PARK SCIENCE 

A RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BULLETIN 

VOLUME 2 - NUMBER 3 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

SPRING 1982 
PARK 

SCIENCE 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

SPRING 1982 

A report to park managers of recent and ongoing research in parks with emphasis on its 

implications for planning and management 

In This Issue From the Editor, 

Population Dynamics Monitoring of Living 

Marine Resources rn Channel Islands NP (page 3) 

lncreastng the Suwivability of Trees 

in the Urban Landscape 

Superintendent’s Corner 

Research Improves Prediction of 

Yosemite NP Fire Behavior 

Research Notes 

tnformalion Crossfile 

Biological Effects of Air Pollution: 

A Nationwide Perspective 

One Piece of the Research Action: 

Theodore Roosevelt NP 

Endangered Species Continues 

to Hang on in Big Bend 

Recreating an Animal Community at 

Jamaica Bay, Gateway NRA 

Regional Highlights 

Science in the North Atlantic Region 

Bratton Takes New Job 

Research Underway on 

Rare Cave Shrimp 

GWS Conference Slated 

(page 5) 

(page 6) 

(page 7) 

(page 6) 

(page 9) 

(page 10) 

(page 11) 

(page 12) 

(page f 3) 

(page t 4) 

(page 14) 

(page 15) 

(page 16) 

(page 16) 

Cover Photo: Park Rangers J T Reynolds and Craig 

Johnson lake a turn topside as dive masters recordino dive times and checkino divers in and out of the 

w&r at Santa Cruz Island &ring the resources menitoring project at Channel Islands National Park. 

(StON 0” o. 3) 

Science is stlrring and reaching out beyond its own. Three National Park science conferences are reported 

elsewhere in these pages, and a fourth allied conference is scheduled by the George Wright Society. Most of 

them have been arranged wth the idea of management transfer built in; at least one of them, contains a primaly 

thrust toward brinoino in and ~nvolv!nq the citizens who live around and react to the host park and its resources 

and problems. ” ” 

A key phrase in one of the conference announcements is “anyone who has conducted research in palks or is 

interested in National Park Service research and resource manaqement, including administrators, scientists, students, and laypersons.” According to the brochure, ‘Thats WHO it’s for.” 

If general systems principles can be held to apply in human systems as well as the better understood. so-called 

“natural” systems of earth, then this move toward better communication between scrence and management and 

between parks and the surrounding communities was predictable. Both the aim and the outcome involve lighter 

connections, improved feedback, enhanced efficiency - all the responses systems tend to display when faced 

with diminishing resources and/or energy. 

So it speaks well for parks, for park scrence. and for park management that these joint efforts, based on research into and management of one of the nation’s most admired Systems should be occurring “within the house 

of science,” so to speak. 

If human society could be expected to exhibit something beyond the unconscious self-designing of nature’s 

systems, it might be the self-insightful notion that communication with the whole of society should accompany the 

exchange of information between two segments within the system (in this case, scientists and managers.) Thus, 

it is a matter of some reason for pride that we find ‘the outside world” specifically invited to attend, to contribute, to 

panicipate in the scheduled prOCeedinQS. 

Heaven knows, the park-based people have much to tell the world. Heavan probably also knows that the 

“laypersons” who view things from a slightly different angle, may have something valuable of their own to toss 

into the conference pot. 

RUSSELL E. DICKENSON, Director 

National Park Service 

U.S. Department 01 the Interior 

Editorial Board: 

Daniel J. (Jim) Tobin. Reaional Director. and 

Donald R. Field, RegibnaiChlef Scientist. Pacific Northwest Region: 

Roland C. Wauer, Chief, Natural Resources Management, and 

John Dennis, biologist, Washington Office; 

Supt. William M. Lukens, Padre Island National Seashore, and 

Asst. Supt. Dale B. Engquist, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. 

Jean Matthews, Editor: Oregon Slate University NPSICPSU, Room 126 Forestry Sciences Lab. 

3200 Jefferson Way, Cowallis, OR 97331 (503) 757-4579; E-420-4579 

Please address requests for information to appropriate Regional Chief Scientists: 

Anderson, William H. 

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION 

1100 Ohio Drive, S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20242 

6-426-6660 (202) 426.6660 

Buckley, Paul A. 

NORTH ATLANTIC REGION 

15 State Street 

Boston. MA 02109 

6-223-7765 (617) 223.7765 

Fenn. Dennis B. 

WESTERN REGION 

450 Golden Gate Avenue 

P.O. Box 36063 

San Francisco, CA 94102 

6-556-4966 (415) 556.4966 

Field, Donald R. 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION 

Room 1920 Westin Building 

9001 Sixth Avenue 

Seattle. WA 96121 

6-399-1355 (206) 442-1355 

Fleet, Harvey 

Chief, Science Center 

DENVER SERVICE CENTER 

P.O. Box 25297 

Denver, CO 60225 

(303) 2344527 

Fletcher, Milford F. 

SOUTHWEST REGION 

P.O. Box 728 

Santa Fe, NM 67501 

6-476-6412 (505) 988-6412 

Gcgue, G. Jay 

SOUTHEAST REGION 

75 Spring St. S.W. 

Atlanta, GA 30303 

62423643 (404) 221-3643 

Kartsh. John F. 

MID ATLANTIC REGION 

Ferguson Bldg., Room 209.8 

Pennsylvania State University 

University Park, PA 16602 

6 (614) 665.7974 

Larson, Gary 

MIDWEST REGION 

1709 Jackson St. 

Omaha, NE 66102 

6-864-3436 (402) 221-3436 

Lovaas, Altan L. 

ALASKA REGION 

540 W. Fifth Avenue, Room 202 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

6 (907) 271.4212 

Reid, Neil J. (Jim) 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION 

P.0. Box 25827 

Denver, CO 60225 

6-234-2764 (3C’:) 234.2764 

2 
Population Dynamics Monitoring 

Of Living Marine Resources in 

Channel-Hands National Park 

By Gary Davis 

In the summer of 1981, Channel Islands NP began 

an innovative rasource monitoring pro@ Nearly two 

miles of underwater transect lines we lald to help 

research scientists and resource managers from the 

State of California and the National Park Service 

monitor the population dynamics of maw plants and 

animals in the park. Such research and resource 

monitoring I” the ocean is extremely complex and 

costly, The broad array of required knowledge and 

skills range from the practical application of offshore 

navigation, boat operation, SCUBA diving and underwater construction to scientific expertise In marine 

ecology, sampling theory and statisttcal analysts. 

The need for accurate. up-to-date informatlon on 

mwne resources in Channel Islands NP is acute. 

Spectacular concentrations of breeding seals, sea 

Ikons, and sea birds depend on the marine food chain. 

Although one mile of waler around each of the five ISlands in the park IS included I” the park boundary 

(about 125,000 acres), the living marine reso~nxs 

are managed by the State of California, with wtually 

unlimited total harvest of fish. lobster, abalone, and 

other marine organisms. This direct Impact, plus impending threats from adjacent petroleum extraction 

activities, pose the potential for major human disturbance of these ecosystems. The cost of prowding I”- 

formation to make wise decisions about these resources IS high, but in line with the NPS mandate, the 

need is urgent. 

The Channel Islands NP marine resources mOniloring project is bung conducted jointly by NPS and 

the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). 

CJb]ectnes for the first year (1981) were to select 

study sues and spews to monitor that represent the 

broad array of biogeographical, ecological, and 

human activities found in the park. For the first field 

season, the specific goal was to establish 24 permanent 100-m&r transects upon which long-term repetitive biological sampling will be based. 

In January 1981, I sat down with an Ad Hoc committee of senior biologists from CDFG led by Herbert 

W. Frey and began discussions of the project During 

the next six months we developed project objectwes, 

established criteria for selection of species to monitor, selected species, and prepared a study proposal. 

Funding for initiation of the project in FY 1981 was 

approved in July, and the first field work was conducted in August and Seplember. 

Project Objectives 

The Channel Islands NP enabling legislation (PL 

96-199) (passed in 1980 to expand the park and give 

if National Park status) provides clear direction for 

management, stating: ‘The park shall be administered 

on a low-intensity, limited-entry basis.’ The law 

further reqwes detailed monitoring of the population 

dynamics of both terrestrial and marine species in the 

park, with biennia reports to the Congress for 10 

years. These Resource Study Repotis are also to include ~recommendations as to what actions should 

be considered for adoption to better protect the natural wso”rces of the park.” 

The lirst objective for the living marine resources 

project is to summarize the historical data on populat~on dynamics of selected ‘lndlcatoi species. The information summarlred will Include data on abundance, dlstributlon, reproductive efforts, recruitment 

10 the population. phenology, population age and sex 

compositions, growth rates, and mortality rates. 

The second objective IS to design and implement a 

sampling program to determine the population dynamics of the ‘indicator speaes. 

The last objective is to develop and implement a 

data management system for storage. retrieval, and 

reporting of population parameters. 

Indicator Species and Study Sites 

In selecting marine plants and animals to monitor, 

a list of nearly 1.000 species compiled by Dr. John M. 

Engle at the University of Southern California 

Cat&a Marine Science Center was reviewed. Five 

criteria were used to select species from the list: (1) 

legally protected species (1.e. rare 01 endangered), 

(2) species constituting critical habitat for endangered 

species. (3) harvested spews, (4) species dominant 

m or charactewtic of major ecosystems, (5) large 

showy ‘heroic’ species. Using these criteria, 12 

plants, 37 w&-bra&s, and 13 fishes were selected 

for long-term monitoring. A list of the selected species 

may be obtalned from me at Channel Islands NP 

Headquarters. 1901 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura, CA 

93003. 

The waters of Channel Islands NP harbor an 

ecologically diverse array of species assemblages. 

The park sits at the boundary of two major biogeographical provinces: the Oregonian province to the 

notih and the Californian to the south. The western 

Park islands, San Miguel and Santa Rosa, are bathed 

by northern waters carried south by the California 

current and therefore reflect the blological assemblages of the Oregonian province. Waters around 

Clean record is the boast of the diving effort A/- 

though 643 Scuba dwes were conducied durfng the 

1981 field season, no dive r&led xc/dents of any 

kind occurred, thanks lo Weslern Regional Diving 

Officer David McLean and the Channel Hands NP 

d;wng team who organfzeo and carried auf the operation. 

the eastern park Islands of Anacapa and Santa Barbara come from the south along the mainland coast 

and suppolt the warm temperate btota characteristic 

of the Californian province Around Santa Cruz Island, at the boundary of these two provinces, a broad 

Stem dack of the Motor Vessel Panfic Ranger was the scene of ~iltense achwty as research personnel and dive 

team members wenf through their summer monlloring paces 

3 
transition zone is characterrzed by a special assemblage of plant and animal species from both provrnce~ that are capable of adapting to these unique 

and variable conditions. 

Prevailing winds and the balhymetry of adjacent 

basins also greatly influence marine communikes in 

Ihe park. Strong north winds buffet the north srdes of 

the islands, while the biota of the southern coasts re 

fleet their more sheltered positions. Upwelling nutrients from 2,000 meter-deep basins to the south and 

west of the park produce exceptionally productive 

food webs and temperate regrmes that differ significantly from the shallow northern sides of the islands. 

