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Document Sample
May 2005
Volume 3, Issue 2
Biocomplexity of Caribbean Coral
Reefs (BCCR) Research
In this issue Conservation of Priority Bird Habitats by Dr. Jim Corven
• Conservation of
Priority Bird Habitats What's happening to the birds in the throughout the region indicating that course at UVI locating the point count
• VI-EPSCoR Annual Virgin Islands? VI-EPSCoR there are environmental factors sites to cover all the habitat types found
Conference Sep. 23/24 researcher Dr. Jim Corven has begun threatening the biodiversity and in the area. Sites are precisely
• VI-EPSCoR a long-term project of monitoring birds human welfare. With funding from identified with a satellite-based
on the St. Thomas campus of UVI. VI-EPSCoR and additional support Geographical Positioning System
Welcomes Dr. Meri One of the best ways to determine from Birdlife International and Birders’ (GPS) and marked on a map. Using
Whitaker to UVI the health of our environment is to Exchange, this project has estab- these sites, the students and Dr.
• Outreach Update monitor the living species over time to lished 24 fixed bird monitoring Corven took regular counts of all birds
• Program see if they are doing well or having stations around the UVI campus and seen and heard at every site, noting
Coordinator’s Update trouble. This project has begun the will soon begin installing similar their species, numbers, and habitat
development of a system for tracking stations across St. Thomas. Called associations. The field work will
• Biocomplexity of the species and numbers of birds “point count sites,” these stations are continue on a regular basis so that any
Caribbean Coral Reefs found in the Virgin Islands as good already providing new data about changes occurring in the bird popula-
(BCCR) Update “indicators” of environmental what species of birds are found in tions from human disturbances, habitat
conditions. The project is looking at which sites and their habitat destruction, or other factors can be
Highlights endemic species (found here and requirements. Once data has been determined.
only here), resident species, and collected over time, often for several Another important product of this
• VI-EPSCoR migratory species that over-winter or years, we can also get a good idea of research will be to help scientists
Strategic Plan just pass through on their annual any population trends that might be studying the same birds throughout the
migrations between South and North happening. This information will be Caribbean and the Western Hemi-
submitted to NSF America. essential for making decisions about sphere to understand their biology and
EPSCoR Since birds breathe the same air, where further development can safely conservation needs better. Preliminary
• VI-EPSCoR Semi- drink the same water, and eat from occur and which areas are vital to the results will be shared during the Annual
Annual Report the same food chain as people do, survival of our wildlife species. Meeting of the Caribbean Society for
submitted to NSF they are often considered a useful During the spring semester this the Study and Conservation of Birds
indicator of environmental health for year, Dr. Corven worked with under- scheduled for early August 2005 in
EPSCoR humans. Guadeloupe.
graduate students in the Ecology
• VI-EPSCoR 2 yr
nd
Scientists have found a disturb-
funding approved by ing tendency in bird populations
NSF EPSCoR Outreach Update by Eugene Gottlieb Jr.
• VI-EPSCoR Web
site to be launched in Program Coordinator’s The VI-EPSCoR program Mr. Cruickshank met with faculty
August Update by Meri Whitaker sponsored an NSF Outreach Day one-on-one and in small groups
• VI-EPSCoR BCCR for UVI research and teaching to discuss their research interests
research faculty update faculty with Mr. John Cruickshank and possible NSF connec-
The last few months have seen
of the NSF Education and Human tions. He also met with our
some important milestones in
Resources (EHR) directorate. Mr. sponsored research office to
the first year of the VI-EPSCoR
Cruickshank is the senior program discuss NSF post-award grant
grant. We finalized our four-
and grant analyst working directly management and current issues
year strategic plan and
under the Assistant Director for in audit/grant administration.
submitted it to the National
the Directorate of Education and
Science Foundation. We also
Human Resources (EHR). John Cruickshank has been at
submitted the first VI-EPSCoR
The EHR Directorate is very NSF for over 18 years and has
Annual Report. We completed
supportive of Mr. Cruickshank’s served as a grant officer for every
our first year of NSF funding
outreach efforts to broaden directorate in the Foundation.
and submitted a request for the
participation, particularly to HBCU Over the years he has also been
second year. Happily, we just
and minority-serving institutions intimately involved in outreach
received notification that our
such as UVI. He provided efforts on behalf of the Found-
second year of funding has
information about the Education ation and its many offices. He
been approved.
and Biological Sciences Direc- was happy to share information
torates in addition to other NSF- not only about the Education and
We look forward to holding
wide funding opportunities, Human Resources Directorate,
our first annual conference
emerging areas, proposal but also the names of contact
on September 23 and 24;
processing, grant administration people, research initiatives, and
and we expect to launch the
and post-award grant manage- directorates with related-activities
VI-EPSCoR website by the
ment. at NSF.
end of summer.
