News from Scientists at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Monday, June 2, 2003
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Meeting with Charlie Stek, Projects Director,
Office of Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD)
On May 28, 2003, the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (PWRC) hosted Charlie Stek, Projects Director, Office of Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD). The purpose of the visit was to introduce the new Center Director, Dr. Judd A. Howell, and to provide an update on PWRC research. Judd discussed the PWRC vision, gave examples of PWRC expertise (zoology, terrestrial and habitats, methodology, coastal and wetland habitats, ecological dynamics, conservation, and human effects), and reviewed several research projects (e.g., Florida manatee population project; bird banding lab, amphibian research and monitoring; crane research and propagation, and more). Dr. John French, a PWRC Research Manager, discussed the diamondback terrapin study and the whooping crane project. Mr. Stek asked for an update on the condition of the facilities, as well as a description of the workforce demographics at the Center. Regina Lanning, Communication Assistant, USGS-PWRC, noted the activities of the USGS Special Emphasis Program. The briefing was also attended by Nancy Morrissey, Deputy Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Patuxent Research Refuge; Judy Salvo, USGS, Eastern Region Communications, and Joanne Taylor, USGS Congressional Liaison. (Joanne Taylor, 703-648-6837). Contact Sandra Loving, Reston, VA, 703-648-4299 USGS meets with Centers for Disease Control to foster collaboration on health-related research USGS managers and scientists met with representatives from the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday, 19 May, in Atlanta. Dr Howard Ginsberg, of the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, represented the Biological Resources Discipline at the meeting. Overviews of the programs of both agencies were presented followed by discussions on ways to increase collaborative research. The CDC has extensive data about levels of environmental toxins (e.g., arsenic, mercury, pesticides) in humans, while the USGS has information about these substances in the environment, so the prospects for useful collaborations are encouraging. The research of the contaminants group at Patuxent is directly relevant to many of the issues discussed. Another meeting is planned between the USGS and the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) of the CDC, which includes the agency's zoonotic disease research program. Anyone interested in potential collaborations with the CDC on either contaminant or zoonotic disease research is encouraged to contact Howard Ginsberg. Contact Howard Ginsberg, Laurel, MD, 401-874-4537 Shot Toxicity Testing On May 28, Dr. Barnett Rattner made an invited presentation, "Shot Toxicity Testing and Tungsten-polymer Test Results in Wildlife", at a workshop sponsored by the Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine of the Department of the Army. The workshop was focused on tungsten and its use as environmentally green ammunition in side-arms by 2005. The Department of the Army hopes to replace lead in certain types of ammunition with environmentally benign substitutes. Hopefully, other branches of the military and American public will follow suit. Contact Barnett Rattner, Laurel, MD, 301-497-5671 |
Patuxent scientists conduct Smithsonian
Institution training course
On May 26-28 Mary Gustafson, Keith Pardieck, Bruce Peterjohn, and Mark Wimer conducted a 3-day seminar on avian monitoring and sampling techniques as part of the Smithsonian Institution's Monitoring and Assessment of Biodiversity Program. Lectures and field demonstrations covered a wide range of avian sampling and monitoring techniques (e.g., bird banding, radio tracking, area searches, sound recording, transect counts, point counts, and habitat assessment) for a variety of taxa (i.e., landbirds, colonial waterbirds, shore birds, marsh birds, and raptors). Twenty-seven students representing 18 countries attended this 3-day seminar as part of their 5-week course at the Smithsonian's facility in Front Royal, VA. Contact Bruce Peterjohn, Laurel, MD, 301-497-5841 Satellite Telemetry with Scoters Nine black scoters (6 males, 3 females) recently captured on the Restigouche River in New Brunswick, Canada were instrumented with satellite transmitters. One of the black scoters has left the Restigouche and is moving north into Quebec. Earlier in the year two female surf scoters were instrumented in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. Both surf scoters are now in Canada and one is in Quebec very close to the border of Labrador. The transmitter on one of the male black scoters (#22628) instrumented in May 2002 has been transmitting for over a year and the duck is now moving into breeding territory for the second time. More info on the scoter study and maps of locations can be obtained on the website: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/resshow/perry/scoters/ Contact Matthew Perry, Laurel, MD, 301-497-5806 Publication by Patuxent Scientist: Timing of autumn bird migration under climate change: advances in long-distance migrants, delays in short-distance migrants Authors: Jenni, L. and M. Kéry. Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B, Biological Sciences. Abstract: As a response to increasing spring temperature in temperate regions in recent years, populations of many plant and animal species, including migratory birds, have advanced the seasonal start of their reproduction or growth. However, the effects of climate changes on subsequent events of the annual cycle remain poorly understood. We investigated long-term changes in the timing of autumn migration in birds, a key event in the annual cycle limiting the reproductive period. Using data spanning a 42-year period, we analyzed long-term changes in the passage of 65 species of migratory birds through Western Europe. The autumn passage of migrants wintering south of the Sahara has advanced in recent years, presumably as a result of selection pressure to cross the Sahel before its seasonal dry period. In contrast, migrants wintering north of the Sahara have delayed autumn passage. In addition, species with a variable rather than a fixed number of broods per year have delayed passage, possibly because they are free to attempt more broods. Recent climate changes seem to have a simple unidirectional effect on the seasonal onset of reproduction, but complex and opposing effects on the timing of subsequent events in the annual cycle, depending on the ecology and life history of a species. This complicates predictions of overall effects of global warming on avian communities. Contact Marc Kery, Laurel, MD, 301-497-5632 |
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