Sampling sites selected for long-term population 

monitoring reflect the broad range of condikons and 

biological assemblages in the park. Twelve locations 

representing the north and south sides of each of the 

islands and the east-west transition from Californian 

to Oregonian provinces. were selected (see map). At 

each of these locations, two 100.meter-long transects were established to provide a basis for precise, 

repetitive measurements of plant and animal populations. 

Transects Established 

Using the NPSs 17 meter-long motor vehicle 

Pacific Ranger as a base of operaton. a total of 45 

SCUBA divers conducted 643 dives in locating and 

establrshing the 24 100.meter transects in August 

and September, 1981. Six week-long cruises were 

conducted, with 8 to 10 divers on each cruise. Five 

CDFG diving biologists - Dan Gotshall, Ken Wilson, 

Dave Parker, Pete Haaker, and Kristine Hendersonassisted me in selecting and marking the transects 

during the first cruise, August 18-21. On the remaining cruises, 33 divers from the NPS Western Region 

dive team and 7 scientists from local universitres and 

National Marine Fisheries Service established the 

Slick ‘em Down! Al each of lhe 24 study sites, I1 

stainless s&e/ eyeboits were epoxied info holes 

dnlied into the rocky boffom at IO-meter intervals 

along a lOO.meter long transect. The epoxy was injected with a pneumat;c cauiklng gun operaled off of 

Deckhand Dand Sloitz’ SCUBA tank. 

Locations Selected for Long-Term Population Dynamics Monitoring in 

Channel Islands National Park, California 

SAN MIGUEL 

ISLAND 

BANTA CRUZ HEADQUARTERS 

SANTA ROSA 

ISLAND 

‘%+&+++I 

10 miles = 16.09 Kilometers 

Channel Islands National Park 

SANTA BARBARA 

ISLAND 

@ 

Looation Island 

Nifty Rock San Miguel 

Wycoff Ledge San Miguel 

Johnsons Lee Santa Rosa 

Rades Reef Santa Rosa 

Gull Island Santa Cruz 

Yellow Banks Santa Cruz 

Scorpion Rock SantaCruz 

Pelican Harbor Santa Cruz 

Cathedral Cove Anacapa 

Cat Rock Anacapa 

Landing Cove Santa Barbara 

Signal Peak Santa Barbara 

Map Symbol 

NR 

WL 

JL 

RR 

GI 

YB 

SR 

PH 

cc 

CR 

LC 

SP 

permanent transect fines on the sea floor involving a sequence of operations, specialized equipment, 

and skills developed specifically for this project. 

Emplacement procedures were conducted in 

stages by a series of divers because the time a diver 

can spend underwater without risk of decompression 

sickness (the bends) is extremely limited. Even at the 

relatively shallow 18-m&r maximum depth of the 

transects, a diver can spend only two hours per day 

on the bottom. Each finished transect line consists of 

11 stainless steel eyebolts anchored in bedrock at 10 

meter Intervals, connected by 10 lengths of kadcore 

nylon line. The advantages of this design are that the 

11 eyebolts provide precise locations to which various biological sampling schemes may be referenced, 

loss of an entire transect line to storm or a boat an. 

char dragged across the line is greatly reduced, and if 

an entire line were lost, relocation would be much 

easier and quicker with several eyebolts for which to 

search. Complete details on the divrng and emplacement operations are available upon request from me, 

care of the park. 

Future Plans 

In the second year of the project, historical data on 

the populatron dynamics of selected species will be 

4 

gathered and summarized from cruise reports, dive 

logs, and other unpublished materials in the CDFG Ii. 

brary in Long Beach, Calif., as well as from the pub 

lished scientific literature. These summaries will be 

included in the frrst of the five biennial Resource 

Study Reporfs to be submitted to Congress in October, 1982. During the winter and spring of 1982, 

sampling programs for each of the plants and animals 

will be designed and tested in the field. Techniques to 

be evaluated include phatogrammetric plots, bait stations, line intercept transects, cinetransects and an 

experimental marine elecfroshocker. Some are standard applications of known methods, while others 

represent entirely new approaches to sampling 

marine organisms. 

The first samples for routine monitoring will be 

taken in July and August, 1982, during another series 

of weak-long cruises on the Pacific Ranger. Monitoring the health and condition of the complex manne 

ecosystems in Channel Islands NP is imperative and 

the methodology developed in the effort will be readily applicable to many parks and ecosystems. 

Editor’s Nofe: Park Science wi// carryaccounfs of 

the findings at Channel islands as the monitoting pmceeds. 
Increasing the Survivability 

of Trees in the Urban Landscape 

By Ann F. Rhoads and Paul W. Meyer 

Growmg trees in ah urban park requires special attention to assure success since the highly modified 

environment of the city imposes multiple stresses. In 

order to better understand the factors mvolved, the 

Moms Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania 

entered into a contract with the Mid-Atlantic Region of 

NPS for a studv 01 lndeoendence National Historical 

tive trees as maples and lindens. 

Trunk wounds am a commonly occurring form of 

mechanical damage, especially on curbside trees. 

These wounds frequently become entry points for 

wood decay fungi, other pathogens, and insects. 

Basal wounds also are common oh fawn sp-.:imens 

as a result of poor maintenance practices. ttepeated 

wounding with lawn mowers has weakened plants 

and led to invasion by crown canker and other disease and insect problems. 

Obscure Scale is especially troublesome on Red 

Oak, Scarlet Oak, and Willow Oak growing in 

curbside planting pits. Kermes Oak Scale is often 

present on these same species. Severe infestations 

of scale can sertously weaken trees and even kill 

them. Trees in open lawn seHings are less frequently 

infested, presumably due to the reduced degree of 

stress under which they are growing. 

Park. ’ 

This 47.acre park was established in the mid1950s in the head of downtown Philadelphia. All but 

one small area contained buildings which were razed 

IO create open space. The park has been landscaped 

with relatively diverse plantings over the past 25 

years and now contains approximately 1,900 trees, 

representing 100 species or cultivars Trees are 

planted in sites ranging from open lawn to curbside 

planting pits. 

In 1976.77, the Moms Arboretum carried out a survey of the trees in Independence National Historical 

Park. All trees were individually evaluated for overall 

condition and specific insect, disease, or environmental stress problems. Where necessary, laboratory diagnoses were carded out to identify pests. Site 

characteristics also were noted, including the nature 

of the surrounding surface. the area of exposed soil, 

and proximity to buildrngs or the street. Following 

completion of the initial survey, spot checks of new 

and recurrent problems were made in 1979 and 

1979. 

lnfonatfon regarding the adaptability of various 

tree spectes to urban growing conditions was wllected and analyzed. The impodant stress factors 

limibng tree growth have been identified and cultural 

and mamtenance practices were recommended 

which can increase survivability of trees in the city. 

Among the specific problems affecting tree growth, 

soil related factors rank near the top. Excessive soil 

moisture due to poor drainage, soil compaclion, salt 

accumulation, and alkaline conditions all pose seware 

limitations to tree growth. 

Trees depend oh their roots for absorption of water 

and dissolved minerals, anchorage, and storage of 

energy-rich carbohydrates over the winter. Roots are 

a living, growing pad of the tree and must continually 

expand into new areas of soil to accomplish these 

necessary functions. 

Disturbed urban soils often wnsist of rubble and 

‘fill dirt” and thus bear little resemblance to a normal 

soil profile which includes layers of humus, topsoil 

and subsoil underlain by parent rock. Drainageconditions are often poor or uneven and the presence of 

masonry debris may create highly alkalineconditions. 

Organic material is usually lacking. Soil compaction is 

a common problem resulting from constant heavy 

trafkc over clay and silt fill materials. Compaction reduces soil air space to the point that roots may suffocate from lack of oxygen. Compacted soil drains 

poorly, thereby leading to periodic conditions of water 

saturatton which further aggravate the lackof oxygen. 

Another factor that can seriously reduce soil oxygen 

content is the production of methane rn old landfill 

areas as buried organic debris undergo anerobic decomposition. 

The use of de-icing salts on streets and sidewalks 

results in salt buildup in curbside planting pits and 

causes leaf scorch and eventual death of such sensiAnother form of mechanical damage results from 

vandalism. Branches and entire trees have been broken off when nurserv stock was not of sufficientlv 

large size. ’ 

Air pollution injury caused by the photochemical 

pollutant ozone is likely to occur on certain sensitive 

plants. In Philadelphia, ozone damage, which consists of a fine dark red or black stippling of the upper 

leaf surface, has been found on White Basswood, 

Sweetgum, Cockspur Hawthorn and London Planetree. In general. this injury does not appear to be a 

serious threat to tree health. Occasionally, a very 

sensitive plant may be affected to the extent of partial 

defoliation. 

Temperature isanotherproblem. Extremesof heat 

or cold can cause damage in some plants. Summer 

heat, reflected from surrounding surfaces, can cause 

leaf scorch. In winter, bark scald and/or frost cracks 

develop when tree trunks are sun-warmed and undergo raped changes in temperature. Species with 

dark colored bark are mom susceptible to winter 

damage than those with light colored bark. 

Insect and disease problems increase in incidence and severity when trees are subjected to environmental stress. Soil compaction, salt. extremes of 

temperature, air pollution and mechanical wounding 

all reduce a tree’s natural defenses and its ability to 

resist threats to health. One or more of these stress 

factors are common m most city planting sites. The 

past problems cited below were found to be most prevalent in the survey of Independence NHP. 

Scale insects are widespread rn urban planting. 

Bagworms are another common pest in city plantings. These caterpillars feed on the leaves of deciduous and evergreen trees. Concealed in bags constructed of silk and bits of plant debris which hang 

from the branches, they are most visible in the wintertime. 

Another insect problem, which may be unique to 

city planting sees, is termites. The Eastern Subterranean Termite may attack apparently vigorous and 

otherwise intact young trees. In one location in Independence Park, termites invaded newly planted 

Ginkgo and Thornless Honeylocust trees under cover 

of the paper trunk wrap used to protect the trees from 

sunscald. 

Borers are another category of insects frequently 

found in urban plantings. The Lilac Borer attacks Ash 

and Lilac; the Dogwood Borer and Rhododendron 

Borer also are troublesome. 

Certain disease problems caused by parastic fungi. 

bacteria viruses and nematodes are to be expected 

in city plantings. In some cases, increased disease 

susceptibility is clearly related to environmental 

slress factors. The severe problem with Bleeding 

Necrosis disease of Sweetgum trees in Independence Park is an example. Susceptibility to the fungus which causes this disease has been associated 

with low moisture and low temperature stress. 

Foliage diseases. although unsightly, are not as 

serious a threat to tree suNkal. In a number of cases, 

disease incidence can be reduced through use of resistant cultivars. Anthracnose of London Planetree is 

common in cities where this tree has been used extensively in street plantrngs. In a cool, wet spring, this 

disease can cause nearly complete defoliation. How- 
I 3 

ever, the trees will recover within a month or so. The 

London Planetree cultivar, Bloodgood. resistant to 

anthracnose. has performed exceptionally well m Independence Park. Apple scab and Powdery Mildew 

are common on susceptible crabapple trees. Resistant cultivars are available and should be specifted in 

all cases. 

