Game Department Research Articles

Harlequin duck population recovery following the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill: progress, process and constraints

Following the 1989 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, we studied the status of recovery of harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus populations during 1995 to 1998. We evaluated potential constraints on full recovery, including (1) exposure to residual oil; (2) food limita- tion; and (3) intrinsic demographic limitations on population growth rates. In this paper, we synthe- size the findings from our work and incorporate information from other harlequin duck research and monitoring programs to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the response of this species to the 'Exxon Valdez' spill. We conclude that harlequin duck populations had not fully recovered by 1998. Furthermore, adverse effects continued as many as 9 yr after the oil spill, in contrast to the conven- tional paradigm that oil spill effects on bird populations are short-lived. These conclusions are based on the findings that (1) elevated cytochrome P450 (CYP1A) induction on oiled areas indicated con- tinued exposure to oil in 1998; (2) adult female winter survival was lower on oiled than unoiled areas during 1995 to 1998; (3) fall population surveys by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game indi- cated numerical declines in oiled areas during 1995 to 1997; and (4) densities on oiled areas in 1996 and 1997 were lower than expected using models that accounted for effects of habitat attributes. Based on hypothesized links between oil contamination and demography, we suggest that harlequin duck population recovery was constrained primarily by continued oil exposure. Full population recovery will also be delayed by the time necessary for intrinsic population growth to allow return to pre-spill numbers following cessation of residual oil spill effects. Although not all wildlife species were affected by the 'Exxon Valdez' oil spill, and some others may have recovered quickly from any effects, harlequin duck life history characteristics and benthic, nearshore feeding habits make them susceptible to both initial and long-term oil spill effects.

Resolving allegations of oil damage to incubating pink salmon eggs in Prince William Sound

The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council concluded that oil caused mortality of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) eggs in Prince William Sound streams. Their conclusion was based primarily on Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) studies which reported that mean mortality of embryos in eggs was higher in oiled than non-oiled streams when sampled shortly after spawning completion. However, developing embryos are vulnerable to shock mortality for a period of 20 days after fertilization, and the embryos in eggs from the latest spawners were still in the sensitive period at the time sampling took place. We argue that the original ADF&G analysis should have included sample timing in statistical comparisons of mortality between streams. Analysis of a subset of the ADF&G data showed that sampling shock was a major source of embryo mortality in these samples, and that source of mortality in the original survey would likely have been mistakenly interpreted as an oiling effect. Compensating for sample timing removed all statistical evidence for an oiling effect in the data subset. We conclude that the ADF&G study design confounded the ability to assess for the effect of oil exposure on pink salmon eggs.

A Guide to California’s Freshwater Fishes

Review: A Guide to California's Freshwater Fishes By Bob Madgic; Illustrated by William L. Crary. Reviewed by Ryder W. Miller The Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco, USA Bob Madgic. A Guide to California's Freshwater Fishes. Happy Camp, CA: Naturegraph Publishers, 1999. 160 pp. ISBN 0-87961-254-1 (paper). US$19.95 Out of sight and therefore out of mind, except perhaps when an angler is interested in catching a meal, freshwater fish swim through perilous, degraded and often polluted waters. Once truly wild, some fish species, like the salmon, are also approaching domesticated status due to the reliance on hatchery release programs. Wet, smelly and often cold, fish and their preservation and protection may offer a challenge to conservationists, who have an easier time with the warm fuzzy things we don't want to eat. Intended as a book for the lay person, A Guide To California's Freshwater Fishes by author and conservationist Dr. Bob Madgic and illustrator William L. Crary succeeds in clearly telling the sad history of California freshwater fishes, celebrating the diversity of freshwater fish that exists in the golden state, and relaying the efforts needed to protect them. As Madgic points out, fish are the most important indicator of aquatic diversity; they signal the health of our waterways, and therefore in some ways the state of the planet. Madgic notes that California's history is reflected in the changing status of its fishes. (p. 7) Madgic begins by telling the long, bleak story of what has happened to the California fish stock, which used to be one of the world's richest. Millions of salmon once migrated up the state's rivers to spawn. As Madgic relays, In California's inland waters resided some of the most beautiful fish imaginable- -the state's native trout species. (p. 11) But California's freshwater fish are in trouble. Two-thirds of the 116 native California fishes are now species of special concern. Sixty-six of these species are endemic to the state. Declines have been due to habitat destruction and introduced species. Florida is the only state with more introduced species than California. Introductions of fish for fishing stock, and the desire to stock any fish species in any available water, led to the demise of the local fish, in some cases extirpation of the native fish species. The problem was compounded by agriculture, which consumed a large majority of the state's water supply. The Department of Fish and Game was also a

