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1999 Annual SCB Meeting
Colleagues and Friends,
The Society for Conservation Biology's 13th Annual Meeting, which will convene at the University of Maryland, has been in the planning stage for almost two years now, and we hope that you will attend what promises to be one of the largest and most exciting gatherings of conservation biologists in history. At this meeting we will take advantage of our proximity to the Washington, D.C. community of conservation-related government agencies and non-governmental organizations to promote interaction between the primarily academic constituency of SCB and our colleagues in these other areas. The support we have seen from federal agencies and others from Washington, D.C. who have agreed to help sponsor the meeting is encouraging, and bodes well for productive discussions of common goals. As you will see below (and on the meeting web page, www.inform.umd.edu/SCB), the two plenary sessions, symposia, and social events will provide venues for this interaction.
Among the optional field trips on Monday 21 June are opportunities for you to learn to be more effective in the democratic process as it affects conservation issues. One or more workshops will provide instruction on how best to lobby, with the option of visiting your legislative representatives. Other trips will highlight research and education related to conservation biology, such as the Smithsonian's Laboratory of Molecular Systematics, the National Zoo, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the Smithsonian's Conservation and Research Center, and the Fish and Wildlife Service's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center.
We hope that many students will choose to attend the meeting, and have encouraged their participation by subsidizing the registration fee and finding funds for travel scholarships (thanks NASA!). As in the past, there will be an award for the best presentation by a student at the meeting. We hope that those of you who are faculty will encourage your students to attend (and to join SCB, which they can do for as little as $20). We also hope that many international colleagues will be able to attend the meeting.
Sincerely,
David W. Inouye, Chair
For the SCB 1999 Organizing Committee
Katrina Brandon, CONS program, University of Maryland
James Dietz, Department of Biology, University of Maryland
Michael Hutchins, AZA
Chris Wemmer, Smithsonian Institution
Don Wilson, Smithsonian Institution
Students in the CONS graduate program, University of Maryland
PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
For updates, check http://www.inform.umd.edu/SCB
  
9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.: SCB Board of Governors meeting, Biology-Psychology building
9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.: Meeting of directors of graduate programs in conservation biology
9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.: Workshop: Tools for population viability analysis
12 noon - 9:00 P.M.: Conference Registration, Annapolis Hall
2:00 - 6:00 P.M.: Exhibitor Set Up, Colony Ball Room, Student Union
5:30 - 7:30 P.M.: Welcoming Reception, Colony Ball Room, Student Union
8:00 - 9:30 P.M.: Welcoming Remarks, Tawes Theatre, followed by Opening Plenary
8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.: Conference Registration, Stamp Student Union
8:30 - 10:00 A.M.: Concurrent sessions (papers, symposium)
10:00 - 10:20 A.M.: Refreshment Break
10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.: Exhibits open, Colony Ballroom; Poster Set Up, Colony Ballroom
10:20 A.M. - 12 noon: Concurrent sessions (papers, posters, symposium)
12 noon - 1:30 P.M.: Lunch Break (in dining hall for those on meal plan)
1:30 - 3:00 P.M.: Concurrent sessions (papers, posters, symposia)
3:00 - 3:20 P.M.: Refreshment Break
3:20 - 5:00 P.M.: Concurrent sessions (papers, posters, symposia)
7:30 - 9:00 P.M.: Plenary Session, Awards Ceremony, and Social, Tawes Theater
8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.: Conference Registration, Stamp Student Union
8:30 - 10:00 A.M.: Concurrent sessions (papers, symposium)
10:00 - 10:20 A.M.: Refreshment Break
10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.: Exhibits open, Colony Ballroom
10:20 A.M. - 12 noon: Concurrent sessions (papers, posters, symposia)
12 noon - 1:30 P.M.: Lunch Break (box lunch, included with registration)
1:30 - 3:00 P.M.: Concurrent sessions (papers, posters, symposia)
3:00 - 3:20 P.M.: Refreshment Break
3:20 - 5:00 P.M.: Concurrent sessions (papers, posters, symposia)
7:30 - 9:00 P.M.: Workshops and special meetings; cash bar/social (?)