Species diversity emerged as a major deterrent IO 

plant problems m city parks. Far too offen entire parks 

are planted with only two or three kinds of trees. This 

not only leads to a visually dull landscape but it also 

can create later horticultural problems if insect or dtsease problems arise. 

The devastation wrought by Dutch Elm Disease IS 

a classic example of the danger of overuse of a single 

tree species. The American Elm, once planted almost 

exclusively tn many areas of the northeast and midwest, has been virtually wiped out as Dutch Elm Disease swept across the country. By increasing the diversify of species selected for our urban landscapes. 

the potential for simtlar devastating epidemics can be 

minimized. 

Increased survivability lor urban park lrees can 

be promoted in two equally important ways; one way 

involves plant selection and the other, site preparation. 

A knowledge of the cultural requirements and 

adaptability of tree species and culfivars is essential 

to planning a successful, low maintenance urban 

planting. Only salt-tolerant species should be planted 

in areas where de-icing salts will be used. Selections 

with resistance to specific pest problems should be 

used in areas where the pests are known to occur. 

Avoiding a problem is always preferable to having to 

treat it later. Some examples which are now available, m addition to anlhracnose-resistant varieties of 

London PlaneTree, are scab and rust-resistant 

crabapples, species of elm resistant to Dutch Elm 

Disease, and even tree species which the gypsy 

moth avoid (native American tulip tree). Large plantings should always contain a diversity of species to 

minimize Ihe spread of specific pests. 

Site preparatton is equally important. Where plants 

Ann Rhoads and Paul Meyer inspect a new/y planted I 

are to be part of the urban landscape, site design sand. Trees in lawn areas should be planted hrgh and 

should take into consideration the biological needs of protected from mechanical mjury by a mulched zone 

living plants. In exfsting areas, soma modifications to at least three feet in diameter 

provtde more favorable growmg conditions may be Living trees are a valuable addition to the urban 

possible. Improved drainage and reductton of soil park. Their significance warrants more attention to 

compaction may be accomplished by construction of site preparation, selection and care. Reduced stress 

raised planting beds. In addition, planting trees three on trees will result tn increased survivability and reto four inches above grade will help to alleviate prob- duced maintenance costs. 

lems arising from reduced soil oxygen content. Ann Rhoads IS Plant PathologrSt and Paul Meyer6 

Additional root space can be accomplished also by Curator of the Lmng Coliecl~on. Mortis Arboretum, 

constructing expanded or interconnected tree pits University of Pennsylvania; 94 14 Meadowbrook Avepadially topped with bricks or paving stones laid in nue, PhLdelph;a. PA 19116. 

superintendents’ corner 

Crater Lake IS lksted as one of the natural wonders 

of the world, and its status as one of the superlattve 

crown jewels in the National Park System is not questioned. This magnificent beauty and interestmg geological creation has entranced people for nearly a 

hundred years. Yet we scarcely have begun to comprehend the characteristics and life of this unique resource. 

We easily recognize and accept Ihe fact that our 

mission as custodians of this priceless scenic and 

scientific wonder is to preserve it for present and future generations and to assume that natural processes dictate the continuing nature of the lake. It was 

with this recognition that, during the past three years 

of preparation of our natural resource management 

plans, we placed the need for increased research and 

monitoring of the lake as our highest priority. Our concern for thts matter was heightened in 1979 when results of lake clanfy studies indicated some loss had 

occurred smce 1968. 

As we finalized our natural resource management 

plan tn 1991, we realized the necessity for establishing a developed, long-range research and monitoring 

program for the Crater Lake ecosystem. With the 

cooperative assistance of the Regional Science and 

Technology office, and the Cooperative Park Studies 

Unit at Oregon State University, we scheduled a Crater Lake Research Workshop on January 27 and 28. 

1982 at OSU. The purpose of this workshop was to 

explore means by whtch existing Information can be 

applied to our understanding of the Crater Lake 

ecosystem and to formulate a research/monitoring 

program to fill critical data gaps in response to shorfterm and long-term management needs. 

From this productive session developed an action 

plan that already is underway. The 1992 season will 

see a research boat (a new purchase this year), a 

new research technician (seasonal) to assist the various research data collection activities, and the technical limnological research services of Dr. Douglas Larson. AdditIonally, we will be obtaining a few 

specialized sctentific instruments for necessary data 

6 

collection. Along with temperature and clarity studtes, 

information will be collected on water pH, and analysis of the phytuplankton and chlorophyll amounts. 

There will continue to be geological studies of the 

caldera and analysis of information that investigators 

now have, which tells us there are thermal springs 

that are discharging Into the deep water and that 

have a dramatic effect on the temperature, stratification, circulation and chemistry of these waters. 

All of these complex limnoiogical and geologfcal 

processes contribute to an exciting and perhaps mysterious life style of Crater Lake. which leads back 

to our need to learn all we can of what is happenmg 

naturally within the lake and whatever may be indtrectly caused by man. Once we begin to understand 

better these vital signs - to comprehend the forces 

that are ‘driving” the lake-we will be in a more knowledgeable position to make sound management decisions about actions that could affect the lake ecosystern. 

In the meantime, park management will continue to 

exercise the htohest orotective measures possrbfe to 

assum that C&r Lake is perpetuated and preserved 

undisturbed for the enfoyment of future generations. 

James S. Rouse, Superintendent 

Crater Lake National Park, OR 97601 
Research Improves Prediction 

of Yosemite NP Fire Behavior 

By Jim Benedict and Jan van Wagtendonk 

Fire has played a dynamic role for millenia m Sierra 

Nevada forests. Many plant communities in Yosemite 

have been adversely affected by years of suppressing naturally occurring fires. Trends in plant community succession have been altered, resulting in unnatural shifts in the composition and structure of Park 

ecosystems. The natural mosaic of diverse vagetation types is slowly being replaced by dense stands of 

fre-intolerant plants, especially at lower elevations of 

the Park. Yosemite’s forests also have become increasingly susceptible to catastrophic wildfire as both 

living and dead fuel loads continue to increase. 

To restore fire as a natural process in Yosemite’s 

forests it is necessary to have information about fire 

behavior in the various Park ecosystems. Fire behavlor is dependent on weather, topography and 

fuels. of these, data on fuels are the most difficult to 

obtain. Prescribed burning. natural fire management. 

and fire suppressjon programs all require both 

generalized and detailed information on the abundance, distribution, and characteristics of ground 

fuels within Park ecosystems. 

Fuels information gathered prior to a burn aids fire 

behavior prediction: fuels data gathered before and 

after a burn reflects fire effects on fuel loads. The 

commonly used methods for estimating pre- and 

post-bum ground fuel loading include: (1) fuel sample 

collection for laboratory drying and weighing: (2) a 

planar intersect technique; and (3) photo series for 

estimating forest residues. 

Each of these methods has specific applications for 

fire management planning. Fuel sample collection 

and analysis was found to be extremely time consuming and burdensome for most management pur- 

@ses; it IS now used primarily for fire research purposes. Brown’s (1974) planar intersect technique derives fuel loadings from calculations using intercept 

tallies, average diameter measurements, correction 

factors and constants. However, as ground fuels become less uniform in size, shape, distribution and 

orientation, the length of intersect line required to esttmate the average fuel loading on an area increases 

dramatically (Pickford and Hazard 1978). 

Photo Method 

An even quicker inventory method eliminates the 

need to tally fuel particle intercepts on tens of 

thousands of feet of intersect line. Photo series were 

developed to make fast, easy, and Inexpensive estimates of residue which are adequate for most management needs (Maxwell and Ward 1980). The user 

is required only to match an obsetwc fuel characteristic with a series of photographs that depict various 

Cover types and stand ages at different fuel loading 

levels. The user obtains fuel loading values from the 

data sheet accompanying the selected photo (or interpolates a value between photos). 

Knowledge of Sierra fuel characteristics is extremely limited. Research being conducted in Yosemite was designed to build upon and expand the fuel 

inventory techniques described above. Brown developed his technique for inventorying dead and down 

woody fuels using data from northern Rocky Mountain conifers. Work by Ryan and Pickford (1978) in 

Measuring and collecting ground fuels beneath a 

pure sfand of old-growth whrle IN (Ables concolor). 

the Blue Mouniatns of Oregon and Washington and 

by Sacketi (1980) in the Southwest has revealed that 

use of Brown’s Rocky Mountam data can result in slg 

nificant differences in estimating fuel loadings when 

comparisons are made based on locally collected 

correction factors. 

The first objective of the fuels research has been to 

quantity for the 22 Sierra conifers the factors required 

m Brown’s fuel loading equations. Species specific 

data were collected on specific gravity squared average-quadradic mean diameters, and the average 

secant of non-hofrontal particle angles. These vat- 

“es wtll not only increase the reliability of fuel loading 

estimates but also will wease the accuracy of the 

photo series developed to quantify forest fuels in the 

Sierra in which only Brown’s inventory techmque was 

used to estimate fuel loadings within the photographed stands (Maxwell and Ward 1979, Blonski 

and Schramel 1981). 

Dvfi Correlations 

The second objective of the fuels research has 

been to develop correlations between duff depth and 

duff weight for forest floor fuels beneath each of the 

22 conifers. Within Sierra forests the quantity of fuels 

within the duff layers frequently exceeds the quantity 

of dead and down woody fuels on the surface of the 

forest floor. Duff fuels are an important component of 

the forest fuels of the Sierra, yet Brown’s inventory 

technique provides only for the averaging of three 

duff depth measurements with no calculations of duff 

weight or other characteristics. These correlations 

will permit the manager to make depth measuraCollecting ground fuels beneath a pure stand of old-growth red hi (Abies magnifica) 

7 
ments and predict the loading of duff fuels. 

The third objective of the fuels research is to use 

fuel characteristics information to develop a fuel 

model for each of the Park’s forest types. Fire behavior prediction requires that fuels data be incorporated into fuel models. Computer based models of 

wildland fire behavior (Albini 1976) currently use 13 

stylized fuel models to characterize a variety of vegetation types throughout the country. These models 

generalize the fuel characteristics of the vegetation 

being burned. In addition to fuel loadings by Size 

class, the fuel models include values for sullace-tovolume ratios, fuel density heat of combustion. total 

mineral content, and silica-free ash content. These 

values are being collected. Use of the fuel models requires a great deal of professional or subjective 

judgement. 

Fuel Models 

There has been a strongly felt need among fire 

managers and researchers for a method to interface 

fuel Inventory procedures in natural fuels with fire behavior prediction models. To meet this need Burgan 

and Rathermel (1979) at the Northern Forest Fire 

Laboratory in Missoula have developed an interactive, tutorial computer program that utilizes field fuel 

inventory information to develop site-specific fuel 

models. The fuel models are compatible with current 

fire behavior prediction models, such as the TI-59 

Fire Behavior CROM (Burgan 1979). Fuels data from 

the Sierra will be used in the fuel model computer 

program to develop a site-specific fuel model for each 

of the Parts forest types. These models will improve 

the Yosemite fire management staff’s ability to predict 

fire intensity and rate of spread within each of the 

Park’s 15 forest types. 

