1995 Meeting Summary

1995 Meeting Summary SUMMARY OF THE 1995 MEETINGS
As published in Copeia 1995(4):1014-1049

The 75^th annual meeting of the Society was held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 15-19 June 1995, in conjunction with the 11^th annual meeting of the American Elasmobranch Society and the 43^rd annual meeting of the Herpetologists' League.

Board of Governors Meeting, 15 June 1995

The meeting was called to order by President David Greenfield at 4:08 PM June 15, 1995, in the Education North building, room 2-115 on the University of Alberta campus. Forty-seven governors were present; 31 ichthyologists and 16 herpetologists. Secretary Dean Hendrickson reported that letters of regret had been received from 7 governors and informed the Governors of the deaths of members Ray Birdsong, Hugh DeWitt and Humphrey Greenwood during the past year.

President Greenfield requested a motion to approve minutes of the 1994 meeting of the Board of Governors in Los Angeles, as published in Copeia 1994(4): 1079-1099. The motion was made, seconded, and passed without objection.

President Greenfield announced that the Resolutions Committee consisted of Steve Bortone (chair), Julian Lee and Bill Tonn. He also announced that Stoye and Storer Award judges had been appointed, but names of judges would be withheld until the annual banquet. Subsequently announced at the banquet was the following slate of judges:

The chair moved blanket acceptance of the BOG Agenda items, except those exempted for discussion by the chair or Governors from the floor. Reports so exempted were those of the Secretary, Long Range Planning and Finance Committee, Time, Place and Program Committee, Endowment Fund Committee, Herpetological Information Coordinator, Ichthyological Information Coordinator, Committee on Special Publications, Society Historian, and Representative to American Fisheries Society. This report presents first, all approved reports, followed by exempted reports with notes on discussion of them that took place at the meeting.

Approved Reports (not read or discussed at meeting):

Treasurer, Lawrence M. Page, based his report on audited financial statements for 1994 received from Clifton, Gunderson & Co., Certified Public Accountants & Consultants, Champaign, Illinois. ASIH remains in good financial condition. Total assets stood at $538,074 on 31 December 1994 compared to $442,144 at the end of 1993, $401,867 at the end of 1992, $366,142 at the end of 1991, and $336, 035 at the end of 1990. The 1994 level represents a 22 percent increase over 1993, the 1993 level was a 10 percent increase over 1992, and the 1992 level was a 10 percent increase over 1991. The steady increase in assets over the last three years is attributable primarily to the dues increase initiated in 1991. The larger increase in 1994 derives from a large attendance (and, therefore, large revenue) at the 1993 Annual Meeting, donations to the Endowment Fund, returns on investments, and the lower cost of printing Copeia.

Overall revenue in 1994 exceeded expenses by $103,038. Total revenue generated in 1994 was $297,325, compared to $244,884 in 1993, $253,580 in 1992, $233,154 in 1991, and $137,992 in 1990. Largest sources of income in 1994 were subscriptions ($93,982; down from $103,873 in 1993), memberships ($110,967, up from $99,040 in 1993), page charges ($20,671; cf. $21,415 in 1993), 1993 Annual Meeting ($20,027), and investments ($17,454; cf. $15,411 in 1993). Total expenses for 1994 were $194,287 compared to $215,559 for 1993, $193,670 for 1992, $209,899 for 1991, and $231,875 for 1990.

The Endowment Fund and the Life Membership Fund were established constitutionally in 1993. On 31 December 1994, the Life Membership Fund contained $6,170, invested in Scudder ShortTerm Bond Fund and The Berger 101 Fund. On 31 December 1994, the Endowment Fund contained $15,059, invested in Fidelity Investments Cash Reserves Fund. [As of 22 April 1995, the Endowment Fund contained $18,061 invested in Fidelity Investments Cash Reserves Fund, and the separate "Special Publication Fund" contains $20,293, of which $15,500 has been raised specifically for publication of Collection Building in Ichthyology and Herpetology, to be edited by T. W. Pietsch and W. Anderson, Jr.]

Revenues and expenses for 1995 are expected to approximate those for 1994. Details of the financial situation of the Society are further reported in the following tables.