8:00 - 9:00 A.M.: Conference Registration, Stamp Student Union
8:30 - 10:00 A.M.: Concurrent sessions (papers, symposia)
10:00 - 10:20 A.M.: Refreshment Break
10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.: Exhibits open, Colony Ballroom
10:20 A.M. - 12 noon: Concurrent sessions (papers, posters, symposia)
12 noon - 1:30 P.M.: Lunch Break (in dining hall for those on meal plan); SCB Board of Governors meeting
1:30 - 3:00 P.M.: Concurrent sessions (papers, posters, symposia)
3:00 - 3:20 P.M.: Refreshment Break
3:20 - 4:30 P.M.: Concurrent sessions (papers, posters, symposia)
4:30 - 6:00 P.M.: Buses to the National Zoo
6:30 - 8:30 P.M.: Picnic at the National Zoo
8:00 A.M. - : Field Trips
SYMPOSIA
For more information, see www.inform.umd.edu/SCB
Friday 18 June, morning. Integrating research into policy. Organized by Deborah Brosnan, Sustainable Ecosystems Institute, Email brosnan@sei.org.
Friday 18 June, afternoon. Biodiversity conservation and foreign policy: the challenges and opportunities of informed decision making and effective action. Organized by the Office of Ecology and Terrestrial Conservation, Bureau of Oceans and International and Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Contact Jamie Reaser, Email sprgpeeper@aol.com.
Saturday 19 June, morning. Academics and managers: bridging the gap for conservation biology. Organized by Beth Kaplin, Antioch New England Graduate School, Email bkaplin@Antiochne.edu and David Flaspohler, Michigan Technological University, Email djflaspo@mtu.edu.
Saturday 19 June, afternoon. Integrating preservation policies for rural and urban environments. Organized by Mark Sagoff, The Woodrow Wilson Center, Email msagoff@puafmail.umd.edu and David Wasserman, University of Maryland, Email dw79@umail.umd.edu.
Sunday 20 June, morning. Regional-scale conservation planning. Organized by Reed Noss, Conservation Biology Institute, Email nossr@ucs.orst.edu; James Stritthold, Earth Design Consultants, Inc., Email stritt@earthdesign.com; Renato Massa, University of Milan, Email rmassa@alpha.disat.unimi.it; and Kenneth Vance-Borland, Oregon State University, kenvb@fsl.orst.edu.
Sunday 20 June, morning. Objectivity in ethics, public policy, and conservation biology. Organized by Jack Weir, Morehead State University, Email j.weir@morehead-st.edu.
Sunday 20 June, afternoon. The impact of scale on ecological management. Organized by Elizabeth Chornesky, The Nature Conservancy, Email Echornesky@tnc.org and Jonathan Adams, The Nature Conservancy, Email Jadams@tnc.org.
WORKSHOPS
This is a tentative list. We're open to other suggestions. Check the meeting home page for the latest information.
Thursday 17 June. Tools for population viability analysis. Contact Resit Akcakaya, Applied Biomathematics, Telephone (516) 751-4350, FAX (516) 751-3435, Email resit@ramas.com, or see http://www.ramas.com/scb99.htm.
Saturday 19 June, evening. Creating interactive multimedia programs to teach conservation biology. Edward O. Wilson and Dan Perlman.
Saturday 19 June, evening. The Ornithological Council will present a workshop on the role of scientific societies in communicating scientific information on policy issues to lawmakers, regulatory agencies, and decision-makers in industry and other private organizations.
Saturday 19 June, evening. Using NASA data to promote biodiversity conservation. For the past two and a half years, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been working with several NGOs and museums with field programs in conservation biology to demonstrate the utility of NASA data products and technologies to conservation. As part of this effort, NASA and its conservation partners initiated 10 pilot projects that are now drawing to a close. At this special session, representatives from NASA, conservation NGOs, and natural history museums will report on results from several of these pilot projects and discuss other opportunities for using NASA data to promote biodiversity conservation.
