SOUTHEASTERN BIOLOGY (Formerly The ASB BULLETIN) Volume 48 January, 2001 Number 1 QH301 . A70 v. 48 no. 1 Jan 2001 ASJJ ASB ASB iffrp IHli,' .||, !i ri si mm IllllffilE k if18® , iff _ , _ w-. . W - Sbl'iX si Hf I SB A £1TJ ' IkJlJ New Orleans, Louisiana, Historic Jackson Square in the center of the French Quarter with General Andrew Jackson statue in the foreground and St. Louis Cathedral in the background. The Official Publication of The Association of Southeastern Biologists h ttp : / / www.asb .appsta te . edii/ BIO L Southeastern Biology (ISSN 0001-2386) " Southeastern Biology (ISSN 0001-2386) is published quarterly in January, April, September, and December by the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Inc., Carolina Biological Supply Co., Burlington, NC 27215. Periodicals postage paid at Burlington, NC and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes to the Southeastern Biology business manager, Tim Atkinson, Carolina Biological Supply Co., 2700 York Road, Burlington, NC 27215. All contributions, inquiries about missing numbers and other matters should be addressed to the Print Editor. News items should be sent to the News Editor. Send books to be reviewed to the Book Review Editor. Printed by Allen Press, 1041 New Hampshire St., Lawrence, KS 66044. Print Editor . James D. Caponetti, Dept, of Botany, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1100; (865) 974-2256; FAX (865) 974-2258; jcaponet@utk.edu. Associate Editor . Terry Richardson, Dept, of Biology, UNA Box 5212, University of North Alabama, Florence, AL 35632-0001; (205) 765-4429; trichard@unanov.una.edu. Web Editor . Howard Neufeld, Dept, of Biology, P. O. Box 32027, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608-2027; (828) 262-2683; FAX (828) 262-2127; neufeldhs@appstate.edu. Business Manager . Tim Atkinson, Carolina Biological Supply Co., 2700 York Road, Burlington, NC 27215; (336) 538- 6224; tatkinson@carolina.com. News Editor . Jon Fortman, Div. of Sci. and Math, Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS 39701; (601) 329-7379; FAX (601) 329-7238; jfortman@sunmuw1 .muw.edu. Book Review Editor.... James Ross, 7196 College Station Dr., Cumberland College, Williamsburg, KY 40769-1382; (606) 549-2200 x4381; jross@cc.cumber.edu. ASB Officers President . Howard Neufeld, Dept, of Biology, P. O. Box 32027, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608- 2027; (828) 262-2683; FAX (828) 262-2127; neufeldhs@appstate.edu. President-elect ...Robert Haynes, Dept, of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487; (205) 348- 1826; rhaynes@biology.as.ua.edu. Vice-President.... Andrew Ash, Dept, of Biology, Pembroke State University, Pembroke, NC 28372; (336) 538-6224; aash@uncp.edu. Past President.... Patricia Parr, P. O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830-6038; (865) 576- SI 23; FAX (865) 576-8646; par@ornl.gov. Secretary . Terry Richardson, Dept, of Biology, UNA Box 5212, University of North Alabama, Florence, AL 35632- 0001; (205) 765-4429; trichard@unanov.una.edu. Treasurer . Tim Atkinson, Carolina Biological Supply Co., 2700 York Road, Burlington, NC 27215; (336) 538-6224; tatkinson@carolina.com. Archivist . John Herr, Dept, of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208; (803) 777- 8110; FAX (803) 777-4002; herr@mail.biol.sc.edu. Executive Committee Members-at-Large 2001: George Cline, Department of Biology, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL 36265; (256) 782-5798; gcline@jsucc.jsu.edu. Joe Pollard, Department of Biology, Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613-0418; (846) 294-3249; joe.pollard@furman.edu. 2002: Gerhard Kalmus, Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353; (252) 328-6306; kalmusg@mail.ecu.edu. Bonnie Kelley, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Pembroke, NC 28372-1510; (910) 521-6419; kelley@nat.uncp.edu. 2003: Henry Bart, Tulane Museum of Natural History, Belle Chasse, U\ 70037; (504) 394-1771, FAX (504) 394-5045; hank@museum.tulane.edu. Kim Marie Tolson, Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA 71209-0520; (318) 342-1805; FAX (318) 342-3312; bitolson@ulm.edu. Purpose The purpose of this association shall be to promote the advancement of biology as a science by encouraging research, the imparting of knowledge, the application of knowledge to the solution of biological problems, and the preservation of biological resources. The ASB has representation in Section G Committee of the AAAS. Varying types of membership are available to individuals and institutions. Members receive Southeastern Biology. Time and Place of Future Meetings 2001 April 4-7 Tulane and Loyola Universities, New Orleans, LA; see: http://www.loyno.edu/~asb/ 2002 April 10-13 Appalachian State University, Boone, NC; see: http://www.asb.appstate.edu/asb2002.htm President's Statement 1 President’s Statement Howard S. Neufeld Well, as I write this, the country is still waiting to see who will be the next president, and the Congress is as divided as ever. What do these circumstances portend for science in the future? Just this past year, the Congress and the Administration agreed on significant increases in funding for the NSF. Whether the new Congress will see fit to continue this in the future is uncertain, and because of that, we must not sit back idly and assume that they will. Each and every one of us must become active in promoting science, and in particular, biology, both to the public, who are the ultimate arbiters of our worth, and to our politicians, who will enact the funding legislation that will determine what science gets done. This can be accomplished in any number of ways, including writing editorials to the newspaper, holding public talks, and writing to your legislators. Show them that science is a worthy investment of our tax dollars, and that the benefits to society are far too numerous to be ignored. Nearly half of all bills passed by Congress contain technological and/or scientific material in them, yet in spite of this, Congress disbanded the Office of Technology and Assessment a few years ago. As one of the largest, if not the largest, regional biology association in the country, we can have a large impact on scientific literacy in the southeast, and beyond, but only if we become active outside of academia and governmental research institutions. A scientifically literate population is not just desirable, it may be necessary in order to secure a safe future. AIBS is taking a more active role on behalf of its 72 member societies to promote biological issues before Congress and the Administration, and, would like to provide an email service to its constituent societies that would inform them of developments in Washington in a timely manner. Member societies could also use the listserve for their own society business. Unfortunately, ASB does not currently have a complete email list of its members. Please help us by providing your email address the next time you send in your dues statement. Also, the Executive Committee has voted to create a membership secretary to improve services to our members, and to relieve some of the burden of work now being done solely by our treasurer. This will be voted on by the membership at the New Orleans meeting. And finally, one last plug for the Annual Meeting in New Orleans. After a site visit in October, I am most assured that Hank Bart and Craig Hood, the local co¬ chairs, are preparing a most successful meeting. The Radisson Hotel will be a fine meeting location, and is convenient to the French Quarter (I walked there in less than 10 minutes). And remember, Peter Raven is our plenary speaker. I look forward to seeing you all there next April!! 2 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 62nd Annual Meeting New Orleans, Louisiana The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Tulane University and the Department of Biological Sciences at Loyola University welcome the Association of Southeastern Biologists to New Orleans for its 62nd Annual Meeting, 4-7 April 2001. A web site has been set up for the meeting at http://www.loyno.edu/~asb/. Please visit this site for more detailed meeting and registration information. SOCIETIES MEETING WITH ASB IN NEW ORLEANS American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Southeastern Division (ASIH) Beta Beta Beta (BBB) Botanical Society of America, Southeastern Division (BSA) Ecological Society of America, Southeastern Division (ESA) Society of Wetland Scientists, South Atlantic Chapter (SWS) Southeastern Fishes Council (SFC) Southern Appalachian Botanical Society (SABS) NEW ORLEANS New Orleans, Louisiana hugs the banks of the Mississippi River as it winds past the heart of downtown on its way to the Delta. The city has been shaped by a rich mixture of African, Caribbean, English, French, Irish, Italian, and Spanish cultures, giving it a flavor all its own. Whether sampling the abundant and diverse Creole and Cajun cuisine in our world-famous restaurants, or strolling through the old-world charms of the French Quarter, visitors to the Crescent City will find their stay both pleasant and memorable. April is a beautiful month, with temperatures ranging between 65 and 75 degrees. Be prepared for a few showers, as one day