*******see Treasurer's report tables labeled Statement 1, 2, 3 and 4*********

Publications Secretary, Jose P. Rosado, reported the following activities, income and expenses:

TOTAL REVENUE

EXPENSES

NET INCOME $856.90

Expenses do not include cost pertaining to ASIH publications that were disbursements of the Treasurer's Office (e.g., postage, handling, insurance and storage costs charged by Allen Press).

Sales Volume (COPEIA Back Issues)

YEAR	#ORDERS	#COPIES	REVENUE	REVENUE/COPY
1982	47	729	2558.00	3.51
1983	84	4953	8981.39	1.81
1984	53	1730	4376.81	2.53
1985	59	562	3395.32	6.04
1986	35	329	1609.60	4.89
1987	53	615	2685.35	4.37
1988	55	294	1556.05	5.29
1989	42	470	2333.92	4.97
1990	110	14558	10440.59	0.72
1991	65	7090	5019.03	0.71
1992	12	83	895.00	10.78
1993	12	131	1639.60	12.52
1994	6	37	815.00	22.20

Status of back issues inventory (+ indicates unspecified number of copies in inventory, numbers indicate exact numbers in inventory)

YEAR	1	2	3	4
1981	+	+	+	+
1982	+	+	+	+
1983	+	+	+	+
1984	+	+	+	+
1985	+	+	+	+
1986	+	+	+	+
1987	+	+	+	+
1988	+	0	0	0
1989	0	0	0	0
1990	0	0	0	39
1991	5	+	63	+
1992	+	+	+	39
1993	0	+	+	+
1994	+	+	+	+

Sale of Percomorph Phylogeny Bulletin

YEAR	#ORDERS	#COPIES	REVENUE	REV/COPY
1993	11	13	$435.00	$33.46*
1994	5	6	$192.00	$32.00*

*These figures do not include sales from 1994 meetings. Present inventory = 106 volumes.

Managing Editor, Michael E. Douglas, reported that during 1994, 1138 pages of COPEIA were published over four issues: 01 February (262 pages), 16 May (310 pages), 17 August (270 pages),and 19 December (296 pages). These issues comprised 87 major articles (861 pages or 75%) and 38 shorter contributions (133 pages or 12%). The remaining 13% was distributed as follows: 29 Book Reviews (49 pages), summary of the 1994 annual meeting (38 pages), 1994 index (22 pages), eight obituaries (18 pages), four notes and news (11 pages), three award notices (3 pages), and a list of reviewers (3 pages).

Of the major articles published in COPEIA, 54% were in herpetology (n = 47), while the remaining 46% were in ichthyology (n = 40). Of the shorter contributions, 55% were in ichthyology (n = 21), while 45% (n = 17) were in herpetology. When major articles and shorter contributions were combined, herpetological articles accounted for 51% (n = 67) whereas ichthyological articles comprised 49% (n = 61).

During 1994, 240 manuscripts were submitted to COPEIA, which represents a 10% increase over 1993. Of these, 87% (n = 209) were processed (a 9% increase over 1993). Some 68% of these (n = 142) were submitted from 39 different states of the Union: California (15), Florida (13), Texas (8), Virginia (7), New York (6), Pennsylvania (6), eight states with five, seven with four, five with three, four with two, and nine with one each. The remaining 32% (n = 68) of submissions were received from 32 different countries, distributed as follows: Canada (15), Australia (5), Spain (5), Japan (5), Republic of China (5), Italy (4), Israel (3), United Kingdom (3), Basil (3), Belgium (2), Sweden (2), New Zealand (2), and 11 countries with one submittal each.

Of the 209 articles processed, 18% (n = 38) were allocated to genetics, development, and morphology; 18% (n = 39) to general herpetology; 20% (n = 41) to physiology and physiological ecology; 22% (n = 45) to general ichthyology; and 22% (n = 46) to ecology and ethology. Rejection rates by section were as follows: genetics, development, and morphology, 48%; general herpetology, 48%; general ichthyology, 54%; ecology and ethology, 63%; and physiology/ physiological ecology, 70%. The overall 1994 rejection rate for COPEIA was 57%.

