Objectives: The first objective of the study to conduct an
analysis of species composition within these older stands to provide
information on the long-term survival of planted species (predominately a few
species of oak) and the relative effects of natural invasion on stand
development. The second objective of the study is to compare the species
composition and structural development of older restored stands with natural
stands.
Data collection in three plantations (Yazoo National
Wildlife Refuge and Red River Wildlife Management Area) was completed. Data
have been shared with refuge managers and thinning treatments being developed.
A problem has developed in that the refuge forester at Yazoo NWR is having
problems finding a forest products company interested in conducting the
thinning operation. As soon as that is resolved we will conduct the thinning.
The thinning operation at Red River WMA has been accomplished.
We have also completed the 2006 round of data collection on
our 20-year study of the effects of green-tree-reservoir management on forest
composition and structure. Measurements are conducted at about 5-year intervals
(1985, 1990, 1995, 2001, 2006). Past results of this study have resulted in a
modification of GTR management throughout the LMV. For this latest round of
measurements we have added the variable of thinning in selected study plots. In
all cases where a plot was thinned a nearby "paired" plot at a similar
elevation was retained as an unthinned control. A total of 54 ~1/4 acre plots
were sampled, with 8 plots thinned. Casual observation indicates that the
forest is continuing to decline, as it has been since GTR flooding began. Data
entry has commenced and summarization and analysis will follow shortly.
The CEAP study is an evaluation of WRP effectiveness at the
request and funding of the NRCS of USDA. After many delays 48 study sites were
chosen in Arkansas and Louisiana. Of these, we evaluated the vegetation on 32
sites (16 forest sites and 16 WRP sites). Unfortunately the timing was such
that we conducted our surveys during July and August, the hottest part of the
year. At each of the 16 WRP fields we counted and measured all seedlings on two
20 m2 subplots and all trees greater than 10 cm dbh on each main plot. There
were only a total of 6 main plots per field. We are considering options for
possible expanded sampling. The data for the vegetation portion of this study
have been entered and we are in the data summarization (for presentations)
stage.
- Invited Talks.
- Faulkner, S.P. and Eckles, S. D. 2006. The Conservation
Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) for Wetlands in the Lower Mississippi
Alluvial Valley. EPA Lower Mississippi River Sub-Basin Committee on Gulf Hypoxia Conference on Nutrient Loading and
Removal in the Lower Mississippi River Basin: Data, Trends, and
Opportunities, June 1-2, 2006, New Orleans, LA
- Faulkner, S.P. 2006. Restoration of Wetland Ecosystem
Functions and Services in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. LSU School of the Coast and Environment Marine Environmental Research Seminar Series, January
20, 2006, Baton Rouge, LA
Integrated Landscape
Monitoring Pilot Area Thrust - Lower Mississippi River Valley/Gulf Coast
We have developed an intra-agency
project team, developed key concepts and wrote white paper, organized workshop
on conceptual model of key ecological functions and services, presented
overview to partner agencies at strategic planning workshop (USFWS, NPS, NRCS),
coordinated with BPC and ILM team through monthly conference calls.
·
Hurricane Science
§
Participated in development of white papers, proposals,
workshops; designed and carried out research on hurricane impacts on bottomland
hardwood forests and chenier forests.
·
Products
·
Publications in Press
§
Faulkner, S.P., Wylie Barrow, Thomas Doyle, Michael Baldwin,
Tommy Michot, Chris Wells, and Clint Jeske. Sediment Deposition on Hackberry Beach Chenier, Louisiana from Hurricane Rita. USGS Hurricane Circular
§
Impacts of Hurricane Katrina on
Floodplain Forests of the Pearl River. Faulkner, S.P., Wylie Barrow,
Brady Couvillion, William Conner, Lori Randall, and Michael Baldwin USGS
Hurricane Circular
·
Invited Talks
§
S. P. Faulkner, Wylie Barrow, William
Conner, Brady Couvillion, Julie Whitbeck. 2006. Hurricane Impacts on
Coastal Forests in Louisiana. Ecological Society of America Meeting, August
6-9, 2006, Memphis, TN.
83439NO
Inventory and Monitoring of Species and Habitats with Special Emphasis on DOI
Lands in the Lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast Ecosystems
The
goal of this task is to quantify and understand factors influencing patterns of
temporal and spatial variability in key ecosystem components by: (1)
collecting and interpreting biologically relevant data of landscape and habitat
structure using multiple spatially explicit and temporary sales to allow
quantification of distribution patterns undergoing change; (2) to develop
spatial analysis technologies and field research data collection techniques to
inventory and monitor biological resources such as species and associated
habitats; and (3) to provide training and technology transfer on inventorying
and monitoring technologies and techniques to DOI agencies and partners and
land managers who have legal mandates and legislative authorities over millions
of acres in the and Lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast ecosystems. (Contact
jimmy_johnston@usgs.gov).
Task
1 Remote Sensing as an Integrated Approach to Monitoring Vulnerabilities and
Predicting Changes
·
Continued
development of remote sensing mapping techniques and models to support resource
management, policy, enforcement and public information.
·
Published
the following:
Ramsey, E., III, Z.
Lu., A. Rangoonwala, and R. Rykhus, 2006. Multiple baseline radar
interferometry applied to coastal landscape classification and change
analyses. GIS Science and Remote Sensing, 43(4):283-309.
Ramsey, E., III,
2006. Review of Satellite Monitoring of Inland and Coastal Water Quality by
Robert P. Bukata, Photogrammetric Engineering and
Remote Sensing, 72(11):1211-1213.
Ramsey, E., III, in
press. Coastal Resource Management. The Facts on File Encyclopedia of
Marine Science. Editor, C. Reid Nichols. (Facts On File, Inc.: New York) ISBN: 0-8160-5022-8.
Ramsey E., III , Y.
Yan, 2006. Palo Alto battlefield National historic site landscape
classification and historical analysis. Proceedings
20th Bienial workshop on Aerial photography , Videography,
and High Resolution Digital imagery for Resource Assessment. October 4-6,
2005 Weslaco, Texas.
Rangoonwala, A., E.
Ramsey III , 2006. Mapping the invasive species,
Chinese tallow, with NASA EO1 satellite Hyperion hyperspectral sensor. Proceedings
20th Bienial workshop on Aerial photography , Videography,
and high Resolution Digital Imagery for Resource Assessment. October 4-6,
2005 Weslaco, Texas.
Ramsey III, E., A. Rangoonwala, 2006. Site-specific canopy
reflectance related to marsh dieback onset and progression in coastal Louisiana. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 72(6):641-652.
·
Technical Reports
Ramsey III, E., A. Rangoonwala, and G. Nelson, 2005. Oak
Decline and spectral indicators -Interim report (April 12 -14, 2005) to Mid
continental mapping center (MCMC), Rolla , Missouri.
Ramsey III, E., A. Rangoonwala, G. Nelson, 2005. Field data
analysis in support of the PHILLS flight hyperspectral data -Phase 1. Interm
report (April 04, 2005). Submitted to the Naval National Research Laboratory.
Ramsey III, E., A. Rangoonwala, G. Nelson, 2005. Mapping
vegetation of Natchez Trace Parkway and Vicksburg National Military Park. Interim report (January 25, 2005) to National Park Services (NPS) under
Intra-Agency Agreement No. 14431A53200000.