out of three days may be a rainy day. Azaleas and a host of other ornamentals should be in bloom, carpeting the city in a blaze of pink and red blossoms. You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a great time in New Orleans, though high rollers will find plenty of opportunities to go for broke. There are numerous museums in and around Jackson Square, including the Presbytere, the Cabildo, and the 1850’s House in Jackson Square, and the Mardi Gras Museum in the nearby New Orleans Mint building. Tour some of the Quarter’s old homes, like the Gallier House or the Hermann-Grima House. Take the streetcar uptown, to enjoy the stately mansions of the Garden District, or stop off at Tulane and take a stroll across the street under the majestic oaks at Audubon Park. You can catch a free shuttle in front of Audubon Park that will take you to the Audubon Zoo, one of the country’s 2001 Meeting Information 3 premiere zoological gardens. Walk to the foot of Canal Street and ride the free ferry across the River and back for some local color and great photo opportunities. Take a ride on one of the local paddlewheel steamers, or sample the inexpensive but tasty beignets and chicory coffee at the Cafe du Monde across from Jackson Square. Be sure to visit the New Orleans information web page at: http://www.tulane.edu/~bfleury/neworleans/neworleans.htm for links to local sights and sounds, and an insider’s guide to cheap thrills and good eats in the Big Easy. TULANE UNIVERSITY When the forerunner to Tulane University-the Medical College of Louisiana- was founded in 1834, the city of New Orleans was already more than 100 years old. Tulane University can be found at the colorful, historic heart of New Orleans. At Tulane, every student enjoys the personal attention and teaching excellence for which small colleges are known, together with interdisciplinary resources and research opportunities available only at a major research institution. Since its inception, Tulane has grown into one of the nation's premier institutions of higher learning, known widely for both its undergraduate teaching and cutting-edge research. Those achievements are reflected in rankings by national periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, which consistently ranks Tulane in the top quartile of major universities and among the top 15 institutions in educational value. The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) at Tulane comprises 10 faculty, 23 graduate students, 2 postdoctoral associates, and 100 undergraduate majors. The faculty and students in the EEB Department are engaged in the study of organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and global systems. The EEB Department actively pursues its mission using an integrative approach to research and teaching in three broad disciplinary areas of study involving, 1) tropical ecology and conservation, 2) evolutionary biology and systematics, and 3) ecosystem ecology and global change. Students in the EEB Department gain experience in modern approaches to biological investigation. The Department offers programs of study leading to the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Both the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees emphasize basic research in ecology, evolution, and organismal biology. For more information, please visit the Department’s web site at http://www.tulane.edu/ ~eeob/. LOYOLA UNIVERSITY Chartered in 1912, Loyola University New Orleans is one of 28 Jesuit universities in the United States. It has grown to be one of the largest comprehensive Catholic universities in the South. Loyola University sits beside Tulane University in the Uptown section of New Orleans, one of the city's most 4 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 prestigious residential neighborhoods and 15 minutes away from downtown and the French Quarter. The university has a total enrollment of 5,500 students, including 3,500 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students. Graduate and professional programs include a School of Law and Master’s programs in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Music, and City College. The Department of Biological Sciences at Loyola University offers a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences. The department currently has 9 tenure-track faculty and 250 undergraduate majors. The faculty are dedicated to involving undergraduates in independent, original research that leads to publication and paper presentations at professional conferences. Current research in field biology include studies of plant community dynamics and wetland loss in the Mississippi River Delta; phytosociological studies of hardwood bottomland forests in SE Louisiana and the Yucatan Peninsula; community ecology in aquatic systems of the Florida Everglades and Louisiana; behavioral ecology of aquatic macroinvertebrates, population genetics of invasive plant species; algal ecology and systematics; and geographic variation in freshwater fishes and mammals. Loyola University is an affiliate member of the Louisiana Universities Marine Science Consortium (LUMCON), which maintains a state-of-the-art marine science center on the Gulf Coast in Cocodrie, Louisiana. This affiliation allows faculty and students to conduct research and participate in marine science courses. For more information, please visit the Department's web site at http://www.loyno.edu/~biology. TRAVEL TO AND WITHIN NEW ORLEANS Meeting attendees who fly into the New Orleans International Airport can use the Airport Shuttle (cost $10 one way) or taxi service for transportation to the meeting site, the Radisson Hotel on Canal Street. The flat rate for taxi service from the airport is $24 for one or two people, and $10 each for additional passenger. For those driving to the meeting, the Radisson is conveniently located near the Canal Street/Superdome exit from westbound 1-10, or via the Claiborne exit for eastbound 1-10. The Radisson Hotel provides valet parking for $17.92 per day for overnight guests, and $10.00 per day for attendees staying at other hotels. There are several parking lots and garages within easy walking distance of the Radisson. Parking rates vary from $3.00 to $7.00 per day and up. New Orleans has a great system of public transportation. Several bus lines run right outside of the hotel, and passengers may transfer from these buses to St. Charles and Riverfront streetcar lines. The fare is $1.25 ($1.50 with transfer). Exact change is required. The Radisson Hotel provides complimentary shuttle service from the Hotel to the Riverwalk, Harrah’s Casino, Jax Brewery, and the French Quarter. The shuttle runs from 10:00 A.M. until 12 midnight. Complimentary charter buses will provide transportation to and from the evening social. You may want to try one of the web-based travel guides such as http://www.zip2.com/, http://home.digitalcity.com/maps/, or http://www.mapquest. com/. 2001 Meeting Information 5 AIRLINE DISCOUNT FARES Delta Air Lines is offering discounted fares and a 5% bonus discount if purchased 60 days or more prior to departure date. Call Delta or have your travel agent call Delta (800) 241-6760, 7:30-11:00 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (8:30-11:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday). Refer to File Number 168367A. Applicable restrictions must be met. Seats at the discounted fares are limited. Southwest Airlines is offering 10% discount. Call Southwest Airlines at (800) 433-5368 Monday-Friday, 8:00-5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:30-3:30 p.m. Refer to ID Code J1260. Fares are subject to terms and availability. Reservations must be made no later than five days prior to first date of travel. ACCOMMODATIONS The venue for the meeting will be the historic Radisson Hotel at 1501 Canal Street, a landmark hotel property (formerly the Jung Hotel), which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel is directly across Canal Street from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and across LaSalle Street from Tulane’s Tidewater Building. With the exception of the Thursday evening social and the “on-line education" symposium, all meeting events will be conveniently held at the Radisson Hotel. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Radisson for ASB meeting participants at a special rate of $134 single or double occupancy, and $154 triple or quad. ASB and the 62nd Annual Meeting Local Arrangements Committee respectfully ask meeting participants to use the Radisson Hotel and mention that you are attending the ASB meeting when booking hotel accommodations. April is a very busy tourism and convention season in New Orleans, and rates at other quality hotels in the area are much higher. For additional information on accommodations at the New Orleans Radisson please visit their web site at http://www.radisson.com/ neworleansla. Alternative lodging has been arranged at the Days Inn Motor Lodge at 1630 Canal Street (corner of Canal and Claiborne Ave.) at a cost of $91 .00 per night. REGISTRATION Early Late Regular ASB member $100 $150 Regular Non-ASB member $120 (includes ASB membership) $170 Student ASB member $ 50 $ 75 Student Non-ASB member $ 60 (includes ASB membership) $ 85 EARLY: Postmarked on or before February 16, 2001; LATE: Postmarked after February 16, 2001. 