Highlights for August 7, 1998
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

I. Key Department News:

• USGS Scientist Addresses NPS Cheatgrass Problem: On July 23, Maury Nyquist (CBI) provided plant ecologist Sylvia Haultain of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks with information regarding the relationship of cheatgrass abundance to controlled burning. Following the extraordinarily wet, cool winter of 1997-1998, the parks noted a dramatic increase in cheatgrass. A correlation appeared to exist between cheatgrass abundance and prescribed burning in the Cedar Grove area of the parks, which is dominated by relatively open ponderosa pine forest. Nyquist provided information regarding timing and time interval of burning affecting the abundance of cheatgrass, which can outcompete perennials for early spring moisture. He also provided additional expert sources for further discussion of the topic. (Maury Nyquist, Denver, 303-202-4217)
  
  
• USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Database Assists Stanford Researcher: On August 4, Ralph Root (CBI) provided Stanford University researchers with information regarding the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program software tool for recording field data <http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/tools/plotsdatabase.html>. The software program represents a first step in transferring hand-written field notes to digital database format. Root also provided information on plot analysis tools. The USGS Center for Biological Informatics administers and directs the scientific activities of the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. (Ralph Root, Denver, 303-202-4232)
  
  

II. Agency Works on Presidential Initiatives: No report.

III. Notable Congressional Activity: No report.

IV. Press/Media Inquiries:

• USGS Scientist Provides Arizona Republic With Information on Scientific Literacy: On August 3, Ralph Root (CBI), provided Kerry Fehr-Snyder of the Arizona Republic with comments regarding the state of science literacy in America. Root, who is also a college professor, provided anecdotal information as well as expert sources covering the topic. (Ralph Root, Denver, 303-202-4232)
  
  

V. FOIA Requests: No report.