·
Presentations
Ramsey E., III and
A. Rangoonwala, 2006. Remote sensing methods for mapping Spartina
Alterniflora marsh dieback onset and progression along coastal Louisiana, ASPRS Conference, Prospecting for Geospatial Information Integration, 1-5 May
2006 Reno, Nevada.
Ramsey, E., III, G. Nelson, F. Baarnes, A. Rangoonwala, M.
Hakobyan, S. Sapkota, Z. Lu, and O. Kwoun, 2005. VNIR to SWIR and Microwave
image data applied to mapping and monitoring coastal wetland landscapes. 8th
International Conference on Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Remote Sensing, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 17-19 May 2005.
Bachmann Charles , T. Ainsworth, R. Fusina, T. Donato, J.
Bowles, D. Korwan , E.Ramsey, A. Rangoonwala,
G. Nelson Using hyperspectral imagery to link
land cover models and biophysical parameter estimates: A case study in the Virginia coast reserve. 8th International Conference on Remote Sensing for
Marine and Coastal Remote Sensing, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 17-19 May 2005.
Ramsey, E., III , A. Rangoonwala, and G. Nelson, 2005. Oak
Decline and spectral indicators - Mid Continental Mapping Center (MCMC), Rolla , MO, April 12 -14, 2005.
Ramsey III, E., A. Rangoonwala, G. Nelson, 2005. Mapping
vegetation of Natchez Trace Parkway and Vicksburg National Military Park. National Park Services (NPS) Vital Signs Meeting April 05, 2005.
Nelson, G., E. Ramsey III and Y.Yan, 2005.
Historical Analysis of the Palo Alto Battlefield Vegetation Landscape from 1934
- 2000, PAAL visitors center, Brownsville, Texsas, 12-13 March, 2005
Task 3 -
Advanced Electronic Technologies Applied to Natural Resources Management and
Research
·
Supported and maintained coastal Louisiana informational computer
kiosks that are displayed at Louisiana's visitor centers and national
environmental conferences
·
Developed
tools and technologies for multiple CD-ROMs focused on wetland loss and
restoration for a variety of grade levels and the general public.
·
Developed
techniques to develop a single-user interface that can access data merged from
SQL and Oracles databases, HTML pages, ESRI's SDE layers, and Internet Mapping
Servers.
·
Collected
post- Hurricane Katrina imagery and provided assistance to DOI land managers
and other Federal and State officials.
·
Continue
to assist with the collection and dissemination of Costal Louisiana restoration
assessment of multiple projects.
·
Provided
fly over video footage of the gulf coast from past hurricanes to compare with
hurricane Katrina land loss.
·
Implemented
digital library that catalogs all the clipped New Orleans East Land Bridge data
sets. Created New Orleans East Interactive Mapping System which is integrated
with the digital library. The intent of the data compilation is to provide a
common set of resources for citizens, planners, and managers to use in
formulating future projects in a number of different fields ranging from
coastal restoration, hurricane and storm protection, zoning, and community
recovery.
·
Began
migration of SAB data, listServ and CRSS websites to the netContinum and HTTPS
technology.
·
Maintained
and supported SAB data website and users.
·
Served
as USGS representative on the of Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Restoration and
Conservation Task Force Programmatic Assessment Working Group.
·
Supported
and maintained LaCoast website to provide the general public as well as the
project managers with real time information about restoration projects.
83439O2
- Lake and Wetland Ecosystems: Ecology, Status and Trends, and Management
Techniques in the Lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast Ecosystems
The
goal of this study is to develop indices of ecosystem sensitivity to change and
vulnerability to potential stressors, and to develop tools to predict ecosystem
responses to environmental change by analyzing critical physical and biological
processes influencing structure and function of lake and wetland communities
and ecosystems. Physical perturbation such as drought and hurricanes are
looked at to find methods of restoration where warranted. The relevance of this
study is that the Lower Mississippi Valley and the Gulf Coast ecosystems are
ecologically and economically important yet fragile. State and DOI agencies are
part of the external organizational relationship of these projects. (Contact jimmy_johnston@usgs.gov)
Task
2 - Wetland Restoration Ecology: Enhancing the Establishment and Persistence of
Plant Communities.
Presentation of findings
at conferences:
·
Howard,
R.J., S.E. Travis, and B.A. Sikes, Growth comparisons between European and U.S.
Gulf of Mexico clones of Phragmites australis in different environmental
conditions. 27th
Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists, July 9 -14, 2006, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
The following paper is
in preparation:
● Howard, R.J.,
S.E. Travis, and B.A. Sikes. Rapid growth of a Eurasian haplotype of Phragmites
australis in a restored marsh in Louisiana, USA.
Task
9- Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Project for FY2000 Contaminants Monitoring
A
report is in the final stages prior to sending out for internal review.
Task
11 - The Use of Rice Fields by Waterfowl and Shorebirds as Affected by
Management of the Rice Landscape
·
Draft manuscripts on coot movements in rice fields, buff-breasted
sandpiper habitat use, and shorebird population during spring migration have
been developed.
83439O6
- Science for the Conservation of Coastal and Marine Systems, Coral Reefs, and
Benthic Ecosystems: Central Region
The
goal of this study is to model factors controlling ecosystem patterns at
various scales and develop decision support systems to integrate this
information with management options. Marine and coastal areas are under stress
from various natural and human factors. Research and monitoring provides
information needed to protect, maintain, and restore these economically
important systems. (Contact carroll_cordes@usgs.gov)
83439OH
- Spatial Analysis: Biological Characterization of the Lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast Landscapes
The
objective of this study is to model factors controlling ecosystem patterns at
various scales and develop decision support systems which integrate this
information with management options to provide assistance and expertise to
other scientists and natural resource managers, especially DOI agencies. (Contact
jimmy_johnston@usgs.gov).
Task
1 - Biological and Spatial Analysis Support for Coastal Wetlands Planning,
Protection, and Restoration Act (Breaux Bill) Planning Activities
·
Provided
proposed restoration project screening assessments for over 10 projects
·
Updated
the comprehensive restoration project polygon database consisting of over 150
projects to include new restoration projects approved in 2005
·
Provided
updated approved coastal Louisiana restoration project poster, including LCA
priority projects for Task Force members
·
Enhanced
oyster lease screening assessment by adding new spatial datasets and analyses
as requested by partners
·
Provided
FY05 oyster lease screening analysis update and Restricted Area Map (RAM) to
assist in identifying oyster lease conflicts
·
Completed
map production for new approved project fact sheets
·
Continued
using high resolution historical aerial photography for assessing proposed
restoration project shoreline retreat rates
·
Initiated
use of image movies using both aerial photography and Landsat TM imagery to
illustrate water level fluctuations and seasonal change for proposed
restoration projects
·
Utilized
over 25+ dates of Landsat 7 and 5 TM imagery, classified for other projects, to
assess short-term variability in land-water area for proposed restoration
projects. Land-water area fluctuations correlated with tide gauge water level readings.
