WERC Highlights -- April 2005

African Clawed Frog in Southern California: Introductions of exotic species often have unexpected ecological consequences, and understanding the complex ways in which they may affect native ecosystems is critical to management solutions. In recent publications in Comparative Parasitology and The Southwestern Naturalist, USGS researchers and their colleagues report on two different topics relating to the introduced African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) in southern California: its parasites and its role as novel prey for native species. Their findings indicate that as a transporter of exotic parasites, introduced African clawed frogs may pose more of a risk to freshwater fish than to terrestrial frogs. Additionally, where native amphibians have declined, African clawed frogs may represent a possible replacement food resource for some native species of semi-aquatic predators, such as the two-striped garter snake, a species of concern. For more: http://www.werc.usgs.gov/pubbriefs/fisherpbapr2005.html. (Robert N. Fisher, San Diego, CA, 858-637-6882, rfisher@usgs.gov) Citations: Kuperman, B. I., V. E. Matey, R. N. Fisher, E. L. Ervin, M. L. Warburton, L. Bakhireva, and C. A. Lehman. 2004. Parasites of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, in southern California, U.S.A. Comparative Parasitology 71(2):229–232. Mullin, S. J., H. Imbert, J. M. Fish, E. L. Ervin, and R. N. Fisher. 2004. Snake (Colubridae: Thamnophis) predatory responses to chemical cues from native and introduced prey species. Southwestern Naturalist 49(4):449–456.

Snakes: Scientist Robert N. Fisher of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center was interviewed on April 14, 2005, by the Press-Enterprise regarding a recent study on the movement ecology of coastal populations of rosy boas in southern California, which exist in a rapidly fragmenting landscape. He was also interviewed by the Los Angeles Times on April 14 for a story about rattlesnakes and effects of development on snakes in the California Inland Empire region. (Robert N. Fisher, San Diego, CA, 858-637-6882, rfisher@usgs.gov)

Mountain Lion Death: Scientist Robert N. Fisher of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center was interviewed for April 14 and 15, 2005, stories in the Orange County Register about a mountain lion fitted with a radio collar for a study of lion movement that had been killed by a car: www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/04/14/sections/local/local/article_480935.php and www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/04/15/sections/local/local/article_482558.php. (Robert N. Fisher, San Diego, CA, 858-637-6882, rfisher@usgs.gov)

Desert Fires: Scientist Todd Esque of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center was interviewed on April 8, 2005, by the Los Angeles Times about effects of fire on Joshua trees. (Todd Esque, Henderson, NV, 702-564-4506, todd_esque@usgs.gov)

COS Board Member: Barbara Kus, a research ecologist at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, has been elected to a second three-year term on the board of directors of the Cooper Ornithological Society. Her previous service on the board was in 1996-1998. She will participate in the next board meeting, to be held during the organization’s 2005 annual meeting at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, June 14-18. The Cooper Ornithological Society advances the scientific study of birds and their habitats through its meetings, its sponsorship of symposia and workshops, and two scientific publications: The Condor and Studies in Avian Biology. (Barbara Kus, San Diego, CA, 858-637-6881, barbara_kus@usgs.gov)