Highlights for October 6, 2000
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

I. Key Department News:

• From Vision to Reality: USGS Integrated Science. Ralph Root of the USGS Center for Biological Informatics has been invited to address USGS Rocky Mountain Mapping Center managers on the customer-oriented perspective of invasive species research. Root will present results of current work on mapping leafy spurge at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, summarizing “lessons learned” from the project itself and, more generally, how successful partnering and collaboration efforts are contributing to moving the concept of USGS integrated science from vision to reality. (Ralph Root, Denver, 303-202-4232)
• GAP Selected as Primary Data Source for Sagebrush Habitat Analysis. A multi-agency sagebrush habitat workgroup has identified Gap Analysis Program (GAP) land cover data as the primary data source for analyzing sage habitats throughout their U.S. range. GAP representatives will participate on a multi-agency committee to develop a proposal for aggregating and refining existing GAP state data in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and state and federal agencies. The proposed project will create a continuous land cover map mosaic for sagebrush types spanning at least eight states, using GAP and any other large-area maps of equivalent or better resolution. Ancillary data such as topography and soils will then be used to model the distribution of sage species alliances or groups of alliances according to the National Vegetation Classification System. The resultant map will be used for regional animal species modeling, as an ecological context for state and local planning and management activities, and as a sampling framework for field-based inventory and monitoring. GAP is coordinated by the USGS and is managed by the USGS Center for Biological Informatics in Denver. (Patrick Crist, Moscow, Idaho, 208-885-3901)
• Lotus Implementation Team Receives DOI Unit Award. Along with other members of the Lotus Implementation Team, John Clark of the USGS Center for Biological Informatics was recently awarded the Department of the Interior Unit Award for Excellence of Service. The Team was recognized for superior work in deploying Lotus Notes to the entire USGS in a period of only 12 months. (John Clark, Denver, 303-202-4244)

II. Agency Works on Presidential Initiatives:

• FGDC Biological Profile Presented to Florida International University/Environment Canada. Sharon Shin of the USGS Center for Biological Informatics has been invited by Southeast Environmental Research Center and Florida International University’s Florida Digital Library to provide a workshop on the Federal Geographic Data Committee’s (FGDC) Biological Data Profile. Shin will present the two-day computer-based workshop at Florida International University on October 13-14. Environment Canada (Ottawa and Toronto) also requested training on the FGDC profile, which Shin will present November 8-10. (Sharon Shin, Denver, 303-202-4230)

III. Notable Congressional Activity: No report.

IV. Press/Media Inquiries: No report.

V. FOIA Requests: No report.