Higher water levels corresponded to greater water area whereas lower water
levels corresponded less water area. Sufficient data points were present to
establish min-max moving averages of water area over time. Comparison of min-max
ranges over time were used to partially account for water level effects on land
loss calculations
Task
2 - Ecological and Spatial Analysis Research for Coastal Wetlands Planning,
Protection and Restoration Act Monitoring
·
NWRC
acquired high resolution, color infrared aerial photography for the following
projects in coastal Louisiana: Raccoon Island, Marsh Island, Fritchie Marsh,
Grand-White Lake Landbridge, Pecan Island, and Black Bayou
·
NWRC
produced 45 maps associated with the Coastal Wetland Planning, Protection and
Restoration Act
·
Rectified
CIR aerial photography for 5 CWPPRA projects
·
Completed
land-water analysis for 6 CWPPRA projects
·
NWRC
participated in the development of 7 peer-reviewed monitoring plans. They are
Sediment Trapping at "The Jaws" (TV-15), Freshwater Introduction
South of Hwy 82 (ME-16), Grand Lake Shoreline Protection (ME-21), Floating Marsh
Creation Demonstration (LA-05), South White Lake Shoreline Protection (ME-22),
Shoreline Protection Foundation Improvements Demonstration (LA-06), and South
Lake Decade Freshwater Introduction (TE-39)
Task
6 - Gulf of Mexico Program (EPA) Environmental Assessment Project
·
Produced
25 working maps and products for use by Gulf of Mexico Program Office
·
Draft
of Gulf of Mexico Seagrass Status and Trends Chapters for the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida completed and sent to approving official
Task
7 - Geographic Information and Technical Support for the Louisiana Department
of Natural Resources
·
Provided
key support functions to partners. The cooperative relationship between Louisiana
Department of Natural Resources and the USGS NWRC, based on our common interest
in coastal restoration, continued to strengthen over the last year
·
Provided
critical GIS support to 80+ LDNR employees, including technical support, database
development, software customization, and basic software training
·
Produced
300+ maps for Coastal Wetland Restoration activities on a request basis
·
Provided
recommendations to LDNR for complex GIS analyses related to the management of
Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS) data collection
·
Played
an integral role in the development and implementation of custom spatial data
sets, databases, and scripts related to CRMS, CWPPRA, Louisiana Coastal Area, and
other coastal restoration projects
Task
9 - Advanced Photo Acquisition, Mapping and Surveying Techniques and Methods
Assessment
·
NWRC
produced over 1,100 frames of photography and provided over 200 copies of
wetland, seagrass, and upland maps to client agencies and individuals
·
Produced
185 new habitat maps and 40 DOQQ's during the year for 19 different research
and monitoring projects
·
Serve
on the FGDC Wetlands Subcommittee and on the Wetland Mapping Standard Task
Force
·
Co-authored
the Louisiana Ecoregion Map for USGS and EPA
·
Conducted
13 WETMAAP (Wetland Education Through Maps And Aerial Photography) workshops
for 230 teachers in Louisiana, Nevada, Missouri, Florida, Nebraska, and Costa Rica
·
Presented
5 formal oral papers and 9 poster presentations to 9 scientific organizations
and presented 5 posters at one Louisiana State meeting
·
Invited
presenter at two conferences, the Geographic Association in Manchester, UK, and Augustana College Colloquiam.
·
Invited
discussant for two panels.
·
Co-organized
the 22nd Annual Louisiana Remote Sensing and GIS Workshop in April,
2006.
·
Co-organized
the 3rd Annual WETMAAP Conference in October 2006
·
Served
as the lead representative to a NASA delegation to Hangzhou University in China and to the Chinese National Academy of Science's Geographic Information
Research Institute. Made 5 formal presentations and evaluated 5 Ph.D. and
Master's final projects.
·
Reviewed
3 National Science Foundation Proposals and 18 scientific articles for academic
publication
·
Was Interim
Editor of The Geographical Bulletin of the Geographical Honor Society
for 2 issues.
·
Serve
as Technical Editor for the National Council for Geographic Education's Journal
of Geography. Developed cover image and Inside the Front Cover information
for 6 issues.
·
Authored
"Back to the Basics: Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada," Journal of Geography,
Volume 105, Number 5
·
Was
one of the authors and compilers of the "Gulf of Mexico Seagrass Status and
Trends Report" (in press)
·
Co-author
of "Mapping Skagit Bay Eelgrass Using Airborne TMS Data" (July 2006, PE&RS)
·
Provided
12 training workshops covering GIS, GPS, wetland photointerpretation, remote
sensing, National Wetlands Inventory Classification System, Wetland Forest
Trees, and hydric soils for over 120 participants from various State, Federal,
and local agencies and universities, companies or individuals
·
Had
5 projects on U. S. Fish and Wildlife Refuges and on 2 National Park Service
parks
·
Provided
technical consultations for the Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and
Wildlife Service, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Parks
Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, and to other disciplines within USGS
·
Copied
and scanned aerial photography for NASA Ames Research Center, California, and
the University of Colorado at Boulder.
·
Participated
with NASA in the CARTA II Project in Costa Rica
·
Images
were acquired from National Technical Means data and are undergoing evaluation
for Hurricane impacts, brown marsh effects, and shoreline delineation
Task
12-Develop Advanced Spatial Analysis Technologies and GIS Support for National
Coastal Assessment
·
Collaborated
with EPA on their third coastal condition report on the Nation's estuaries to
be published in 2007 (National Coastal Condition Report III).
Task
14 - Coastwide Reference Monitoring Systems (CRMS) for the Assessment of
Wetland Restoration
·
NWRC
helped the La. Dept. of Natural Resources develop a Standard Operating
Procedures (SOP) Manual that expands on the Steyer et al. (2000) CWPPRA Quality
Management Plan. This document (Folse and West 2005) outlines activities and
procedures for CRMS-Wetlands site construction, data collection, QA/QC, data
processing, and deliverables requirements.
·
NWRC
provided training on field sampling techniques and QA/QC to La. Dept. of Natural
Resources personnel and contract personnel working on the CRMS program.
·
The
NWRC developed an "on-the-fly" data graphics package for graphing
hydrographic data collected under the CRMS program. This program is Web-based
and will allow users to select station, parameter, and data collection period.
It is undergoing testing and expansion to other CRMS variables.
·
Expanded
CRMS website under www.lacoast.gov to
support easier access to data and information products.
8343-08716
Second Hurricane Katrina Supplemental
Task 11 and 16 - Second Katrina Supplemental
- Set up studies to observe regeneration dynamics in
baldcypress swamps in various levels of salinity intrusion and canopy
openness at Cat Island, Jean LaFitte National Park and Pearl River NWR.
- Elevation studies initiated at Jean LaFitte National Park to look at the effects of dredge spoil application as a surrogate for hurricane
sediment deposition on the function of swamps decreasing in elevation.
- Completed planning, appointment of science editors,
guidelines for authors and reviewer, peer review and editorial review of
40 articles to be a part of the multi-regional and multi-discipline USGS Circular,
Science and the Storms: USGS Response to the Hurricanes of 2005.
3213BF Global Climate Change
·
Predicting the persistence of coastal wetlands to global change
effects - This project is a large, multi-year, multi-investigator effort to
examine and forecast the vulnerability of coastal wetlands to sea level rise in
the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coastal wetlands. During FY2006, the
investigator participated in the design of numerous components of this project
and also performed an analysis of the effects of elevated carbon dioxide,
salinity, and flooding on the processes regulating marsh accretion.
Task 12. Organizes two symposia
·
Global gradients in wetland function and distribution; with B.
Middleton; SWS Annual Conference, Cairns, Australia, July 9-14, 2005.
·
Integrating Coastal Ecosystem Restoration with Global Change
Ecology; with I. Mendelssohn (LSU); 3rd National Conference and Expo
on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration, December 9-13, 2006, New Orleans, LA (proposal accepted and session speakers scheduled).
