Highlights for October 23, 1997
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

I. Key Department News:

• National GPS Coordinator Provides Headquarters With Program Overview Briefing: On October 22, Karl Brown of CBI, National Global Positioning System (GPS) Coordinator, provided Headquarters staff with an overview briefing of the GPS Program. Biological user options, current military GPS equipment, and a discussion of related laser rangefinder binoculars were included in the briefing. (Karl Brown, Denver, 303/202-4240)
  

• BRD Scientist To Attend GEM Workshop: On October 28-30, Maury Nyquist of CBI will attend a GeoEnvironmental Map (GEM) Workshop in Denver at the request of the Central Region Mineral Resource Survey Team. Workshop participants will develop a strategy to produce needed databases for use in addressing issues stemming from the impact of abandoned mines on the Nation's water quality. Nyquist will provide information related to geospatial technologies and data resources within the BRD, will jointly react with NMD and WRD to the GEM geologic synthesis effort, and will brainstorm about what BRD might be able to contribute to that effort. (Maury Nyquist, Denver, 303/202-4217)
  

• Atlas of Oregon Wildlife Published: The Atlas of Oregon Wildlife, written by Oregon Gap Analysis Project Leader Dr. Blair Csuti and colleagues, was recently released by Oregon State University Press. The book was acclaimed as a landmark in the study of Oregon's natural history in a full two-page review by The Oregonian, Oregon's leading newspaper. The atlas--a striking 500-page hardcover book--provides distribution maps and detailed life history information for each of the 426 species of native terrestrial vertebrates in Oregon. The information used to compile the book was developed by the Oregon Gap Analysis Project and is another example of the many benefits derived from State Gap Analysis projects. The Oregon Gap Analysis Project is made up of 20 cooperating organizations including the Oregon Natural Heritage Program, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, the U.S. Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Defense. The USGS Gap Analysis Program provides scientific assessments of the conservation status of native vertebrate species and natural communities, and it facilitates the application of this information to land management activities, following the motto Sound Conservation through Good Information. The program is coordinated by the USGS Biological Resources Division and is managed by the Center for Biological Informatics in Denver, CO. (Mike Jennings, Moscow, ID, 208/885-3555).
  

• GAP Project Leader To Address ABI Annual Meeting: On November 3, Mike Jennings (CBI) will address members of the Association for Biological Information (ABI), the Western Hemisphere's consortium of Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers, at their annual meeting in North Falmouth, Massachusetts. Jennings will cover the status of the USGS Gap Analysis Program (GAP) and will discuss strengthening the role of ABI members in the long-term updating and maintenance of GAP information. The USGS Gap Analysis Program provides scientific assessments of the conservation status of native vertebrate species and natural communities, and it facilitates the application of this information to land management activities, following the motto Sound Conservation through Good Information. The program is coordinated by the USGS Biological Resources Division and is managed by the Center for Biological Informatics in Denver, CO. (Mike Jennings, Moscow, ID, 208/885-3555).
  

• GAP Project Results in NASA Grant To Virginia Polytech: During the week of October 20, NASA announced the award of a grant of almost $500,000 to Virginia Polytechnical Institute and University's Center for Environmental Applications of Remote Sensing (CEARS). The money will be distributed over the next 2 years for acquisition of hardware and software. This significant step in building a remote sensing capability for the State of Virginia was made possible by the original formation of the Virginia Gap Analysis Project (GAP). The Virginia project was started in 1995 and is made up of 12 major cooperating organizations, including the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, the Fish and Wildlife Information Exchange, the NPS, and the U.S. Army-Ft. Pickett. The Virginia Gap Analysis Project is led by Mr. Jeff Waldon (540/231-7348). The USGS Gap Analysis Program provides scientific assessments of the conservation status of native vertebrate species and natural communities, and it facilitates the application of this information to land management activities, following the motto Sound Conservation through Good Information. The program is coordinated by the USGS Biological Resources Division and is managed by the Center for Biological Informatics in Denver, CO. (Mike Jennings, Moscow, ID, 208/885-3555).
  

• FGDC Vegetation Standard Approved: On October 22, Secretary Babbitt approved the Federal Geographic Data Committee's (FGDC) Vegetation Information and Classification Standard. The standard has been under development since 1992 and has undergone considerable review, including formal review and comment in the Federal Register. It contains a hierarchical classification of vegetation of North America which all Federal Agencies should adhere to in mapping or classification of vegetation of the Nation. The standard is accessible on the FGDC Vegetation Subcommittee Home Page <http://biology.usgs.gov/fgdc.veg/>, which is managed at the CBI. The final format of the standard will change slightly from what is now presented at this site, but the content is essentially the same. Gary Waggoner of CBI has been intimately involved in this effort since its inception--as the National Park Service, National Biological Service, and currently USGS representative to the Subcommittee. (Gary Waggoner, Denver, 303/202-4222)
  

• Electronic National Natural History Museum: Work continues on development of a "virtual" network of museum and research collection data on biological specimens for the Nation. In partnership with numerous museums and other institutions, this BRD-led initiative is focused on bringing easy access via the Internet to this reliable, impartial cache of information that previously has been isolated and relatively inaccessible. The vast number of biological specimens in these collections represent a vital core of information about the Nation's biological diversity, both contemporary and historical. In September, the project was designated as a National Management Reinvention Laboratory by the Department. Jim Beach of the National Science Foundation (on detail to BRD) and Gary Waggoner (CBI) are currently assembling a small team of other key players from both the public and private sectors to work on the project. (Gary Waggoner, Denver, 303/202-4222)
  

• OBIO Staff Paper Accepted for CODATA Conference: On October 22, Anne Frondorf (OBIO/Headquarters), Maurice Nyquist, and Gary Waggoner (both from OBIO/CBI) submitted a paper entitled "Standards to Support Exchange of Biological Data through the National Biological Information Infrastructure" to be presented at the Conference on Scientific and Technical Data Exchange and Integration, December 15-17 in Bethesda, MD. The conference proceedings will be electronically published on the Internet after the meeting, presumably from the National Academy Web site. (Gary Waggoner, Denver, 303/202-4222)
  

IV. Press/Media Inquiries: No report.

V. FOIA Requests: No report.