The COPEIA backlog, discussed at both 1993 and 1994 annual meetings, has been successfully resolved in 1994 by a combination of increased pagination in COPEIA 1993, combined with a 25% drop in 1993 submittals when compared to 1992. The decline in submittals may simply reflect a backlash against the backlog, for submittals in 1994 are 10% above 1993 totals. To date, there is no COPEIA backlog. However, it is important to realize that there is a certain time period required for processing/publishing manuscripts. As discussed in the 1994 managing editor's report, Allen Press requires a mandatory six-month, "in-train" period for processing of manuscripts (whether electronic or hard-copy format). This cannot be reduced by COPEIA staff for it reflects Allen Press production time. The COPEIA office also requires a three-month period to edit/compile an issue, and to correct copy editing problems. The latter usually stem from the fact that authors fail to read and/or implement "instructions to authors" (published in the first issue of each volume). An additional two-month period is designated as a safety cushion, to deal with unforeseen editorial problems (this period is required because authors either fail to respond to editorial queries, or only respond differentially). Thus, the managing editor concluded in 1994 that time "in-train" should not be reduced below 11-months. For the last several issues of COPEIA, the maximum time an accepted manuscript has been "in-train" is as follows: 1995(2) 11 months; 1995(3) 11 months; 1995(4) 10.5 months. These times represent a decrease of 15% (i.e., 2 months) from that recorded for the 1994 issue. Thus, the proposed 100-page increase for COPEIA 1995 (petitioned for by the managing editor and approved at the 1994 annual meeting) was not implemented.

With regard to electronic publishing, the positive note provided at the 1994 annual meeting is reemphasized. As an historical note, issues 1994(3) and 1994(4) were submitted to Allen Press on floppy disk, with 80% of typesetting commands imbedded in text. This process has continued to date. Starting with 1996(1), 100% of typesetting commands will be imbedded by the COPEIA copy editor. The delay in executing this final step has been due to Allen Press, which has been slow to provide the necessary WordPerfect macros to execute these tasks.

The issue of how much money is being saved by the society as a result of electronic publishing is as follows. Beginning with 1994(3), Allen Press has provided the society with an electronic publishing discount of $6.50/printed page. The discount results from not requiring 3rd-party individuals to retype all manuscripts into electronic format. Thus, the society saved $1768.00 and $1566.50, respectively (total = $3334.50) for these two issues in 1994. Upon further discussion with Allen Press, the managing and copy editors have now established the discount at $7.50 per printed page. The society is thus entitled to (and will receive) an additional $1.00/page rebate for 1995(1). Savings per page will jump to $8.50 in 1996, when COPEIA imbeds all typesetting commands into each issue.

Using 1995(1) as an example (given that the managing editor has this bill currently in hand), savings are reflected as follows: 272 printed pages at $7.50/page resulting in a total rebate of $2040. It is safe to say that, with 1200 pages (maximum) printed per year and with the current $7.50/page electronic discount, the society will save approximately $9000 in 1995. In 1996, savings will total $10,200. (again, calculated at 1200 pages/year and $8.50/page rebate). Electronic publishing, for all its headaches, has clearly been a financial boon to the society.

The Nominating Committee (Lynne R. Parenti, chair) placed Society members in nomination for all offices as needed and provided all necessary information on candidates for elections to be held at both the Board of Governors Meeting (for a new member of the Gibbs Award Committee) and at the Business Meeting. Additionally, a candidate information sheet was included in the meeting registration packet so that the general membership could study the ballot information prior to the annual business meeting.

The Environmental Quality Committee, chaired by Walter R. Courtenay, Jr., reported that his committee had been asked to provide commentary on proposed listings of threatened and endangered species through much of its existence, but as the attitude of waves are altered, so is the beach. The past year of change had resulted in a dramatic drop in attempts to list species, demands for no new federal regulations, and attempts to change or bypass the Endangered Species Act. State's rights, guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights, do not include Federal government regulation except by Federal legislation, now under attack by states and developers (sensu lato).