The Southern Traffic Lane Spill (T/V Command): A Case Study of Spiller Accountability1

ABSTRACT On September 24, 1998, the T/V Command had a small spill in San Francisco Bay, California while taking on bunkers in Anchorage Nine. The cause was determined to be due to a small crack in the outer hull plating of the tank. The T/V Command departed on the evening of September 26 after completing temporary repairs required by the Captain of the Port (COTP)/Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC). The next morning, a large 10-mile by 2-mile oil slick was discovered just south of the entrance to San Francisco Bay. This triggered one of the largest, most far-reaching oil spill investigations ever. Since no one took responsibility for this spill, the U.S. Coast Guard accessed the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) and established a Unified Command with the state of California Department of Fish and Game, Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) to begin immediate cleanup. The Coast Guard and OSPR also began an aggressive joint investigation to track down the spiller. Hundreds of vessels had entered or departed San Francisco Bay during the 5-day window before the spill was discovered. The investigators were able to narrow the search and sample vessels. The Coast Guard Marine Safety Lab (MSL) and OSPR's lab were able to match the spilled oil to the T/V Command,. The Coast Guard tracked down the location of the T/V Command and began the first ever request for high seas boarding of a vessel for an environmental crime. A Coast Guard team from the USCGC Boutwell boarded the T/V Command 200 miles off Guatemala to begin the investigation. A follow-on multiagency team of investigators, led by the Coast Guard again, boarded the vessel in Panama. In a plea bargain agreement, the T/V Command's operator, master, and chief engineer pled guilty in federal court to criminal charges stemming from the spill on September 27, 1998, remarkably 1 year from the date of the original spill. The operator agreed to pay over $9.4 million dollars in criminal and civil penalties. This paper and presentation discusses the complexities of this international spill response investigation and events leading up to the settlement.

SITE INFORMATION AND SPILL RESPONSE STRATEGY (SISRS) AND THE SISRS DATABASE: CALIFORNIA'S APPROACH TO MARINE OIL SPILL PROTECTION PLANNING AND RESPONSE FOR SENSITIVE SITES1

ABSTRACT The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has developed a database of sensitive site information and oil spill protection strategies as a part of the California coastal contingency planning. The Site Information and Spill Response Strategy (SISRS) approach was developed to enable involvement and ownership of Port Area Contingency Plan (ACP) strategies among stakeholders, as well as provide consistency in site documentation and strategy development for the widely variable habitats of the long California coast. Through site visits and tabletop discussions, the Area Committee uses this approach to incorporate the input of state and federal trustees, contingency planners, and stakeholders (industry, spill response co-ops and contractors, environmentalists, other agencies) to form a consensus on the appropriate site protection strategies and response resources. This information is stored in the SISRS database. The SISRS database has important benefits. It generates uniform Site Summary and Site Strategy pages across the six ACPs of California. Through the Internet, the database maximizes the opportunity to use the ACP as both a planning tool and a response tool. As a planning tool, the ACP and the generative database, maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), is the relatively rigid benchmark for the contingency planning for regulated facilities and vessels under state and federal laws, and is a ready digital information source. As a response tool, DFG maintains the SISRS database (on its Web site), which includes strategy revisions as often as the Area Committee approves revisions and updates. This database is used to expedite the spill response and produce Incident Command System (ICS) response documents with the most current information. The response version is a ready source of information for third-party software products for spill response management, such as response forms and resource ordering and management documents.

