NOV. 12 & 13, 1999 -- DRAKE UNIVERSITY
FRIDAY NOV. 12, 1999
The social at the Nosh was attended by the following people:
John Pearson, Dean Roosa, Jim and Sarah Christiansen, Pauline Drobney
with husband Scott and son Ian, Paul Christiansen, Deb Lewis, Lois Tiffany,
Erwin Klaas, Tom Rosburg
Loren Lown presented an excellent summary of the history, current management,
and research opportunities at Chichaqua Bottoms.
SATURDAY NOV. 13, 1999
The meeting was called to order by Chair Tom Rosburg at 9:00.
PRESENT: Daryl Howell, Jim Christiansen, Terry VanDeWalle, Paul Christiansen, Paul Weihe, Larry Stone, Erwin Klaas, Deb Lewis, Lois Tiffany, Tom Rosburg
TREASURER’S REPORT
INHA received a $150 contribution from Dean Roosa for the Runkel-Roosa
Award. Payment was made to the Iowa Academy of Science of $1,500
for publication costs of the Symposium on the Declining Flora and Fauna.
Current balances: Savings -- $3,200, Checking -- $86.
OLD BUSINESS
Fall 2000 Symposium on Exotic Species
This IAS Symposium organized by Jim Dinsmore and Neil Bernstein is
now set for Oct 6 and 7, 2000 at ISU Schenum Center. Registration
should be approximately $50 for both days. Presentations will be
organized by taxonomic groups and focus on overviews of current status
within the group as well as case studies. Workshops and presentations
on policy are also planned. At least one nationally recognized speaker
will be invited. U of I Press is interested in publishing the Symposium.
INHA might consider making a small donation – it will help reduce publication
costs and put our name on as a sponsor.
Foray Results
An early summer foray was held in Warren County, centered at Lake Aquabi,
in late May. Unfortunately no grant proposals to do inventory work
in Warren County were received by the DNR.
Iowa GAP
Iowa GAP is progressing well. Three Landsat scenes from 1992
are being used to map the vegetation of Iowa, which is about 40% done.
The vegetation map should be finished by Dec. 2000. The 75 vegetation
alliances (classes) originally identified were aggregated to about 29 landcover
types due to inability to distinguish similar plant communities with satellite
imagery. The TNC now has association level lists (the next level
below alliances) developed for Iowa. GAP would like to identify type
localities of these communities around the state as a way to provide examples
of each.
Iowa GAP now has about 20,000 vertebrate records on 418 species in a database and is beginning to develop terrestrial models that will be used to map species distribution. There is a need for expert reviewers to provide feedback on these models. Please contact Erv Klass at ISU (515-294-7990) for more information on how to help. GAP would like to have most vertebrate models done by the end of 2000.
Stewardship boundaries should be finished by May 2000. Obtaining boundary information on conservation lands form multiple agencies has been troublesome.
Iowa GAP will need a new Co-PI after the first of the year as Erv Klaas
will be retiring.
Runkel and Roosa Award
INHA is now accepting applications. (deadline is March 1).
Watch for a separate announcement soon to follow by email.
Update on Flora of Iowa
Flora of Iowa has two main goals 1) put data from herbarium vouchers
of Iowa species in a database, 2) produce a modern floristic treatment
for Iowa plants. A committee was organized last April to work on
these goals. A pilot study on grasses is underway at ISU by Lynn
Clark to evaluate software for the database. Diana Horton at U of
I is also evaluating some software with an interest of first databasing
the rare species in Iowa.
Recent or current projects that will contribute to a floristic treatment
include Mark Weiderlechner’s work on Rubus and the ongoing work by Bill
Norris and Scott Zager on Carex.
Update on Iowa T&E
Committees were established at a spring meeting at ISU but they did
not meet over the summer due to busy schedules. Daryl and John would
like to get feedback on the importance of various criteria used to identify
rare species. They developed a Criteria Ranking Form for this purpose.
Check with either Daryl (515-281-8524) or John (515-281-3891) to get a
form. Remember they were told that the ranking criteria they applied
were not acceptable, therefore THEY NEED INPUT FROM US!!
NEW BUSINESS
Field Station at Central College
Paul Weihe, a plant ecologist on the faculty of Central College, is
new to Iowa and a new INHA member. Paul reported that Central has
a new 62 acre field station adjacent to Red Rock Lake. About 33%
is agricultural, 33% wooded with some steep ravines, and 33% reconstructed
prairie. He invited INHA members to come for visit and help him learn
more about Iowa natural history.
Loess Hills Alliance and Research Opportunities
The LHA is still establishing itself and its goals, and at this point
does not have the ability to fund research projects like a foray.
It may be able to partner with other groups and provide some money eventually.
Consensus was reached among those present that the INHA should try to insure
that biological issues rank high as a concern for the Loess Hills Alliance
in whatever agenda they set.
