WERC Highlights -- February 2003

Invasive Species: A new Publication Brief titled “Introduced Species and Their Missing Parasites” by USGS scientist Kevin Lafferty of the Western Ecological Research Center summarizes research published recently in the journals Nature and Bioinvasions. Lafferty and colleagues found that introduced animals on average have only about half the number of pathogens of native species, giving them a competitive edge. The researchers studied 26 invasive animal species including the European green crab. Among the pathogens the European green crab left behind in its natural habitat is a parasitic barnacle. In the crab’s natural habitat, the crabs are small and rare. Where introduced, in the absence of the parasitic barnacle, the crabs become large and abundant. The brief is online at: http://www.werc.usgs.gov/pubbriefs/laffertypbfeb2003.html. (Kevin Lafferty, Santa Barbara, CA, 805-893-8778, klafferty@usgs.gov)

Estes Named Ed Ricketts Award Lecturer: USGS scientist Jim Estes of the Western Ecological Research Center will be honored for his 30-year career in marine research at this year’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Symposium, Sanctuary Currents 2003 (“Threatened and Thriving Species: Lessons from the Sea”), to be held March 15, 2003, at California State University, Monterey Bay. Estes’ Ricketts Memorial Lecture, titled “Defaunated food webs: vertebrate consumers and nature’s balance,” will be at 2:30-3:15 p.m. The Ed Ricketts Memorial Lecture was created in 1986 to honor people who have exhibited exemplary work throughout their career and advanced the status of knowledge in the field of marine science. Recipients are selected by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Research Activities Panel. Estes is an international expert on sea otters and a specialist in the critical role of top-level predators in the marine environment. Ricketts died in 1948, but still inspires students of marine ecology with his book “Between the Pacific Tides.” He was the inspiration for the character "Doc" in John Steinbeck's “Cannery Row.” For more on the symposium: http://montereybay.nos.noaa.gov/; for more on the Ricketts award: http://www.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/Research/Rickets.html. (Jim Estes, Santa Cruz, CA, 831-459-2820, jim_estes@usgs.gov) Official news release

Tortoise Research: USGS scientists made a strong showing in the latest issue of the international turtle and tortoise journal, Chelonian Conservation and Biology (http://www.chelonian.org/ccb/). This special issue on desert tortoises includes 23 articles, 6 of which, over 25 percent, were published by USGS scientists. USGS scientists at the Western Ecological Research Center published 5 articles (4 published by Kristin Berry; 1 by Matt Brooks and Todd Esque). The remaining article was published by Bruce Bury of the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center. Their articles present research findings on how to age young tortoises, tortoise death following drought, invasive plants and fire in tortoise habitat, tortoise adaptations and conservation, and a comparison of tortoise populations in areas where off-road vehicles are used in contrast with areas without human use. (Jeff Lovich, Sacramento, CA, 916-379-3742, jeffrey_lovich@usgs.gov)

Coastal Studies: USGS scientist John Takekawa can be heard on the National Public Radio program spot, Earth and Sky, in "Bay Shorebirds" and "Salt Ponds" two 90-second spots scheduled for broadcast on March 17 and 18, 2003, respectively. The interviews will also appear on the Earth and Sky web page: http://www.earthsky.com/. (John Takekawa, Vallejo, CA, 707-562-2000, john_takekawa@usgs.gov)

A Taste for Mistletoe: USGS scientist Todd Esque of the Western Ecological Research Center was interviewed for a possible story on National Geographic Today regarding phainopeplas, a bird that eats mistletoe berries. Research is underway to understand the distribution of the plant’s host trees in relation to mistletoe patterns and bird behavior. (Todd Esque, Henderson, NV, 702-564-4506, todd_esque@usgs.gov)

Herps: Arrangements are being made for production of a story on amphibians and reptiles for the Jeff Corwin Experience, Animal Planet, highlighting research by USGS scientists from the Western Ecological Research Center and Southwest Biological Science Center. (Jeff Lovich, Sacramento, CA, 916-379-3742, jeffrey_lovich@usgs.gov)

Sonoran Desert Video: Visitors can now stop and view a DVD version of the new USGS video “Sonoran Desert: Fragile Land of Extremes” on a plasma screen, at a kiosk in the National Center in Reston. A VHS copy is also available for loan from the USGS Library (Menlo Park: http://library.usgs.gov/menlib.html). (Gloria Maender, Tucson, AZ, 520-670-5596; gloria_maender@usgs.gov)