Characterization of 14 tetranucleotide microsatellite loci derived from sockeye salmon.

Molecular EcologyVolume 9, Issue 12 p. 2185-2187 Characterization of 14 tetranucleotide microsatellite loci derived from sockeye salmon Jeffrey B. Olsen, Corresponding Author Jeffrey B. Olsen Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Gene Conservation Laboratory, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99518–1599, USA, Jeffrey B. Olsen. Fax: +907–267–2442; E-mail:jeff_olsen@fishgame.state.ak.usSearch for more papers by this authorSheri L. Wilson, Sheri L. Wilson Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Gene Conservation Laboratory, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99518–1599, USA,Search for more papers by this authorEric J. Kretschmer, Eric J. Kretschmer Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Gene Conservation Laboratory, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99518–1599, USA,Search for more papers by this authorKenneth C. Jones, Kenneth C. Jones Genetic Identification Services, 9552 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Chatsworth, California 91311, USASearch for more papers by this authorJames E. Seeb, James E. Seeb Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Gene Conservation Laboratory, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99518–1599, USA,Search for more papers by this author Jeffrey B. Olsen, Corresponding Author Jeffrey B. Olsen Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Gene Conservation Laboratory, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99518–1599, USA, Jeffrey B. Olsen. Fax: +907–267–2442; E-mail:jeff_olsen@fishgame.state.ak.usSearch for more papers by this authorSheri L. Wilson, Sheri L. Wilson Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Gene Conservation Laboratory, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99518–1599, USA,Search for more papers by this authorEric J. Kretschmer, Eric J. Kretschmer Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Gene Conservation Laboratory, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99518–1599, USA,Search for more papers by this authorKenneth C. Jones, Kenneth C. Jones Genetic Identification Services, 9552 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Chatsworth, California 91311, USASearch for more papers by this authorJames E. Seeb, James E. Seeb Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Gene Conservation Laboratory, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99518–1599, USA,Search for more papers by this author First published: 19 August 2003 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-294X.2000.105317.xCitations: 114Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume9, Issue12December 2000Pages 2185-2187 RelatedInformation

SEASONAL SUCCESSION OF PHYTOPLANKTON IN LAKE PRINCE, SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA: PRELIMINARY REPORT

Lake Prince is a reservoir lake that provides the region with drinking water, recreational boating, and fishing. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has an interest in the quantity and quality of phytoplankton production in the lake, especially regarding the health of fish populations. Another concern in this reservoir is oxygen availability, and aerators have been installed in the main body of the lake. A year‐long examination of the phytoplankton community structure is being conducted. Duplicate surface water samples are collected monthly from three stations, along with physical and chemical baseline data. Community structure and dominance are being examined with regard to the physical and chemical parameters, as well as seasonal climate changes. Cyanobacteria and Cryptophytes are the dominant spring flora. Diatoms and Chrysophytes are sub‐dominant populations.

Diazinon and chlorpyrifos in urban waterways in Northern California, USA

AbstractSamples collected from urban streams in the cities of Sacramento and Stockton, California, USA, during the precipitation season were analyzed for diazinon and chlorpyrifos. Concentrations were determined with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays specific for each pesticide. Two hundred thirty‐one samples from the two cities were analyzed for diazinon; 85% exceeded California Department of Fish and Game water‐quality criteria for this pesticide. Chlorpyrifos was measured in 90 of the samples collected from Sacramento and Stockton; 80% exceeded the California Department of Fish and Game criterion for this pesticide. Thirty‐six of 47 samples (76.6%) tested for toxicity produced total mortality within 72 h with Ceriodaphnia dubia. Toxicity identification evaluations on selected samples confirmed that toxicity was primarily due to one or both of these pesticides. Uses of diazinon and chlorpyrifos in urban areas include dormant sprays on fruit trees, professional landscape and maintenance uses, and structural pest control. Pesticide concentrations were lower in a catchment favoring commercial and industrial activities compared with a catchment receiving largely residential inputs. Aerial drift from agricultural applications may play a role in storm‐water concentrations.