6 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 The registration fee includes all educational sessions and materials, welcoming social, continental breakfasts and refreshment during breaks. A registration table will be set up outside of the Exhibit Hall in the Radisson Hotel starting Wednesday, April 4th at 3:00 p.m. for picking up meeting packets and for late registration. Written notification of cancellation must be postmarked or faxed on or before February 16, 2001, to obtain a partial refund of the , registration fee (a $25 administrative fee will be retained). ”No Shows” will not be refunded. Tulane University Health Sciences Center reserves the right to cancel this activity if there are insufficient registrants. Full refunds would be made in that event. If you have not received your confirmation by March 30, 2001, please call (504) 588-5466 or (800) 588-5300 to confirm your registration. PROGRAM INFORMATION The 62nd Annual Meeting will feature a plenary address by noted biologist Dr. Peter Raven of the Missouri Botanical Garden; a symposium on the future of herbaria in the southeastern U.S.; a workshop on software products for biology instruction (see below), an evening social at Audubon Zoo; field trips to a number of the interesting environments south Louisiana has to offer; and the usual variety of contributed paper and poster sessions. In addition, the local committee is organizing a special symposium on the Mississippi River and Coastal Louisiana. This symposium will highlight the important contributions scientists at Tulane, Loyola and other Louisiana universities are making to problems related to the Mississippi River. Workshop on Online Education Software At last year’s annual meeting, the Education Committee hosted a demonstration and discussion of “technology enhanced” and “online” teaching tools. This year, the Committee has organized a hands-on workshop of online educational software. Workshop participants will be able to use web-based software in “real-time” at computers connected to the Internet by ethernet. One or two commercial vendors will demonstrate their online educational package(s). Following these demonstrations a college instructor who is currently using one of the on-line programs will discuss the successes, problems and modifications needed to implement the system in their course(s). The workshop will be hosted offsite (not at the Radisson) on Friday April 6th from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. Those wishing to participate need to indicate this on the registration form. 2001 Meeting Information 7 TENTATIVE PROGRAM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4 Honey Island Swamp Field Trip (# 1) . Noon-5:00 p.m. Swamps & Bayous by Canoe Field Trip (# 3) . 2:00-8:30 p.m. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park Field Trip (# 5) . 1:00-6:00 p.m. Registration . 3:00-8:00 p.m. Poster/Exhibit Set-Up . Noon-5:00 p.m. ASB Executive Committee Meeting . 2:00-6:00 p.m. SABS Council Meeting . 3:00-7:00 p.m. ESA 25th Anniversary Celebration . 5:30-7:00 p.m. ASB Plenary Session . 8:00-9:30 p.m. Welcome and Announcements by Local Committee Plenary Lecture, Dr. Peter Raven ASB Wednesday Evening Social . 9:30-11:00 p.m. THURSDAY, APRIL 5 Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall . 7:00-8:30 a.m. ASB Past President’s Breakfast . 7:00-8:30 a.m. Poster/Exhibit Set-Up . 7:00-10:30 a.m. Slide Previewing . 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Registration . 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Paper and Poster Sessions . 8:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Commercial Exhibits . 8:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Symposium on “Lower Mississippi River and Coastal Louisiana: challenges of the past, opportunities for the future” Sponsored by the Local Committee . 8:30 a.m. -Noon SWS Luncheon Meeting . Noon-1 :30 p.m. BBB Luncheon and Field Trip . 11:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. ASIH, SE Division Business Meeting . 5:00-5:30 p.m. SFC Business Meeting . 5:30-6:00 p.m. ASB Social, Thursday Evening Social at Swamp Exhibit Audubon Zoo . 6:00-10:00 p.m. FRIDAY, APRIL 6 SABS/BSA, SE Section Breakfast/Business Meeting . 7:00-8:30 a.m. Slide Previewing . 7:00-5:00 p.m. Registration . 8:00 a.m. -Noon Commercial Exhibits . 8:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Paper and Poster Sessions . 8:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. 8 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 Beta Beta Beta Officers & Judges Meetings . 8:30-9:30 a.m. Poster Session . 9:30-10:30 a.m. BBB Business meeting I . 10:30-11:30 a.m. Symposium on “The Future of Plant Collections in the Southeast,” Zack Murrell and Charles Horn, Organizers . 8:30-11:30 a.m. ASB Business Meeting and Election of Officers . Noon-1 :30 p.m. ESA SE Chapter Luncheon and Business Meeting . '...Noon-2:30 p.m. Workshop on “Online Educational Software,” Sponsored by the ASB Education Committee William Dobson and Larry Wilson, Organizers (offsite) . 1:30-5:00 p.m. BBB District meetings . 4:30-5:00 p.m. BBB Joint Business & Award Meeting . 5:00-5:30 p.m. ASB Social Hour, Cash Bar . 6:00-7:00 p.m. ASB Banquet and Awards . 7:00-9:00 p.m. ASB Wind Down . 9:00-10:30 p.m. SATURDAY, APRIL 7 ASB Executive Committee Meeting . 7:30-10:00 a.m. ASB Field Trips Honey Island Swamp field trip (# 2) . 7:00 a.m. -Noon Swamps & Bayous by Canoe field trip (# 4) . 8:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park field trip (# 6) . 8:00 a.m.-l :00 p.m. Crosby Arboretum & Hillside Bog field trip (# 7) . 9:00 a.m. -2:30 p.m. Tunica Hills field trip (# 8) . 7:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m. Grand Isle field trip (# 9) . 7:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m. LUMCON field trip (# 10) . 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Mississippi River Delta field trip (# 11) . 9:00 a.m. -8:00 p.m. ASB 2001 FIELD TRIPS NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA GENERAL INFORMATION: • The New Orleans ASB local meeting has gone to unusual efforts to offer 12 spectacular field trips to diverse regional ecosystems (see below & for photos the meeting web site). The local committee recognizes that our city attractions are hard to beat so, we hope our trips will lure you from the city for at least part of your stay. We are offering trips with accommodating departure and return times. The trips are scheduled on Wednesday afternoon before the meeting begins and on Saturday with early return times. You can still enjoy New Orleans on Saturday night! 2001 Meeting Information 9 • April is a top month for nature trips in the New Orleans region. At this time it is usually not hot or rainy, yet sufficiently late in the growing season for fantastic viewing of our best ecosystems. • Space is very limited on all trips. Registration for a trip is on a first-come, first-served basis and only guaranteed after full payment. ASB will keep a waiting list. Cancellations for a full refund must be received by March 15. After February 1st, check the local web site for weekly updates on individual trip availability. If a trip has not filled, registration for it is open until trip departure. If a trip is critical to your travel plans then verify your registration for the trip by contacting us by e-mail. On the attached form, PLEASE IDENTIFY THE TOP TWO OR THREE TRIPS YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND. You can rank them according to preference. Include payment for your first choice trip. • Pay particular attention to proper wear and gear for your trip, (see comments below). • All trips will leave from the Radisson Hotel on time (see comments below). • For other information about trips, contact dawhite@loyno.edu. TRIPS 1 & 2 - HONEY ISLAND SWAMP Venture into the interior of one of the wildest pristine swamps in America, part of which became the Nature Conservancy's first Louisiana Nature Preserve. The nearly 30,000 ha permanently protected Honey Island Swamp wetland, in the lower floodplain of the Pearl River, is likely the least disturbed riverine wetland along the Gulf Coast. By specially built open tour boats, participants will get to experience the deeper, hard-to-reach small bayous and sloughs in the interior of the swamp. This is a great field trip for nature photography and wildlife observation. You'll see some of the most spectacular cypress and gum stands and it's almost guaranteed you'll come across alligators and plenty of wading birds. Cajun and other food is available at the launch site. Wear comfortable clothes for the 2-hr boat tour. You will not get wet on this trip unless you fall overboard or it's pouring rain! Cost per person w/o lunch $40.00. Trip #1 departs hotel Wednesday, April 4 at 12:00 p.m. return 5:00 p.m. and Trip # 2 departs Saturday, April 7 at 7:00 a.m. and returns 12:00 noon. Leader: Dr. Paul Wagner, Honey Island SwampTours. TRIPS 3 & 4 - SWAMPS & BAYOUS BY CANOE See the swamplands and marshlands of southeastern Louisiana by canoe! Exact destinations will be determined just before the trip depending upon local flowering and water conditions. Three possible destination sites are within 1 hr of New Orleans within the Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas drainages. One site is Shell Bank Bayou in the Manchac swamp, the subject of a locally popular coffee-table picture book. Another site is Bayou LaBranche, which features waterways bordered by thousands of irises. The final possible site is Cane Bayou, which meanders to the shore of Lake Pontchartrain through extensive fresh and saline marshes. Encountering alligators only meters away is likely on this trip! No canoeing experience is necessary. Wear old clothes and footwear that can get wet. Bring rain gear if threatening. Cost per person w/snacks $35.00. 