Wild West: USGS scientists from the Western Ecological Research Center will highlight a wide variety of research on native and exotic species and their habitat, ranging from turtles to bats, at the 2003 Annual Conference of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society, in Irvine, Calif., Feb. 27– Mar.1, 2003. Additional information is available at: http://www.tws-west.org/meetings.html. (Barbara Kus, San Diego, CA, 858-637-6881, barbara_kus@usgs.gov)

Tortoise Research: The 28th Annual Meeting and Symposium of the Desert Tortoise Council will be held February 21-24, 2003, in Las Vegas, Nev. USGS scientists are presenting several papers and posters on such subjects as status and trends in tortoise populations, health and disease, reproduction, hibernation, translocation and carrying capacity of habitats, raven predation and tortoises, and management of alien plants and fire in desert tortoise habitat. USGS scientist Kristin Berry of the Western Ecological Research Center is symposium chair. A DVD of the new USGS video “Sonoran Desert: Fragile Land of Extremes” will be screening in a loop throughout the conference. Additonal information is available at: http://www.deserttortoise.org/symposium/2003/index2003.html. (Kristin Berry, Moreno Valley, CA, 909-697-5361, kristin_berry@usgs.gov)

“Wilderness: Earth's Last Wild Places”: This new book, third in a series, is an encyclopedia of major highly threatened hotspots of biodiversity. USGS scientist Jeff Lovich of the Western Ecological Research Center is one of the coauthors of the chapter on the Mojave Desert, pages 351-356. Additional information about the book is available at: http://www.conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/publications/books_papers/books/wilderness_index.xml. (Jeff Lovich, Sacramento, CA, 916-379-3742, jeffrey_lovich@usgs.gov)

They’re Healthier: Invasive species, both animals and plants, have only about half as many parasites as their native competitors, according to scientists writing in the Feb. 6 issue of the journal Nature. In super pests such as the European green crab, this escape from parasites means the crab gains a significant advantage over the competition. Among the team researching animals is USGS scientist Kevin Lafferty of the Western Ecological Research Center. News coverage of the research includes Eurekalert, KCBS-TV CBS 2 Los Angeles, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Great Lakes Radio Consortium, and Associated Press (AP story appeared in the Ventura County Star, San Diego Union-Tribune, Fresno Bee, Bakersfield Californian, Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News, Riverside Press-Enterprise, Casper Star-Tribune). (Kevin Lafferty, Santa Barbara, CA , 805-893-8778, klafferty@usgs.gov) Official news release

Bird Studies: The winter 2003 issue of Birdscapes highlights several international collaborative efforts that involve USGS scientists. John Takekawa and William I. Boarman of the Western Ecological Research Center are involved in the following studies, respectively. “Tuning-in to Migration,” on pages 12-13, highlights a collaborative effort to radio track shorebirds that migrate from Mexico to Alaska; “Radios Lead Scientists to Marbled Murrelets Nests,” page 15, highlights the effort to better understand human disturbance of nesting murrelets. The winter 2003 issue will soon be available online at: http://library.fws.gov/Birdscapes/birdindex.htm. (John Takekawa, Vallejo, CA, 707-562-2000, john_takekawa@usgs.gov; William I. Boarman, San Diego, CA, 858-637-6880, william_boarman@usgs.gov)

Managing Giant Sequoias: USGS scientist Nate Stephenson was interviewed by KPCC Radio in Los Angeles, an NPR affiliate, for a segment on development of the management plan for the new Giant Sequoia National Monument. The interview focused especially on approaches to reduce fire hazard. (Nate Stephenson, Three Rivers, CA, 559-565-3176, nstephenson@usgs.gov)

Turtles and Tortoises: Part 2 of a 4-part series on reptiles, which aired nationally Feb. 16 on Nature on public television, will be rebroadcast in Sacramento on Sun., Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. on KVIE Channel 6. The award-winning episode covers issues affecting turtles and tortoises worldwide and features several species and interviews with scientists and others involved in the study and conservation of these reptiles. USGS scientist Jeff Lovich appears in a segment on the threatened desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert. More information is available at the following sites: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/ and http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/reptiles/index.html. (Jeff Lovich, Sacramento, CA, 916-379-3742, jeffrey_lovich@usgs.gov)