Highlights for December 11, 1997
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

I. Key Department News:

• BRD Scientist Assists Agency and University Partners: During the week of December 9, Dr. Maury Nyquist of CBI replied to a request from the head of the Department of Forest Resources at Oregon State University to supply a written evaluation and recommendation regarding the potential promotion of a faculty member to full professor status. During this week, Dr. Nyquist also was identified by the BLM as a "government technical expert" and was asked to review their draft Request for Information (RFI) to support Bureau-wide deployment of their Automated Land and Mineral Records System prior to release. The purpose of the review was to determine if the RFI clearly communicates the concepts intended and to check the technical accuracy of the document. As requested, Dr. Nyquist also responded to selected questions contained in the draft RFI. (Maury Nyquist, Denver, 303/202-4217)

• USGS Assists In GPS Keying Expansion: During the week of December 9, Karl Brown of CBI assisted NPS Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinator Tim Smith with the repair and rekeying of more than 130 GPS receivers. Brown also provided a classified briefing to Smith and Leslie Armstrong (also of the NPS) on the rekeying cycle and classified handling requirements for the GPS cryptographic key. After more than three years of support from NBS and USGS, the NPS will absorb the keying of NPS equipment in early 1998, in a planned expansion of DOI keying capabilities. The cryptographic key allows access to the Precise Positioning Service, giving users 4-8 meters of positioning accuracy without correction or assistance. (Karl Brown, Denver, 303/202-4240)

• USGS Participates In NPS ATBI Session: On December 18-19, Gladys Cotter, BRD Assistant Chief Biologist for Information, and Paul Opler of CBI will represent USGS at an organizational meeting for an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The ATBI will collect information on the distribution, abundance, and natural history of the estimated 40,000-70,000 species that inhabit the park. In addition to the traditional components of a biotic inventory, the project's goal is Web dissemination of information that will be useful in resource management, science, and education. Cotter will chair the Data Management Workgroup and will represent USGS during the partnership session; Opler will lead the session on Web publishing of the ATBI, including species accounts and images. (Paul Opler, Fort Collins, CO, 970/226-9409)

• Renowned USGS Scientist Retires: On December 30, Dr. Paul Opler of CBI will retire from the USGS and will assume the position of Senior Research Scientist and Professor in the Bioagricultural Sciences Department of Colorado State University. Dr. Opler will continue contributing to BRD's popular butterfly and moth Web sites and will complete his scientific review and editing of the BRD National Status and Trends Report after his retirement. During his distinguished career, Dr. Opler made major contributions to the scientific integrity and administration of the Fish and Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Program and he will continue as leader or member of three recovery teams. He is active in contributing to conservation efforts through the Nature Conservancy and World Conservation Union and also will continue in those roles after retirement. Dr. Opler has been conducting intensive surveys of the butterfly and moth fauna of Rocky Mountain National Park and Colorado National Monument. These efforts will continue or be expanded. (Paul Opler, Fort Collins, CO, 970/226-9409)

• BRD Receives Faster Internet E-Mail Delivery: On December 3, Peter Strong and John Clark (both of CBI) installed a new Pentium computer to handle E-mail sent between cc:Mail and Internet addresses. Both the new and the old computers are working in parallel, allowing more efficient handling of the increasing E-mail load on the system, especially during heavy volume days. (Peter Strong, Denver, 303/202-4246)

• FGDC Biological Data Working Group Develops 1998 Plan: On December 3, the newly formed Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Biological Data Working Group (Chair, Maury Nyquist of CBI and Executive Secretary, Anne Frondorf of OBIO) held its first meeting at the USGS National Center in Reston. In addition to determining logistical and operating procedures for the Working Group, the meeting was devoted to developing the 1998 work plan. The work group will focus on continuing to move the Biological Profile of the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata -- also known as the NBII [National Biological Information Infrastructure] Metadata Standard -- through the final stages of the FGDC standards process and will initiate the FGDC standards process for the development of a data content standard for biological nomenclature and taxonomy. The working group also will develop a set of informational materials both for public outreach and for inreach across the FGDC. (Maury Nyquist, Denver, 303/202-4217)

• Vegetation Mapping Program Data Online: On December 3, Maury Nyquist briefed the Chief Biologist and other senior BRD staff on the history and status of the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. The newly revised program home page <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/> was used to explain the program, its products, and their dissemination. The home page represents the paradigm for data, information, and tool delivery specified by Federal requirements and captures both the spirit and intent of the National Biological Information Infrastructure and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. All program data and information, metadata, protocols, tools, and other products are available for viewing and downloading in several formats. Currently, a complete set of products is available for one site, Tuzigoot National Monument in Arizona; data for several more parks will be online during 1998. (Maury Nyquist, Denver, 303/202-4217)

• SIS Now Online: The Science Information System (SIS) questionnaire Web page, which allows BRD staff to provide metadata for the SIS database, is now available for use at <http://bp.cr.usgs.gov/sis>. The SIS is an automated query system established by the BRD to provide rapid access to science and program data at the project level. It is designed to meet the information needs of scientists and resource managers--both within the BRD and in partner organizations, client agencies, and interest groups. Access to the SIS is through the BRD Home Page at <http://cristel.nal.usda.gov:8080/star/brd.html>. Links to other systems are provided for easy access to related information. (Bruce Powell, Denver, 303/202-4250)

IV. Press/Media Inquiries: No report.