All of the field work and most of the laboratory work 

have been completed. The results from data 

analyses will be available in three to six months. The 

published results WIII appear in a year or a year-anda-half. 

Benedict is research biologfs~ and van Wagfendonk 

is research scienfisf wifh fhe National Park Service al 

Yosemife NP. 

Because of fhe usefo/ness to management of 

Ihe listed publications, the entire Ltterature Cited 

is herewifh reproduced 

Aibini, F.A. 1976. Estimating wiklfire behavior and 

effecb. USDA Fort% Service, Intermtn. For. & Rng. 

Exp. St,, General Techmcal Repoil /NT-30. 92 p. 

Elonskr, KS and JS. Schramel. 1981. Photo 

seties for quantQ4ng nafural forest residues: southem Cascades, northern biera Nevada. USDA Forest 

Service, Pacific Southwest For. & Rng. Exp. St.. Genera/ Technical Repoil PSW-56. 145 p. 

Brown, J.K 1974. Handbook for invenlmying 

downed wwaiy material USDA Forest Service, Intermtn. For, 8 Rng. Exp. St., General Technical Repofl 

INT- 16. 24 p. 

Burgan, R. E. 1979. Fire danger/fire behavior computafjons with Ihe Texas Instruments T&59 calculator: 

user’s manual. USDA Forest Semce, Intermfn. For. 

& Rng. Exp. SI., General Technkxl Report /NT-61. 

25 p. 

Burgan, R. E. and R.C. Rothermel 1979. A melhod 

for developing site-specific fire behavior fuel models: 

study plan. USDA For& Sewice, Intemtn. For. & 

Rng. Exp. St., Noflhem Forest Fire Laboratory, Mis. 

soula, MT 17~. 

Maxwe//, WG., and FR. Ward 1979. Photo series 

for quantifying for& residues in: S;erra mixed-conifer 

Ca//iows andorotacfor level used fo measure the diameters and non-hoiizonfal angles of infersecfed dead and 

type and Sierra true fir lype, USDA Forest Service, 

Pa& NorthwestFor. 8 Rng. Exp. St., General Technical Reporl PNW-95. 79 p. 

Cuffing a section auf of a iog Nisi was located mfhm 

a 20 Y 50 cm. sampling frame beneath a pure polestand of lodgepole pine (Ptnus contorta var murrayana). 

Maxwell. W. G. and F R. Ward. 1980. Guidelines for 

developing or supplementing nafural photo series. 

USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest For. & Rng. 

Exp. St. Research Nole PNW-356. 16 p. 

Pickiord, S. G. and J. W. Hazard. 1978. Simulafion 

studies on line intersect sampling of forest residue. 

Forest Science 244(4/: 469-483. 

Ryan, KC., and S.G. Pickford 1978 Physical 

prop&es of woody fuels in the Blue Mountains of 

Oregon and Washington. USDA Forest Service, 

Panfic Northwest For. & Rng. Exp. St, Research 

Nofe PNW-315. 9p. 

Sackeff, S.S. 1980. V&dy fuel paiicle size and 

specific gravity of Southwestern tree species. USDA 

For& Service, Rocky Mm. For. 8 Rng. Exp. SL. Research Note RM-389. 4 p. 

research 

notes 

The 1981 Prcgress Report on Ecology and Management of Mountain Goats in Olympic National 

Park, the first of a series, will become available in 

m!d-May from Olympic NP Supt. Roger Cantor. The 

report. by John Aho, Doug Houston. Bruce Moorhead, Ed Schreiner, and Richard Starr, describes the 

1981 goat management operation, including goat removal by heltcopterfrom Klahhane Ridge. Another52 

animals will be taken off the Ridge again in 1982, beginning about the end of June. 
I 1 

Information Crossfile 

The Fall 1982 issue of Trends, focusing on applied research in parks, will feature a detailed article 

by John Tanacredr. Natural Resource Management 

Specialist al Gateway NRA, on shoreline stabrlrzation 

through marsh restoration. Tanacredi and co-author 

Bonnre Lou Gay descnbe the successful counterattack mounted by the park against coastal erosron. 

The specific experiment described involved working 

‘with nature” to protect the natural setbng of shoreline 

areas at Plumb Beach -once an island of low-lymg 

hassocks of marsh, now the site of one of Brooklyn’s 

major highways -the Belt Parkway. Marsh restoration, to save the shoreline and the highway, involved 

“km mattresses’ and a dominant intertidal species 

known as S’partina alfemiflora. This hardy marsh 

grass is an unsurpassed nutrient source, a natural 

breakwater, and an absorber of sewage effluent. 

*** 

Pacific Northwest Regional Forest Service Newsletter, Greensheer, in its April 2 issue describes an elk 

trapping project that staned last summer on the easf 

slopes of the Cascades - to Identify herd size and 

migration routes of the Roosevelt elk. A spike bull, a 

yearling cow and a P-year-old cow were trapped, 

lied with radio transmitting collars. and tracked 

throughout the year. In October they moved west, up 

slope to the Cascade Diwde. Communications established with personnel on the Willamette and Umpqua 

Nabonal Forests enabled the Deschutes NF person. 

nel (who initiated the study) to monitor the three elk 

through thev meander onto the west slopes and onto 

their wintering ground in the Umpqua drainage. Ted 

Lewis, Crescent District Ranger, and Norm Behrens, 

Oregon State Depanment of Fish and Wildlrfe biologist, initiated the project. 

* 

“Long-Term EwnomtE*Rx: Research” is the title 

of the guest editorial in the March 26 issue of Science. San. John H. Glenn ascribes the United States 

position as “the dominant technological force in the 

world” to “research and development supported by 

both government and private sources.” He reflects on 

the possible consequences of shrinking research 

support and concludes: “I urge the Science community to help us get back on the right track.” 

*** 

“Desert Bighorn Zoogeography and Adaptation 

in Relation to Historfc Land Use” IS the title 01 an arbcle by Henry E. McCutchen, NPS Rocky Mountain 

Region biologist, appearing in the Fall 1981 issue of 

the Wi/d/k Society Bulletin (Vol. 9:3). Over the past 

several years, some bighorn biologists have contended that desert bighorns are maladapted to their 

environment. This implies, according to McCutchen, 

that decreases in the population are due to natural 

forces. McCutchen analyzes this hypothesis and submits another; namely, that desert bighorns are well 

adapted to their environment but have become secondary relics due to man’s impacts. 

Reprints of the article are available from 

McCutchen at Rocky Mountain Region headquarters, 

Box 25287, Denver, CO 60225. 

The March 1982 iaeue of Synthesis, the teaching, research and service newsletter of the College of 

Forestry Wildlife and Range Sciences, University of 

Idaho, carries the news that Gary Machlis assumed 

coeditorshrp, with the spring issue, of the Association of Interpretive Naturalists Journal of Inferprefalion. The journal, published semiannually for some 

1,800 subscribers, is an important communications 

“olum~ 7. Number 1 l 1982 

k among interpretive naturalists, addressing a 

broad variety of subjects related to communicating 

about the natural environment and cultural heritage. 

Commentary for the May issue was provided by NPS 

Director Russel Dickenson. 

*** 

“EcologIcal Benefits of Large Organic Debris in 

Streams” is the title of an article by Sam Frear in 

Foreshy Research West, February 1982. Frear lists 

the guidelines now being used by many FS foresters 

to help minimize the impacts 01 human activity on 

stream environments. Technical papers on which the 

article is built are available from the Publications 

Dept., Pacific Northwest Forest 8 Range Experiment 

Station, 809 N.E. Sixth Ave.. Portland, OR 97232. 

They an? “Large Organic Debris rn Pacific Northwest 

Streams,” (GTR-PNW-69) by Frederick J. Swanson 

and George W. Lienkaemper; “History, Physical Effects, and Management Implication of Large Organic 

Debris in Western Oregon Streams,’ (GTR-PNW-56) 

by Swanson, Lienkaemper and James R. Sedell, and 

“Ecological Characteristics of Old-Growth Douglas-fir 

Forests.” (GTR-PNW-118) by Jerry F. Franklin etal. 

The same issue of For&~ &search Wesl also 

carries a piece by Marcia Wood of the Pacific Southwest Station on “Managing California’s Young-growth 

Forests.” 

*** 

“Could a cotton plant be bred to exude a chemical that repels boll weevils? Could a rare Alpine 

9 

plant’s ability to produce a medicinal compound be 

transferred to a plant that flourishes in New Jersey 

soil? 

These questions and a dozen others, all with important economic and social consequences, were 

discussed in a New York Times story carried around 

the country on the NYT network in February 1982. At 

a time when native plants now listed as endangered 

species are being reviewed, botanists are pointing 

out that 25 percent of the drugs prescribed rn this 

country contain compounds extracted from plants, 

and that these medicinal compounds were found in 

50 species - which is one percent - of the 5,000 

species so far investigated for the presence of useful 

drugs. 

Dr. Norman R. Famswonh of the University of IIlinois College of Pharmacy in Chicago, told an audience at the recent annual meeting of the American 

Association for the Advancement of Science that one 

percent of the approximately 500,000 plant species of 

the world may have medicinal value. U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service botanists estimate that 3,000 plant 

species in the U.S. may disappear in the next few decades unless they receive government protectron. 

This massive loss of genetic material comes at precisely the moment when the new technology of gene 

transfer is making giant advances. “The implications 

of this new technology are tremendous, and the extincbon of species now takes on a new meaning.” Dr. 

Thomas Eisner, a Cornell Unwersky biologist, told a 

Senate cOmmittee hearing recently convened to consider reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act. 

t 

“A short, narrative hiit& of the Roosevelt elk, 

covering the period from 1800 to the present and authored by Jim Harper, asststant chief of the Oregon 

State Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Drvision. appears in the April issue of Oregon Wiidiie. 

Notes from the 1805 journal of Mernwether Lewis 

give shon shrtft to elk as table fare. Wrote Lews: “I 

have become so perfectly reconcrled to the dog that I 

think it an agreeable food and would prefer it vastly to 

lean venison or elk.” The anicle traces the population 

ups and downs, and the various methods tried for 

transplantation of elk. With elk today providing sport 

for more than 30,000 hunters a year, Harper calls the 

history “a success story we can all appreaate.’ 

* 

The Wilderness Resozce Distinguished Lecture 

delivered at the University of Idaho in 1981 by NPS 

Director Russell E. Dickenson is now available in a 

beautifully printed edition for 25 cents (to cover postage and handling) from the Editor, Forest, Wildlife 

and Range Experiment Stabon, University of Idaho. 

Moscow, ID 63843 ‘Wilderness Values in the National Parks” is the title of the Dickenson lecture. The 

handsome 14.page pamphlet IS illustrated with both 

photograph and drawings. 

*** 

Reprints 01 a paper given at the 46th North American Wildlife Conference in Portland, Oregon in 

March, *Old Growth Forests as Wildlife Habitat” by E. 

