WERC Highlights -- November 2001

Burning Issues Discussed in Journal: In the December issue of Conservation Biology, Jon Keeley, a research ecologist at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, and his co-author C. J. Fotheringham at UCLA, publish two papers that contradict earlier studies suggesting that the "natural" chaparral fire regime of southern California was one of frequent small fires that fragmented the landscape into a mixture of stand age classes that prevented large catastrophic crown fires. Their studies question the earlier claim that destructive wildifres in southern California shrublands are a modern artifact of fire suppression, and they present arguments suggesting that landscape-scale prescription burning is not an effective means of preventing such fires. (Jon Keeley, Three Rivers, CA, 559-565-3170)Official news release

Sounds of a Frog Survey: On Nov. 9, KPCC radio (one of the largest National Public Radio stations, heard in coastal southern California counties) will interview Adam Backlin, who is a biological science technician with the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, and a colleague who collaborates with Backlin on a study on the mountain yellow-legged frog in southern California. Stream surveys throughout the Angeles, San Bernardino, and Cleveland national forests are part of an ongoing study on the decline and natural history of this frog. (Adam Backlin, San Diego, CA, 949-215-3390)

California Sea Otters in Fall Survey: San Luis Obispo Tribune will interview Brian Hatfield, a wildlife biologist with the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, in the field during the fall survey of the threatened California sea otter, which begins Nov. 5. Data from spring and fall surveys, in conjunction with findings from several more in-depth studies, provide necessary information to assess female reproductive rates and changes in reproductive success of the California sea otter population through time. (Brian Hatfield, San Simeon, CA, 805-927-3893)

Eucalyptus Trees in California: Audubon Magazine interviewed Judd Howell, a research manager with the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, for a story on the history of eucalyptus. Dr. Howell was contacted about his article analyzing the social attitudes of the public and social dynamics of a eucalyptus protection group called POET (Protect Our Eucalyptus Trees). Eucalyptus were first introduced into California in the 1880's for a hardwood industry that never materialized and were later spread throughout the state to create wooded landscapes for housing developments. In the urban-wildland interface eucalyptus poses a serious fire danger in California's fire-prone Mediterranean climate. The value of eucalyptus as wildlife habitat was examined by Robert Stebbins at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1970's when he noted that native plant communities supported greater numbers of species. Howell’s article citation is: Howell, J.A. 1990. Citizen mobilization in the fight to save Golden Gate Eucalyptus. The George Wright Forum 7(1):18-27. (Judd Howell, Sacramento, CA, 916-379-3745)