Exposure of non-target wildlife to anticoagulant rodenticides in California

Author(s): Hosea, Robert C. | Abstract: The California Department of Fish and Game collected and analyzed tissue samples from non-target birds and mammals for anticoagulant rodenticides from 1994 through 1999. Many of these animals were collected in recently urbanized areas adjacent to wildlands where they were either found dead or trapped and euthanized as vertebrate pests. The results of the analyses indicate a high frequency of exposure to the anticoagulant rodenticide brodifacoum. Fifty-eight percent of the animals examined had been exposed to brodifacoum, 19% to bromadiolone, 9% to diphacinone, and 8% to chlorophacinone. All of the identified anticoagulants are registered for use to control commensal rodents found in and around structures and are available for sale over-the-counter for homeowner use. Brodifacoum and bromadiolone are registered exclusively for commensal rodent control. This paper assesses the frequency of anticoagulant rodenticide residues in tissues of non-target mammalian and avian wildlife and the possible impacts.

Status of Aquatic Bioassessment in U.S. Epa Region IX

U.S. EPA Region IX is supporting bioassessment programs in Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada using biocriteria program and Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (R-EMAP) resources. These programs are designed to improve the state, tribal and regional ability to determine the status of water quality. Biocriteria program funds were used to coordinate with Arizona, California and Hawaii which resulted in these states establishing reference conditions and in developing biological indices. U.S. EPA Region IX has initiated R-EMAP projects in California and Nevada. These U.S. EPA Region IX sponsored programs have provided an opportunity to interact with the States and provide them with technical and management support. In Arizona, several projects are being conducted to develop the State's bioassessment program. These include the development of a rotational random monitoring program; a regional reference approach for macroinvertebrate bioassessments; ecoregion approach to testing and adoption of an alternate regional classification system; and development of warm-water and cold-water indices of biological integrity. The indices are projected to be used in the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) 2000 water quality assessment report. In California, an Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) has been developed for the Russian River Watershed using resources from U.S. EPA's Non-point Source (NPS) Program grants. A regional IBI is under development for certain water bodies in the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. Resources from the U.S. EPA Biocriteria program are being used to support the California Aquatic Bioassessment Workgroup (CABW) in conjunction with the California Department of Fish & Game (CDFG), and to support the Hawaii Department of Health (DoH) Bioassessment Program to refine biological metrics. In Nevada, R-EMAP resources are being used to create a baseline of aquatic information for the Humboldt River watershed. U.S. EPA Region IX is presently working with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) to establish a Nevada Aquatic Bioassessment Workgroup. Future R-EMAP studies will occur in the Calleguas Creek watershed in Southern California, and in the Muddy and Virgin River watersheds in southern Nevada, and the Walker River watershed in eastern California and west-central Nevada.

