Job-Tortoise Trackers in the Mojave

For those who have a bit of adventure (and a lot of energy) in their soul... NEWS RELEASE The Center for North American Herpetology Lawrence, Kansas http://www.cnah.org 15 May 2008 DESERT TORTOISE TECHNICIANS NEEDED Where: Mojave Desert, California Description: Biological field technicians needed to conduct radio tracking for transmittered Desert Tortoises in the western Mojave Desert. Project is associated with a large-scale translocation effort. Technicians will need to attend a 1 to 2 day training session prior to beginning work. Training will enable personnel to use radio-tracking equipment, identify Desert Tortoise sign, learn searching protocols, and data entry procedures. Upon successful completion of training, technicians will work with several other personnel to locate translocated, resident, and control animals. While radio tracking will continue into the fall, there will also be the opportunity to conduct Desert Tortoise surveys on a separate project. In addition to radio tracking, we will also be conducting large scale perennial vegetation surveys to assess habitat use. Work will be conducted in remote desert areas, some of which will be in steep, mountainous terrain. Standard work period will be 6 days on, 1 day off, generally 10 hour days. This is an excellent opportunity to improve or learn many wildlife skills, get to know the Mojave Desert, and work with an amazing species. Qualifications: Applicants need to be to be self-sufficient in the field. Primitive camping, at times without phone service or facilities required. Must have 4WD or high-clearance (at a minimum) vehicle and personal camping gear. All work and base camp will be roughly 20 miles from Barstow, California. Experience with radio tracking, GPS, data entry onto PDA's preferred but not necessary. Most important, is that people are willing to learn correct field and data entry techniques, endure the heat, and keep a positive fun attitude. Salary: $25/hour, no per diem, government mileage when on site. Date to Apply: Immediately; work begins immediately continuing to approximately 10 November 2008. Contact: Send resume with contact info and references to Andrew Walde at tortoise_trackers@yahoo.com

POLLEN CORONAS:

From Spaceweather.com May 15, 2008:

It begins with a sneeze. Pollen floating through the air tickles your nose, and your body responds by expelling the allergen. Gesundheit!

That's German for "look at the sun." Not really, but look anyway. The same pollen that makes you sneeze can also make beautiful coronas around the sun.

See http://spaceweather.com/ for photos

"Coronas are produced when light waves scatter from the outsides of small particles," says atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley. "Tiny droplets of water in clouds make most coronas, but opaque equal-sized pollen grains do even better. They make small but very colorful multi-ringed coronas."

"Unlike water droplets, pollens are non-spherical--and this adds to their magic," he continues. "Many have air sacs to help carry them in the wind. These align the grains to give beautiful elliptical coronas with bright spots." This is why Nitze's pollen corona looks the way it does.

"So, the next time you sneeze..." Gesundheit! "...look for coronas near the sun."

more images: from Eva Seidenfaden of Trier, Germany

Send Your Name to the Moon Aboard LRO

Here's a fun way to get into space... without the pressure of lift-off ;o) NASA invites people of all ages to join the lunar exploration journey with an opportunity to send their names to the moon aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, spacecraft.   The Send Your Name to the Moon Web site enables everyone to participate in the lunar adventure and place their names in orbit around the moon for years to come. Participants can submit their information, print a certificate and have their name entered into a database. The database will be placed on a microchip that will be integrated onto the spacecraft.   The deadline for submitting names is June 27, 2008.   For more information about the LRO spacecraft and its mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/main/index.html.

Gopherus Gathering in Georgia

NEWS RELEASE The Center for North American Herpetology Lawrence, Kansas http://www.cnah.org 14 May 2008 2008 GOPHER TORTOISE COUNCIL MEETING Announcement and Call for Papers When: October 3 and 4, 2008 Where; Oceanside Inn and Suites, Jekyll Island, Georgia Please join us for the Annual meeting of the Gopher Tortoise Council at Jekyll Island, Georgia. The meeting will feature a special session on Friday of presentations on Wildlife and Ecosystem Health, with confirmed presentations by Elliot Jacobson, Sonya Hernandez Divers, Charles Innis, Steven H. Divers, Terry Norton, John Maerz, Scott Connelly, Nancy Stedman, Lori Wendland, Matt Aresco, Kimberely Andrews, and Greg Lewbart. Saturday the scientific program continues with contributed presentations and posters on any topic relating to the Gopher Tortoise and the longleaf pine ecosystem. There will be plenty of time for relaxing and socializing, and enjoying good food and drink at a Low Country Boil Friday night and a Barbecue Saturday night. Also, a tour of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center will be offered Friday evening. For more information and registration information, please visit the Gopher Tortoise Council's website at http://www.gophertortoisecouncil.org/events.php Margaret S. Gunzburger, PhD Ecologist, Nokuse Plantation 13292 County Highway 3280 Bruce, Florida 32455 (850) 585-3297 phaeognathus@gmail.com