Saturday 19 June. Biology of small populations. On Saturday, the University of Maryland's Biology Department's Research Training Grant Program on the Biology of Small Populations will hold their annual symposium. This symposium, Reproduction in small populations, will feature talks by recognized experts on this topic. People attending the SCB meeting are invited to attend. Details about this symposium will be available at the RTG home page www.bsp.umd.edu, and at the SCB meeting.
Planned Activities. The meeting will start Thursday evening 17 June with a reception (with lots of finger food and cash bar) and opening plenary session. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be filled with symposia, contributed paper and poster sessions, and commercial exhibits. A second plenary session will be held Friday evening, and various workshops will be conducted Saturday evening. The meeting will conclude with a picnic at the National Zoo on Sunday evening, and field trips and workshops on Monday.
Program. The detailed program will be available at the conference web site (www.inform.umd.edu/SCB), and also distributed with other registration materials at the meeting. Members without access to the World Wide Web may request an electronic copy in advance via email (contact di5@umail.umd.edu).
Weather and Suggested Attire. Summer in Washington, D.C. is usually warm and humid. All of the dormitory rooms, dining halls, and meeting rooms will be air conditioned. June weather is not predictable, but average daytime temperatures are in the 80s and evening temperatures rarely fall below 60 degrees. Shorts and sandals are acceptable attire for all scheduled sessions and casual wear is fine for area restaurants (unless you're planning to frequent fancy restaurants in Washington, D.C.).
On-Campus Housing. Arrangements have been made to accommodate conference participants in University residence halls. Guests will be assigned to share "suite" style units with one or two bathrooms within the suite. Each unit houses between four and six persons in double or single bedrooms. Single rooms are limited, and will be assigned on a first-paid, first-served basis, if a single room is requested. (If more than 800 people request campus housing, overflow housing will be in high-rise dormitories.) Housing and meal packages are sold on a per-person basis. You must pay housing and meal fees for all children over 5 years of age. If you want to share a room with a particular person (partner, family member(s), or colleagues), please note their names on the housing reservation form. Space permitting, families with children will be housed in a separate suite. Couples should expect to share suites with other couples. All rooms are air-conditioned, carpeted, and fully furnished. Linens and amenities are provided and include sheets, pillow and pillowcase, towels and blanket, drinking cup and soap. You may wish to bring along a washcloth and reading lamp since these are not provided.
Meals. Meals will be served in a campus dining hall close to the residence halls. Two meal plan options are offered for on-campus residents. The first includes breakfast and lunch. The second includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. A commuter meal plan (lunch and dinner) also can be purchased. There are many inexpensive restaurants and fast-food places within walking distance. Many ethnic restaurants are within a 10-30 minute drive from College Park. A restaurant list for a variety of budgets will be provided at the meeting. Eating dinner on campus will be the most convenient option. Finger-food and drinks will be available at the reception on Thursday evening, and registration includes lunch on Saturday. A picnic dinner at the National Zoo is optional for Sunday evening.
Extra Days. Attendees who stay on campus and who wish to arrive a day early or stay a day late after the conference may do so at a nominal charge (see the registration form).
Off Campus Lodging. There are several options available for those who prefer to stay in a hotel. The University of Maryland University College, Inn, and Conference Center is located adjacent to campus and is about a 15-minute walk from the meeting rooms. Rates are $99/night for a single and $114/night for a double. Telephone (800) 727-8622 for reservations. Additional blocks of rooms have been reserved at the following hotels located within two miles of campus (reserve by 1 May to insure a space).
Best Western Maryland Inn, Telephone (301) 474-2800. Rates are $75/night for up to 4 people, restaurant on site. Complimentary shuttle to the university. 0.5 mile from campus.
Comfort Inn and Suites, Telephone (301) 441-8110. Rates are $79/night for up to 4 people. Continental breakfast and complimentary shuttle to the university. 0.8 mile from campus.
Holiday Inn, Telephone (301) 345-6700. Rates are $84/night for up to 4 people. Complimentary shuttle to the University. Restaurant on site. 1.9 miles from campus.