Charles Meslow, Chris Maser and Jared Verner, are 

avarlablefrom the Pacific NW Forest & Range Experiment Station in Ponland (609 N.E. Sixth Ave., 

97332). The paper describes old growth forests, 

management problems and strategies, and sug 

gested actions. 
Biological Effects of Air Pollution: 

A Nationwide Perspective 

By James P. Bennett 

Many of our natural area national parks are experiencing elevated concentrations of air pollutants, 

including ozone (03). sulfur dioxide (SO,), fluoride 

(F), toxic trace elements (lead, cadmium, etc.) and 

acidic precipitation. The effect of these pollutants on 

the biological resowas of our parks has become a 

matter of widespread concern. 

The Air Quality Division of the Office of Science 

and Technology recently has begun a program to address these concerns: the Air Quality Related Values 

Effects Research and Biomonitorlng Program. It is 

called this because the legislative authority for the 

program, the Clean Air Act as amended I” 1977, defined air pollution sensitive resources as Air Quality 

Related Values (AQRVs). 

The National Park Service has a mandate under 

the Act to protect AQRVs from adverse impacts of air 

pollutants from sources located or planning to locate 

outside of the national parks. Most of the emphasis of 

the program is on biological resources. although 

some considerations for cultural resources are being 

made. Acid precipitation effects studies have been 

assigned to the Water Resources Division for prog 

rammatic reasons, primarily because aquatic resources are more sensitive than terrestrial resources. 

The effects research and biomonitoring needs of 

the Service have been determined to establish a 

structure for oroiects bv askina five essential auestions: ’ - 

1. What is sensitive to air pollution? 

2. What are their responses and how much dothev 

respond? 

3. How does this affect the entire park ecosystem? 

4. How much could the park ecosystem change? 

5. What is the significance of the change? 

These questions provide the backbone for the 

AQRV Plan, which contains studies in 5 sections corresponding to the questions: 

Sections and Generic Studies: 

1. Sensitive Receptor Identification 

-Screening studies 

-Biomonitoring plans 

-Effects literature review 

-Ecosystem analysis 

2. Sensitive Receptor Quantification 

-Dose/response studw 

-Spatial analyses 

3. Ecosystem Integration 

-Primary & secondary productivity 

-Food web dynamics 

-Population growth rates 

4. Ecosystem PredIction 

-Temporal 

-Spatial 

-Reversibility 

5. Value Judgements 

-Probability R risk analyses 

-Adverse Impact determinations 

Various Iactors contribute to determining the biological impacts of an air pollutant, including the toxicity of the pollutant; the importance of the receptor in 

the ecosystem; the type of effect, whether acute or 

chronic: the scale of the effect, from the individual up 

to the whole ecosystem; the exposure of the individual: the potential for synergisms with other pollutants; and the persistence of the pollutants in the environment. These factors combined with the AQRV 

Plan and the knowledge of current air quality conditions in the parks led to the establishment of a program to fund projects addressing the data needs of 

the parks. A set of criteria was developed to rank pro]- 

ects (these criteria are not in any order): 

1. Is the resource threatened now by air pollution? 

2. Is the resource threatened in the future by many 

sources, or only one? 

3. Are additional funds available from other interested parties? 

4. What is the value of the product? 

5. Is air quality monitoring equipment already present? 

6. Legal mandate, e.g. required for a permtt review? 

7. What management decisions will the data benefit? 

Most of the projects involve work on vegetation 

rather than wldlife because a great deal of work on 

plant effects has been done and a good body of literature already exists. Most of it, however, is on agricultural crop species and forest trees and very little on 

native vegetation. For this reason, many projects will 

focus on field studies of observable air pollution effects on either dominant species, bioindicator 

species, or endangered and threatened species in 

parks that have existing aw pollution. In parks without 

existing a!r pollution, studies will focus on experimental plant fumigations with controlled levels of pollutants. 

Titles and brief descriptions of projects under 

way are given below for Illustration: 

Geographic Extent of Air Pollution injury in 

Shenandoah Natfonai Park - A survey of the conditions of bloindicator speues at predetermined locations throughout the park. 

Sensilfwf~es of Rare 8 Endangered Species fn 

Shenandoah National Park-Species will be grown m 

the greenhouse and exposed to pollutants in fumigation chambers to determine injury symptoms, then 

checked in the field for the symptoms. A protocol has 

been established to prevent further endangering the 

status of the species. 

&monitoring P/an for Colorado Nat!onaf Monument - Development of methods to survey bioindicator species throughout the park in anticipation of 

future air pollution. Collection of baseline bIological 

data. 

Wildlfe AClRV.. at Congaree Swamp Nat;onaf 

Monumenf - Identification of wildlife soecies ootentially susceptible to air pollutants and iredictions of 

probable effects in anticipation of air pollution. 

Sensitivity of Tulip Poplar to Ox/dants in Shenandoah Nafional Park - Screentng of tulip poplar populations for genetic sensitivity differences wng air poilutant exclosure chambers in the park. 

Elevated Lead Concentrations ;n Gt. Smoky Mountains National Park - Detailed examination of lead 

burdens I” 4 tree species and source of lead in leaf litter. 

Fluoride Baseline Concentrat;ons n Gt. Smoky 

10 

Mountains Nadonai Park - Detailed examination of F 

in foliage and soil of selected species downwind of a 

F source. 

FORAST P/&s in Shenandoah, Great Smoky 

Mountams, and Acadia National Parks - Adds 3 

parks to a regional project run by Oak Ridge National 

Lab, looking at regional effects of air pollutants on 

forest growth using tree ring analysis. 

Lichen Studfas - A long-term contract with Dr. Clifford Wetmore, University of Minnesota to do air pollution lichen studies at many parks, mcluding Voy 

ageuts, Theodore Roosevelt, Grand Canyon, Acadia, 

Chiricahua. and others. Lichens are sensitive bio!ndicators of SO, pollution. A sympowm on air pollution and lichens is also being planned for a 1983 national society meeting. 

Projects being developed include: 

Ak Polk&x? Sensdivit!es of Epiphfles ;n Ever. 

glades National Park 

Trace Elements ;n Bryophfles of fsfe Roy& National Park 

BIofndicator Survey at Saguaro National Monument 

Field Assessments of AORVs at Selected Parks 

In addition, several projects of a service-wide nature are being conducted and developed: 

RankIng of Park Service Class I Areas -A project 

using the Oak Ridge Geoecology Database to rank 

class I parks for potential sensitiwties to air pollutants. 

Sensitivity indices and existing air quality data will be 

combined into a single index for each of the 48 class I 

parks. Class I parks were identified in the Clean Air 

Act as those requiring the most stringent level of protection from air pollutants. 

Survey of Adverse impact Definitions - An evaluation of the state of the art regardtng the question of 

what constitutes significant impairment to an ecosystem, including a survey of definitions and methods 01 

measurement and recommendations for use by the 

NPS. 

Computerired Flora of the C/ass I Parks - A contract with the Denver Service Center to comouterize 

the existing floras and checklists of the class I parks. 

A hierarchical database management package (System 2000) will be used to match the taxonomic 

nomenlature in current use. Entnes will be checked 

for synonomy and scored for native versus exotic 

status. 

Finally, the Air Quality Diviston is considering the 

development of an air pollution fumtgabon facility to 

enable the Park Serwe to determine the sensitivities 

of native plants in various park units to specific air 

pollutants. Various fumigation techniques are currently under review so that the Service can have the 

best methods available for use. Different locatlon options lor the facility are being wnsidered. The facility 

IS intended only for preltminary screening to determine the relative sensitivities of susceptible plant 

species in park units with significant air pollution 

problems. 

Planning for FY 1983 is underway and for project 

information contact Dr. Bennett, program manager. at 

FTS 234.6620, NPS Air Quality Division, Box 25287, 

Denver. CO 80225. 
Qne Piece of the Research Action: 

Theodore Roosevelt NP 

By Ray “Skip” Snow 

AS early as 1659, the declining lichen floraof South 

Lancashire (Britain) was attributed lo increasing air 

pollution and. in 1666, it was concluded from studies 

in Paris that lichens might serve as practical Indicaters of air qualify. Since then, studies in over 400 

scientific publications and from areas in Europe, 

Japan, New Zealand, North and South America and 

the U.S.S.R. have supported this view. 

As a result of increasing energy development. the 

air quality of many of our national parks is threatened 

with deterioration. Surrounded by 011 and gas fields, 

adjacent to proposed federal coal leases and proposed gasification plants, Theodore Roosevell National Park (North Dakota) is no exception. Many frutico% (hair-like, shrubby or finger-like) and some 

foliose (leafy and flattened) lichens are killed by low 

levels of sulfur dioxide, and so the disappearance of 

sensitive lichen species in an area can indicate deteriorating air quality For national parks not 10 proceed with the orderly acquisition of baseline data on 

lichens is much the same as not installing a battery !n 

your smoke alarm. 

Lichens are composed of two quite different organisms, a fungus and an alga, in a symbiotic (living 

together) relationship. Lichens are an outstandingly 

successful group of symbiotic organisms: perhaps 

more than 16.000 species exploit habitats throughout 

the world. An enigmatic group of plants in many 

ways, lichens often recwe only scant anenbon in national parks. 

While lichens are one of the easiest groups of 

plants to collect and preserve and most lichens are 

no more difficult to identify than the majority of flowering plants, many genera are poorly known with highly 

variable and confustng species requiring the assistance of specialists 10 identify them. Usnea (the 

~goars beard” lichens) and Cladma (‘British soldiers,” for example) are two commonly collected genera with many “hybrids.‘The serious naturalist or re 

source manager can often obtain assistance in identification or verification from lichenologists at urwersities or museums. Professional etiquette demands 

that only good, well labeled specimens be sent. 

For the park library few reference works exist for 

lichen collection and identification. The best on the 

market at this time is the second edition (1979) of 

How To Know the Lichens by Mason E. Hale of the 

Smithsonian Institution. This is a Pictured Key Nature 

Series book published by Wm. C. Brown Company. 

Price $5.95. Out of date and out of print, B. FinIs 

(1935) The Lichen Flora o/the United States (University of Michigan Press) is the only overall reference 

for the crustose (crust-like) genera. The second edition (1974) of The Bio/ogy of Lichens. authored by 

Mason E. Hale, Jr., prowdes one of the few concise 

and contemporary surveys of Ikchenology. A well illustrated paperback, this college-level text is published 

by Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd.. 25 Hill Street, 

London WIX 8LL, England. Price $11.95. 

Another reference is the lnstltute of Biology’s 

Studies in Biology no. 66, Lichens as Pollution Monitors (1976) by David L. Hawkwotih and Francis 

Rose. This small (6Opp.) and practical work awmes 

L,chen xanthoparmelia 1s shown here, growing on the ground at Theodore Roosevelt NP 

no previous knowledge and includes an account of 

the biology of lichens as well as a dwussion of their 

relatlonshlp to environmental pollution and their value 

in monitoring it. The work describes a series of simple 

experiments and suggested air pollution survey 

methodologies - including invesbgations appropriate 

for schoolch!ldren. It IS clear from this book that the 

survey of lichen flora is appropriate for rural, urban, 

natural, and cultural units of the National Park System. The book is available from University Park 

Press, 233 East Redwood Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, for $7.95. A more advanced treatment of 

the subject can be found in the college-level text 

edited by B.W. Ferry M.S. Baddeley and D.L. 