VI-EPSCoR Newsletter
May 2005
Volume 3, Issue 2 Page 2 of 2
Staff Highlight: BCCR Update by Dr. Richard Nemeth
Dr. Meri Whitaker Renovations:
MacLean Marine Science
Both of these excursions
were sponsored by the
Rico, Mayagüez, and the
University of the Virgin Islands
Center Environmental Association in organizing the nascent
Joining VI-EPSCoR as The laboratory lab benches of St. Thomas. Currently, Dr. Caribbean Regional Association
Program Coordinator is Meri have arrived for the three Idrisi is at the University of (CaRA) for an ocean-observing
Whitaker, Ph.D. Dr. Whitaker research labs and teaching Miami collaborating with system for the US-Caribbean
received her Ph.D. and M.A. classroom. We are scheduling RSMAS scientists on a major exclusive economic zone,
from Stanford University in their installation this month. grant proposal dealing with and in building its base of active
agricultural economics and Improved lighting and flooring ocean modeling. stakeholders and developing its
her B.S. degree from the have also been completed in strategic plan. Watlington is
Massachusetts Institute of the research and teaching Dr. Sandra Romano submitted a member of the National
Technology. She has been space. Three new offices and an NSF proposal entitled Federation of Regional Associa-
involved in research and an upgraded conference room “Collaborative research: tions, which, as an organ
research management in Syria, are slated for completion by the Assembling the tree of life— managed by the federal consor-
India, Egypt, and the U.S. end of May 2005. This will An integrative approach to tium OceanUS, is intended to
Dr. Whitaker hopes to continue make room for the new investigating cnidarians coordinate the regional associa-
the superb work of Dr. Camille research faculty. phylogeny.” The goal of the tions.
McKayle, her predecessor, proposal, which was submitted
who will return to teaching VIERS in March 2005, is to conduct a Dr. Stuart Ketcham presented a
mathematics while continuing The CZM permit for the VIERS systematic revision of the seminar on his research, entitled
to support VI-EPSCoR's work. renovation has been accepted phylum of animals, including “Investigation of genetic
and a public hearing was held jellyfish, anemones, and corals, differentiation among populations
VI-EPSCoR Governing on May 4, 2005. The CZM based on comprehensive of the long-spined black sea
Committee: issued its final decision on May molecular data. Dr. Romano urchin in marine habitats
* Frank Schulterbrandt, Esq., 20, and the permit was granted. will investigate the group that surrounding St. Croix,” as part of
Chair of the Governing The construction crew is includes reef corals. The the VI-EPSCoR Seminar Series
Committee scheduled to begin work the proposal is in collaboration with on April 12, 2005.
* LaVerne Ragster, PhD, first week of June. a number of colleagues at
Vice-chair of the Governing
Committee
various institutions, including Dr. Tamara Romanuk was
* Hon. Donna Christensen, MD, Faculty: University of Kansas, University selected by the search committee
Member of Congress Dr. Nasseer Idrisi has been of Ohio, and Duke University. for the VI-EPSCoR invertebrate
* Hon. Lorraine Berry, very active in his first few biologist research assistant
President V.I. Legislature months here at UVI. He gave Prof. Roy Watlington received faculty position. She comes with
* Anna Hector, President, two seminars on his research, word that two proposals fielded strong credentials in food web
St. Croix Chamber of Commerce one at the VI-EPSCoR science during the fall semester have dynamics and energy flows of
* Hon. Noreen Michael, PhD, seminar series (Feb. 22, 2005) borne fruit. The first is a small marine systems. Dr. Romanuk
Commissioner, Department
of Education
and a second for the Water grant from the National Institute currently holds a NSERC (Natural
* Richard Nemeth, PhD, Resources Conference (Feb. of Water Resources to support Sciences and Engineering
Director, Center for Marine 24, 2005). He also taught two the development of modules for Research Council of Canada)
& Environmental Studies lectures and two field/lab training researchers, students, post-doctoral fellowship at the
, ring.
* Hon. Dean Plaskett, Esq., exercises for the Oceanog- and others in the use of key University of Quebec and is
Commissioner, Department of raphy course on April 8 and 15, hydrographic/hydrologic working at the Pacific Ecoinfor-
Planning & Natural Resources 2005. He coauthored and instruments. As a part of this matics and Computational
* David Sharp, President submitted a Sea Grant pre- grant, the high-precision Ecology Lab. Our HR department
& CEO, Innovative Telephone
* Henry H. Smith, PhD,
proposal, entitled “Integration salinometer used in the is in the process of filing visa
UVI Interim-Provost and of spatial and temporal patterns Anegada Climate Tracers application forms for her to work
VI-EPSCoR Project Director of coral reef resources in the Study (ACTS) will be repaired, in the USVI.
* Robert Stolz, PhD, Virgin Islands,” with Dr. Marc recalibrated, and returned to
UVI Faculty Representative, Boumedine of the Division use as both a research and Equipment:
St. Thomas of Science and Math and training tool. Funding is also The new research vessel will be
* Thomas N. Taylor, PhD, Stevie Henry of the Eastern included for a nephelometer going through a sea trial at the
Kansas EPSCoR Caribbean Center’s Conser- attachment for the ACTS CTD end of May 2005 and is slated
* President, St. Thomas/St. John
Chamber of Commerce
vation Data Center. Dr. Idrisi probe. for delivery in June 2005. The
* T.H. Lee Williams, PhD, also participated in an NSF- ADCP current meters have been
Oklahoma EPSCoR CAREER workshop in Las Notification was also received deployed for three months on a
* Richard Moore, PhD, Vegas, NV, on March 11–12, of a pending award from the multi-species spawning
Economist 2005. Finally, on Feb. 26, 2005, NOAA/Coastal Services Center aggregation site and will be
he led a whale watch and through a direct grant to the retrieved and data downloaded
Contact VI-EPSCoR at snorkeling excursion and a University of Puerto Rico, in early June 2005, following the
beach clean-up and snorkeling Mayagüez. This award will completion of the spawning
(340) 693-1478 or by
excursion on St. Thomas. support the University of Puerto season.
e-mail: viepscor@uvi.edu