See the meeting home page for a list of other area hotels.
Parking. All guests with vehicles must display a campus parking permit to park on campus. Please indicate on your registration form whether you will require a permit. You also may purchase a permit on site at the registration desk. Rates are $3 per day for a surface lot (close to the residence halls) or $4 per day for a metered pass (meters available near the residence halls, near the Student Union, and elsewhere on campus).
Camping. Participants wishing to camp rather than stay in a hotel or on campus must make their own arrangements. The most convenient local campground, located about 2 miles from campus, is Cherry Hill Park, 9800 Cherry Hill Road, College Park, Telephone (301) 937-7116. Cost for an RV is approximately $34/2 persons/night + $3 for each additional person. Tent fees are $27/2 persons/night + $3 extra per person. They provide a 10% discount to members of Good Sun, AAA, KOA, ARP and the military. It is recommended that reservations be made at least two weeks in advance.
A second camping site, about 4 miles from campus, is Greenbelt National Park, Telephone (301) 344-3943. Tent sites are currently $13/site and include access to showers.
Access to College Park. College Park is just inside the Beltway (I-495) that circles Washington, D.C., and encompasses much of suburban Maryland and Virginia, not far from the north connection with I-95. Detailed directions are available on the meeting home page. Railroad access is available via the New Carrollton AMTRAK station and then taxi, or you can take AMTRAK to Union Station in D.C. and then take Metro (Washington, D.C.'s subway system) to College Park (via the Green Line; runs 5:30 A.M. - 12 midnight M-F, starts at 8:00 A.M. on weekends). The Metro system is easy to use and inexpensive.
If you are flying to the meeting you can use any of the three area airports, Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), Reagan National Airport (DCA), or Washington-Dulles (IAD). We will not be running shuttles from the airports, but taxis or public transportation to campus are available from all of them. There is also an AMTRAK train every half hour from the BWI Airport Rail Station to Union Station in Washington, where you can get the Metro to College Park. Telephone AMTRAK at (800) USA-RAIL for more information.
Travelers arriving at DCA can take Metro to the College Park station (about an hour). Take the Yellow or Blue lines from the airport stop, and transfer at Metro Center or Gallery Place to get to the Green line (at some times of day you'll have to use the intermediary Red line). There is a free campus shuttle bus from the College Park Metro station, but if the driver can't drop you off at Annapolis Hall where the registration desk is located you may have to change buses near the Student Union. Taxi service from DCA to campus will be about $25.
If you fly to BWI, the SuperShuttle commercial shuttle service can deliver you to campus or to your hotel. Rates are $19 each way for the first person and $5 for each additional person). No reservation is required, but you can telephone (800) 258-3826 for more information. Look for the SuperShuttle representative at the Ground Transportation Desk between luggage carousels 3 and 4. Additional airport shuttle service from BWI is provided by All American Airport Shuttle, Telephone (301) 417-2626, United Transport Services, Telephone (800) 622-3882, and other companies listed in the Yellow Pages under Airport Transportation Service.
IAD is much further from College Park, and ground transportation can be expensive and complex. However, airfares to IAD sometimes are much cheaper. You can arrange to share a taxi, or to share a car rental. Car rental may be less expensive than cab fare. Try Enterprise car rental, Telephone (800) 325-8007, which has an office in College Park near campus. There is also bus service to downtown Washington, D.C., where you can take Metro to campus. We recommend that when you contact a travel agent (we strongly recommend Association Travel Concepts, see below), you ask about fares to all three airports.
Travel service. The conference has an official travel service, Association Travel Concepts. This travel service can arrange discounted airline travel for you, and will make travel scholarships available in proportion to the number of people who buy tickets through them. So help support student travel to this meeting by making your arrangements through ATC, Telephone (800) 458-9383, FAX (619) 581-3988, Email atc@assntravel.com.
Child care. The university does not have child care facilities for use during this meeting. However, we realize that this is an important issue for many attendees. We are working to find a suitable solution. Please contact us by email (consoffc@umail.umd.edu) if you think you will want child care.