The Environmental Quality Committee provided commentary to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to continue funding of studies on the canebrake rattlesnake, a project threatened for cancellation by developers and a public largely ignorant of the importance of reptiles in natural ecosystems. In response to a request from the Asheville, NC Field Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, requesting information on the status of the Alabama sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus suttkusi) for listing (or delisting, with some suggesting this fish was extinct), we said that there is no evidence to not protect this fish or to support its suggested extinct status. Subsequent action by the Fish and Wildlife Service by not listing the Alabama sturgeon, suggests politics won this battle. The committee also commented on a working draft of a position paper prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, dealing with the upper Colorado River Basin, entitled "Conserving federally threatened, endangered, and proposed species while providing and enhancing recreational fisheries programs." That commentary alluded to its title as reminiscent of the discontinued TV program "Mission Impossible" and pointed out that protecting fishes threatened with extinction while stocking nonindigenous, mostly predatory, fishes in the same or adjacent waters, will not work.

On behalf of the committee (and with good advice from committee members), the chair refused to seek or prepare commentary to two rural environmental groups seeking protection of lands of interest to them. Their interests, while all good and directed toward protecting environmental quality, did not involve fish, amphibian, or reptile species in danger of extinction.

The committee was contacted (via Carter Gilbert) by the Conservation of Land Mammals Committee of the American Society of Mammalogists, asking for cooperation on environmental issues. A letter was sent, indicating that ASIH would be pleased to work with their committee, but no reply was received.

As of the date of the report, the Environmental Quality Committee had prepared draft commentary on behalf of ASIH and the Desert Fishes Council to the Washington County Water Conservancy District on its draft "The Virgin River habitat conservation and management plan", a suggested attempt to bypass the Endangered Species Act by protecting one of three native fishes in danger of becoming extinct in the Virgin River of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Plans (or "plots" with other objectives) to protect single species rarely work to the benefit of other species sharing the same ecosystem. The committee also completed commentary on a proposal by the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) as endangered, and gratefully acknowledged the assistance of Ronald A. Brandon, Southern Illinois University, in this effort.

Courtenay thanked all committee members for having put up with not hearing from him on every issue, and was especially appreciative of all those who directed him to the proper contact persons (committee members or not) for the best advice on specific issues.

Theodore W. Pietsch, Chair of the "Ichthyological and Herpetological Collections Committee" (IHCC) summarized activities of his committee for the 1994-1995 academic year. This committee is a consolidation of two former ASIH committees, the "Ichthyological and Herpetological Collections and Resources Committee" and the "Curatorial Supplies and Practices Committee." It is currently made up of four subcommittees: Policy and Practices, Supplies and Resources, Newsletter, and Data Standards.

The Policy and Practices Subcommittee, chaired by Doug Nelson, outlined four issues for discussion and/or action during the past year: 1. Collection user policy and user fees; 2. Bis-carbonyl "fixatives" for museum specimens; 3. Handling of "non-traditional" specimen preparations, especially tissue vouchers; and 4. Accession and de-accession policies. The issue of user policy and user fees (especially charges for computer services) generated the most discussion within the subcommittee. This topic has also been widely discussed over the Internet (TAXACOM, etc.). Views within the subcommittee differ greatly, and no consensus exists with respect to these issues. However, the following recommendations are offered: A. Ichthyological and herpetological collections should attempt to identify their user base; B. Collections should assess their sources and levels of funding to determine the need for user fees; C. User fees, if adopted, should be reasonable and fairly applied; D. Museums should strive to develop formal policies with respect to these issues; and E. Discussion on these topics should continue.

Experiments using bis-carbonyl "fixatives" were conducted at the UMMZ, and the results of some of these preliminary tests and observations have been (or will soon be) submitted to "Copeia" and the "Curation Newsletter" for publication. Although these articles presently reflect only the opinions of the authors, the subcommittee agrees on the following: A. These "fixatives" appear not to be a suitable replacement for formaldehyde for morphological specimens destined for archival storage or for DNA studies; B. Bis-carbonyl preserved specimens may prove to be adequate preparations for identification vouchers; C. Experimentation with these (and other) preservatives and fixatives should continue.