Summary of NWRC
productivity FY 06
Terrestrial,
Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems
Albrecht, T.,
Horak, D., Kreisinger, J., Weidinger, K., Klvana, P., and Michot, T.C., 2006,
Factors determining pochard nest predation along a wetland gradient: Journal of
Wildlife Management, v. 70, no. 3, p. 784-791.
Allain, L.,
Smith, L., Allen, C., Vidrine, M.F., and Grace, J.B., 2006, A floristic quality
assessment system for the coastal prairie of Louisiana: Proceedings of the
Nineteenth North American Prairie Conference, August 8-12, 2004, University of
Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 18 p.
Allen, J.A.,
and Krauss, K.W., 2006, Influence of propagule flotation longevity and light
availability on establishment of introduced mangrove species in Hawai'i: Pacific Science, v. 60, no. 3, p. 367-376.
Allen, J.A.,
Krauss, K.W., Ewel, K.C., Keeland, B.D., and Waguk, E.E., 2005, A tropical
freshwater wetland: I. Structure, growth, and regeneration: Wetlands Ecology
and Management, v. 13, p. 657-669.
Bernier, J.C.,
Morton, R.A., and Barras, J.A., 2006, Constraining rates and trends of
historical wetland loss, Mississippi River Delta Plain, South-Central
Louisiana: Section 6: Coastal Ecology, Environment and Restoration, Coastal
Environment and Water Quality, chap. 30, p. 371-382.
Brinson, M., B. Bedford, B. Middleton, and J. Verhoeven.
2006. Temperate freshwater wetlands. Book Chapter. Environmental future of
freshwater and marine ecosystems, N. Polunin (editor). Cambridge University
Press (in press).
Burkett, V.R.,
Wilcox, D.A., Stottlemyer, R., Barrow, W., Fagre, D., Baron, J., Price, J.,
Nielsen, J.L., Allen, C.D., Peterson, D.L., Ruggerone, G., and Doyle, T., 2005,
Nonlinear dynamics in ecosystem response to climatic change: case studies and
policy implications: Ecological Complexity, v. 2, p. 357-394.
Cardona-Olarte,
P., Twilley, R.R., Krauss, K.W., and Rivera-Monroy, V., 2006, Responses of
neotropical mangrove seedlings grown in monoculture and mixed culture under
treatments of hydroperiod and salinity: Hydrobiologia, v. 569, p. 325-341.
Carter, J., 2006,
Wetlands ecosystems in Asia: function and management [book review]. Accepted by
Ecological Engineering May 2006.
Carter, J., and Biagas,
J., 2006, Prioritizing bottomland hardwood forest sites for protection and
augmentation. Accepted by The Natural Areas Journal, August 2005.
Day, R.H.,
Doyle, T.W., and Draugelis-Dale, R.O., 2006, Interactive effects of substrate,
hydroperiod, and nutrients on seedling growth of Salix nigra and Taxodium
distichum: Environmental and Experimental Botany, v. 55, p. 163-174.
Espinar, J.L.,
2006, Sample size and the detection of a hump-shaped relationship between
biomass and species richness in Mediterranean wetlands: Journal of Vegetation
Science, v. 17, no. 2, p. 227-232.
Gibson, D.J., B.A. Middleton, K. Foster, Y.A. Honu, E.
Hoyer, and M. Mathis. 2005. Core and satellite dynamics in response to
disturbance and fertilization during early old-field succession. Journal of
Vegetation Science 16: 415-422
Grace, J.B.,
and Keeley, J.E., 2006, A structural equation model analysis of postfire plant
diversity in California shrublands: Ecological Applications, v. 16, no. 2, p.
503-514.
Handley, L.R.,
Lockwood, C.M., and Handley, N., 2005, Back to the basics: Birmingham, Alabama, measurement and scale: Journal of Geography, v. 104, p. 225-230.
Handley, L.R.,
Lockwood, C.M., and Handley, N., 2006, Back to the Basics: Lake Tahoe/Nevada:
geography and mathematics: Journal of Geography, v. 105, no. 5, p. 225-230.
Honu, Y.A.K.,
D.J. Gibson, and B.A. Middleton. 2006. Performance of Tridens flavus
(L.) A.S. Hitchc. (purpletop) in heterogenous soil nutrient and disturbance
regimes in an early successional old field. Bulletin of the Torrey
Botanical Club 133: 422-428.
Howard, R.J.,
2005, Sedimentation, elevation, and water level change in Lacassine Pool,
Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, a report prepared for Lacassine National
Wildlife Refuge, 13 p.
Howard, R.J.,
and Rafferty, P.S., 2006, Clonal variation in response to salinity and flooding
stress in four marsh macrophytes of the northern gulf of Mexico, USA:
Environmental and Experimental Botany, v. 56, no. 3, p. 301-313.
Jenkins, J.A.,
and LaPeyre, J.F., 2006, Cell proliferation detected with flow cytometric cell
cycle analysis and immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear
antigen (PCNA) from somatic tissues of eastern oysters, Crassostrea
virginica: Environmental Bioindicators, v. 1, no. 3, p. 177-190.
Keim, R.F.,
Chambers, J.L., Hughes, M.S., Nyman, J.A., Miller, C.A., Amos, J.B., Conner,
W.H., Day, J.W., Jr., Faulkner, S.P., Gardiner, E.S., King, S.L., McLeod, K.W.,
and Shaffer, G.P., 2006, Ecological consequences of changing hydrological
conditions in wetland forests of coastal Louisiana: Section
6: Coastal Ecology, Environment and Restoration, Coastal Environment and Water
Quality, chap. 31, p. 383-395.
Krauss, K.W.,
2006, Seed predation by crabs on two Micronesian mangrove species: evaluating
the dominance-predation hypothesis [abs.]: Global Challenges Facing
Oceanography and Limnology, ASLO summer meeting, June 4-9, 2006, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, p. 67.
Krauss, K.W.,
Doyle, T.W., Twilley, R.R., Rivera-Monroy, V.H., and Sullivan, J.K., 2006,
Evaluating the relative contributions of hydroperiod and soil fertility on
growth of south Florida mangroves: Hydrobiologia, v. 569, p. 311-324.
Krauss, K.W.,
Twilley, R.R., Doyle, T.W., and Gardiner, E.S., 2006, Leaf gas exchange
characteristics of three neotropical mangrove species in response to varying
hydroperiod: Tree Physiology, v. 26, p. 959-968.
Laughlin, D.C., and Grace, J.B., 2006, A multivariate model of plant species richness in
forested systems: old-growth montane forests with a long history of fire:
OIKOS, v. 114, p. 60-70.
Lichtenberg,
J.S., King, S.L., Grace, J.B., and Walls, S.C., 2006, Habitat associations of
chorusing anurans in the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley: Wetlands, v.
26, no. 3, p. 736-744.
Lindquist,
E.S., Krauss, K.W., and O'Dowd, D.J., 2006, Getting the crab walk straight:
crabs as ecological filters in coastal and freshwater ecosystems [abs.]: Global
Challenges Facing Oceanography and Limnology, ASLO summer meeting, June 4-9,
2006, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, p. 73.
Lovelock, C.E.,
Feller, I.C., McKee, K.L., and Thompson, R., 2005, Variation in mangrove forest
structure and sediment characteristics in Bocas del Toro, Panama: Caribbean Journal of Science, v. 41, no. 3, p. 456-464.
