News from Scientists at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Wednesday, August 28, 2002
Hjertaas
of Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management is Provided
Tour of Center by George Gee
Dale Hjertaas toured the Center with Dr George Gee on September 27. Dale is the Manager of Science and Policy, Fish and Wildlife Branch, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management. He will be leaving his current position as he has been selected to be the new Director of Policy and Communications for the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. This new body is designed to manage water supply and protect source water quality. Contact: George Gee 301-497-5750 Patuxent's Reynolds and Zug of the Smithsonian Present Lectures and Demonstrations on Turtle Classification, Anatomy, etc. at Horsehead Wetlands Center Bob Reynolds of Patuxent’s Biological Survey Unit at the National Museum of Natural History, and George Zug, Smithsonian Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles at the National Museum, presented lectures and laboratory demonstrations at the Horsehead Wetlands Center in Grasonville, Maryland on 16 August. Marguerite Whilden of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources invited Bob and George to lecture on turtle classification, anatomy, field techniques, and the preparation of voucher specimens for deposit in museum collections. More than 20 people attended. The audience was composed primarily of State, Federal, and university biologists involved in research and conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin in the Chesapeake Bay. Contact: Bob Reynolds 202-357-1930 Perry Interviewed for Video Concerning Advantages of Creating Wetlands on Golf Courses Dr Matthew Perry recently was interviewed for a new video being prepared for the Golf Course Association that deals with the advantages of creating wetlands on golf courses. The video is being produced by the Native Seed Trade Association and will be distributed to Golf Course managers throughout the country. The video will be a guide for constructing or restoring golf courses that will optimize the use of natural wetlands with native plants and wildlife. Wetlands at Patuxent Research Refuge were used as positive examples of constructed wetlands. Contact: Matthew Perry 301-497-5622 |
Gotte Participates in Reptile and Amphibian Survey in Mosquitia Region of Northeastern Honduras Steve Gotte of Patuxent's Biological Survey Unit at the National Museum of Natural History, participated in a survey of reptiles and amphibians in several current and proposed Reserves in the Mosquitia region of northeastern Honduras. The work was done from 7 July to 11 August in collaboration with researchers from the Smithsonian Institution, Miami-Dade Community College, The University of Florida, and the University of Costa Rica. The sites visited included the Rio Kruta Biological Reserve and the proposed Rus Rus and Tawahka Anthropological Reserves. Eighty species of amphibians and reptiles were collected. Included were two new species for the country, the first modern records for two species, several rarely collected species, series of specimens of several taxonomically uncertain populations, and a specimen of a possible new species of frog. The voucher specimens from this trip will be deposited in the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles at the National Museum of Natural History. Tissue samples taken from selected specimens will allow DNA analysis that may help to delineate species boundaries in several taxonomic groups such as the frog genera Leptodactylus, Eleutherodactylus, and Bufo . The information gained on this trip will contribute to a better knowledge of ecosystems under increasingly intense human pressure, amphibian and reptile habitat use and community composition, and will be useful to authorities as they make reserve boundary and management decisions in this important natural area. Contact: Steve Gotte 202-357-4805 Woodman and Smithsonian Partners Meet with Representatives of the Siksika Tribe to Identify Animal Parts Associated with Two Medicine Pipe Bundles and Two Bear Knives A Native American medicine bundle represents a collection of objects that are connected with carrying out specific ceremonies, rituals, or prayers. Medicine pipe bundles contain sacred smoking pipes, which are used to communicate with the spirit world. On August 19th, Neal Woodman of Patuxent's Biological Survey Unit and two Smithsonian Institution partners met with representatives of the Siksika Tribe (one of four member tribes of the Blackfoot Confederacy) at their request to identify animal parts associated with two medicine pipe bundles and two bear knifes. In addition to a large number of eagle feathers and ermine skins associated with the pipes, was a small bundle comprised mostly of skins that included prairie dog, yellow-bellied marmot, wapiti fawns, ducks, a curlew, pelican, grebe, and several whooping cranes. A separate bundle consisted of an ochred dinosaur vertebra. Contact: Neal Woodman 202-786-2483 |
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HiLites Contact: B.H. Powell, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 301-497-5782 See Previous HiLites: |