There was little discussion with respect to the topics of "non-traditional" specimen preparations and accession/deaccession policies, but the subcommittee plans to address these issues in the near future

Potential problems arising from proposed changes to the USFWS regulations governing international shipments of museum specimens generated much discussion within the subcommittee, the IHCC as a whole, and concerned scientists via the Internet (TAXACOM, ENTLIST, etc.). With the help of Elaine Hoaglund of the Association of Systematics Collections, the IHCC drafted a letter of concern to the USFWS and passed it to ASIH President Roy McDiarmid, recommending that it be sent in the name of the Society.

Another matter arose from discussions of the form(s) that committee reports and recommendations should take (publications, Curation Newsletter, electronic media, etc.). This issue directly concerns the IHCC, but extends to other ASIH committees as well. The Policy and Practices subcommittee discussed several options and suggested that the BOG take up this discussion with a goal to make committee discussions, reports, and recommendations more available to the overall ASIH membership--possibly via electronic media (e.g., Internet list-server). The committee reminded members that ASIH now has a World Wide Web homepage and Gopher. They noted that communications were enhanced this year by the increased use of e-mail by the subcommittee members, but that a disproportionate amount of discussion took place among only a few members, indicating a need to broaden both participation and subject matter.

The Supplies and Practices Subcommittee, chaired by Lex Snyder, continued their efforts to develop a searchable database of curatorial supplies and vendors. In January 1995, requests were sent to twelve museums asking collections managers to list the important supplies they use to maintain collections of fishes and herps. Respondents were asked to include the vendor's complete address and phone number for each product listed as well as the name of the manufacturer. Responses to this survey were still forthcoming, as of April 1995.

In an effort to distribute the survey forms beyond North America, copies were made available at the 1995 meeting to anyone affiliated with a major Central or South American institution, requesting that these forms be passed to appropriate respondents. Otherwise, the subcommittee is prepared to send out more forms to collections in Central and South American and to additional North American institutions by late fall, 1995.

The subcommittee was not prepared to submit a detailed report of survey results until additional input is received from the international centers of ichthyology and herpetology in both North and South America. As soon as sufficient numbers of collections have responded, a report will be made available to members of ASIH in electronic and written form.

Over the past year, via telephone and e-mail, the subcommittee responded to many questions from the ichthyological and herpetological community on a host of topics; for example, substitutions for Byron Weston Resistall paper, and techniques for preserving fish larvae. A few queries came from outside the U.S.A., including some from curators of invertebrate as well as botanical collections. The subcommittee responds to these queries by making recommendations or referrals to appropriate sources of information for those products/procedures in question. For future reference, the subcommittee chair maintains a list of questions and sources. Anyone with questions concerning products and their availability is encouraged to contact the chair via e-mail (amsnyder@bootes.unm.edu)

The Newsletter Subcommittee, chaired by H. J. Walker, focused on composing, editing, publishing, and distributing an issue of the "ASIH Curation Newsletter," which contained original contributions from Julian Humphries, Doug Nelson, David Smith, Lex Snyder, and two contributions from subcommittee members. John Simmons was thanked for a compilation of annotated references. All subcommittee members and authors received draft copies of the proposed Newsletter via e-mail, and they are in the semifinal stages of editing. The final product should be ready for distribution by late April or early May. Julian Humphries has offered to post the "Newsletter" on the Internet and Gopher servers, and Susan Jewett is working out the details of hardcopy and e-mail distribution.

The Raney Award Committee (Stephen J. Walsh, Chair) reviewed 16 meritorious proposals from students representing 15 institutions in 11 states, requesting a total of $11,948.83. Based on a limited funds available ($2,500), the Committee funded eight excellent proposals in the amounts indicated:

Elena Amesbury, Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, "Structural and chemical analysis of embryonic nutrition in the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina." $300.
Jonathan W. Armbruster, Department of Ecology, Ethology and Evolution, University of Illinois, "The systematics of Hypostominae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)." $300.
Kazue Asoh, Department of Zoology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, "Investigation of the evolution of sexual patterns in damselfishes in the genus Dascyllus." $350.
Ann Cleveland, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, "The role of marine diatoms in the feeding physiology and ecology of the three-spot (Stegastes planifrons) and dusky (S. dorsopunicans) damselfish in Panama." $350.
J. Jasper Lament, Department of Biology, University of Miami, "Reproduction of the introduced Central American cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus in south Florida." $320.
Kirsten R. Poling, Department of Marine Science, University of Texas, "Ontogenetic changes in sensory systems of sciaenid fish larvae and their importance to survival and niche shifts." $240.
Jeffrey S. Shima, Department of Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, "Coral reef fish assemblages: evaluating the role of larval settlement habitats on structure and dynamics of fish populations." $320.
Harleigh E. Willmott, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, "Signal/receptor coevolution in a model visual system." $320.

The Gaige Fund Committee (Craig Guyer, Chair) received 14 proposals for consideration. Four awards of $500.00 each went to:

Todd S. Campbell, Department of Zoology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, "Experimental analysis of asymmetric competition between a native North American anole (Anolis carolinensis) and an introduced anole (A. sagrei)."
David Bickford, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, "Genomic screening: Finding phylogenetically informative regions from the DNA of the frogs of the Genyophryninae (Microhylidae: Anura)."
Maura Maple, University of Kentucky, Lexington, "A field study of maternal selection in a natural population of Dendrobates pumilio."
Adam P. Summers, Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, "The pelvic girdle and burrowing in frogs."

In March and April 1995, the Robert H. Gibbs, Jr. Memorial Award Committee (John G. Lundberg, Chair) evaluated nominations for the 1995 award and arrived at a decision by mail, e-mail and telephone. The winner, as announced at the banquet, was Dr. Reeve M. Bailey. The committee intends to continue to announce and promote the award through publication of notices in scientific journals, including Copeia. Following the annual ASIH meeting, the chairperson will forward the announcement of the winner for 1995 to these journals along with a request for future nominations. As was done last year, a full page in Copeia , 1995(4), will be devoted to a plaque bearing the name of this year's winner as well as a list of all former recipients. This year's winner and the former recipients of the award will be encouraged to submit a paper in systematic ichthyology to Copeia to appear (following the normal editorial review process) in the second year following the award as the lead ichthyological paper of the journal.

The Joint American Fisheries Society (AFS) - ASIH Committee on Names of Fishes, Joseph S. Nelson, chair, reported that:

Dr. Carter R. Gilbert has been added to the committee, to bring it to full capacity. At its meeting, 5 June 1994 in Los Angeles, the main agenda item was to discuss the pros/cons of the direction we think the "Names Lists" should take - i.e., on whether or not to: a) include all or part of Mexican freshwater and marine fishes, b) include accepted French common names for species in Quebec to assist french-speaking biologists (in e.g., Quebec) (and others?) and accepted Spanish common names for species in Mexico to assist spanish-speaking biologists (in Mexico) (and others?) in stabilizing ("their") names. Work will proceed on revising the names list on the assumption that the Mexican fish fauna will be listed and French names given for species in Quebec.

Subsequently, Joe Nelson discussed the proposals for adding the Mexican fish fauna and French names for species in Quebec to the fish names list with AFS executive, Bob Kendall, Beth Staehle, and others at the AFS conference in Halifax 21-24 August. These proposals were published in the AFS CARS "The Literal Zone 4(1):6".

Numerous queries were answered from organizations and the public, and files are being maintained on the many new North American species that have been described in the last year and on many other changes.

The Publications Policy Committee (Michael E. Douglas, Chair) met during the past year to discuss issues related to electronic publishing of COPEIA manuscripts. COPEIA sectional editors posed several pertinent questions. For example, should Tables and/or graphics plots be included with manuscripts on disk? Allen Press says "no" - if all tables were formatted in a manner conducive to electronic publishing (i.e., with use of tabs and not 'spacebar' spacing), then Allen Press could possibly use them. However, it apparently takes too much time for Allen Press to check tables for typesetting consistency. They claim it is easier (and faster) for their operation if tables are provided via hard copy.

