Monday, August 30, 2010

USGS Scientist to be Keynote Speaker at the Celebration of the Mexican National Strategy on Invasive Species

USGS/NBII scientist Annie Simpson has been invited to be the keynote speaker at the Mexican release of their National Strategy on Invasive Species, on September 7, 2010, in Mexico City. Organized by the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) and the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP), the event will be attended by ministers of the different sectors of the Mexican government, scientific experts, the press, and the general public. Ms. Simpson's address will have input from the liaisons to the US National Invasive Species Council, describe invasive species as a cross-cutting issue, and speak to the importance of North American cooperation for an effective response to biological invasions.  

(Photo: Giant reed (Arundo donax), pictured, is one of many invasive species of great concern in Mexico.  Photo credit: David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org.)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

NBII Partners With the National Climate Change Wildlife Science Center

USGS is taking the lead for DOI on selecting host institutions for these centers, and the NCCWSC will provide the initial staffing and start-up capabilities. The NCCWSC science agenda will focus on the linkage of global climate information with fundamental ecological knowledge, and the application of this understanding to the particular species, habitats, and ecosystems present in each region. The science to be conducted at these centers will be identified through a partnership steering committee in which Landscape Conservation Cooperatives and other management and science entities identify and prioritize key science needs to implement and monitor actions to adapt to climate change.

From February through July 2010, the NBII program dedicated one staff person, Viv Hutchison, to a full-time detail in the NCCWSC in Reston, VA. Viv’s role was to act as the lead for an NBII team of contributors in the development of several components of NCCWSC data management activities. The NBII planned and built an information-sharing portal that will be used for a variety of tasks, primarily to serve the needs of scientists by working to reduce the data management and administration required of modern science.

Features of the portal include a project registration wizard that allows scientists to register funded projects. The registration process results in a discovery-level metadata record, serving as a downloadable product the scientists can build on to develop a complete Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)-compliant metadata record before project close-out. Additionally, the portal will offer scientists collaboration space with discussion boards and document-sharing capabilities, and the ability to update Web pages about their project. Further, the portal will act as a gateway to national and regional datasets, in addition to NCCWSC funded datasets, downscaled climate models, and model outputs.

One of the important keys to the NCCWSC program is providing scientists the ability to find, access, and manipulate data in new ways that will foster innovative discoveries and/or develop models reflecting future climate change effects. Another result of the NBII staff detail to NCCWSC was the outline of a high-level system architecture design from which the program can build a data network. This document can be used as a foundation for the NCCWSC program as it moves forward in building a data-management program incorporating such technologies as Thematic Real-time Environmental Distributed Data Services (THREDDS) servers (middleware product that forms a bridge between data providers and users), and customized tools for accessing large data models.

In the coming months, the NBII will host the NCCWSC information-sharing portal.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Vegetation Characterization Products Now Available for Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site

USGS-National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Characterization Program (VCP) documentation for Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site has been completed and is available on the VCP Web site. Products include project report - photointerpretation key, vegetation descriptions, vegetation key, and photos of map class; field data - graphic of field observations, field observation database, physical descriptive for observations points, and species list for observations points; geospatial vegetation information - graphics of vegetation communities, geodatabase, and observation photos; metadata, and a link to NPS information about Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site. The goal of the VCP is to classify and map the vegetation communities of National Parks that have a natural resource component. Complete documentation is currently available for eighty-eight park units and two U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuge units. The VCP is managed by the USGS Center for Biological Informatics in cooperation with the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program. The USGS Vegetation Characterization effort includes the management and upkeep of the VCP protocols, Web-based access to the standards, and the Web-based access to NPS Vegetation Characterization program finished products.

(Photo: Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, courtesy of the USGS Vegetation Characterization website.)

NBII Contributions at Weeds Across Borders 2010

NBII Node Managers Annie Simpson, Elizabeth Sellers, and Marcia McNiff provided logistical support to Elizabeth Galli-Noble, Director, Center for Invasive Plant Management, in planning the Weeds Across Borders tri-national conference on Plant Invasions: Policies, Politics, and Practices, which was held June 1-4, 2010, at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV. During the conference, Ms. Simpson chaired a plenary session on invasive species early detection and rapid response (EDRR), and Ms. Sellers and Ms. Simpson gave presentations and a poster on invasive species tools and partnerships. Northeast regional representation was provided by Marcia McNiff and NBII partner Dr. Les Mehrhoff, Director, Invasive Plant Atlas of New England. Dr. Randy Westbrooks, Invasive Species Prevention Specialist, USGS National Wetlands Research Center, and Dr. William P. Gregg, USGS Emeritus and former Coordinator of the USGS Invasive Species Science Program, also represented USGS at the conference.

