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Weekly Highlights for 09-22-2009

I. Departmental/Bureau News

A. Upcoming Events

No Upcoming Events highlights for this week

B. Current

USGS Hosts National Phenology Network Workshop in Alaska
The USGS Alaska Science Center is hosting a workshop on the USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN) on Thursday, September 24th in Anchorage for members of the Alaska science and natural resource community. The USA-NPN monitors the influence of climate on the phenology of plants, animals, and landscapes. Phenology is the study of recurring plant and animal life cycle stages such as leafing and flowering of plants, maturation of agricultural crops, emergence of insects, and migration of birds. Many of these events are sensitive to climatic variation and change, and are simple to observe and record. USA-NPN is comprised of numerous partners, including federal, state and local agencies, universities, schools, non-governmental organizations, citizen volunteers, and others. The workshop, lead by Jake Weltzin, Executive Director of the USA-NPN, will cover the program and provide an opportunity for partner agencies and members of the Alaskan community to become involved in the design and implementation. For more information about the USA-NPN go to http://www.usanpn.org/.
Contact: Durelle Smith Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7104

USGS Partners with Dutch Researchers to Study Rock Sandpipers
Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center are studying Rock Sandpipers, a shorebird that is unusual in that most individuals do not migrate great distances and instead remain at high-latitude sites throughout the winter. Many thousands of these birds spend the winter at sites in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska, and upcoming research will focus on the physiological adaptations that allow the birds to exploit this cold, dark, and icy winter environment. USGS, in collaboration with Dutch researchers, is transporting 30 birds to state-of-the-art aviaries in the Netherlands. Planned research will also investigate potential impacts to this species from anthropogenic sources such as global climate change, natural resource development, and marine transportation, and will guide future conservation efforts.
Contact: Daniel Ruthrauff Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7162

USGS Scientists Initiate Interdisciplinary Study of Sheefish, a Subsistence Food Source
USGS Alaska Science Center research fisheries biologist Chris Zimmerman and hydrologist Jeff Conaway are working on the Selawik River in northwestern Alaska to understand effects of thermokarst related erosion on spawning of sheefish. In spring of 2004, a large permafrost thaw slump occurred on the upper Selawik River within the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, which continues to deliver fine-grained sediment to the river. Sheefish are an important subsistence resource within the Kotzebue region and are broadcast spawners whose eggs settle to the streambed where they are vulnerable to sedimentation. This study will describe patterns of egg settlement relative to microhabitats, flow patterns, and settlement of fine sediments. The researchers are collecting 3-d flow data at one spawning site on the Selawik River and a model will be developed to compare settlement patterns of eggs and fine sediments.
Contact: Christian Zimmerman Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7071

USGS Provides Alaska Earthquake Hazards Briefing at Emergency Preparedness Fair
USGS Alaska Science Center geologist Peter Haeussler gave a presentation on earthquake hazards of southcentral Alaska and the Castle Mountain fault at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Emergency Preparedness Fair held in Palmer, Alaska on September 19.
Contact: Peter Haeussler Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7447

II. Press Inquiries/Media

On September 16 USGS Alaska Science Center scientist Ben Jones was contacted by National Geographic News regarding their interest in posting a USGS time-lapse video of coastal erosion along the Beaufort coast on their website.
Contact: Benjamin Jones Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7033

On September 15 USGS Alaska Science Center scientist Dan Ruthrauff was interview by CBS-TV (Ch.11, Anchorage, AK) regarding current research on Rock Sandpipers, a shorebird that remains in high-latitude locations throughout the winter, and USGS' collaborations with Dutch scientists to study the physiological adaptations of these birds.
Contact: Daniel Ruthrauff Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7162

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