Hawksworth (1973). Enhtled Air Pollution and 

L&hens, this book is published by Athlone Press of 

the University of London. 

The &&gist, the official journal of the American 

Bryologlcal and Lichenological Society, is responsible for publishlog much of the research on North 

American lichens. It is published by the Missoud Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, Missouri 

63166. The Lichenologisf, the onicial journal of the 

British Lichen Society, routinely summarizes the GUIrent literature on air pollution and lichens. It is published by Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd.. 24-26 

Oval Road, London NW1 7DX, England. Articles from 

both journals, as well as the books mentioned above, 

are available through interlibrary loan services. 

The assessment of a national park’s lichen flora iS 

responsive to more than one of the conclusions 

reached by the recent U.S. National Parks’ servicewide survey entItled “State of the Parks - 1960: A 

Report lo Congress.” Specifically, the collection and 

identification of lichens addresses the repotis conclusive remark, to “establish accurate taseline data 

on park resources and conduct comprehensive monitoring programs designated to defect and measure 

changes ,’ By studying the lichens of an area, 

baseline lists can be prepared for use later in comparing the lichen flora over a period of time. 

Personnel at Theodore Roosevelt NP have ne11 

gotiated a proposal with lichenologist Clifford M. 

Wetmore of the University of Minnesota, whose publications Include articles on the lichens of Big Bend 

and Voyageurs NatIonal Parks (see The Bryologisf 

(1961) 84(3). m press and 84(4) in press, respectively). 

Dr. Wetmore will provide Theodore Roosevelt NP 

with (1) a set of identified and labeled specimens for 

the park herbarium, (2) a list of localities where collections were made, (3) a list of species found within 

the park indicating localities where each was found, 

(4) a list of lichens that might be useful in monitoring 

air quality changes, (5) suggestions concerning critlcal areas for lichens in the park, and (6) suggesbons 

for future research. He WIII also provide willmg park 

personnel with training in colleclion and identification 

of common lichens, as well as their interpretation. 

The work will take approximately 16 months and 

cost $2000. Funding for transportation, supplies, and 

materials has been made available from a research 

fund established and admlnistered by the Theodore 

Roosevelt Nature and History Association. The ASSOclation is a non-profit organization. established to 

serve the interpretive, educational, scientific, and 

research programs of the park. MembershIp in the 

Association IS open to the public. 

While Theodore Roosevelt NP continues to be involved in the recordlog of instrument readings for air 

chemistry, visibility, and atmospheric deposition, 

these can only determine whether or not air quality 

meets legislated standards. Lichens can provide a 

more direct biologwx test. Many lichens are far more 

intolerant of pollutants than are higher planls, anImals, and people. Thus, careful surveys of lichens in 

national parks can be an Important adfunct of air pollullon monitoring-a kind of early warning system like 

miners’ canarIes and smoke alarms. 

The staff at Theodore Roosevelt National Park is 

interested in hearing from other parks which are conductlog or proposing similar investigations. 

Snows district naturalist at the N&h Unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP 
Three Strikes but NOT OUT-An Endangered 

Species Continues to Hang on in Big Bend 

By Gerard A. Hoddenbach 

One of the more prewously balanced endangered species in existence, a small top-water 

minnow (Gambusiaga;gel), still exists in West Texas’ 

Big Bend National Park. This species, already three 

times previously reduced lo a mere handful of individuals, is now receiving special management attention to orovide for ifs suwival in a natural environment. 

Frederick M. Gaige, the noted University of Michiqan biolwist who first described numerous wte- 

&ale spe;es from the West-Texas area, collected a 

sample of a then-unknown fish in August 1928, from 

“. a marshy cattail slough fed by springs located 

close to the Rio Grande River at Boquillas, Brewster 

County Texas ,’ The next year, Dr. Carl Hubbs 

identified, described, and named those specimens in 

honor of Dr. Gaige as a new fish species, differing in a 

number of ways from its closely related parental stock 

(Gambusia senitis). 

Twenty-six years passed betore Gambusia gafgei 

would be collected again. Then, in 1954, it was again 

collected -this time from the same general locality as 

Gaige’s original collection. but more specifically from 

Graham Ranch Warm Springs, a pond 20 feet wide, 

40 feet long, 4 feet deep, but now obliterated by a 

modem campground development. Considerable 

confusion still exists regarding the exact spring from 

which Gaige collected the 1926 sample of Big Bend 

Gambusia, but even more confusion surrounds the 

question of how widely distributed the species originally was. Over the years, former natural springs and 

topographic features have been severely altered by 

floods on the Rio Grande and by human developments. However, it is crystal clear that today’s entire, 

naturally surviving world population of g&i exists 

only in a single, artificial warm-water pond and. 

that pond requires a continually running electric pump 

to maintain water tlow and temperature regimes. 

In 1956, the discover of Gambusia &finis, catfish 

and perch in Ihe Graham Ranch pond created the 

first clear potential for extinctIon of Big Bend Gambusia. Gambusia &finis, a common top-water minnow 01 the Southern states, and at least partially 

inter-specifically fertile with gaige< potentially altering 

genetic makeup, is a species which outcompetes 

gaigef in calm water. Catfish and perch are both carworous predators The already tenuous survival 01 

gaigei in the pond was threatened. This clearly required the pond be seined to save as many individual 

Big Bend Gambusia as possible. The waters were 

then treated with rotenone (a fish poison) in what 

would eventually prove to be a futile effort to eradicate all remaining affinis. Only 25 gaigeiwere saved; 

15 were placed in three nearby natural springs but, 

presumably, died within a short time; six others of the 

original group were stocked in an aflificial pond near 

Panther Junction but two of the six died immediately 

and the other four and their progeny died during severely cold winter weather conditions in 1957; the last 

four of the original group of 25 were transported to 

laboratoties of the University of Texas at Austin 

where they were maintained in an aquarium. The 

death of one of those aquarium housed fish reduced 

the total world population ofgaigei to one female and 

two males. A severe crisis, indeed! 

The three indtviduals surviving the winter in Austin 

were returned to Big Bend during the spring of 1956, 

and placed in a pool specifically constructed for them. 

That smgle female and her young were quite prolific 

and, for a time, gaigei flourished and all seemed well. 

However, the gaigei pool became contaminated 

again by water overflowing from the nearby camp 

ground. Once agaln, affinis and carnivorous green 

suntish were found in the gafgei pond and for a second time, only 15 gaigei were saved and transported 

lo Austin. Texas. Two of that group died en route but 

40 young soon born into the group increased the 

species’ population number to 53. As additional insurance against catastrophe, 16gaigeiwere flown to the 

University of Michigan and housed in laboratory 

aquaria. 

The present artificial refugium pond in Big Bend, 

constructed in 1960, was filled with water from a 

nearby spring which historically had provided original 

gadget habitat. Twenty of the 37 fish tmm the Austin 

laboratory population were transported to Big Bend in 

August 1960, and released into the new pond. When 

specialists determined a viable population existed in 

Big Bend, Michigan stocks were discontinued and the 

remaining 17 fish at Austin were moved to the Brackenridge Field Laboratory where they were continuously cultured for the nexi 15 years. 

Again, in 1966, green sunfish were found in therefugium at Big Bend - probably placed there by wellmeaning sport fishermen. Once the sunfish were 

removed, the gauge; population again temporarily 

flourished until another cold snap, m 1975.76, killed 

nearly all the fish in the Big Bend pond. The 17 remaining fish at Autiin were sent to Big Bend to restock the pond, and, simultaneously, alterations were 

made to the pond to moderate the effect of winter 

temperatures and to combat the ever present problems of evaporation and falling waler level. An electric pump was installed on another nearby (but lower 

elevation) warm spring to maintain a small but conThe trip s&is here at Big Bend Nabonai Park, 

where Buddy Jensen of the U.S. Fish and Wi/d/ife 

Service collects Gambusia galgei for transporl to the 

Dexter. New Mexfco fish Hatchery. 

12 

Seldom longer than 50mm. the small Gambusia is 

shown here about 1% iife size. The pictured fish is 

actually Gambusia &finis, thecommonsouthem U.S. 

form. The gaigei IS separable from affims only in the 

depth of the portion ofbody immediate/yin front of the 

taii h the galgei. thatpoiiion is larger fhan in the pittured affinis 

tinuous flow of water to the gafgei retugium pond. 

Additionally, the logistical problems which, at Austin, 

had long existed in culturing gaigei were resolved by 

moving the reserve and backup gaigei population to 

the National Fish Hatchely in Dexter, New Mexico. 

The entire world population of Gambusfa gaigei, 

already three times reduced to but a few surviving individuals, still comfortably lives in both Big Bend and 

Dexter refugia. Over the years, aquatic and climatic 

events have taken their tolls. Although complete restoration of the Dexter population has had to take 

place three times, it seems unlikely now that weather 

conditions will ever simultaneously be so bad at both 

locations that all existing gafgei perish. Still, an urgent 

need exists to establish ga;ge! in a naturally maintained habitat and as safe as possible from either 

man-induced or natural catastrophe. 

Dr. Clark Hobbs of the University of Texas Department of Zoology, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Selvice 

Office of Endangered Species, and the Southwest 

Regional Office of the National Park Service collaborated in 1977 to write the Habitat Management Plan 

for Big Bend Gambusia. included within that plan are 

specific recommendations to: 

- Remove the well house over the spring which 

furnishes water to the present refugium and restore 

conditions permitting a spring flow into a new channel. 

- Establishgaigeiin that channel from the present 

refugium pond. 

- Once the stream population has been determined to be successtul, eliminate the run-oft channel 

so gaigei will be permitted to naturally occupy a 

spring-ted slream habitat. 

Present problems regarding implementation of this 

plan involve tracing the spring aquifer to a higher elevation stratum, and then drilling a well to permit natural spring out-flow to run downhill from the well site. 

Studies. now in the initial stages, to do those things 

are pending. Upon their completion, Gambusiagaigef 

will once again exist in a natural and running water 

environment rather than as a caged zoo animal. Having already closely escaped total extinction three 

times, perhaps, at last, gaigei will be restored its own 

and unique place in our modern world. 

Gerard Hoddenbach is the Regional Biologtst and 

Endangered Species Gxvdinator for the Southwest 

Regional Gfffce, PO. Box 728, Santa Fe, New 

Mexico 87501. 
Southeast Region Training Institute 

for Resource Management 

Held at Clemson University 

By Brian J. Mihalik 

The need for continued professional training has 

always been known within the Nal~onal Park Service. 

The Mather and Albright Training Centers were established for such a purpose. However, with training 

facilities at only two locations within the National Park 

System, it is difficult to provide training opportunities 

for evalyone needing further education. To help continue in-service trainlng in view of these restrictions. 

NPS representatives in the Southeast Regional Of. 

fice turned to the university sector wth its establlshed 

educational history for some of its training needs. 

G. Jay Gcgue, Southeast Regional Chief Scientist, 

and Steve Smith, Southeast Regional Resource 

Management Specialist, met with Bed Brantley, 

Associate Dean, and myself, from the Clemson University Department of Recreation and Park Administration. Our task was to plan a useful resource management training course for Southeast Regional 

park rangers and technicians. Planning information 

was first generated from a questionnaire mailed to all 

53 park units in the Southeast Region. In this survey, 

park superintendents were asked to indicate their 

preferences for a workshop - the time of year it 

should be held, the desired grade and series of the 

workshop padicipants, and the topics in which more 

traimng was needed. 

From this information, plans were made and a 

week-long training mstitute was held at the Clemson 

University Outdoor Recreation Research Laboratory 

on Sept. 28.Oct.l,1981; 31 NPS rangers and technicians palticipated. The course utilized a unique format of concurrent educational sessions headed by 

representatives from NPS, the U.S. Forest Swice, 

and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Sewice, and university 

faculty from Virginia Polyiechmc Institute, Syracuse, 

Louisiana State, Tennessee, and Clemson Universities. These instructors spiced their lectures with 

“hands-on” field exercises dealing with resource 

manangement issues. 

The sessions included the human side of resow? 

management, addressed by Southeast Regional Director Robelt Baker; mandates, pokaes, programs, 

commitments, barriers, approaches, and case 

studies dealing with integrated pest management, 

presented by George Gardner and William and Olga 

Olkowski of the John Muir institute for Environmental 

GWS 

Conference Slated 

The George Wright Society will hold a national conference in Washington, D.C., October 18-20, according to Al Greene, conference chairman. Invited 

papers will be presented, within the framework of the 

title: “Strategy Conference on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Resources: Research and Education Agenda for Norlh America.” Details of the conference will be carried in the George Wright Society 

FORUM and in the Summer issue of Park Science. 

Studies: and critical aquatic problems in the southeast national parks, composition of aquatic communities and energy flow, and monitoring contaminant problems m aquatic habitats and tidewater 

ecosystems, given by several aquatic Specialists. 

Wildlife management topics also were covered 

and Included the development of a management 

plan, census techniques, sex and age determination. 

habitat survey, and deer and endangered species 

manangement. NPS speakers Dave Butts and Scott 

Erickson of the Boise Interagency Fire Center conducted fire management sessions on the phywal 

components of fire and NPS fire policy guidelines and 

planning. They concluded thelr sessions by asking 

students to develop a practical fire management plan 

for Cumberland Island. Other concurrent sessions 

dealt with vegetation management-front and back 

country considerations, design implications, monitoring of vegetation use, the decision making process in 

vegetation management and human impacts on 

stream bank vegetation. 

The training uxtitute concluded with sessions on 

water quality monitoring and mapping. Don Cherry of 

Virginia Tech gave an ovewiew of water quality monitoring and spoke on specific water quality monitoring 

approaches. Bill Shain of Clemson University addressed remote sensing in resource mapping, using 

the third dimension of aerial photography in planning 

and developmg various resource maps. 

Other than the concurrent educational sessions 

which required pre-registration, all palticipants were 

brought together twice a day to hear one-hour presentations from a variety of speakers. These presentattons included threats to the parks, basic ec&glcal 

principles, environmental laws, the NPS budget process, evolutwn of science in the Park Service. the re 

lationship between science and resource management, research methods and the need for cooperation with other agencies. 

Throughout the institute, participants were able 

to spend more time listening than taking notes due to 

the prior preparation of two reference notebwks 

which included handouts related to the courses. 

These two notebooks provided excellent references 

containing hundreds of pages of resource manangement information on all subjects covered. 

After the course, a review of participant evaluations 

indicated that the training institute: (1) was one of the 

best programs each participant received, (2) will 

prove beneficial in the future job performance of each 

participant, and (3) warranted continuation. Because 

of the success of this institute, a second training program is planned for May 12-21, 1982. 

Mibalik ;s Cwrdinator of Extension al Clemson 

Un;venitv, Clemson, SC. 

Water Resources Lab 

Completes First Year 

The NPS Water Resources Field Support Laboratory at Felt Collins, Colorado, is winding up its first 

year of operation as a provider of a multi-disciplined 

support function to WASO. the Regions, and parks. 

Lab Director Ray Herrmann reports that he and his 

staff have been involved in hydrological, geological, 

and ecological water resource investigations and 

cooperative support activities in more than 20 parks 

in 9 NPS Regions. 

Water Resources Field Support Lab, 107C Natural 

Resources, Colorado State Univenity, Fort Collins, 

CO 80523. (303) 491-7573. 

In an anniversary reminder to the entire Service, 

Herrmann described active Laboratory programs to 

assist with better oark resource orotection efforts. 

(See box) 

Jay Bassin. Chief, Water Resources Division, 

WASO. oointed out that the Lab was established “because bi our recognition of a need to efficiently provide professional water resource staff capability to 

parks and Regions in a number of national focus 

areas where NPS lacks needed resource management data.” 

Bassin described the Lab staff as able to respond 

quickly to a varied set of issues and added, “I encourage park management to employ the Lab’s services.” 

Herrmann is available to provide information, answer questions, and receive comments, at the NPS 

13 

The Water Resources Field Support Lab 

can help Regions and parks in the following ways: 

(1) collection and analysis of baseline 

data for maintaining, enhancing, or restoring water quantity and quality; 

(2) understanding the hydrological processes affecting evaluations of potential impacts in Park System areas; 

(3) investigating trends in acidification of 

streams and lakes; 

(4) investigating the ecological resources 

of park riparian habitats that may be 

changing due to water resource developments external to the parks; and 

(5) providing assistance to specific areas 

in developing water resource management plans and/or monitoring pw 

grams. 
regional 

highlights 

Pacific Northwest Region 

Two ?andldate areas~ for the status of Research 

Natural Areas wlthln the Paclflc Northwest Region 

were proposed in the latest lksling of such areas m 

National Park, Forest Service, and Bureau 01 Land 

Management lands in Oregon and Washington. The 

two candidate areas are Ridley Lake in the North 

Cascades NP, WashIngIon, and a 250 acre area “ear 

the Cant ranch at John Day Fowl Beds NM, Oregon. 

Sarah Greene, research natural area scientist for the 

Pacific Northwest Region RNA Committee, in a 

March 10 memo la all members of the RNA Commitlee, explained the relationships between the Federal 

RNAs and the OregoniWashington Heritage Programs. Anyone seeking clarification of this sometimes canfusmg topic may obtain the memo from Ms. 

Greene al the Forestry Sciences Lab, 3200 Jefferson 

Way, Corvallis. OR 97331. 

d 

The annual Science Report for CY 1981 in the 

Pacific Northwest Region went to press early in April. 

Caples will be available from Pacific Nolthwest Regional headquarters. The 1981 Annual Repolt from 

the Umversity of Idaho CPSU was published in March 

as CPSU.UI SB 82-i. 

L 

Jim Rouse’s 1981 Annual Report for Crater Lake 

describes a test rehabilitation plot established along 

the Annie Sprrngs entrance road. Two road scars, 

thinned of small lodgepole pine by approximately 65 

percent. were managed in such a way that (through 

lodgepole manipulation and blending) the area was 

made to appear as one natural reproduction site. 

Aesthetically pleasing, with a natural appearance, the 

manipulation provides the remaining trees with more 

space for accelerated growlh. 

xx* 

In a step designed to save money and better coordinate entomology research with the work of the National Forest System and other agenaes, the Pacific 

Norihwest Forest and Range Experiment Station 

moved 11s research unit on population ecology and integrated pest management strategies for Western 

Forest defoliators from Corvallis to La Grand% OR. 

The move, effective May 1,1982, emphawes the integrated approach to control of four primary insect 

pests: the Douglas-fir tussock moth, the mountain 

pine beetle, the western spruce budworm. and the 

larch casebearer. The integrated approach to pest 

management seeks to provide forest managers with 

Information on the impact of forest pasts and suggest 

Spotlight On A Region 

Science in the 

North Atlantic Region 

The science program was established with the inception of the North Atlantic Region in 1974 as the 

Office of Scientific Studies. From a one-man aperation (P.A. Buckley) it has grown to include a deputy 

chief (and limnologist, Michael Soukup), an air quality 

spew&t (Mary K. Foley), research biologist (John 

Portnoy), a coaslal geomorphologist (James R. 

Allen), a water resources specialist (Nora Mttchell), 

an environmental protection assistant (Barbara 

Darn), and a computer trainee (Elba Rivera). It now, 

includes a growing waler resources program as well. 

Although we have several cooperative agreements 

with local unwersities, we have no NARO scientific 

staff stationed at CRUs; except for John Portnay, 

(duv-stationed at Cape Cod NS) there are no scientists stationed at NAR parks. Consequently, we serve 

our parks directly from the regional oftice. To keep in 

close touch with our parks, as well as to maintain credibility with our academrc colleagues, NARO scientists maintain small but active research programs in 

NARO parks. They also are active in their own professional scientific organizations, and publish in their 

disapiines primary scientific literature on a regular 

basis. Since 1974 many areas of management concern have been addressed by the Office of Scientific 

Studies. 

Our mast extensive series of studies has been 

associated with evaluation of off-road vehicle (ORV) 

impacts in the Coastal ecosystem. Culminating in a 

13.volume treatise with a management ovewiew (by 

Drs. Paul Godfrey and Steve Leatherman. UMassl 

NPSICRU), the results quantify the effect of various 

levels of ORV traffic !n such habitats as the Ammophila (beach grassjidune system, the salt marsh 

intertidal mudflabsand flat, etc. These results were 

the foundation for the recently adopted regulations 

excluding ORVs from among awas previously open 

within Cape Cod National Seashore. Monitoring of 

ecologic recovery following ORV trail closure is now 

underway. 

Colonial Waterbird Management, the specialty of 

Dr. Buckley, has been an area of active research 

along the Northeast coastline. Many of the results 

have been incorporated into the Guidelines for the 

Protection and Management of Coion;ally Nesting 

Waterbrds (by P.A. and Francine Buckley) which has 

been adopted as USFWS policy and is in its 41h printing. This work has filled a surprisingly wide need and 

stimulated worldwide reprint requests. Detailed annual helicopter censuses of colonial waterbirds populations at Gateway NRA and Fire Island NS, when integrated with similar data for the entirety of Long Island, have resulted in active management programs 

at both parks relating to these animals. Basic information on their biology, especially on colony site utilization patterns (including development of a new 

statistic for site-use trends also has resulted lrom the 

Bucklays’ work. It was this research that pinpointed 

the danger conlronting North American roseate terns; 

their regression models predict extirpation by about 

the year 2000, given present cundltions. 

Water-related problems within the region generally are approached from a classic l!mnoiogical perspective. Characterization by locals of the kenle 

ponds of Cape Code NS as public health hazardes 

has been disproven by the UMass CRU and by our 

limnologist Dr. Soukup. 

One major project nearing completion 1s a 

mathematical model of groundwaterllake interactions 

combined with phosphorus and rutrogen budgets for 

Gull Pond; the biogeochemical impact of use of this 

seepage kettle by large populations of gull species 

also is being quantified. Soukup has furnished the research’basls for the Service’s first Water Resource 

Management Plan with full environmental compliance 

documentation and public involvement. “The Analysis 

of Water Resource Management Alternatives - for 

Cape Cod NS.” with our water rewrce specialist, 

Nora Mitchell. as senior author, is now undergoing 

public review. It addresses critical problems such as 

water supply deficits in abutting towns, pond eutrophlcatton, and mosauito control impacts. Other re14 

glonal problems such as avian botulism (at Gateway 

NRA), benthos population surveys at Jamaica Bay, 

landfill impacts at several parks, deer impacts al 

Acadia NP, impacts from municipal wells and mosqulto ditching also are under study, and additional 

Water Resource management plans now are in progress. 

Dr. Allen, our new (and NPSs only) coastal geomorphologist was active in NAR coastal research 

during his previous tenure in academia He was involved in the intensive coastal geomorphic study of 

Sandy Hook (Gateway NRA) by Ihe Rutgers CRU 

that has generated more than 20 professional articles. He developed an analytical computer model of 

spit dynamics that has evolved into a predictive tool 

for use in management strategy evaluation. Such an 

evaluation was needed lo cope with the critical beach 

erosion at the end of a seawall which terminates just 

inside the park boundary. The model predicts that 

Sandy Hook will become an island if a remedy is not 

forthcoming soon. Congress. fearing another “Cape 

Hatteras” situation, has not yet made appropriations 

to deal with the problem. Jim continues to monitor the 

dynamics of the beaches at Sandy Hook and is expanding this program to include both short- and iongterm changes at all of the recreational beaches in the 

ragton. especially where structures are involved. 

Currently. our office is involved in the Interagency 

team (along with US Army Corps of Engineer, US 

Fish and Wildlife Service. National Marine Fishewes, 

and EPA) effort “Reformulation Study of Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection on the South 

Shore of Long Island” (wherein Fire Island NS comprises a major component in the barrier system). Jim 

is a project officer on the research contracts for metric 

mapping, aeolian sediment budget, and geologic 

analysis, all funded by the Corps of Engineers. This 

wentific study represents a major effort to conclusively evaluate a barrier system in Its totality with regard to coastal management and was promulgated 

by our conflict (and CEQ referral) with the orlginal 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineer plan for the area. 

Air quality has been, not unexpectedly, an issue 

here in the northeast, especially at Acadia NP - the 

Region’s only Class I area. Proposals for new major 

emitting facilities and the numerous coal conversions 

require modeling critiques and constant vigilance lo 

determine possible resource impacts. An extensive 

climatological investigation of aw pollution episodes IS 

being conducted by Mary K. Foley (the Serwce’s first 
I 1 

strategies and tactics to prevent populations from increasmg lo levels that threaten management goals. 

These strategies are based on understanding of 

forest ecosystems and the role of parasites, predaters, and climate in controlling the pests naturally. 

*** 

A Regional Resource Center, manned by a professional librarian with experwx in setting up and 

operating ltbrary facilities is now in place in the Pacific 

Nollhwest Regional headquarters, Seanle. Ellen 

Traxel, librarian. is setting up the Center and will be in 

charge of film lending, an archival slide and black and 

while photo file, and the library of wenca repolts and 

general background malerial from the individual divisions and branches. The former HCRS people who 

have jotned the PNR have brought with them techntcal assistance resourcas that will be added to the 

Center’s store of materials. 

Eventually, computer connections with libraries all 

over the country are planned. Meanwhile, Ellen IS 

Regional air quality speaalist) at Acadia. Fre history 

research, including paleoclimalological studies at 

Cape Cod National Seashore and Acadia NP will aid 

the preparation of the first Fire Management Plans in 

the North Atlantic Region. 

As a means of accommodating regional research 

projects, the Atlantic Coastal Laboratory (ACL) was 

carved out of several abandoned Cape Cod buildings, with the help and support of the UMass researchers and the Cape Cod National Seashore staff. 

Championed by Paul Godfrey, a WAE research 

biologist attached to Washington, the old MITRE carporatlon buildings have become a functional support 

entity within the regional science program. This year 

it also has become a NADP acid rain monitoring site. 

One of the heaviest users of the laboratory (along 

with researchers from UMass. Williams College, 

Tufis, Yale, Boston University) has been our Cultural 

Resources Division for their massive and pioneering, 

scientific approach to archeological sweying al 

Cape Cod. 

Utilizing Denver Sewice Center’s Remote Sensing Team, we are providing up-to-date vegetation 

mapping as the basis for the fire management plans 

at Acadia, Cape Cod and Minute Man National Historical Park, as well as other resource management 

work. One current example of the latter is an investigation by Buckley, Soukup, and Porlnoy of 20 years 

of change in vegetation al Cape Cod, capitalizing on 

an earlier vegetation map produced during the mception of the Seashore. The Denver Setwe Center 

Team’s computerized mapping capabilities are being 

used to determine successional rates for selected 

populations as well as to sort out induced acceferation in those rates associated with the oractice of 

mosquito ditching. 

Routine oarticioation bv the Of& of Scientific 

Studies in such varied pro]ecls as the Plan for a Pine 

Barrens Natural Reselve and the Fire Island Master 

Plan, and environmental documents continues and 

ensures management the benefit of scientific input to 

its planning and management +alegems. 

We will expand on some of these projects in later 

issues but in the meantime we welcome any questions, discussions, and opportunities for coordination 

on the above oroiects in anv areas ot mutual interest 

,across the Se%e. ’ 

This report was subm;/ted by M;ke Soukup. Park 

Science welcomes such regkxwide science roundU/X. 

available to advise small libraries in the field. Most recently she was engaged in library work for the U.S. 

Corps of Engineers in the Puget Sound area. 

Alaska Region 

Al Lovaas, Alaska Regional Chief Scientist, reports 

that he and two other new employees, Gary 

Ahlslrand. fire ecologist, and Francis Singer, wildltfe 

biologist, have made it through their first winter m 

Alaska and are no longer “Cheechakos.” Their first 

field season was spent assessing fire management 

research needs, particularly with regard to fire behavior, effects and history establishing plots in 1981 

bums in Gates of the Arctic. Kobuk Valley, Denali, 

Wrangell-St. Efias, and Yukon-Charley F$vers; aerial 

Dali sheep and mountain goat classificahon and census in Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias, Lake Clark. and 

Kenai Fjords, and studies of caribou calving on the 

Dunkle Hills mining area of Denali NP. Contract researchers with COR Ross Kavanagh, completed the 

first year of intenstfied work on the effects of 

motorized watercraft on endangered humpback 

whales in Glacier Bay. 

* 

On December 31, 198;: Will Troyer retired after 

seven years’ work wth the National Park Service in 

Alaska and 28 years of Federal Sewice there. Will is 

a flying wlldlife biologist, who devoted most of his National Park Service time to aerial moose surveys in 

Katmai and Denafi, brown bear dennings and movement studies in Katmai, bald eagle nesting surveys, 

and caribou movements and productivity studies in 

Denali. Troy& expedence and familiarity with much 

of the state, his easy going personality and ability to 

get along with people, his pilot abilities, and his love 

of field work will make him (according to NPS personnel m Alaska) “very difficult to replace.” 

Rocky Mountain Region 

The National Park Service and its Canadian counterpart. Parks Canada, are co-hosts this June 22-24 

of a science-oriented conference in Kalispell, Montana, “Toward the Biosphere Reserves: Exploring Relationships Between Parks and Adjacent Lands.” ACcording to Clifford Martinka, Glacier NP supewisory 

biologist, the conference will be attended in addition 

to scientists, by county commissioners, Industry rep 

resent&was. Chamber of Commerce members, and 

others whose lives are embedded in the area -the 

park, Flathead River and Lake, and the proposed 

Cabin Creek coal mine operation proposed for the 

area by Sage Creek Coal Ltd.. of British Columbia. 

Southwest Region 

A fire symposium Jointly sponsored by the NPS and 

the SW Fre Council at the Los Alamos National Laboratory held in October 1981, explored four years of 

data about soils, erosion. plants, birds, and small 

mammals in a 15,000~acre burn area in and around 

Bandeller Nattonal Monument in New Mexico. There, 

a man-caused fire began on June 16, 1977, quickly 

becoming an interagency fire involving the U.S. 

Forest Service. NPS, and the Department of Energy. 

Before the fire, various ecological studies were 

conducted in both Bandelier NM and Los Afamos National Lab. They provided baseline data for post-fire 

studies related to the effects of wildfire on the flora 

and fauna. Other studies Initiated after the fire investigated its effects on soils, water quality, archeology, 

and geomorphism. 

Copies of the Proceedings are now available and 

may be obtained from Milford Fletcher, Chief, Natural 

Resources Management, NPS. P.O. Box 728, Santa 

Fe, NM 87501. 

Western Region 

Two science conferences will fake place this year 

in the Western Region. The first, June 2-4. the Fourth 

Conference tn Natural Sciences, is co-sponsored by 

NPS, the CPSU at the University of Hawaii, and the 

Hawaii Natural HIstory Association, and will be held 

at the Hawai! Field Research Center, Hawaii Volcanoes NP. The objective is to bring together scientists and managers studying Hawaiian natural systems, flora and fauna, for exchange of information 

and presentation of papers. 

On Sept. 9 and 10, the First Biennial Conference 

on Research in California’s National Parks will be 

held at the NPXPSU at the Untversity of California, 

Davis. Charles van Riper Ill, who is headmg up the 

conference arrangements, says the conference will 

cover biological and sociological research in California’s National Parks. 

Bratton Takes New Job 

Susan P. Bratton, formerly research biologist at 

Uplands Field Research Laboratory Great Smoky 

Mountains NP, recently transferred to the NPS 

Cooperative Research Unit at the lnstltuteof Ecology, 

University of Georgia. 

A native of Delaware, Susan earned her B.A. in 

biology at Barnard College, Columbia University and 

her Ph.D. in plant ecology at Cornell University She 

began her career with the National Park Service as a 

biologist stationed at Western Carolina University 

Cullowhee, Nolth Carolina, in 1974. In 1975 she 

15 

moved to Great Smoky Mountains NatIonal Park, 

where she served as research coordinator of the Uplands Lab for four years. She remained at the Great 

Smokies until her reawgnment to the University of 

Georgia last November. 

Susan has conducted a wide range of research, including studies of exotic European wild boar rooting 

in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a study 

on the control and eradication of exotic kudzu in savera1 southeastern parks. She also has authored 

numerous papers on ecological monitoring in biosphere reservas. rare and endangered plants, and 

backcountry visitor use. 

At the University of Georgia, Susan will undertake 

a study of boat impacts on grass beds at Canaveral 

NatIonal Seashore, a fire history and analysis of 

Cumberland Island and Canaveral National 

Seashores, an ecosystem study of Congaree Swamp 

National Monument, and vegetation surveys of Fort 

Frederica National Monument and Shiloh National 

Military Park. 
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