T-shirts. We will sell shirts with the conference logo and some examples of species of conservation concern from the Maryland area. We can only guarantee availability if you order in advance.
FIELD TRIPS
Monday 21 June
Most of field trips have a minimum and maximum number of participants. Reserve early! Unless otherwise noted, all field trips will depart from and return to College Park. All departure and return times are tentative.
Laboratory of Molecular Systematics. 8:30 - 11:00 A.M. The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History established the LMS in 1988 to conduct biochemical and molecular genetic studies of DNA and proteins to solve problems in natural history, evolution, conservation biology and biodiversity. It functions as both a small research unit of independent investigators with joint curatorial appointments in appropriate NMNH departments, and as an access facility for other NMNH curators and their associates to carry out research projects. Research at the LMS has led to a variety of seminal findings, such as resolving the earliest diversification of flowering plants, tracing the evolutionary history of symbiotic associations (lichens; fungus-growing ants) and understanding the population dynamics of new avian species as they emerge. The LMS has become a leader in the development and use of new analytical tools for phylogenetic studies. Price ($9) includes transportation. Limited to 10 participants.
National Aquarium in Baltimore (http://www.aqua.org). 8:30 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. A behind-the-scenes tour for a maximum of 40 participants. Tours will be geared to adults attending the meeting, but children over the age of 10 are welcome. Tour will last about 1.5 hours, after which you will be free to tour the entire aquarium on your own. The special tour will include the poison dart frog breeding program (they have bred about half of the known species of dendrobatid frogs). Price ($21, admission alone is normally $14) includes admission and bus transportation. The bus may be able to drop people off at the BWI airport on the return trip.
The National Arboretum (http://www.ars-grin.gov/na/). 8:00 A.M. - 12 noon. The mission of the U.S. National Arboretum is to conduct research, provide education, and conserve and display trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants to enhance the environment. The Arboretum's beautiful 444-acre campus in Washington, D.C. contains an array of display gardens, collections, and historical monuments set among native stands of eastern deciduous trees. The Arboretum includes the world's largest museum devoted to the art and science of bonsai and penjing, which provides stunning displays of Chinese, Japanese, and North American styled trees in pots, ranging in age from 20 to 380 years. At the time of the meeting, species expected to be in peak bloom include mountain laurel, linden, viburnum, rosebay, rhododendron, golden raintree, daylilies, herbs, annuals, waterlilies. The Arboretum is located in northeast Washington, D.C., 2.2 miles from the Capitol. Price ($9) includes a 40-minute tram tour of the grounds.
The National Zoo (http://www.si.edu/organiza/museums/zoo/). 9:00 A.M. - 12 noon (or stay longer and return on your own via Metro). This tour will be targeted for an audience of conservation biologists (e.g., golden lion tamarins, brown tree snakes, Guam rails, giant panda, scientific Labs). Come get pictures you can use to illustrate your class lectures! Price ($9) includes bus transportation to the Zoo.
The Smithsonian Institution's Conservation and Research Center (http://www.si.edu/organiza/museums/zoo/zooview/crc/crc.htm). 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. The Smithsonian Institution's Conservation and Research Center (CRC) is a breeding and research facility for endangered species and is not open to the public. The 3100-acre center is located in Front Royal, Virginia on the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, about a 1-hour drive west of Washington, D.C. (1.5 - 2 hours from College Park). Approximately half of the acreage consists of large pastures with herds of exotic ungulates. The other half is primarily forested and used for research and training. Tour will also include a short visit to nearby Shenandoah National Park to hear from park staff about policy and conservation issues. Price ($36) includes transportation and lunch.