Madejón, P.,
Murillo, J.M., Marañón, T., Espinar, J.L., and Cabrera, F., 2006, Accumulation
of As, Cd and selected trace elements in tubers of Scirpus maritimus L.
from Doñana marshes (South Spain): Chemosphere, v. 64, p. 742-748.
Merino, S, J Carter, G. Thibodeaux (2006) Testing tail
mounted transmitters for use on nutria (Myocastor coypus). Accepted by
Southeastern Naturalist July 2006.
Merino, J.H.,
Nyman, J.A., and Michot, T., 2005, Effects of season and marsh management on
submerged aquatic vegetation in coastal Louisiana brackish marsh ponds:
Ecological Restoration, v. 23, no. 4, p. 234-242.
Middleton, B.A. Invasive species. Book chapter in:
Encyclopedia of Ecology. C. Jorgensen, ed. Springer (in press).
Middleton, B.A. 2006. Impoundment and baldcypress swamp
management. National Wetlands Research Center Open File Report. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1270/
Middleton, B.A. 2006. Implications of climate change on
baldcypress swamp management. National Wetlands Research Center Open File
Report. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1269/
Middleton, B.A. 2006. Invasive species and climate change.
National Wetlands Research Center Open File Report. http://pubs.usgs.gov/preview/of/2006/1153/pdf/of06-1153_508.pdf.
Middleton,
B.A., 2006, Baldcypress swamp management and climate change: U.S. Geological
Survey, Biological Resources Discipline, Open-file Report 2006-1269, 3 p.,
available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1269/pdf/of06-1269_508.pdf.
Middleton,
B.A., 2006, Fire management in fens and wet grasslands grazed by cattle: U.S.
Geological Survey, Biological Resources Discipline, Open-file Report 2006-1268,
2 p., available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1268/pdf/of06-1268_508.pdf.
Middleton,
B.A., 2006, Impoundment and baldcypress swamp management: U.S. Geological
Survey, Biological Resources Discipline, Open-file Report 2006-1270, 4 p.,
available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1270/pdf/of06-1270_508.pdf.
Middleton,
B.A., Grootjans, A., Jensen, K., Venterink, H.O., and Margoczi, K., 2006, Fen
management and research perspectives: an overview in Bobbink, R.,
Beltman, B., Verhoeven, J.T.A., and Whigham, D.F., editors: Ecological Studies,
Wetlands: Functioning, Biodiversity Conservation, and Restoration:
Springer-Verlag, New York, v. 191, chap. 11, p. 247-268.
Middleton, B.A. and K.L. McKee. 2005. Primary production
in an impounded baldcypress swamp at the northern limit of the range. Wetlands
Ecology and Management 13: 15-24.
Middleton,
B.A., K. Jensen and R. van Diggelen. Seed dispersal in fens. Applied
Vegetation Science 9:(in press).
Middleton,
B.A., B. Holsten and R. van Diggelen. Grazing of fens: a desirable management
option? Applied Vegetation Science (in press).
Morton, R.A.,
Bernier, J.C., and Barras, J.A., 2006, Evidence of regional subsidence and
associated interior wetland loss induced by hydrocarbon productions, Gulf Coast region, USA: Environmental Geology, v. 50, no. 2, p. 261-274.
Morton, R.A.,
Bernier, J.C., Barras, J.A., and Ferina, N.F., 2005, Historical subsidence and
wetlands loss in the Mississippi Delta Plain: Gulf Coastal Association of
Geological Societies Transactions, v. 55, p. 555-571.
Muths, E.,
Jung, R.E., Bailey, L.L., Adams, M.J., Corn, P.S., Dodd, C.K., Jr., Fellers,
G.M., Sadinski, W.J., Schwalbe, C.R., Walls, S.C., Fisher, R.N., Gallant, A.L.,
Battaglin, W.A., and Green, D.E., 2005, Amphibian Research and Monitoring
Initiative (ARMI): a successful start to a national program in the United
States: Applied Herpetology, v. 2, no. 4, p. 355-371.
Onuf, C.P.,
2006, Aspects of the biology of Salicornia bigelovii Torr., in relation
to a proposed restoration of a wind-tidal flat system on the south Texas, USA coast: Wetlands, v. 26, no. 3, p. 649-666.
Onuf, C.P.,
2006, Biofouling and the continuous monitoring of underwater light from a
seagrass perspective: Estuaries and Coasts, v. 29, no. 3, p. 511-518.
Pham , L., S. Boudreaux, S., Karhbet, B. Price, A. S. Ackleh, J. Carter, and N. Pal, 2006, Population estimates of Hyla cinerea
(Schneider) in an urban environment. Accepted Southeastern Naturalist September
2006.
Paniagua-Chávez,
C.G., Jenkins, J.A., Segovia, M., and Tiersch, T.R., 2006, Assessment of gamete
quality for the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) by use of
fluorescent dyes: Cryobiology, v. 53, no. 1, p. 128-138.
Proffitt, C.E.,
and Devlin, D.J., 2005, Grazing by the intertidal gastropod Melampus coffeus
greatly increases mangrove leaf litter degradation rates: Marine Ecology
Progress Series, v. 296, p. 209-218.
Proffitt, C.E.,
and Devlin, D.J., 2005, Long-term growth and succession in restored and natural
mangrove forests in southwestern Florida: Wetlands Ecology and Management, v.
13, no. 5, p. 531-551.
Proffitt, C. E., and S. E. Travis. 2006. Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) seedling growth over 1
year: importance of tidal elevation, propagule size, source tree
location, and maternal tree. Spring 2006 Meeting of
the Southeastern Estuarine Research Society, St. Augustine, FL. Paper.
Reina, M.,
Espinar, J.L., and Serrano, L., 2006, Sediment phosphate composition in
relation to emergent macrophytes in the Doñana marshes (SW Spain): Water
Research, v. 40, no. 6, p. 1185-1190.
Sengupta, R., B.
Middleton, C. Yan, M. Zuro and H. Hartman. 2005. Propagule deposition and
landscape characteristics of source forests of Rhizophora
mangle in coastal landscapes in Florida. Landscape Ecology 20: 63-72.
Smith, G.J.,
2005, Reflections on Katrina: People, Land and Water, v. 12, no. 1, p. 22.
Smith, G.J.,
2006, Wetland researchers on the hurricane front lines, in Arnold, G., ed., After the Storm: Restoring America's Gulf Coast Wetlands: Washington, DC,
Environmental Law Institute, p. 56-57.
Steyer, G.D.,
Owens, A.B., and Couvillion, B.R., 2006, Data collection network to support
ecosystem forecasting for the Barataria Basin - Mississippi River domain: Section 6: Coastal Ecology, Environment and Restoration,
Coastal Environment and Water Quality, chap. 35, p. 431-442.
Su, H., Karna,
D., Fraim, E., Fitzgerald, M., Dominguez, R., Myers, J.S., Coffland, B.,
Handley, L.R., and Mace, T., 2006, Evaluation of eelgrass beds mapping using a
high-resolution airborne multispectral scanner: Photogrammetric Engineering and
Remote Sensing, v. 72, no. 7, p. 789-797.
Swarzenski,
C.M., Doyle, T.W., and Hargis, T.G., 2005, Pore-water and substrate quality of
the peat marshes at the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical
Park and Preserve, and comparison with Penchant Basin peat marshes, south
Louisiana, 2000-2002: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report
2005-5121, 27 p.
