WERC Highlights -- September 2001

California's Endangered Species and Biodiversity Hot Spots BioForum: Research ecologist Barbara Kus of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is an invited speaker for a symposium of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco for science teachers, Oct. 20, 2001. Her one-hour presentation is titled "Protecting California's Endangered Birds: The Road to Recovery." This symposium is one of a series held annually by the Academy. About 150 teachers from the San Francisco Bay area are expected to attend, including high school science teachers, middle school teachers, and community college teachers. (Barbara Kus, San Diego, CA, 858-637-6881)

California Oak Symposium: Research ecologist Jon Keeley of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center will speak on plant diversity and invasive plants in the blue oak savanna understory at "Oaks in California's Changing Landscapes," the 5th symposium on California oak woodlands, in San Diego, Oct. 22-25. The symposium is designed to provide a forum for current research and outstanding case studies on oak woodlands, and aimed at natural resource managers, researchers, policy makers, and public and private interest groups. (Jon Keeley, Three Rivers, CA, 559-565-3170)

Long-term Effects of Fishing: BBC Radio 4 taped a telephone interview of Jim Estes, a research ecologist at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, on the recent article in Science that documented overharvesting of coastal marine ecosystems from earliest fishermen to global exploitation. The broadcast is scheduled for Mon., Oct. 29 at 2100 on BBC Radio 4, to repeat Tues., Oct. 30 at 1100. (Jim Estes, Santa Cruz, CA, 831-459-2820)

Aleutian Archipelago: A documentary titled "The Aleutians, cradle of the storms," which was jointly produced by New Zealand Natural History (Fox Television) and others, has been completed and is awaiting broadcast nationally and internationally. Two scientists at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, research ecologist Jim Estes and wildlife biologist A. Keith Miles, appear in the two-part production, which covers the archipelago's geological evolution, origins and life of its traditional peoples, and its rich natural environment. The documentary is expected to air on PBS, possibly during winter 2002. (Jim Estes, Santa Cruz, CA 831-459-2820; A. Keith Miles, Davis, CA, 530-752-5365)

Desert Tortoise and Grazing: Research wildlife biologist Kristin Berry, USGS Western Ecological Research Center, was interviewed for a Sept. 28 story in High Country News on the impacts of cattle grazing on desert tortoises and their habitats. (Kristin Berry, Riverside, CA, 909-697-5361)

California Wildfires: Two USGS scientists at the Western Ecological Research Center will present papers at the California's 2001 Wildfire Conference and Public Events: Ten Years After the East Bay Hills Fire in Oakland, California, Oct. 10-13. Research ecologist Jon Keeley will speak about fire suppression impacts on shrubland fire regimes. Ecologist William Russell will speak about the impacts of fire suppression on vegetation change and fire hazard in east San Francisco open spaces. The California 2001 Wildfire Conference and Public Events will focus on sharing the latest research on minimizing losses in California's urban-wildland interface. It will bring together government officials, the fire ecology and fire prevention community, academicians, the media, insurance companies, land developers and others for the purpose of empowering people and agencies to break the cycle of repetitive loss. (Jon Keeley, Three Rivers, CA, 559-565-3170; William Russell, Sausalito, CA, 415-331-0847)

Urban Coyotes: Learning to co-exist with native predators is the subject of a public meeting sponsored by the Marin County Coalition for California Wildlife, in Novato, Sept. 29, 2001. Two scientists of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center are invited speakers. Research manager Judd Howell will speak about USGS research on urban predators of the San Francisco Bay area, including coyotes, which are recolonizing Golden Gate National Recreation Area after a 40-year absence. Research ecologist Erin Boydston will speak on the behavior and ecology of coyotes. (Judd Howell, Sacramento, CA 916-379-3745; Erin Boydston, Sausalito, CA, 415-331-0639)

Wildlife Research: USGS scientists at the Western Ecological Research Center will present papers and posters on diverse topics of research, including contaminants, wildlife migration and feeding habits, and assessing wildlife with remotely triggered cameras, at the 8th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, in Reno/Tahoe, Nevada, September 25-29, 2001. The conference is internationally recognized for the opportunities it provides professionals and students to keep informed of technical and scientific advances in the field of wildlife science and management. The conference theme, Excellence in Wildlife Stewardship through Science and Education, will be addressed in 12 symposia, 3 workshops, 1 special poster session, 3 contributed poster sessions, and 18 contributed paper sessions. (Gloria Maender, Tucson, AZ, 520-670-5596)

For the Birds: USGS research by scientists at the Western Ecological Research Center and the National Wildlife Health Center will be featured in two 30-minute stories to be filmed this fall for “This Birding Life,” a program to air regularly on the cable channel BirdSight. A story on migration and new satellite technology will focus on the marking of Tule greater white-fronted geese at Summer Lake Wildlife Area in Oregon, and subsequent tracking of fall, winter, spring, and summer movements of the satellite-marked birds. A second film crew is expected to follow USGS work on wildlife diseases and wildlife population research in a story on Salton Sea. The stories are slated to air in the coming year. (Gloria Maender, Tucson, AZ, 520-670-5596)