Wide Disparity in Age of Nestlings in a Say's Phoebe Nest from New Mexico

Say's phoebes (Sayornis saya) are common throughout open country of western North America (Schukman and Wolf, 1998), building nests of dry grasses, forbs, and animal hair on ledges in natural (cliffs) and man-made (buildings, bridges) sites (Ohlendorf, 1976; Harrison, 1979; Baicich and Harrison, 1997). Abundance of this species probably has increased since European settlement because man-made nest sites now occur in many areas where no natural nest sites exist (Ohlendorf, 1976; Schukman, 1993). Say's phoebes often attempt to raise two broods, beginning in April (Harrison, 1979; Baicich and Harrison, 1997; Schukman and Wolf, 1998). In Kansas incubation averaged 15 days and fledging occurred at 16-17 days (Schukman and Wolf, 1998). At 1430 h on 12 July 1996 I entered a small building at Stone Lake, Rio Arriba Co., New Mexico that is regularly used by nesting Say's phoebes. A nest was found that contained two large young, estimated to be within a few days of fledging. Body feather growth appeared complete, and flight feathers were near full length but still partially sheathed. Between these two large young was a naked nestling (likely <24 h old) and an unhatched egg. Neither the egg nor the small nestling were those of a brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater; Sogge et al., 1997); the egg's size and coloration were typical of a Say's phoebe (Harrison, 1979; Baicich and Harrison, 1997). I banded both large nestlings. I returned to the nest on 15 July at 1450 h. One large nestling had fledged and the other was out of the nest but on the same ledge. It was nearly capable of sustained flight but was easily recaptured. A nestling appearing no larger than the smaller one seen on 12 July was in the nest; it had light white down on its back, but no other feather growth and was assumed to have hatched from the egg observed three days before. I photographed the large and small nestlings (on file with New Mexico Game and Fish Department, Santa Fe) and returned them to their respective locations. On a final visit on 20 July at 0900 h, I found only the remaining large fledgling. Breeding biology of the Say's phoebe has not been as intensively studied as that of its congener, the eastern phoebe (S. phoebe). Assuming that Say's phoebe nestlings grow at the ame rate as eastern phoebes (Weeks, 1994), the two larger young found on 12 July were at least 10 and probably 12-14 days old. One had fledged 3 days later, though the other remained in the building another 8 days. The two smaller young were not seen together, but the one seen 15 July had no primary dots (23 days in eastern phoebe; Weeks, 1994) or visible size increase, suggesting the two eggs hatched asynchronously but that neither young survived more than a day or two. Once egg-laying is initiated, eastern phoebes generally lay eggs daily until the clutch is complete (Murphy, 1994); a similar laying pattern may occur in Say's phoebe. Therefore it is unlikely that a female Say's phoebe would have a gap of 10-12 days between laying dates for her second and third eggs. Further, incubation of second clutches in eastern phoebes is usually initiated with the penultimate egg (Weeks, 1994). Although all eggs in many eastern phoebe first clutches hatch within a 24-h period, hatching in many second clutches occurs over a 2-3 day period (Murphy, 1994; Weeks, 1994). Hatching asynchrony of less than 2 days, with the greatest asynchrony in second clutches, also is typical of the Say's phoebe (J. M. Schukman, pers. comm.) but asynchrony of more than 10 days is unusual. Two explanations of this mixed-age clutch seem feasible. Eastern and black (S. nigricans) phoebes occasionally are polygynous; in the former species five marked males concurrently fed young at two nests (Weeks, 1994) and in the latter species one verified and one suspected case of polygyny were documented (Wolf, 1997). Though common use of a nest by two female phoebes has not been docu-

Habitat factors controlling Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) egg loss in Prince William Sound, Alaska

Recruitment for many marine fishes is believed to be determined at an early life history stage. Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) spawn in the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones and have a demersal egg stage that is susceptible to egg removals during incubation. Data were collected by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in four years in Prince William Sound, Alaska, to identify important factors contributing to egg removals. We constructed analysis of variance models based on physical and biological variables to determine which environmental factors control egg loss rates. The habitat variables examined at each study transect were depth, wave exposure, north-south location, substrate, vegetation, mean bird abundance, abundance of loose eggs, and fish predation. Depth of spawn was the primary factor determining egg loss. Cumulative time of air exposure over incubation was substituted into the model for depth. Using the model, the total estimated egg loss from spawning to hatching ranged from 67 to 100% with an average of 75% (SE = 3.3%) in 1995. Eggs were originally deposited from 4 to -6 m depth relative to mean low water. The majority of eggs that remained in the spawning beds to hatching were deposited from 1 to -4 m depth. Egg removals due to avian predation were probably responsible for extreme egg loss rates at shallow depths.

Risk and opportunity for humans coexisting with large carnivores

Models of Plio-Pleistocene hominid behavioral ecology often emphasize competition with large carnivores. This paper describes competition between modern humans and large carnivores in rural Uganda, including active, confrontational scavenging of carnivore kills by humans and carnivore attacks on humans. Information gathered from Ugandan Game Department archives (1923–1994) reveals that twentieth-century agropastoralists regularly tried to scavenge from leopard (Panthera pardus) and lion (Panthera leo) kills, and that these large carnivores have preyed on hundreds of humans in Uganda over the past several decades. Men were most often targets of carnivore attack, particularly while engaged in hunting-related activities. However attacks on men were less often lethal than attacks on women and children. Analyses show that lion attacks were more dangerous than leopard attacks. These data support recent contentions that hominids armed with even simple weapons can succeed in active, confrontational scavenging by chasing carnivores from kills. Hominids sharing East African habitats with large carnivores may have been regularly subject to attack.

Characteristics of Leukocytes and Thrombocytes of Selected Sturgeon Species from Intensive Breeding

home Acta Veterinaria Brno Journal of the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic Search:

Managing wildlife by ballot initiative: The arizona experience

Ballot initiatives are being used frequently to change wildlife management practices. Arizona has experienced three initiatives in the last decade: two related to anti‐trapping and one a funding initiative for wildlife and parks management. In 1991, a public initiative was started to prohibit trapping on public lands. The wording was vague and potentially provided a basis for a legal challenge to hunting and fishing. Efforts to defeat the initiative focused on the vague language. Upon defeat, the proponents clarified the language to prohibit lethal trapping methods and to permit hunting and angling, and the initiative passed. Based largely on data from a human dimensions survey, the Arizona Game and Fish Department did not oppose this initiative. Recognizing that funding was insufficient for agency requirements, the department developed plans to provide alternative funding. Most attempts failed in legislative hearings. The department, in concert with consumptive and non‐consumptive nongovernmental organizations, planned a funding initiative that passed by a wide margin. The key to passage was using human dimensions data to plan the process.

Use of Redd Counts to Detect Trends in Bull Trout (Salvelinus conf luentus) Populations

Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) is a species of growing interest in the Pacific Northwest (J.S.). It was recently proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997); however, uncertainty and debate regarding the status of remaining populations continues. Biologists throughout the region have expressed concern regarding the loss of historical populations and the risks facing those that remain (Howell & Buchanan 1992; Rieman & McIntyre 1993), but published data demonstrating such problems are few. A variety of monitoring data are available from management agencies but, as with other species (e.g., Pechmann et al. 1991; Reed & Blaustein 1995), time series are often short or highly variable, potentially limiting the power of simple tests for trends in the data. As a result, in a recent public policy conference regarding the future management of bull trout and the lands influencing their habitats, some argued that there is little statistically supported evidence that populations are declining and therefore no clear risk of extinction. The most consistent and extensive monitoring information we could locate for bull trout is represented by redd (nest) counts maintained by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. We used the data provided by these agencies to determine whether the patterns within and among populations suggest any trends and to evaluate the difficulty of detecting potentially important trends. Bull trout associated with three large lake systems in the Clark Fork River basin of northern Idaho (Pend Oreille Lake) and northwestern Montana (Flathead and Swan lakes) exhibit a migratory life history (Rieman & McIntyre 1996) analogous to that of anadromous salmonids. Adults spawn and juveniles rear in tributary streams. Juveniles