Thomas, J.R.,
D.J. Gibson, and B.A. Middleton. 2005. Water
dispersal of vegetative bulbils of the invasive exotic Dioscorea
oppositifolia L. in southern Illinois. Journal of the Torrey
Botanical Club 132: 187-196.
Travis, S. E., and P. Sheridan. 2006. Genetic structure of natural and restored shoalgrass (Halodule
wrightii) populations in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Marine
Ecology Progress Series 322:117-127.
Travis, S. E.
2006. Ecological Genetics at the USGS National Wetlands Research Center. USGS Fact Sheet 2006-3057.
Travis, S. E., and P. Sheridan. 2006. Genetic
structure of natural and restored shoalgrass (Halodule wrightii)
populations in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. 91st Annual Meeting of
the Ecological Society of America, Memphis, TN. Paper.
van Diggelen,
B. Middleton, J. Bakker, A. Grootjans and M. Wassen. Fens and floodplains of
the temperate zone - Introduction. Journal of Applied Vegetation Science
(in press).
Ward, G.A.,
Smith, T.J., III, Whelan, K.R.T., and Doyle, T.W., 2006, Regional processes in
mangrove ecosystems: spatial scaling relationships, biomass, and turnover rates
following catastrophic disturbance: Hydrobiologia, v. 569, p. 517-527.
Whitbeck, M.,
and Grace, J.B., 2006, Evaluation of non-destructive methods for estimating
biomass in marshes of the upper Texas, USA coast: Wetlands, v. 26, no. 1, p.
278-282.
Yu, K.,
Faulkner, S.P., and Patrick, W.H., Jr., 2006, Redox potential characterization
and soil greenhouse gas concentration across a hydrological gradient in a gulf
coast forest: Chemosphere, v. 62, p. 905-914.
Invasive
Species and Emerging Diseases
Harrison, S.,
Grace, J.B., Davies, K.F., Safford, H.D., and Viers, J.H., 2006, Invasion in a
diversity hotspot: exotic cover and native richness in the Californian
serpentine flora: Ecology, v. 87, no. 3, p. 695-703.
Harrison, S.,
Safford, H.D., Grace, J.B., Viers, J.H., and Davies, K.F., 2006, Regional and
local species richness in an insular environment: serpentine plants in California: Ecological Monographs, v. 76, no. 1, p. 41-56.
Howard, R.J.,
Travis, S.E., and Sikes, B.A., 2006, Growth comparisons between European and
U.S. Gulf of Mexico clones of Phragmites australis in different
environmental conditions [abs.]: Catchments to Coast, 27th Meeting
of the Society of Wetland Scientists, July 9 -14, 2006, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, p. 59.
Marburger, J.,
Travis, S., and Windels, S., 2006, Cattail sleuths use forensic science to
better understand spread of an invasive species: Natural Resource Year in
Review-2005, chap. 4, p. 75-76.
Rangoonwala,
A., and Ramsey, E.W., III, 2006, Mapping the invasive species, Chinese tallow,
with NASA EO1 satellite hyperion hyperspectral image data: 20th 0biennial
workshop on Aerial Photography, Videography, and High Resolution Digital
Imagery for Resource Assessment, October 4-6, 2005, Weslaco, Tex., 6 p.
Thomas, J.R.,
Middleton, B.A., and Gibson, D.J., 2006, A landscape perspective of stream
corridor invasion and habitat characteristics the exotic Dioscorea
oppositifolia in southern Illinois: Biological Invasions, v. 8, p.
1103-1113.
Travis, S. E., J. E. Marburger, S. K. Windels, and B.
A. Middleton. 2006. The Role of Hybridization in Cattail (Typha spp.)
Invasions of Freshwater Wetlands in Great Lakes National Parks. 27th Annual Meeting of the
Society of Wetland Scientists, Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Poster.
Travis, S. E.,
S. K. Windels, and J. Marburger. 2006. The Prevalence of Hybridization in
Cattail (Typha spp.) Invasions of Freshwater Wetlands in Great Lakes
National Parks. 5th Annual Western Great Lakes Research Conference, Ashland, WI. Paper.
Status
and Trends
Allen, Y.C., Wilson, C.A., Roberts, H.H., and Supan, J., 2005, High resolution mapping and
classification of oyster habitats in nearshore Louisiana using sidescan sonar:
Estuaries, v. 28, no. 3, p. 435-446.
Barras, J.A.,
2006, Land area change in coastal Louisiana after the 2005 hurricanes-a series
of three maps: U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Discipline,
Open-file Report 2006-1274, available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1274.
Kiage, L.M., Walker, N.D., Balasubramanian, S., Babin, A., and Barras, J., 2005, Applications of
Radarsat-1 synthetic aperture radar imagery to assess hurricane-related
flooding of coastal Louisiana: International Journal of Remote Sensing, v. 26,
no. 24, p. 5359-5380.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Petersen, J.F., Young, J.E., Handley, L.R., Fuller, C.J., and Gimeson, D.,
eds., 2004, Journal of Geography, v. 103, no. 5, p. 185-230.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Peterson, J.F., Young, J.E., Handley, L.R., Fuller, C.J., and Gimeson, D.,
eds., 2004, Journal of Geography, v. 103, no. 6, p. 231-276.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Petersen, J.F., Young, J.E., Handley, L.R., and Gimeson, D., eds., 2005,
Journal of Geography, v. 104, no. 1, p. 1-46.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Petersen, J.F., Young, J.E., Handley, L.R., and Gimeson, D., eds., 2005,
Journal of Geography, v. 104, no. 2, p. 47-92.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Petersen, J.F., Young, J.E., Handley, L.R., and Gimeson, D., eds. 2005, Journal
of Geography, v. 104, no. 3, p. 95-140.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Petersen, J.F., Young, J.E., Handley, L.R., and Gimeson, D., eds., 2005,
Journal of Geography, v. 104, no. 4, p. 141-186.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Petersen, J.F., Young, J.E., Handley, L.R., and Gimeson, D., eds., 2005,
Journal of Geography, v. 104, no. 5, p. 187-232.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Petersen, J.F., Young, J.E., Handley, L.R., and Gimeson, D., eds., 2005,
Journal of Geography, v. 104, no. 6, p. 233-278.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Dendinger, R.E., Handley, L.R., Young, J.E., Petersen, J.F., and Gimeson, D.,
eds., 2006, Journal of Geography, v. 105, no. 1, p. 1-46.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Dendinger, R.E., Handley, L.R., Young, J.E., Petersen, J.F., and Gimeson, D.,
eds., 2006, Journal of Geography, v. 105, no. 2, p. 47-92.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Dendinger, R.E., Handley, L.R., Young, J.E., Petersen, J.F., and Gimeson, D.,
eds., 2006, Journal of Geography, v. 105, no. 3, p. 93-138.
Lockwood, C.M.,
Dendinger, R.E., Handley, L.R., Young, J.E., Petersen, J.F., and Gimeson, D.,
eds., 2006, Journal of Geography, v. 105, no. 4, p. 139-184.
Ramsey, E.W.,
III, 2006, Satellite monitoring of inland and coastal water quality:
retrospection, introspection, future directions [book review]: Photogrammetric
Engineering and Remote Sensing, v. 72, no. 11, p. 1211-1213.