Some key questions outlined were:
Which species are the most endanger relative to the baseline studies
during the 1979-83 forays?
Which areas are most important for protection?
What effects are subdivisions and grazing having on species?
What is the current rate of woody encroachment?
A committee consisting of Jim Christiansen, Dean Roosa, Jerry Selby,
and Tom Rosburg was organized to investigate future involvement of INHA
with LHA.
The field biologist/taxonomist shortage (or neglect) – can INHA help
in any way?
Discussion centered on concerns whether the lack of field biologists
(and field biology courses at major universities) is a result of the market
in the sense of “demand for information” (i.e. there is more demand for
molecular information?), or just a temporary cycle, or perhaps a lack of
interest on the part of students (perhaps due to scarcity of jobs?).
Perhaps INHA can find additional ways (other than Runkel-Roosa Award) to encourage students to stay in field biology and natural history. One idea that surfaced was related to a problem that Larry Stone has uncovered in his work on a biography of Sylvan Runkel. He and Jon Stravers have discovered numerous items, books, etc., in Sy’s office and are not sure what should be done with them. Since these are the tools of one of Iowa’s most prominent natural historians, a suggestion was made that perhaps these could be awarded to promising, young natural historians thereby providing a degree of honor and incentive to students in the natural history field.
Other ideas included keeping the collection intact and finding a home
for the items, or selling the items on an auction and letting the family
decide where the money would go (perhaps to fund the Runkel-Roosa Award?).
More discussion needed.
Recent events at TNC -- departure of Gary Reiners, new employees
Keith Fletcher is acting Director in the aftermath of the removal of
Gary Reiners. But perhaps an even bigger loss precipitated by this
action from above and without knowledge of the Board was the resignation
of Dave Hurd from TNC entirely (Dave was the Chair of the Board of Trustees).
He was very dedicated to the goals of TNC and carried a lot of leverage
in corporate corners, which of course has a lot of financial importance
to the TNC.
David DeGuess is a new employee working in land management on eastern
Iowa projects, and David Zarht is a new employee performing similar responsibilities
in the Loess Hills.
What's happening in NE Iowa?
Noteworthy items reported by Larry Stone included:
Acquisition of the Ferguson tract (1000+ acreas) near Effigy Mounds
by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
Jon Stavers continues his work with the red-shouldered hawk and reports seeing more of them. Jon is also working with Audubon to develop a Mississippi River Birding Trail.
The work of the Blufflands Alliance – via the INHF – is protecting bluff habitats by land easements.
The northeast Iowa bird study by Bill Norris is finished and manuscripts are forthcoming.
The cultural and natural history of northeast Iowa are featured in a
new map brochure called the Great River Tour Guide. Eventually the
guide will include a cassette tape.
Update on Dr. Knaphus
This recent update came from one of George’s softball friends via Neil
Bernstein.
Hello,
I'm sorry to pass on sad news, but I know some of you will want to
know about this update about George Knaphus that I received.
Neil
I'm just passing this along to folks I think might know George.
Lois Tiffany's long-time colleague in Botany. Lois was my college
advisor, but I got two for the price of one as George was always equally
supportive and encouraging. He doesn't want people to feel sorry
for him.
Jeff Kopaska
------------------------------------
I know that a number of you are already heard about George's health,
but I figured that you wouldn't mind getting another message. The
lymphoma has reoccurred. The doctors at Mayo Clinic found a fairly large
mass in his chest and have basically given him a month to live. They
are giving him chemotherapy, but only in the hope that they might be able
to extend his life for short time.
That's real bad news, but he is incredibly upbeat as you might expect.
Anyway, I think what he would appreciate more than anything is to get a
card and a short note from his former players telling him how much they
enjoyed playing with him. He was so fond of the recent teams - he told
me many times what a special group of people he thought you were. Mike
Owen and I are also trying to contact former players.
-----------------------------------
Please consider sending a card; it would mean a lot to him.
George Knaphus
2322 Hamilton Drive
Ames, IA 50010
Home Phone 515-268-5219
Importance of INHA Archives" (how this should be done and by whom)
Not discussed.
DNR Earth Year 2000
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the first earthday, the governor
of Iowa and the DNR are promoting the entire year (2000) as a time to become
more environmentally aware and friendly. To get more information
on the scope of this project, visit the web site -- http://www.earthyear2000.com/
January 21, 2000 is the kickoff for earthyear 2000.
Forestry Meeting
The Iowa Chapter of American Association of Foresters is holding a
meeting at the Neal Smith Center on Dec. 15, 1999. Among the discussion
topics will be timber harvests on public lands. Registration is $25
and includes a meal. Contact the Neal Smith Refuge for more information.
Future Meetings
Probably Feb. 12 at Iowa State, with Deb and Lois hosting. More
info later.
Motion to adjourn by Erv Klaas and seconded by Paul Christiansen. Meeting adjourned at 1:00.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Tom Rosburg (David Lyon not in attendance.)