10 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 First trip is an evening/night trip to experience the sights and sounds of the wetlands after dark! Trip # 3 departs hotel on Wednesday, April 4 at 2:00 p.m.; returns at 8:30 p.m. Trip # 4 departs hotel on Saturday, April 7 at 8:00 a.m.; returns at 2:00 p.m. Leader: Byron Almquist, Canoe & Trail Adventures. TRIPS 5 & 6 - JEAN LAFITTE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK This half day easy trip is to the main unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park located about 30 minutes from New Orleans. The park is famous for its well- planned, easily accessed boardwalks into the swamps and freshwater marshes within the upper Barataria drainage basin. April is the perfect time to visit the park because of the Louisiana irises coming into bloom. Alligators, turtles and wading birds abound in the waterways along the walks. The tour begins on the high natural levee by the ancient Bayou des Families, which support some 100+ year old bottomland hardwood forests, and then traverses away from the bayou down slope through cypress, red-maple and water tupelo dominated swamps finally reaching the extensive floating marshes. Learn about the problems with invasive species and the Park Service's efforts to control them. Bring comfortable clothes, walking shoes, raingear and repellent. Cost per person is $30.00 w/o lunch. Trip # 5 depart hotel on Wednesday, April 4 at 1:00 p.m. to return at 6:00 p.m. Trip # 6 departs on Saturday, April 7 at 8:00 a.m. to return at 1:00 p.m. Leader: Staff, National Park Service TRIP 7 - CROSBY ARBORETUM & HILLSIDE BOG The Crosby Arboretum, Mississippi State University, is located in the piney woods region of the Gulf Coastal Plain, in southern Mississippi about 1 hr north of New Orleans. The arboretum is the premier native plant conservatory of our region and focuses on the plants and communities native to the Pearl River drainage basin. This tour will visit Pinecote, the 64-acre interpretive center to learn of the local management practices, some using fire, used to maintain the seven natural areas the arboretum oversees. Pinecote is a mosaic of woodland, wetland and savanna environments. Participants will travel to the 10 ha Hillside Bog, "perhaps the most spectacular natural area owned" by the arboretum. April is a notable time to visit the bog. In particular, the flowers of the yellow pitcher plant ( Sarracenia alata) dominate the landscape. Over 241 species of plants have been identified at Hillside Bog and some areas of the bog have over 45 species/m2. State listed endangered species occur in the bog including many orchid species and insect eating plants. Walking is fairly easy for this trip but be prepared to tread through mushy soils and some standing water; recommend long pants, waterproof boots, insect repellant. Cost per person w/box lunch $45.00. Trip # 7 departs hotel Saturday, April 7 at 9:00 a.m. return 2:30 p.m. Leader: Dr. Robert Brzuszek, The Crosby Arboretum. TRIP 8 -TUNICA HILLS A region of deeply eroded blufflands about 140 miles northwest of New Orleans, the Tunica Hills represent the southern limit of mixed mesophytic forest in the eastern United States. Cool ravines and shaded stream banks shelter one of the 2001 Meeting Information 11 most diverse forest communities in North America, a mix of temperate and subtropical trees dominated by beeches, magnolias, hollies, and oaks. Understory species include species characteristic of the Appalachian region, such as American ginseng, climbing bittersweet, baneberry, and wild ginger, as well as remarkably rich bryophyte flora. Black bear and eastern chipmunk roam this area. Easy access is had over old logging roads to areas managed by the Nature Conservancy and State agencies. The return trip includes a brief stop at Oakley House, the John James Audubon Commemorative Area near Saint Francisville, Louisiana. Dress for off-trail walking in stream bottoms; mosquitoes may be a problem in some areas. Cost per person w/box lunch is $45.00. Trip #8 departs hotel Saturday, April 7 at 7:00 a.m.; return at 6:00 p.m. Leader: Dr. Steven Darwin, Tulane University. TRIP 9 -GRAND ISLE This is the perfect trip for serious birders! It is also ideal for those who simply want to see a diversity of natural areas west and south of New Orleans! The drive to Grand Isle, a barrier island west of the Mississippi River, will take you past the des Allemands swamp, down Bayou Lafourche (a former main channel of the Mississippi River several thousand years ago) past Cajun fishing villages, onto Fourchon pond and beach, and finally to the island. Several stops will be made along the way; particularly noteworthy will be stops at several beaches, Cheniers (maritime oak forests), freshwater marshes/ponds and saltmarshes. Birds that you might see include: brown and white pelicans, roseate spoonbill, reddish egret, ibises, plovers, marbled godwit, whimbrel, various terns, great horned owl, inca dove, white-winged dove, neotropical migrants including painted buntings, bronzed cowbird, shiney cowbird among many others. Participants should come away with over 100 species of birds! Dress for bushwacking; bring snacks, bottle water, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, hat, binoculars and camera telescopes if desired. Cost per person w/iunch $40.00. Trip # 9 departs hotel on Saturday, April 7 at 7:00 a.m.; return 7:00 p.m. Leaders: David Muth, National Park Service and Dr. Dan Purrington, Tulane University. TRIP 10 - LUMCON The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) field station in Cocodrie, is about 2 hrs from New Orleans south of Houma, and situated in the coastal marshes of central Louisiana. Many coastal wetlands in Louisiana experience salinity increases and rapid sea-level rise because of rapid subsidence. This field trip will explore how coastal wetlands respond to submergence (vertical accretion), salinity increases (habitat change), and human impacts (indirect and direct). After a bus ride to Cocodrie, participants will explore the relatively healthy saline marshes adjacent to LUMCON and then travel by boat to brackish and freshwater wetlands adjacent to Lake DeCade. A ghost cypress swamp (presumably killed by salinity increases) and marsh management units (implemented to counter salinity increases) will be visited during the trip. The success of the Falgout Canal Marsh Management Project, a 3000 ha project, will be examined. If time permits, brave souls can try walking on a floating freshwater marsh. Bring long pants, sunscreen, repellent, hat, and shoes 12 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 for getting wet. Cost per person is $45.00. Trip # 10 departs hotel on Saturday, April 7 at 7:00 a.m.; return at 7:00 p.m. Leader: Dr. Andy Nyman, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. TRIP 11 - MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA Experience the delta of the 3rd largest river in the world! Participants will explore the Mississippi River delta by boat after departing Venice, Louisiana; the "last" town located 2 hrs south of New Orleans. Participants will travel 30 minutes down river from the nearest road into vast wetlands to sites of new land building, 1000's ha of Phragmites, and huge numbers of birds. Even though April is early for the marshes in the delta due to the cold river waters, participants will be able to walk across mud substrates that support the herbaceous species ravaged by the migrant ducks and geese earlier in the season. Learn about the long history of land building by the River and about wetland creation efforts that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is overseeing. Time permitting, we will travel to fringes of the delta to look out into the open Gulf and we may have time to stop at the fascinating community of Pilottown nearly destroyed by Hurricane Camille in 1968. Participants must be field hardy. Bring raingear, hat, sunscreen, old clothes and shoes to wade in that will get covered in mud. It is especially important that you bring medium weight outerwear even if the day is warm. The air just above the river is cold at this time of year. Cost per person w/box lunch $45.00. Trip # 11 departs hotel on Saturday, April 7 at 9:00 a.m.; return by 8:00 p.m. Leader: Dr. David White, Loyola University. TRIP 12 - TRI-BETA LUNCHEON AND FIELD TRIP Tri-beta students and their advisors will travel -20 min. south of New Orleans to experience a Cajun party at Bayou Barn including entrees File Gumbo and Jambalaya and canoeing on the beautiful Bayou