Ramsey, E.W,
III, Lu., Z., Rangoonwala, A., and Rykhus, R., 2006, Multiple baseline radar
interferometry applied to coastal land cover classification and change
analyses: GIScience and Remote Sensing, v. 43, no. 4, p. 283-309.
Ramsey, E.W.,
III, and Rangoonwala, A., 2006, Canopy reflectance related to marsh dieback
onset and progression in coastal Louisiana: Photogrammetric Engineering and
Remote Sensing, v. 72, no. 6, p. 641-652.
Ramsey, E.W.,
III, and Yan, Y.Y., 2006, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site
landscape classification and historical analysis: 20th biennial workshop on
Aerial Photography, Videography, and High Resolution Digital Imagery for
Resource Assessment, October 4-6, 2005, Weslaco, Tex., 10 p.
Wildlife
Espinar, J.L.,
Garcia, L.V., Figuerola, J., Green, A.J., and Clement, L., 2006, Effects of
salinity and ingestion by ducks on germination patterns of Juncus subulatus
seeds: Journal of Arid Environments, v. 66, no. 2, p. 376-383.
Melcher, C.P.,
Skagen, S.K., and Randall, L., 2006, Use of NEXRAD to study shorebird migration
in the prairie pothole regions: a feasibility study: U.S. Geological Survey,
Biological Resources Discipline, Open-file Report 2006-1033, 8 p.
Michot, T.C.,
Woodin, M.C., Adair, S.E., and Moser, E.B., 2006, Diurnal time-activity budgets
of redheads (Aythya americana) wintering in seagrass beds and coastal
ponds in Louisiana and Texas: Hydrobiologia, v. 567, p. 113-128.
Woodin, M.C.,
and Michot, T.C., 2006, Foraging behavior of redheads (Aythya americana) wintering in Texas and Louisiana: Hydrobiologia, v. 567, no. 1, p. 129-141.
Bioinformatics
Farris, G.S.,
2006, Scientific action in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, in
Arnold, G., ed., After the Storm: Restoring America's Gulf Coast Wetlands:
Washington, DC, Environmental Law Institute, p. 19-23.
Farris, G.S.,
2006, Phoenix Fire Department assists agencies in hurricane rescues: People,
Land and Water, v. 12, no. 4, p. 28.
Horton, S.,
2006, Debbie Norling honored with excellence award: Sound Waves,
http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2006/10/awards.html.
Horton, S.,
2006, Multiple award winner in USGS photography contest: Sound Waves, v. 2006,
no. 81, p. 13.
Horton, S.,
2006, USGS wetland ecologist named Fulbright Senior Specialist: Sound Waves, v.
2006, no. 81, p. 13.
Selected Presentations of Center Staff (selected
listing)
·
McKee, K.L., I.C. Feller, and C. Lovelock. 2005. A global
comparison of belowground responses by mangroves to nutrient enrichment.
Mangrove-Seagrass Symposium: Estuarine Research Federation Conference, October
2005, Norfolk, VA.
·
Lovelock, C. E.; Feller, I. C.; Ellis, J.; Schwarz, A.; McKee, K.
L.; Hancock, N.; Nicholls, P.; Sorrell, B. 2005. Contrasting responses of two New
Zealand mangroves to nutrient enrichment. Mangrove-Seagrass
Symposium: Estuarine Research Federation Conference, October 2005; Norfolk, VA.
·
McKee, K.L. 2006. "Biotic
Controls on Soil Elevation Change Relative to Sea-Level Rise in Mangrove
Ecosystems of the Caribbean Region," Seminar, National Institute for Water and
Atmospheric Research, New Zealand; July 28.
·
Giraldo-Sanchez, B. and K.L. McKee 2006. Belowground productivity
of mangrove forests in southwest Florida. Society for Wetland Scientists
Conference "Catchments to Coast," July, Cairns, Australia.
·
Cherry, J. and K.L. McKee. 2006. Predicting the Persistence of
Coastal Wetlands to Global Climate Change: A Greenhouse Study of the Effects of
CO2, Salinity, and Flooding on Marsh Surface Elevations. Dissertations
Initiative for the Advancement of Climate Change Research (DISCCRS) Symposium,
Pacific Grove, CA, March 26-April 1.
·
McKee, K.L. 2006. Where temperate meets tropical: relative
responses of salt marsh and mangrove species to nitrogen and CO2
enrichment. Symposium "Where Temperate Meets Tropical," July; Cairns, Australia.
·
McKee, K.L. 2006. Patterns of soil carbon density in mangrove
forest ecosystems. Symposium "Global Gradients in Wetland Function and
Distribution," July, Cairns, Australia.
·
McKee, K.L. 2006. Biotic process controls on elevation change in
coastal wetlands. USGS-NOAA workshop on sea-level rise. Sept. 14, 2006, Beaufort, NC.
·
Keeland, B.D. 2006. Afforestation of Bottomland Hardwood Forests
in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Wetlands 2006, August 28 - 31, 2006, Traverse City, MI. Association of State Wetland Managers.
·
Jenkins, J.A., 2006, 2006. Histone
phosphorylation patterns and chromosomal stability of cultured bovine
fibroblasts. Reproduction Fertility and Development.
·
Jenkins, J.A., 2006, Effect of mitomycin-C on
viability and cell proliferation of domestic cat and mouse embryonic
fibroblasts. Reproduction Fertility and Development.
·
Carter, J., 2005, Using a neural net
paradigm to integrate expert systems in STELLA models. First All USGS Modeling
Conference. Nov 15-17, Olympic Park Institute, Port Angeles, Washington.
·
Carter, J., 2006, A comparison of the
recent invasion histories of North American and African Great Lake systems: has anything been learned? Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. August
5-11, 2006 Memphis TN.
·
Carter, J., 2006, An Ecological
Assessment for the Anosy Region. Presentation made at a Minerals Assessment
Workshop, Fort Dauphin, Madagascar. March 2006.
III. Citizen-centered E-government
IT, IM, IR Accomplishments
Instrumental in establishing a high-performance
digital signal (DS) 3 line from NWRC to the USGS GEONET. This network supports science and geographic information system
projects in downloading, serving, and transferring data files with external
partners and other government agencies.
Instrumental in implementing an
emergency high-speed fiber line to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, an
alternative connectivity for scientists to deliver
real-time essential data and image files to support of first responders,
assessment, and recovery during disasters as part of NWRC's role as a hurricane
command center.
Established a hurricane employee
hotline call center with Americall (located in Tacoma, WA) for USGS and
LAWSC employees in Louisiana to learn the status of their centers and to check
in during a disaster.
Made
arrangement with Denver Federal Center to ship NWRC data on tapes and other
media in case of an imminent hurricane.
Additional tasks completed in
preparation for hurricane or disaster assessment and recovery include:
- Modified science research
vehicle for data and voice connectivity, provided specs and guidance for
the installation of network equipment racks, installed data server, and
installed UPS.
- Procured and installed Motorola
9505A satellite phones with docking station for SRV and director's
conference room, phones for field use; along with transferring
instructions for their use on to blank PVC cards.
- Procured and installed SSB radio
and configured for initial testing.
- Configured and installed
electronic key box system auto, boats, and trailers.
Worked with Spatial Analysis Branch,
an NWRC branch partner, to outfit the science response vehicle with
geographic information system equipment capable of rapid deployment during
natural disasters throughout the United States.
Continued scientific personal
digital assistant development for genetics, carbon sequestration, and global
climate change applications.
