WERC Highlights -- March 1999

Wildlife Management Subject of Newspaper Article: Scott Farwell of The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California, interviewed scientists Kristin Berry and Barbara Kus of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center for his March 1 article on the topic of wildlife management practices and endangered species in encroaching urban environments. Kus was interviewed regarding cowbird parasitism of the endangered least Bell's vireo, a species she has studied since 1986. Berry was quoted regarding raven predation of young desert tortoises. (Kristin Berry, Riverside, CA, 909/697-5361; Barbara Kus, San Diego, CA, 619/594-4357)

USGS Scientists Speak on Desert Tortoise: Several USGS scientists will present information at the 24th Annual Symposium of the Desert Tortoise Council in St. George, Utah, March 5-8. Highlighting new national initiatives on invasive species will be William Gregg, BRD Invasive Species Program Coordinator. Matt Brooks and Lesley DeFalco (WERC) will present research papers on exotic plant species in desert tortoise habitat and wildfire-exotic grass relationships, topics of increasing concern because of associated habitat degradation. Maurice Chaffee (GD) and symposium chairperson Kristin Berry (WERC) will report results of a pilot, multidisciplinary research project on sources of toxicants in tortoises. Kristin Berry will also give results of demographic and health research on tortoises studied on 20 Central Mojave Desert sites at Fort Irwin National Training Center, California. Todd Esque (WERC) will lead a field trip to habitats damaged by wildfire. (Kristin Berry, Riverside, CA, 909/697-5361)

Western Twin-spotted Rattlesnake Research Highlighted: USGS ecologist Cecil Schwalbe of the Western Ecological Research Center and his University of Arizona graduate student David Prival were interviewed by Anne T. Denogean for a March 8 article in the Tucson Citizen. Schwalbe and Prival reported that sustained and severe poaching of the western twin-spotted rattlesnake, protected in the state, is occurring at a site in the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona. In a two-year study documenting the snake's living habits and population, funded largely by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the researchers found that poaching may cause a significant threat to the snake. (Cecil Schwalbe, Tucson, AZ, 520/621-5508)

Frog Deaths and Monitoring Programs: Writer John Roach of the National Geographic News quoted USGS research biologist Gary Fellers regarding frog declines and deformities in a March 17 article. The article emphasized President Clinton's budget request of $8.1 million to be used for monitoring programs and study of possible causes for frog declines. Fellers believes that airborne pesticides and herbicides carried by the wind from agricultural valleys to California's Sierra Nevada are linked with observed declines of frogs in remote sites. (Gary Fellers, Point Reyes, CA, 415/663-8522 x236)

Designing Stream Monitoring Programs: As an invited speaker at an upcoming meeting, scientist Mary Ann Madej of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center will summarize the findings of 20 years of stream channel monitoring and research in forested mountain environments. The meeting Using Stream Geomorphic Characteristics as a Long-term Monitoring Tool to Assess Watershed Function, to be held March 18-19 in Arcata, California, is sponsored by the National Marine Fisheries Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and the timber industry, all of which are involved in formulating Aquatic Habitat Conservation plans, Water Quality Attainment strategies, and other stream monitoring programs. Heightened attention toward Aquatic Habitat Conservation plans and associated stream channel monitoring is expected following the Pacific Lumber Co. agreement with state and federal negotiators to preserve California's Headwaters Forest. (Mary Ann Madej, Arcata, CA, 707/464-6101 ext. 5490)

USGS Scientists Speak on Rare Plants and Island Recovery Ecology: USGS scientists of the Western Ecological Research Center will speak on research conducted in Channel Islands National Park at the 5th California Islands Symposium, in Santa Barbara, California, March 29-April 1. Katie Chess will discuss the effects of feral pigs on the demographics and recovery of the native plant Island jepsonia (Jepsonia malvifolia). The plant occurs on Santa Cruz Island, where feral pigs are present, and Santa Rosa Island, where feral pigs were removed seven years ago. Kathryn McEachern will present information on soft-leaved paintbrush (Castilleja mollis), an endangered species endemic to Santa Rosa Island. Demographic effects on the paintbrush by introduced elk, deer, and cattle are topics of increasing concern because of low-to-declining population growth rates of the plant, habitat degradation, and constraints on habitat management options imposed by agreements with the ranching operation on the island. Pat Corry will report results of a pilot, multidisciplinary research project on factors affecting native shrub recovery in nonnative annual grasslands. Kathryn McEachern will also participate in two interagency poster presentations: Island Restoration and Conservation Strategies. (Katie Chess, Ventura, CA, 805/658-5759; Kathryn McEachern, Ventura, CA, 805/658-5753) Official news release

Bullfrog Show on National Geographic Television: Research by USGS ecologist Cecil Schwalbe and University of Arizona researcher Phil Rosen will be featured in a National Geographic film on bullfrogs. National Geographic Television has approved production of a half-hour television special on bullfrogs consisting of two portions, one part in the eastern United States, where the bullfrog evolved in balance with its ecosystem, and one part in the West, where the bullfrog has been introduced away from its natural predators and has become a serious threat to native amphibians and reptiles. Most of the western footage will be shot at San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge and focus on efforts of scientists, refuge staff, and private landowners to control bullfrogs and conserve native leopard frogs and garter snakes. Preliminary footage shot in 1998 will be augmented by additional filming this summer. The show is expected to air sometime in 2000. (Cecil Schwalbe, Tucson, AZ, 520/621-5508)