Des Families. Cost $25/person includes luncheon, transportation and canoe rental. Attendance is limited, bring poncho in case of rain. Trip # 12 departs hotel on Thursday, April 5th at 11:30 a.m.; return by 5:00 p.m. Leader: Patricia Dorn (dorn@loyno.edu) GEAR AND DRESS FOR ALL FIELD TRIPS: The following should be a clear reminder that nearly all trips listed require certain gear and dress. Please heed the following general points and recommendations: • first and foremost, recognize that most trips are visiting WET areas; shoes will likely get soaked or muddy (one sensible plan is to bring an old pair or purchase a cheap pair of tennis-type shoes and toss them at the end of the trip; sandals should not be worn) • wear long pants and bring a hat and sunglasses • pay attention to the weather forecast for proper outer dress; bring rain-gear if there is chance of rain (above 20%) or sunscreen if its sunny • insect repellent is essential for some trips and could be useful on all trips • realize that the trips by power boat will be windy and cold while traveling in the open boat (the water is much colder than the air at this time of year) 2001 Meeting Information 13 • cameras, binoculars and field guides are good to bring • each vehicle will have water or soft-drinks and a box lunch, if stated. Bring snacks. Do not count on being able to stop to purchase food; a schedule must be kept! DEPARTURE AND RETURN TIMES Several special notes: • be on time to make certain you make your trip. These trips WILL leave at the scheduled departure time (NOT 10 MINUTES AFTER) • each trip is subject to cancellation, if there is not sufficient interest. You should be notified before your arrival in New Orleans, if a trip has been cancelled and you have been assigned to another trip if you have given us alternative choices • to help us notify you for any reason, be sure to let us know your e-mail address • if a trip is cancelled your money will be refunded. Do realize that contracts with local livery services will have been signed based upon expected revenue • if you miss a trip by being 5 minutes late your money can not be refunded UNLESS we have sufficient funds to cover the cost of the trip from other sources. Assume you will not receive a refund if you are tardy or you don't cancel by March 15. Assume you will likely not be able to go on a later trip if you are tardy; it could be filled. We will make every effort to help with scheduling and other problems • do realize that these trips are not a moneymaking venture and so costs are kept as low as possible and so only minimal flexibility is built in • finally, the stated return time is an approximation Loyola University is a nationally competitive comprehensive university situated in residential neighborhoods of uptown. 14 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 REGISTRATION FORM ASB-ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEASTERN BIOLOGISTS 62nd Annual Meeting Hosted by Tulane and Loyola Universities New Orleans, Louisiana April 4-7, 2001 (Type or clearly print one form per registrant) Name O Faculty O Graduate Student Social Security No. O Undergraduate Student Institution Mailing Address City State Zip Office Phone ( ) Email Affiliation (Check O ASB OASIH O BBB O BSA where appropriate): O ESA O SFC O SABS O SWS Early ASB member $100 _ Early Non-ASB member (includes ASB membership) $120 _ Late ASB member $150 _ Late Non-ASB member (includes ASB membership) $170 _ Early Student ASB member $ 50 _ Early Student Non-ASB member (includes ASB membership) $ 60 _ Late Student ASB member $ 75 _ Late Student Non-ASB member (includes ASB membership) $ 85 _ EARLY: Postmarked on or before February 16, 2001; LATE: Postmarked after February 16, 2001. O Yes, I plan to attend the Wednesday Evening Welcoming Social 2001 Meeting Information 15 SWS Travel Funds for graduate students presenting a wetlands paper: The South Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Wetlands Scientists has funds available to support travel by graduate students presenting a paper on a wetlands topic. If you wish to apply for these funds, indicate the title, authors of paper and check the box, below: O I wish to apply for SWS travel funds. Authors/Title: Thursday Evening Social at Audubon Zoo: x _ tickets $ x _ tickets $ Regular: $40.00 Student: $30.00 Friday afternoon Education Workshop on Online Software: The Education Committee has organized a online workshop that will be held off-site on Friday afternoon from 1 :30 to 5:00 p.m. If you wish to participate, check the box, below: O I wish to be a participant in Online Workshop (max. of 50) Friday Evening ASB Banquet: x _ tickets $ x _ tickets $ Regular: $35.00 Student: $25.00 Breakfasts: ASB Past Presidents: SABS/BSA: $15.00 x _ tickets $15.00 x _ tickets Luncheons: BBB (see Field Trip# 12) ESA/SE Chapter: $15.00 x _ tickets SWS: $15.00 x _ tickets $ $ $ $ Dietary preference (vegetarian, non-dairy, etc.): _ Field Trips: Please indicate your first, second, and third choices and pay only for your first choices. Be sure to give us your e-mail address. 16 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 Destination/(Day) Price/Quantity 1. Honey Island Swamp (Wed.) . . $40.00 x tickets.. ...$ 2. Honey Island Swamp (Sat.) . , $40.00 x tickets . ...$ 3. Swamps & Bayous by canoe (Wed.), . $35.00 x tickets.. ...$ 4. Swamps & Bayous by canoe (Sat.).., , $35.00 x tickets.. ...$ 5. Jean Lafitte National Part (Wed.) . . $30.00 x tickets.. ...$ 6. Jean Lafitte National Part (Sat.) . . $30.00 x tickets.. ...$ 7. Crosby Arboretum & Hillside Bog . , $45,00 x tickets.. ...$ 8. Tunica Hills . . $45.00 x tickets.. ...$ 9. Grand Isle . . $40.00 x tickets .. ...$ 10. LUMCON . . $45.00 x tickets.. ...$ 11. Mississippi River Delta . . $45.00 x tickets.. ...$ 12. Tri-Beta Luncheon & Field Trip . . $25.00 x tickets.. ...$ TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED . $ Total (registration, events and field trips) Choice PAYMENT METHOD: _ Check (payable to TUHSC-CCE) _ Master Card _ Visa CARD NUMBER _ Signature _ Date Mail or fax this completed registration form with payment to: Center for Continuing Education (TB-51) Tulane University Health Sciences Center 1430 Tulane Avenue New Orleans, Louisiana 70112-2699 Fax: (504) 584-1779 Phone: (800) 588-5300 or (504) 588-5466 Email: cme@tulane.edu 2001 Meeting Information 17 LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE Local Arrangements Co-Chair . Symposia/ workshops Local Arrangements Co-Chair . Program Co-chair, Web Master Program Co-Chair . Beta Beta Beta . Commercial Exhibits . Field Trips . Posters and Audiovisual . Registration and Meeting Statistics Social Committee . Transportation and Volunteers . Hank Bart hank@museum.tulane.edu Craig Hood chood@loyno.edu David Heins Heins@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu Patricia Dorn dorn@loyno.edu Don Hauber hauber@loyno.edu Dave White dawhite@loyno.edu Beth Wee bwee@tcs.tulane.edu Melinda Epperson epperson@tmcpop.tmc.tulane.edu Frank Jordan jordan@loyno.edu Bruce Fleury bfleury@tcs.tulane.edu Tulane University, Gibson Hall, in beautiful landscape. 18 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 Plenary Speaker Peter H. Raven Biography y Peter H. Raven, one of the world’s leading botanists, has dedicated nearly three decades to conservation and biodiversity as Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden, where he has cultivated a world-class institution of horticultural display, education, and research. Described by Time magazine as a “Hero for the Planet,” Dr. Raven champions research around the world to preserve endangered plants and is a leading advocate for conservation and a sustainable environment. Dr. Raven has served as Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden and Engelmann Professor of Botany at Washington University since 1971. Under Dr. Raven’s leadership, the Missouri Botanical Garden has become a leader in botanical research in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, with strong programs in North America as well. The Garden’s education program in the St. Louis region reaches more than 100,000 students each year and provides professional development for teachers. The splendid horticultural displays attract more than 750,000 visitors to the Garden annually, including tourists to St. Louis from around the United States and the world. Dr. Raven is a member of President Clinton’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology and is the Chairman of the National Geographic Society’s Committee for Research and Exploration. He is President-Elect of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest organization of professional scientists, and will assume office as President in 2001. He served for 12 years as Home Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences, is a member of the academies of science in Argentina, China, India, Italy, Russia, and several other countries and also belongs to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. He was first Chair of the U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation, a government-established organization that funds joint research with the independent countries of the former Soviet Union. In August 1999, Dr. Raven brought to St. Louis the XVI International Botanical Congress, a global gathering of more than 5,000 botanists. Dr. Raven presided at the meeting and received the Engler Medal, in gold, for distinguished lifetime service to plant taxonomy. The meeting, held once every six years, last occurred in North America in 1969. As a result of his work in science and conservation, Dr. Raven is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards, including the prestigious International Prize for Biology from the government of Japan; Environmental Prize of the Institut de la Vie; Volvo Environment Prize; Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement; and the Sasakawa Environment Prize. He also has held Guggenheim and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowships. Dr. Raven is Co-editor of the Flora of China, a joint Chinese-American international project that is leading to a contemporary account on all the plants of China. He has written numerous books and publications, both popular and scientific, including Biology of Plants (co-authored with Ray Evert and Susan Eichhorn, Worth Publishers, Inc., New York), the internationally best-selling textbook in botany, now in its sixth edition, and Environment (Saunders College Publishing, Pennsylvania), a leading textbook on the environment. 