Response: Reducing Observer Error in Asymmetry Analyses

North American Journal of Fisheries ManagementVolume 17, Issue 2 p. 599-600 Comment Response: Reducing Observer Error in Asymmetry Analyses W. A. Hubert, W. A. Hubert U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071-3166 USASearch for more papers by this authorC. B. Alexander, C. B. Alexander Idaho Fish and Game Department, 868 East Main Street, Jerome, Idaho, 83338 USASearch for more papers by this author W. A. Hubert, W. A. Hubert U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071-3166 USASearch for more papers by this authorC. B. Alexander, C. B. Alexander Idaho Fish and Game Department, 868 East Main Street, Jerome, Idaho, 83338 USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 08 January 2011 https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8675-17.2.599aAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume17, Issue2May 1997Pages 599-600 RelatedInformation

ON COURSE: THE CALIFORNIA UNIFIED OIL SPILL CONTROL TRAINING PARTNERSHIP

ABSTRACT Faced with training and travel dollar constraints, California's Department of Fish and Game and the 11th U.S. Coast Guard District worked to form a multiorganizational partnership designed to leverage required resources to conduct a premier operational-level oil spill response training program in the state. The partnership included no less than six major organizations from both the public and private sectors, each playing critical roles in planning and conducting the training. Major hurdles overcome were curriculum development and operational support. Both of these challenges were resolved through a unified management approach in which the ultimate objective became success of the course. The lessons learned from the program provide guidance and rationale for future such efforts.

EARTHQUAKES AND OIL SPILLS: LESSONS FROM THE SANTA CLARA RIVER SPILL

ABSTRACT On January 17, 1994, the Northridge earthquake struck southern California and caused multiple ruptures in a pipeline; the ruptures resulted in a 4607-barrel oil spill into the Santa Clara River. The veterinary mobile response vehicle equipped by the California Department of Fish and Game's Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response (CDFG-OSPR) was called into use for immediate field stabilization. The International Bird Rescue Research Center of Berkeley, California, was hired to retrieve and provide rehabilitation care for the birds. Thirty-seven birds, mainly Virginia and Sora rails, were retrieved, and 24 birds were released; thus the survival rate was 65%. This spill effort was unique because, for the first time, blood samples were taken at the retrieval site; these samples revealed an early and very crucial “snapshot” of the affected birds. There was a noticeable difference in blood values compared with blood samples taken in wildlife care centers during previous oil spill responses. White blood cell counts were in the low to normal range (average 7800; range of 2700 to 12,700) (n = 20). Birds regained a predominant number of lymphocytes (over heterophils) in a shorter period of time than in other spills (i.e., 14.9 days versus 4 weeks). Methods for reducing stress in oiled birds were improved. Protocols for stabilization, stress reduction, housing, and handling used in this spill may serve to improve avian care and survival rates in subsequent spill response efforts.

Assessment of Abundance of San Joaquin Kit Foxes by Spotlight Surveys

Biologists of the California Department of Fish and Game have conducted quarterly spotlight surveys of San Joaquin kit foxes, Vulpes macrotis mutica , and potential species of prey along seven 48-km routes since 1970. The annual reproductive cycle of the foxes was reflected by a seasonal cycle in the counts. Counts of foxes during surveys in June were correlated with total precipitation during the previous rainfall season, but not with concurrent counts of prey. Number of foxes seen/0.8-km interval was more highly correlated with estimated sighting distance based on physical features, such as hills and plains, than with current vegetation density or type. Mean number of foxes counted per survey per route ranged from two to 20. Counts of foxes increased over time on one route, decreased over time on another, and showed a curvilinear trend on two routes. The average number of foxes seen over all routes did not show any long-term trend. However, small samples, missing data, and lack of replication limited statistical analysis and interpretation of surveys. Statistical tests on simulated data similar to the data collected during the surveys indicated that larger samples, which could be obtained by replication, would be needed to detect changes in the population of foxes with any efficiency (statistical power). An expanded spotlight-survey program of kit foxes, with additional routes and replicated surveys, could be used to monitor population trends throughout the range of this endangered subspecies.