WERC Highlights -- June 2004

Monitoring Stream Health: USGS scientists Mary Ann Madej of the Western Ecological Research Center has been invited to speak to the California Water Quality Control Board in Santa Cruz, California on June 28, 2004. The Water Quality Board is interested in designing geomorphic monitoring to detect changes in stream health due to timber harvest and other land use activities. Madej will present results of relevant studies conducted in north coastal California during the last 20 years, and explain how they apply to other areas of California. (Mary Ann Madej, Arcata, CA, 707-825-5148, mary_ann_madej@usgs.gov)

Predicting Post-fire Tree Mortality: Tree death is one of the most obvious results of forest fires. Understanding patterns of fire-induced mortality for individual trees is important for predicting fire effects. Recent research by USGS ecologist Phil van Mantgem of the Western Ecological Research Center and Mark Schwartz of the University of California Davis published in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research highlights the importance of stem damage as a predictor of post-fire tree mortality. The researchers experimentally manipulated the amount of stem scorch individual trees sustained, which had a large effect on subsequent probability of surviving the fire. Their results suggest that stem damage is an important determinant of post-fire survival for this species, although this factor is often underappreciated when assessing the effects of fire. Citation: van Mantgem, P., and M. Schwartz. 2004. An experimental demonstration of stem damage as a predictor of fire-caused mortality for ponderosa pine. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 34:1343-1347) (Phil van Mantgem, Three Rivers, CA, 559-565-3179, pvanmantgem@usgs.gov)

California Sea Otter Survey: Observers tallied a record-high total of 2,825 California sea otters for the 2004 spring survey, led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The 2004 total marked the 2nd consecutive year the threatened population has shown an appreciable increase in numbers, up 12.8 percent over the 2003 total of 2,505 otters. The latest 3-year running average of the 3 most recent spring counts is up 9.8 percent, to 2,490 sea otters. The recent increase in sea otters has not occurred across all segments of the population evenly, however; increases have occurred in males but not in reproductive females. The spring survey is a cooperative effort of the USGS, California Department of Fish and Game's Marine Wildlife Care and Research Center, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and many experienced and dedicated volunteers. The information gathered from spring surveys is used by federal and state wildlife agencies in making decisions about the management of this small sea mammal. (Brian Hatfield, San Simeon, CA, 805-927-3893, brian_hatfield@usgs.gov)

Freshwater Shrimp Found At Record Elevation: The National Park Service Sierra Nevada Inventory and Monitoring Network, the University of California White Mountain Research Station and USGS are conducting a pilot study for monitoring invertebrates in high elevation meadows. During the study they recently documented a versatile fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lindahli) at 8,600 feet, an elevation record, and the first known record of the species at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park (spotted by USGS botanist Peggy Moore of the Western Ecological Research Center). The discovery is important because most of the biodiversity in the national parks is represented by invertebrates, and yet little is known about the biodiversity of invertebrates in high elevation habitats of parks. Invertebrates feed many vertebrates, pollinate plants, decompose organic matter, cycle nutrients and aerate soil. They are sensitive to disturbance, especially fragmentation of habitat created by roads, trails and development. This species may have long-term management importance because it may be a good indicator of change in native ecosystems. Since they rely on shallow ponds in wetlands, fairy shrimp may be sensitive to the warming and drying conditions that are one of the predicted climate change scenarios for the Sierra Nevada. (Peggy Moore, El Portal, CA, 209-379-1309, peggy_moore@usgs.gov)

California Sea Otter Survey: USGS scientist Brian Hatfield of the Western Ecological Research Center was interviewed about recent survey results for June 17 stories in the Santa Cruz Sentinal, San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, Monterey County Herald. Survey results were also reported by Associated Press, San Luis Obispo Tribune, Fox 35 KCBA-TV (Salinas). Hatfield was also interviewed by Wildlife Conservation Magazine. (Brian Hatifield, San Simeon, CA, 805-927-3893, brian_hatfield@usgs.gov)

Light Pollution: USGS scientist Robert N. Fisher of the Western Ecological Research Center is quoted in Conservation In Practice (spring volume 5, issue 2) about how light pollution of our night skies can affect plants and animals in a variety of ecosystems. An example of possible effects of degraded darkness was Fisher’s observation that in some areas in southern California where nocturnal snakes should be found, they are absent, even though their diurnal counterparts are still present, and even where development hasn’t cut into their habitat. (Robert N. Fisher, San Diego, CA, 858-637-6882, rfisher@usgs.gov)

Western Snowy Plovers: An article on successful partnerships aiding western snowy plovers in California cites research on human disturbance conducted by USGS scientist Kevin Lafferty of the Western Ecological Research Center at Coal Oil Point Reserve that helped managers to protect critical plover resting and nesting areas with minimal inconvenience to beach goers. The article is on page 15 of the spring 2004 issue of Out & About, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service newsletter for Region 1 employees. (Kevin Lafferty, Santa Barbara, CA, 805-893-8778, klafferty@usgs.gov)

California Sea Otter Story to Air on HDNet: “Precipice of Survival: The Southern Sea Otter” will be premiered nationally on HDNet on June 15, 2004, at 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM PST. The 47-minute program is a new USGS-produced high-definition television program that relates the story of a broad, collaborative effort by a diverse team of scientists from USGS and other federal and state agencies, universities, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium to understand why the threatened southern sea otter population has not recovered. The team is using new technology to track, capture and monitor the otters in an effort to learn more about how they live, to assist with their recovery. The program was produced by USGS video producer Stephen Wessells and the USGS Western Ecological Research Center and Western Region Office of Communications. “Precipice of Survival” will air several dozen times on HDNet over the next year; local establishments screening HDNet, and future broadcast times for USGS programs can be found on the HDNet website at: http://hd.net/. (Stephen Wessells, Henderson, NV, 702-564-4626, smwess@usgs.gov)

Winning Poster: Graduate student Richard Moss presented a 1st place winning poster at the 25th Annual Central California Research Symposium held April 22, 2004 at California State University, Fresno. The poster titled “Secondary Production and Biomass of Aquatic Insects and Seed Availability in Flooded Agricultural Fields of the Southern San Joaquin Valley, California” reports on USGS research investigating food availability in agricultural fields for wintering shorebirds, northern pintails, and other waterfowl in the Tulare Basin. The poster was coauthored by Steve Blumenshine of California State University, Fresno and Joe Fleskes of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center. For more information: http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2004/Apr/RecordResearch.html. (Joe Fleskes, Dixon, CA, 707-678-0682 x628, joe_fleskes@usgs.gov)

Pintail Action Group: An item in the spring/summer 2004 issue of Birdscapes describes the international conservation effort of the newly created Pintail Action Group of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The group is striving to understand the decline of northern pintails in recent decades and promote research and management actions necessary for the species' recovery. Karla Guyn of Ducks Unlimited Canada is currently chair of the group with Joe Fleskes of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center serving as vice-chair. The group includes representatives from the Canadian Wildlife Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mexico, nongovernmental organizations, state agencies, and academic institutions. (Joe Fleskes, Dixon, CA, 707-678-0682 x628, joe_fleskes@usgs.gov)