2001 Meeting Information 19 Dr. Raven received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1960 after completing his undergraduate work at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Peter H. Raven 20 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION! SILVER ANNIVERSARY of the SOUTHEASTERN CHAPTER of the ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Wednesday evening social hour before the plenary session Friday luncheon recognizing charter members and chapter leaders, at the ASB Annual Meeting, April 4-7, New Orleans LA We are trying to collect slides and pictures of the Southeastern Chapter activities. If you have any to share, please mail them to Dr. Ken McLeod, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Drawer E Aiken, SC 29802 AIBS News The first ever AIBS President's Summit took place November 11-14, 1999, at the Airlie Conference Center, Warrenton, Virginia. The photograph on the opposite page shows presidents and other representatives from almost all of AIBS's member societies and organizations (numbering 69 as of this date) who attended the historic four-day event. A summary of the summit is provided in the March, 2000 issue of "Bioscience." Past President Pat Parr attended the summit for ASB, and Joe Winstead represented SABS. Can you find them in the picture? AIBS News 21 AU-tr tHi&himit* * AliHi- Ct-lii iH 22 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition Reprinted with permission from the October 2000 issue of the SAFC Newsletter. The Southern Appalachian Forest Coalitidn, a collaboration of 17 con¬ servation organizations across six states in the region, is preparing a campaign to permanently protect our remaining wildlands. With more than six million acres in federal or state ownership, our region represents some of the most consolidated and unfragmented public lands in the East. For millions of years, the Southern Appalachians served as a refuge for untold thousands of plant and animal species seeking to escape climatic changes and glaciers creeping in from the north. What evolved, today stands as one of the most biologically diverse temperate forests on the planet. It is also one of the most beautiful, drawing immense wealth to the region through tourism and recreation. Our forests also serve a critical role in the provision of clean water to more than 2,000 cities and rural communities. Yet the bounty our generation enjoys may be squandered unless significant steps are taken to protect this precious and unique environment against threats from without and within. Unprecedented urban growth in the South is pushing sprawl and pollution hard against the boundaries of these public lands and in many instances has isolated natural areas previously linked by undeveloped private holdings. National forest management practices favoring resource extraction continue to undermine fragile ecosystems and threaten the viability of numerous rare and endangered species. Our rivers and streams have suffered serious degradation, no longer able to sustain many of the species and populations that thrived in their waters just 100 years ago. Air pollution threatens the high peaks and our own health and well¬ being. SAFC's campaign will seek to instigate a range of legislative and community- based initiatives to reverse these trends and consolidate the future of the region. The foundation for this work, which promises immensely positive environmental and economic outcomes, will be launched early next year. Our vision will represent the most comprehensive region-wide forest protection effort since citizens and civic and business leaders gathered in Asheville in 1899 to tackle the devastating logging practices of the time. That meeting generated the momentum that eventually led to the establishment of national forests in the east in 1911, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934 and Shenandoah National Park in 1935. SAFC commemorated that landmark gathering with a Centennial Celebration in Asheville last year. Now the Coalition stands ready to honor the vision of those conservation pioneers and the needs of future generations. Your involvement and your support will be critical. For further information, contact SAFC at 46 Haywood Street, Suite 323, Asheville, NC 28801; telephone (828) 252-9223, FAX (828) 252-9074; e-mail safc@safc.org; web http://www.safc.org. All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory 23 TheATBI Keith Langdon, Supervisor of Resource Management Great Smoky Mountains National Park Reprinted with permission from the Autumn, 2000 "ATBI Quarterly" newsletter. The All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, or "ATBI", is a term used in scientific literature for an all-species inventory performed in a given area over a relatively short period of time. This term has become well known to biologists and ecologists mostly due to the coordination and work of Dr. Dan Janzen and many others in Costa Rica. In some respects the term "taxa" has its drawbacks when dealing with the lay public, as Park employees discovered when conducting a briefing for congressional staffers in Washington ("...taxes? We can't have new taxes!"). In some circles we have just referred to an "All Species Inventory" to avoid definitions and explanations. For those closer to the project, it's still ATBI. As discussed at the first ATBI conference in December 1997, this project is much too big for any single park, agency, university, or museum. Instead we have formed a non-profit organization called Discover Life in America, Inc., or "DLIA". DLIA is composed of scientists, educators, and others from many institutions who want to see this project happen, and they have invested their time and expertise to do so. At first under the legal wing of the Park's highly successful Friends group, and with additional significant support from the Park's Natural History Association (NHA), DLIA now is legally independent and is laying the groundwork with the two "parent" organizations just mentioned, to become financially self-sufficient. Due to many similar long-term goals, DLIA probably will always have close ties to the Friends, NHA, and other emerging partners. However, the foremost operational partner is the National Park Service staff at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Very briefly, in operation, the ATBI aims to discover as much of the life in the 2,000+ km Great Smoky Mountains National Park as possible. Scientists will sample so as to contribute information on each species' distribution, relative abundance and associated taxa in the Park. The project will also maximize the integration of educational opportunities, all the while furthering taxonomy, ecology, and other field sciences. Thank You! to Friends of the Smokies, the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association, and the National Park Jeanie Hilten, Administrative Officer, Discover Life in America 1314 Cherokee Orchard Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Tele. (865) 430-4752; E-mail: jeanie@discoverlife.org Starting the wheels turning for any new venture requires both spark and fuel. So many different organizations and individuals have provided these components. The spark of ideas for the research work to be done has scientists and volunteers making tremendous contributions to ATBI. Yet, an ongoing 24 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 energy source in required. Friends of the Smokies, the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association, and the National Park have provided necessary financial and in-kind contributions-fuel for the engine! In addition to the millions of dollars of support given to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Institute at Tremont, the Friends and NHA have generously funded a wide variety of Discover Life projects, including the research awards for 13 studies for the ATBI. The office, technical, and bookkeeping support is