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (http://www.pif.nbs.gov/). 9:00 A.M. - 12 noon. This facility of the U.S. Geological Survey's Biological Resources Division studies the status and trends of biological resources, effects of ecological processes and human impacts, restoration and maintenance of ecological systems, and the management and transfer of natural resources information and technology. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Bird Banding Laboratory, and North American Amphibian Monitoring Program are housed there, and research is being conducted on invasive species, contaminants, migratory birds, populations at risk, and many other topics. The tour will visit the National Wildlife Visitor Center (http://www.pif.nbs.gov/visintro.htm) and some of the research facilities. Price $9.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Goddard Space Flight Center (http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/). 8:00 A.M. - 12 noon. The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, approximately 20 minutes from College Park, is NASA's foremost research institution in the Earth sciences. Recently, NASA has been exploring, along with a number of NGOs and museums, ways in which space-based remote sensing can further the goals of conservation biology. This half-day excursion for up to 40 participants will combine a tour of facilities at Goddard with discussions by current NASA researchers on data products from ongoing and planned space missions that might prove useful to conservation biologists. Entrance into the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center requires up-to-date identification, as well as 4 weeks advance notice for non-U.S. citizens. Price $9.
The following field trips are offered courtesy of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Assateague Island National Seashore. 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. This Atlantic barrier island ecosystem will be explored. The island supports approximately 60 nesting pairs of piping plovers and many barrier beach plant species. Beach nourishment efforts and impacts of feral ponies will also be viewed. Price ($35) includes transportation and lunch. 10-15 participants.
Delmarva Bays. 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. These nontidal wetlands are seasonally wet depressions occurring throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. They support numerous rare species of plants and animals and unique natural communities. Efforts to conserve these areas within the surrounding landscapes will be discussed. Price ($35) includes transportation and lunch. 10-15 participants.
Soldiers Delight Serpentine Barrens. 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Located on the Maryland Piedmont, this is the largest serpentine ecosystem in the eastern United States. The trip will focus on restoration of indigenous plant communities, ecology and habitat restoration of rare and endangered species, and the geologic history and significance of the outcrop. Price ($30) includes transportation and lunch. 10-15 participants.
Western Maryland Shale Barrens. 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Located in the Appalachian Mountains of western Maryland, these areas support many plant species endemic to the Ridge and Valley physiographic province. The geologic features which formed these areas and their corresponding harsh, xeric conditions have resulted in these unique natural communities that support many rare plants. Price ($35) includes transportation and lunch. 15-20 participants.
Other field trips could be arranged to bog turtle wetlands or timber rattlesnake dens and birthing rookeries. For more information please contact Glenn Therres, Telephone (410) 260-8572, Email gtherres@dnr.state.md.us.
Normal registration deadline: 23 April 1999. Late registration fees apply after 23 April 1999. After 23 May, no pre-registrations will be accepted, no confirmations will be sent, and only on-site registrations will be accepted (fees for registration and all events will increase). Register early and save!
Note: authors presenting papers must register by 23 April (changed from 15 April) or their presentations will not be included in the program!
Information about the meeting is continuously updated on the home page www.inform.umd.edu/SCB. Please check this site frequently for the latest information.
Conference registration includes admission to the opening reception and plenary, three full days of sessions, refreshment breaks, a box lunch on Saturday, and a copy of the Program and Abstracts. We also plan to give each registrant an insulated coffee mug to reduce use of disposables at refreshment breaks.
We encourage electronic registration for this meeting. You must submit
payment by credit card to register on-line. If you can do so, please go to
http://www.inform.umd.edu/cvs/scb/registration.html and register
electronically. If you prefer not to send your credit card information via the
web or would like to pay by check or Purchase Order, please use the paper
version found in the hardcopy of the February newsletter.
Registrations accompanied by payment should be sent to
- Conference and Visitor Services - SCB
- 0101 Annapolis Hall
- University of Maryland
- College Park, Maryland 20742-9811
FAXed or emailed registrations must have credit card payment correctly filled out. FAXes marked ATTENTION SCB REGISTRATION may be sent to (301) 314-6693.
Cancellation Policy. Prior to 23 April, all fees minus a $25 processing fee will be refunded to you. If cancellation is received between 23 April and the pre-registration deadline of 23 May, all but $75 will be refunded to you. NO REFUNDS will be given after 23 May 1999.
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