Highlights for October 9, 1997
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

I. Key Department News:

• GAP Noted In NASA Satellite Data Report: In the report released by NASA on October 3, NASA as a Catalyst: Use of Satellite Data in the States, the Gap Analysis Program (GAP) is shown to be the single most important source of and user of satellite data at the State level. GAP is a proactive geographic approach to protecting biodiversity. Satellite remote sensing and geographic information systems technologies are used to identify unprotected "gaps" that may be filled by applying alternative conservation strategies. GAP is now either under way, completed, or being updated in each of the lower 48 states. (Mike Jennings, Moscow, ID, 208/885-3555)
  

• GAP Provides Assistance to Ecosystem Report Card Project: On October 7, the Gap Analysis Program began providing information and technical assistance to the Heinz Center's project "To Design and Develop a Report Card on the Nation's Ecosystems." This project grew from and is supported by the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. (Mike Jennings, Moscow, ID, 208/885-3555)
  

• Vegetation Mapping Workshop: On October 15-16, the CBI will host a cooperators' workshop on production issues for the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. This long-term program will map vegetation in 235 NPS units. Invited participants are from other BRD Centers, The Nature Conservancy, and the BOR. Issues to be discussed include application of the National Vegetation Classification System, accuracy assessment, and phenological issues. (Tom Owens, Denver, 303/202-4259)
  

• CBI Attends NSDI Benefits Grant Recipients Meeting: On October 15-16, Sharon Shin of CBI will attend the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Benefits Grant kick-off meeting for recipients of FY 1998 NSDI Benefits Grants. In July, the CBI received notification of an NSDI Benefits Grant to design a State-level implementation plan for the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) Metadata Profile of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Geospatial Metadata Standard. The project will develop a pilot biological metadata training workshop specifically oriented to State fish and wildlife information managers. The kick-off meeting will be held in Tempe, Arizona, in combination with the FGDC Competitive Cooperative Agreements Program and Framework grant meetings. Shin also will attend the National States Geographic Information Council's Satellite Videoconference. Following the videoconference, Shin and Jennifer Gaines (OBIO) will answer questions about metadata, and will provide a demonstration of NBII MetaMaker, the metadata documentation and retrieval software program developed by the USGS BRD. (Sharon Shin, Denver, 303/202-4230)
  

• USGS Provides Metadata Training to Colorado DNR: On October 31, the EROS Data Center will present a metadata training course for the State of Colorado Department of Natural Resources, using Document AML for ArcInfo users. Sharon Shin of CBI arranged the training session and will attend the course. (Sharon Shin, Denver, 303/202-4230)
  

IV. Press/Media Inquiries:

• USGS Entomologist To Appear in Time and NPS Plateau Magazine: On October 9, Paul Opler of CBI was interviewed for an essay on Colorado Plateau desert nightlife--specifically yucca moths--for the Grand Canyon National Park's Plateau Magazine. In addition, a butterfly photo taken by Opler will appear in the Time International October issue, accompanying an article on global warming. (Paul Opler, Fort Collins, CO, 970/226-9409)