Photo: Kudzu (Pueraria montana) blanketing open area. Photo: John Mosesso/life.nbii.gov

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Critical Habitat: Rangeland Ecosystems

Rangeland ecosystems comprise the largest single land use in CSWGCIN. Rangelands comprise the majority of watersheds in Texas and Oklahoma and the ability of rangelands to both capture and filter rainfall has important ramifications for surface water and groundwater quality and quantity. The Rangeland Ecology page in the Central Plains portal features a land use/land cover map which depicts the extent of this habitat, illustrating its economic and biological importance in the region. The page also characterizes rangeland ecosystem health, and how it relates to the ecosystem services provided by rangelands, such as biodiversity and the capturing of filtration of rain water. This page features species spotlights of an invasive and endangered species living on rangelands, as well as exploring the role of prescribed fire in invasives management.

(Photo: CSWGCIN Land Use/Land Cover Map; figure by the Houston Advanced Research Center.)

Invasive Species Focus on Nutria

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Wetlands Research Center scientist Jacoby Carter presented “The Natural History of an Urban Nutria (Myocastor coypus) Population Between 2005 - 2008 and the Implications for Management and Control” to the NBII Invasive Species Working Group (ISWG) during their monthly conference call on February 25, 2010. The ISWG membership includes over 100 representatives from private, non-profit, educational, state and federal government, and non-governmental organizations from across the United States. The Central Southwest & Gulf Coast Information Node’s (CSWGCIN) Invasive Species Spotlight section includes a page on Nutria that highlights Dr. Carter’s research.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

NBII Uses Tools and Portals to Help Bridge Gaps

USGS Center for Biological Informatics Deputy Director Mike Frame is featured in the Government Computer News online magazine.  In his article, Mike talks about ways of improving collaboration and information-sharing across government departments and agencies. Mike states, "ensuring that information is fully shared across a number of government and public organizations can be onerous. That is one of the responsibilities of the USGS Center for Biological Informatics. As the lead geospatial and information technology group at USGS’ biological group, the center manages data and information on topics such as species, land change and standards and shares that information with other federal agencies, nonprofits and universities."   

This is primary accomplished through the Center's work in several Programmatic areas including the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII), GAP Analysis Program (GAP), USGS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, and the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Read the full article on the Government Computer News web site.

(Photo: Screen shot of the GCN web site.)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

You Can Never Have Enough Manzanitas... or Community Scientists Around!

Congratulations to Daniel Gluesenkamp, Director of habitat protection and restoration for Stinson Beach-based Audubon Canyon Ranch, Cofounder of the Bay Area Early Detection Network and member and regular contributor to the NBII Invasive Species Working Group for finding a rare native Franciscan manzanita (Arctostaphylos franciscana) bush while scanning San Francisco Bay area roadsides for introduced and invasive plants!!

A tiny patch of the plant was discovered by the “drive-by botanist”, where it had survived for decades undamaged. Daniel Gluesenkamp noticed this “once hidden plant” where crews were removing trees and shrubs. "There's a few of us watching the roadsides," he says, "and when there's a big change, it's interesting." This plant has now become the focus of a broad effort to reestablish its species in its native ecosystem.

The plant’s days would have been numbered had organizations such as Wild Equity Institute, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the California Native Plant Society (*see a list of Native Plant Societies on NBII’s Botany Web site) not petitioned for the plant’s protection under the Endangered Species Act. With confirmation of the plant’s identity, a 25,000-pound chunk of soil holding the manzanita was unearthed and moved to a similar habitat.

(Photo:Workers use a crane to move the only Franciscan manzanita known in the wild. Biologist Dan Gluesenkamp discovered it as he passed by on Doyle Drive in the Presidio. Photo by Michael Chasse/National Park Service.  Photo used with permission.)

Monday, August 16, 2010

National Land Cover Map and Online Map Viewer Now Available

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has just handed conservation professionals across the United States another tool to aid their efforts to preserve habitat for both sensitive and non-sensitive species nationwide. The USGS Gap Analysis Program (GAP) has released a comprehensive, seamless, national land cover dataset that can assist in the identification of those places in the country with sufficient habitat to support wildlife. The map can be viewed online via the GAP Web site. These data are freely available and can be downloaded. The GAP national land cover data are the most detailed, consistent map of vegetative associations ever available for the United States. These data are critical for determining the status of biodiversity, as baseline data for assessing climate change impacts, and for predicting the availability of habitat for wildlife. The new GAP dataset will facilitate the planning and management of biological diversity on a regional and national scale.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Vegetation Characterization Products Now Available for Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Point National Historic Site, Muir Woods National Monument, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