also crucial to our efforts and much appreciated. Twin Creeks Natural Resources Center and other branches of Great Smoky Mountains National Park have given invaluable assistance with scientific expertise, office space, reasonably priced housing, public relations, and transportation. DLIA extends a heartfelt "Thank You" to these wonderful organizations and invites others to join the team! Grant Awards Presented to ATBI Researchers Grant money supplied by the Friends of the Smokies and the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association is supporting ATBI work for the 2000 summer season. DLIA Board Members and Science Committee Co-Chair Dr. John Morse administered evaluation of the proposals which were reviewed and rated by eight other scientists. Thirteen proposals were either fully or partly funded, with $96,309 in requests and $40,000 allocated. The projects involve a variety of life forms, from slime molds and fungi to annelids, caddisflies and other aquatic insects, copepods, and Lepidoptera. There will be another request for proposals in January, 2001. Congratulations to these scientists for their selection to receive funding: Dr. Dan Otte, Dept, of Entomology, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA Dr. Charles R. Parker, USGS, Biological Resources Division Dr. David K. Smith, Dr. B. Eugene Wofford, and Dr. Patricia B. Cox, Dept, of Botany, University of Tennessee Dr. Steven L. Stephenson, Dept, of Biology, Fairmont College. Dr. Ernest C. Bernard, Dept, of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee Mr. James C. Cokendolpher, Lubbock, Texas Dr. Joseph V. McHugh, Dept, of Entomology, University of Georgia Dr. William Moser, Smithsonian Institution and Dr. Don Klemm, US EPA Dr. Janet W. Reid, Dept, of Invertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution Dr. Mark J. Wetzel, Illinois Natural History Survey Dr. Steven Wilhelm, Dept, of Microbiology, University of Tennessee Dr. Donald R. Davis and Dr. John W. Brown, National Museum of Natural History Dr. Sam James, Dept, of Life Sciences, Maharishi University of Management More Information: www.discoverlife.org www.goldsword.com/sfarmer/ATBI/t-petersii.html www.friendsofthesmokies.org www.nbii.gov/index.html www.invasivespecies.gov/ www.samab.org ATBI Quarterly Newsletter GRSM Resource Management@nps.gov (e-mail) Book Reviews 25 REVIEWS James Ross, Review Editor 7196 College Station Dr., Cumberland College Williamsburg, KY 40769-1 382 Ross, Richard. 1999. Freshwater stingrays, everything about purchase, care, feeding, and aquarium design. Barrows Educational Series, Inc. Hauppauge, NY. $6.95 + $5.95 handling. 95 p. Ross's 95 p. 165 x 220 mm color and black and white illustrated Freshwater Stingrays, everything about purchase, care, feeding, and aquarium design is just that. Twelve "chapters" treat: understanding freshwater stingrays, acquiring your stingrays, stingray aquarium, aquarium equipment, water quality, stingray compatibility, feeding stingrays, health problems, sex determination and breeding, advanced aquarium design, information (for further reading or source), and an index (p. 94-95). Ross calls attention to the 10 U.S. states that prohibit possession of freshwater stingrays (p. 7). While there is a general guide to stingray classification (large-eyed, seven groups, and small-eyed rays, five groups, p. 10), this listing does not do justice to the 20+ species, three genera ( Paratrygon , Plesiotrygon, and Potamotrygon ) within the subfamily Potamotrygoninae (Lasso et al., 1997; Nelson, 1994; Rosa 1985, 1991; Rosa et al. 1989). Ross (p. 5) notes "no studies on stingray venom" without referring to the excellent works of Halstead (1970) and Williams et al. (1996) that treat stingray spines and their venom. Ross relates use of MS-222 to anesthetize stingrays (p. 16) but doesn't tell us what concentration to use and for how long the treatment. We learn that if your stingray possesses argulid parasites use Dimilin (p. 67), sold under the brand name Anchors Away, but don't use Dylox as it is toxic to rays. Also don't treat internal parasites of freshwater stingrays with malecite green, copper- containing medication, or Invermectin as they are also toxic (p. 71). Potamotrygon henlei ( Henlei should not be capitalized p. 33), P. leopoldi, and P. motoro are the only species referred to by their scientific name. All others (p. 81-83) are simply referred by common names used in the aquarium trade: black¬ tailed antenna (dwarf), ceja (soft water type), tiger (delicate), otorongo, mantilla, China, tiger, orange-spotted ray, and mosaic. How to set up, treat, and enjoy freshwater stingrays in an aquarium is the strength of Ross's Freshwater Stingrays. It also cautions us to be careful of the tail spine that can cause severe injury and pain. We will have to wait until all the Potomatrygoninae are described and named scientifically to fully appreciate freshwater stingrays or the species in the aquarium. References Holstead, B. W. 1970. Poisonous and venemous marine animals of the world. Vol. 3. Vertebrates. U.S. Govt. Print. Off. Wash. DC, 1006 p. 26 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 Lasso, C. A., A. B. Rial, and O. Lasso-Ocala. 1997. Notes on the biology of the freshwater stingrays Paratrygon aiereba (Muller and Henle, 1841) and Potamotrygon orbignyi (Castlemon, 1855) (Chondrichthyes: Potomatrygonidae) in Venezuela Llanos. Aqua, J. Ich. Aq. Biol. 2(3):39-50. Ross, R. S. 1991. Paratrygon aiereba (Muller and Henle, 1841); The senior synomy of the freshwater stingray Disceus thayeri Garman, 1913 (Chondrichthyes: Potomatrygonidae). Rev. Bras. Zool. 7(4) for 1990: 425- 437. _ , 1995. A systematic revision of the South American freshwater stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Potomatrygonidae). Ph.D. 1998. William and Mary University, Williamsburg, VA. _ , H. P. Castello, and T. B. Thorson. 1987. Pleisotrygon iwamae, a new genus and species of neotropical freshwater stingray (Chondrichthyes: Potomatrygonidae). Copeia 1987 (2): 447-458. Williams, J. E., P. J. Fenner, and J. W. Barrett. 1996. Chp. 16. Venomous fish. Pp. 354-378 in Venomous and poisonous marine animals, a medical and biological handbook. Univ. New South Wales Press, Sydney, Australia. Frank J. Schwartz, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina, More head City, NC 28557-3209. Pierce, Daniel S. 2000. The Great Smokies from Natural Habitat to National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville. $18.95 pb. 254 p. The Great Smokies from Natural Habitat to National Park by Daniel S. Pierce is a journalistic narrative of the personalities, toils, and process of birthing a national park in the eastern United States. Controversy frothed from the very beginning (early 1890s) with the seminal notion of preserving the remnant terra incognito of the east ( sensu Horace Kephart)-- the Great Smokies, heartland of the southern Appalachians. Through the bickering, fighting, resistance by politics, corporate lumber companies, and small landowners to the finale of triumph; Pierce recounts the chronicle of a mission impossible, against formidable odds. Pierce makes it plain that the battle to win the Smokies was painful as ‘fisticuffs’ and dauntingly costly, $10,000,000. The fortitude of a few successfully rallied the will of the people and our most visited, 21st National Park, came into being in 1934. We should not take for granted Michael Frame’s solace "a day spent in the Smokies away from the works of man is therapy to last a year." The book begins with a soothing, captivating introduction on the pre- European history of human occupation since 7,500 YBP followed by the displacement of native Americans yielding to the waves of new American settlers. By contrast to the tenacious migrants heading to the West, the ‘mountain people’ of the southern Appalachians were refugees; a menagerie of captive ‘odd fellows,’ be they recluses, strays, or those stranded behind the western migration. The new settlers form the backdrop and tone of attitudes, mentalities, and egos that forged the struggle for eminent domain to claim the Smokies. Book Reviews 27 Chapters 2-7 form the body of the book. It is almost like reading a mystery novel, often pitting sense against nonsense embroiled in an unfathomable commotion of uncertainties. The forces, evident and behind the scene, to mold this piece of history, are sequentially and intriguingly divulged, thus revealing the human behaviors of resistance, coercion, deception, negotiation, and contrition, to name but a few. There is deep emotion, bland humor, disappointment, and jubilation in every faceted description of the personalities and actions swinging for a position of advantage to claim victory or defeat of the park initiative. The battle lines were drawn and clashing rivals maneuvered the front lines for more than 20 years pressing for a winning advantage. There is rich and detailed commentary on individuals, communities, politicians, business, state, and federal interests. When success appeared readily in hand it was countered with the brink of failure. As the clock ticked, the 12 major corporate inholdings of valuable forest products accelerated their harvest of the old growth forests. Money became the ultimate