Completed over 1500 computer help desk requests related to workstations,
servers, and printers.
Completed over 120
telecommunication help desk requests for NWRC, Annex, and Estuarine Habitat and
Coastal Fisheries Center PBX system and network equipment.
Completed Scientific DMS directory
structure, security. Installed new server to house Scientific DMS.
Specified and installed new
server, workstations, and disk arrays for NWRC Radar Laboratory, NWRC networked
applications, tape server hardware, GIS servers, and access control system.
Maintained the software and
hardware for the NWRC NBII systems and other Web and database systems.
Continued tasks and planning for
many HQ enterprise solutions at NWRC, such as active directory, desktop
hardening, server and workstation upgrades in accordance with the bureau's IT security
plan, and registering all NWRC Web sites per USGS instructions.
Consulted on network and
application configuration for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and
Ducks Unlimited (Gulf Coast Joint Venture office) at the NWRC Annex.
Provided technical assistance to
USFWS office, including server management, hardware support, and application
support.
Completed database-related tasks
that included major items such as:
- Completed a Web-based search
tool for the Bibliography Database, based on a Microsoft Access Database.
- Upgraded all Oracle databases to
the latest version (10g release 2).
- Created a new Microsoft Access
to record and monitor Avian Nutrition data.
- Applied the official USGS
template to every page in NWRC's Web site, bringing NWRC into compliance
with the latest USGS visual identity requirements. This involved manually
modifying about 500 web pages.
- Created a new application to
keep track of purchase orders and contract agreements.
- Created a new budget blueprint
application for the director's office.
IT served on the following
external committees having responsibilities with the:
·
Central Region Active Directory Team
·
Lotus Local Mail Administrator (LLMA)
·
Lotus Administrative Officer (LAO)
·
Command Center System Administrator
·
Security Point of Contact (SPOC) for NWRC subnets
·
USGS Certified Active Directory Organizational Unit Administrator
E-Government and Information
Technology Accomplishments
IT in Lafayette is part of the
software development team for BASIS+ Project. IT has complete 124 tasks for the
BASIS+ Project, as assigned by USGS HQ.
VII. 4-Cs philosophy-building
collaboration and partnerships
Building collaboration and partnerships with customers, partners,
stakeholders
Workshops
Growing out of the strategic planning exercises, NWRC has
developed a Science Alliance Model to maximize the impact of partnerships.
Based on this new approach that builds on strengths of relationships with
partners, the Center held a very successful workshop with partners to develop
this concept more and begin implementing it. Successful models for this
approach is found with the USFWS Lower Mississippi Joint Venture. The NWRC is
working to strategically design science programs that enhance strong,
interdependent partnerships characterized by a continuous interplay between
science and application.
The NWRC conducted 9 workshops this year with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Regional Application Center and other partners pertaining
to geospatial and biological subjects. Partners include the Department of
Defense, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Federal Aviation
Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Guard.
Workshop titles were:
Introduction to National Hydrography Dataset, February
15, 2006
Introduction to ArcGIS I, March 13-14, 2006
Introduction to Wetland Remote Sensing and Mapping,
March 15-17, 2006
Wetland Education through Maps and Aerial Photography,
March 18, 2006
Advanced Wetland Photo Interpretation, March 20-22,
2006
Tree ID workshop, May 3-4, 2006
Introduction to Geospatial Metadata Workshop, May
17-18, 2006
2006 Louisiana Pre Hurricane Season National and Local
Geospatial/Imagery Data Availability: Data Mining, June 6-7, 2006
Introduction to ArcGIS I, September 11-12, 2006
New science directions
NWRC
Strategic Planning - Science Alliance
strategic planning designed to enhance the Center's delivery of science, which
contributed to two important documents, the Science Alliance Model, and the
Strategic Planning Synoptic Summary.
Radar
Expanded on an existing alliance with the Gulf Coast Joint
Venture (GCJV). GCJV provided funds to explore various applications of weather
radar to bird conservation planning in the gulf region. Historically, most of
the biological applications of NEXRAD data have focused on passerines. Through
our work with the GCJV, we will be advancing radar biology by demonstrating
that NEXRAD data can be used to monitor wintering waterfowl movements.
Partnered with USDA-NRCS to establish an assessment of
their WRP practices using NOAA's national network of weather radars. The
first assessment will take place in the Central Valley of California. The Farm
Bill is scheduled for re-authorization in 2007. As part of this process, the
Natural Resources Conservation Service will need to demonstrate the
effectiveness of the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). In support of these efforts,
we will use NEXRAD data to assess migratory bird use of WRP sites before and
after restoration. The first assessment will focus on WRP sites in the Central
Valley of California.
Partnership with University of Southern Mississippi to
advance ability to use weather radar data by providing methodology to filter
insect echoes. The new filtering process is being used to determine response of
birds to Hurricane Katrina. Weather radar detects many types of targets in the
air space, and it is not uncommon for insects to be mixed with other biological
targets. If monitoring bird movements is the primary goal, insects are a source
of data contamination. This insect filtering program is an advancement for
radar biology because it is an improvement over previous filtering methods.
Co-established a radar collaborative between USFWS and USGS
at a national level. All regions of USFWS are involved as are NWRC, FORT, Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Miss. Valley, and PWRC. Two NWRC employees participated on
the steering committee for a national level workshop involving multiple DOI
agencies, USDA, DOE, DOT, DOC, DOD, EPA, State agencies, NGOs, and several
universities. An invited presentation was given at the workshop. Two open file
reports and two fact sheets (both won national awards by NAGC) were produced on
radar applications. These efforts have made a significant contribution to the
infrastructure and research capabilities of the research organization, the
agency, and the Department.
An offshoot of the NWRC Strategic
Planning Effort, is the addition to the land birds team of the Gulf Coast Joint
Venture. A strategy-building effort that will include a model-building and
evaluation project in collaboration with the Gulf Coast Joint Venture,
continuing into the next year.
Global Delta Network concept has been
developed to bring together data and processes of large river deltas from
throughout the world.
Examples of customer satisfaction
The NWRC library serves a national and national community
regarding technical assistance. It has received about 100 documented notes of
gratitude and praise during fiscal year 2006. Included are accolades from
Federal agencies (U.S. Congress Congressional Research Service, USFWS, BLM,
EPA, USACE, USFS, NPS, NOAA); State agencies (NJ Dep. of Environmental
Protection, LA Dept. Transportation and Development, AZ Dept. Environ. Quality,
Colorado Dept. of Corrections); non-governmental agencies (World Wildlife Fund,
Mote Marine Lab), universities (Mississippi State, University of Louisiana at
Lafayette, Rutgers, University of New Orleans, Unity Colllee in Maine,
University of Richmond), and foriegn agencies and citizens (Canada, Uganda),
and USGS offices (USGS Director, Congressional Affairs).
VIII. Other management objectives
Integrated science
NWRC is (1) partnering with the Florida Integrated
Science Center to provide GIS support for an upcoming coral reef study in the
Gulf of Mexico; (2) working with other disciplines of USGS in a Gulf of Mexico
effort to provide data and information in the region; and (3) completing the
second year of Director's Venture Capital pilot study to assess the use of
interferometry in measuring subsidence in New Orleans and southeast Louisiana in collaboration with the other disciplines of USGS.
USGS is working with USGS scientists from all
disciplines and all regions to produce a report on USGS response to the
hurricanes of 2005.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey