use vegetation in different manners will provide an efficient standardized and quantitative means for using bird community development to track restoration success. (Barbara Kus, San Diego, CA, 619-594-4357)

Sea Otters Reintroductions: USGS research wildlife biologist Ron Jameson of the Western Ecological Research Center was interviewed for a story in The Oregonian about sea otter issues and about efforts by an Oregon group called the Elakha Alliance to develop a plan for reintroducing sea otters to the state. He was also interviewed for a story in Conservation Biology in Practice on reintroductions of animals, including sea otter reintroductions to the Pacific Northwest and to San Nicolas Island, California. Sea otters were hunted to the brink of extinction from most of their historic range for the fur trade by the end of the 19th century. Efforts to reintroduce sea otters to Oregon and to San Nicolas Island failed. Sea otters reintroduced to Washington state now number more than 500 individuals, and reintroduction there has been considered a success. (Ron Jameson, Corvallis, OR, 541-754-4388)

Identify Amphibians and Reptiles on the Web: The highly developed and urbanized area of coastal southern California is host to one of the richest regions of amphibians and reptiles in the United States and includes several species with state and federal protected status. A new illustrated field guide by scientists at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center and San Diego State University can help users identify 64 native reptile and amphibian species and 7 introduced species found across the counties of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego. The guide can be found at http://www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide/. (Robert N. Fisher, San Diego, CA, 619-594-8026)

USGS Fire Ecologist Invited to Workshop: Research ecologist Jon Keeley of the Western Ecological Research Center has been invited to participate in the Workshop on Multiple Influences of Riparian/Stream Ecosystems on Fires in Western Forest Landscapes in Tucson, Ariz., March 13-15. The workshop will be a multidisciplinary exercise on a little-investigated subject: how do riparian zones and streams affect the fire properties of the western forest landscape. The workshop will bring together fire scientists, riparian/stream ecologists, physical scientists and fire managers to discuss this broad topic. (Jon Keeley, Three Rivers, 559-565-3170)

Bullfrogs in the West: USGS research ecologist Cecil Schwalbe of the Western Ecological Research Center was interviewed about the impact of bullfrogs in the West for a radio segment on Pulse of the Planet (http://www.pulseplanet.com/). Bullfrog predation has been a major factor in decline of the Chiricahua leopard frog, a subject of research for Schwalbe. Schwalbe's interview will run in summer 2001. Pulse of the Planet airs on 300 radio stations and on nationalgeographic.com. (Cecil Schwalbe, Tucson, AZ, 520-621- 5508)