weapon. A $5,000,000 matching gift by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1927 assured the purchase of the park’s lands. With the purchase and transfer of ownership, new problems arose. There were issues of enforcing evictions, living trusts, and the park service itself was understaffed, underfunded, and poorly prepared to develop and manage its newly acquired real estate. The conclusion reminds us that the story and fate of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a continuing saga. While secure within a seemingly defensible boundary, the past three decades have tested and seen the effects of reincarnate attempts to dissect the park with new roads, encroaching pressures of perimeter development, and insidious environmental disasters from atmospheric pollution and invasive pests. Finally, the 38 pages of endnotes are an impressive reference to archived sources of information imbedded within the narrative of the book. The Smokies have and forever will be changing. Their protection and conservation are part of the legacy of preservation as is the story told by Pierce. Pierce’s The Great Smokies from Natural Habitat to National Park deserves a place on the book shelf next to three other classic works about the Smokies: Horace Kephart’s Our Southern Highlanders (1913), Carlos Campbell’s Birth of a National Park In the Great Smoky Mountains (1960), and Michael Frame’s Strangers in High Places (1966). David K. Smith, Associate Professor, Department of Botany. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1 100. 28 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 News of Biology in the Southeast Jon R. Fortman-A/ews Editor Division of Science and Math Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS 39701 ABOUT PEOPLE AND PLACES ALABAMA Jackson State University, Department of Biology. Four faculty members recently joined the Department as Assistant Professors: Dr. James Rayburn, an environmental toxicologist (Ph.D., Oklahoma State University), Dr. Mark Meade an animal physiologist (Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham), Dr. Pamela Gregory, an evolutionary biologist (Ph.D., New Mexico State University, and Dr. Benjie Blair, a microbiologist (Ph.D., Mississippi State University). The McGee Science Center is scheduled to open in September 2001 and will house the Departments of Biology and Physical and Earth Sciences. The facility, consisting of renovated Martin Hall and a new McGee Hall, will provide the department with modern science facilities and will greatly enhance the department’s academic and research programs. The following faculty received external support for 2000- 2001: Dr. James Rayburn to study "The Potential Environmental Risk from the Hazardous Waste disposal at the Anniston Army Depot-Phase I”; Dr. LaJoyce Debro, will research the “Parasporal proteins produced by Bacillus thuringensis”\ and Dr. Safaa Al-Hamdani will study “Precision Farming.” ILLINOIS Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Department of Plant Biology. Dr. Dale H. Vitt, former Director of the Devonian Gardens and Professor of Biology at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada will assumed the Chair’s position in October 2000. Dr. Vitt specializes in Bryology and Ecology of Peatland Ecosystems. MISSISSIPPI University of Mississippi, Department of Biology. Dr. Gary L. Miller, Professor and Chair, was appointed to a three-year term on the Board of Trustees of The Nature Conservancy of Mississippi. Dr. Steve Brewer was appointed Associate Editor of the journal Plant Ecology. Dr. Steve D’Surney was appointed Associate Editor of the journal Toxicology. Dr. Gail Stratton received three first place awards for her photographs from the Michigan Entomological Society. First Place Portrait (Pandora Spinx Caterpillar) and first Place Life History (female green lynx spider and female Monobia quadridens, which also won first Place Overall. Dr. Lucile McCook, Curator of the Pullen Herbarium, was appointed to the Board of Directors of the newly formed Mississippi Exotic Pest Plant Council. News of Biology in the Southeast 29 SOUTH CAROLINA Francis Marion University, Department of Biology. Dr. Vernon Bauer has joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor. His Ph.D. is from North Carolina State University and taught a year at North Carolina Wesleyan College. Mr. Travis Knowles received the Excellence in Teaching Award and Dr. Tom Roop received the Excellence in Professional Service Award. Dr. Lynn Croshaw has retired, but is continuing to teach on a part-time basis. TENNESSEE University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Ronald Petersen, University of Tennessee Distinguished Professor in Botany, received the Distinguished Mycologist Award at this year’s annual meeting of the Mycological Association of America. This award is made annually “to an individual who has been outstanding in his or her mycological career. It is one of the highest awards bestowed by the M.S.A. and is intended to mark a distinguished career.” In his research, Dr. Petersen combines morphological observation, compatibility studies, and DNA techniques to examine how fungal species originated and continue to interact. MUSEUMS AND BOTANICAL GARDENS ALABAMA Anniston Museum of Natural History. A high-energy program called, "Into the Wild” takes the museum visitor on a journey into the mysterious unknown reaches of natural history. Hands-on, live animals, scientific experiments, odd characters in creative drama activities and more. This event will be January 27, and will be offered once a month through June 23, 2001. Another presentation entitled: 2001: A Spring Break Odyssey” will run March 27-29, 2001. This is a wonderful opportunity for school children and their parents to have hands-on natural history experiences in a museum setting. The exhibit includes live animals, special exhibits, and children’s activities. On April 22, 2001 “Earth Day Celebration” will offer live animal programs and a naturalist-led trail walk. On April 28, a nature photography program will be presented for children to learn the basics of nature photography. They will stalk “wild” animals in the Museum exhibit halls. The Museum opened “Alabama: Sand to Cedars,” its next permanent exhibit hall, on September 15, 2000. The hall offers visitors the only place in the country to explore the unique environments of Alabama in one indoor location. It begins in the cedar glades of northwest Alabama and winds south through limestone ridges, cool forests, wide rivers, and steamy swamps. The final diorama explores the coast where life clings to windswept dunes. This exhibit illustrates Alabama’s biological and geological diversity as well as examining the interrelationships of animals and plants in their habitats. 30 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 GEORGIA Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University. The Museum has purchased an ancient Egyptian collection from the now-closed Niagara Falls Museum in Canada. The 143-object collection includes ten coffins, nine mummies, canopic jars, amulets, jewelry, bronze sculpture, shabti figures and pottery, baskets and wooden objects and will go on permanent display on October 6, 2001 in newly re-installed galleries on the Museum’s first floor. All the mummies have been x-rayed and CT scanned to determine approximate age, disease, and mummification techniques by Emory University Hospital’s Radiology Department. “The collection gives Atlanta a wonderful range of Egyptian funerary art from its most glorious and prolific periods,” says Carlos Curator of Ancient Art Peter Lacovara. Additionally, to answer the probing question about the possible royal mummy among the collection, Emory’s molecular genetics team, under the direction of Dr. Douglas Wallace, is now working on protocols to try and determine whether the Carlos mummy is the father of Seti I and grandfather of Ramesses II (“the Great”), whose remains are on view at the Cairo Museum in Egypt. The DNA research will likely take several more months, and will only result in a “match” if there is viable DNA from “Ramesses I. The coffins are being meticulous cleaned to restore some of the beautiful and original colors. Tulane University, Gibson Hall-a portrait. Patron Member 31 EXPERIENCE Dedicated to Problem Solving and Value-Added Solutions Web Site: http://www.bda-inc.com/home.html Florida (USA) Office: BREEDLOVE, DENNIS & ASSOCIATES, INC. 330 W. Canton Ave. Winter Park, Florida 32789 Tel: 407 677-1882 Tel: 800 304-1882 Fax: 407 657-7008 Tennessee (USA) Office: BREEDLOVE, DENNIS, YOUNG & ASSOCIATES, (TN) INC. 133 Holiday Court Suite 207, Franklin, Tennessee 37067 Tel: 615 599-1996 Fax: 615 599-1998 Copyright: Breedlove, Dennis & Associates, Inc. 2000. 32 SE Biology, Vol. 48, No. 1, January, 2001 Martin Microscope Company Since 1946 Martin Microscope Company is based in the Southeastern United States, and is a distributor of new and used optical microscopes and accessories. A privately owned, independent company, Martin Microscope sells microscopes and accessories of many brands - each chosen to provide the best combination of quality and affordability to our customers. 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