USGS-National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Characterization Program (VCP) documentation for Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Point National Historic Site, Muir Woods National Monument, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument has been completed and is available on the VCP Web site. Products include aerial photography - graphic of orthophoto mosaic, and spatial orthophoto data; project report - photointerpretation key, vegetation descriptions, vegetation key, photos of map class, and accuracy assessment; field data - graphic of field plots, field plots database, physical descriptive for plots, and species list for plots; geospatial vegetation information - graphics of vegetation communities, geodatabase, and plot and AA photos; accuracy assessment information - graphic of accuracy assessment points, and contingency matrix; metadata, and a link to NPS information about Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Point National Historic Site, Muir Woods National Monument, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. NOTE: Fort Point National Historic Site and Muir Woods National Monument are included in the Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area website. The goal of the VCP is to classify and map the vegetation communities of National Parks that have a natural resource component. Complete documentation is currently available for sixty-one park units and two U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuge units. The VCP is managed by the USGS Center for Biological Informatics in cooperation with the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program. The USGS Vegetation Characterization effort includes the management and upkeep of the VCP protocols, Web-based access to the standards, and the Web-based access to NPS Vegetation Characterization program finished products.
 
(Photo: Point Reyes National Seashore, courtesy of the USGS Vegetation Characterization website.)

USGS Microbiology Web site Wins 2010 Shoemaker Communication Award

The USGS Interdisciplinary Microbiology Web site facilitates collaboration between scientists and increases the understanding of USGS microbiology to the public. The site is a central place to find the centers, scientists, and research involved in USGS microbiology. In recognition of its valuable information, layout, and design, the Web site won the 2010 Shoemaker Communication Award – an annual communications excellence competition for USGS employees – in the Internet Product category. This site is made possible by the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) and USGS Microbiology Contact Kay Marano Briggs.


(Photo: This cyanobacterium has radiating filaments and basal heterocysts. Green is Sytox Green (a DNA stain that is excluded from live cells). Credit: Barry Rosen , U.S. Geological Survey.)

Thursday, August 12, 2010

NBII to Attend the 17th International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species (ICAIS)

USGS scientist and NBII invasive species information manager Annie Simpson will give a speed poster presentation about "Creating Tools for Invasive Species Decision Support" at the International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species (ICAIS), to be held from 29 August to 02 September in San Diego. Hosted this year by the Bureau of Reclamation, the ICAIS conference series has evolved over the last decade into the most comprehensive international forum for the review of accumulated scientific knowledge on aquatic invasive species, and also includes discussion of policy, legislation, public education and outreach initiatives to raise awareness of the impacts of aquatic invasive species and prevent new introductions. More than 400 participants from 30 countries are expected to attend, and Ms. Simpson will promote participation in the Global Invasive Species Information Network, which was formed in 2004.    

(Photo: A cluster of developing wild blackberry (Rubus sp.) fruit. The star-like sepals remain after the petals of the flower have fallen off. Credit: © 2009 Elizabeth A. Sellers/life.nbii.gov.)

Friday, August 6, 2010

Vegetation Characterization Products Now Available for Padre Island National Seashore and Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park


USGS-National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Characterization Program (VCP) documentation for Padre Island National Seashore and Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park has been completed and is available on the VCP Web site. Products include aerial photography - graphic of orthophoto mosaic; project report - vegetation descriptions, vegetation key, and accuracy assessment; field data - graphic of field plots; geospatial vegetation information - graphics of vegetation communities, and geodatabase; accuracy assessment information - contingency matrix; metadata, and a link to NPS information about Padre Island National Seashore and Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. The goal of the VCP is to classify and map the vegetation communities of National Parks that have a natural resource component. Complete documentation is currently available for eighty park units and two U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuge units. The VCP is managed by the USGS Center for Biological Informatics in cooperation with the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program. The USGS Vegetation Characterization effort includes the management and upkeep of the VCP protocols, Web-based access to the standards, and the Web-based access to NPS Vegetation Characterization program finished products.

(Photo: Padre Island National Seashore.  Photo courtesy of the Vegetation Characterization Program.)

Monday, August 2, 2010

Vegetation Characterization Products Now Available for Fort Union National Monument and Great Smoky Mountains National Park

USGS-National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Characterization Program (VCP) documentation for Fort Union National Monument and Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been completed and is available on the VCP Web site. Products include aerial photography - graphic of orthophoto mosaic, and spatial orthophoto data; project report - photointerpretation key, vegetation descriptions, vegetation key, photos of map class, and accuracy assessment; field data - graphic of field plots, field plots database, physical descriptive for plots, and species list for plots; geospatial vegetation information - graphics of vegetation communities, geodatabase, and plot and AA photos; accuracy assessment information - graphic of accuracy assessment points, and contingency matrix; metadata, and a link to NPS information about Fort Union National Monument and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The goal of the VCP is to classify and map the vegetation communities of National Parks that have a natural resource component. Complete documentation is currently available for seventy-eight park units and two U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuge units. The VCP is managed by the USGS Center for Biological Informatics in cooperation with the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program. The effort includes the management and upkeep of the VCP protocols, Web-based access to the standards, and the Web-based access to NPS Vegetation Characterization program finished products.

(Photo: Image of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Photo courtesy of the USGS-National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Characterization Program website.)