It was also decided that each sectional editor maintain a file of reviewers which will be passed along to their successor(s). For a given subject or organism, this file would simply contain names/addresses/etc. of appropriate reviewers. It would not include names of individuals who either provide weak reviews or fail to respond in a timely fashion. The intent of the list is not to "blacklist" individuals, but instead to provide new sectional editors with a pool of potential reviewers.

After lengthy discussion, it was also decided that (as part of COPEIA Editorial Policy) sectional editors send each reviewer the following: A copy of all reviews (unsigned) for a given manuscript, and a copy of the cover letter to the corresponding author. Some sectional editors already follow this procedure. It is believed that this input to reviewers will (a) recognize their efforts, (b) satisfy their curiosity, and (c) improve the quality of reviews overall. To make this chore easier for sectional editors, each reviewer should be asked to submit four copies of their review (to eliminate the need for editors to xerox them).

Following a request submitted by ASIH Collections Committee's Policy and Practices Subcommittee, the EP Committee reviewed current COPEIA policy regarding deposition of holotypes for new species described in our journal. Concern was raised that primary types are sometimes deposited in relatively small collections where they might not be readily available, or in the worst case, be lost or disappear. Given that COPEIA has no stated policy with regard to deposition of holotypes, it was then decided that such a policy be implemented (and reproduced in our "Instructions to Authors") as follows: "Holotypes of taxa (both ichthyological and herpetological), described in Copeia as new to science, should be deposited in National or International Centers [as designated in Poss and Collette, Copeia 1995(1)]. Furthermore, secondary types of these taxa should be distributed amongst several museums."

At the close of the meeting, sectional and book review editors were reminded of several key issues: For example, a voice and/or fax number for the corresponding author must be included on each accepted manuscript or book review. Also, now that electronic publishing is in full swing, it is imperative to remind every author to check proofs meticulously, for Allen Press no longer performs an initial proof-check for manuscripts (in that Allen Press no longer enters COPEIA manuscripts by hand). Sectional editors were also reminded (a) to obtain disks of accepted manuscripts or book reviews from authors, and (b) to scan these for viruses and DOS-readability prior to transmitting them to the managing editor. Each sectional editor will be given a copy of the virus protection package F-PROT (to be updated periodically). Lastly, each sectional/book review editor was reminded that if a temporary or work-study assistant is being paid by ASIH to work in their shop, then the editor must send a letter to Treasurer Larry Page indicating this, and identifying the person by name.

As reported by Dawn S. Wilson, Chair, the goals of the ASIH Committee for Graduate Student Participation (CGSP) are to represent the student membership of the Society and to consider how Society activities may best serve and attract graduate students. The Committee is charged with: 1) fundraising for student travel support; 2) distributing student travel awards; 3) planning and executing student activities at the annual meeting; 4) distributing completed evaluation forms for student award presentations; and 5) enhancing recruitment of new students and promoting the effective and efficient communication among student members. Additional tasks pertinent to student concerns may be handled as necessary by the CGSP membership.

Chris Dwyer (in charge of the raffle in 1993 and 1994) developed a long-term set of guidelines/suggestions for conducting the raffle as part of an effort to secure the continued stability and success of this important event at future meetings. A list of publishers that contributed to past events is now available, simplifying the task of raffle coordinator. This year Phil Harris was in charge of the raffle, and he obtained books from the following: University Press of Colorado, University of Texas Press, Island Press, University of Idaho Press, Tomio Iwamoto/Bill Eschmeyer, Cal. Acad., University of Chicago Press, W. H. Preeman and Co., Sinauer Associates, T. F. H. Publishers, Cambridge Press, University of Alberta Press, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, John Hopkins University Press, University of North Carolina Press, John Stevens, CSIRO, Australia, American Fisheries Society, Gary Meffe, Academic Press, Princeton Press, Environment Canada, University of Tennessee Press. John Bruner, from the local committee at the University of Alberta, contributed considerable effort to the raffle by soliciting donations of several books and other items.

Eight $200 student travel awards were offered for the 1995 meeting: 4 each in ichthyology and herpetology. Adam Summers and Dawn Wilson handled award applications and distribution. A notice was published in the ASIH Meeting Announcement and Call for Papers soliciting applications, outlining how winners are chosen, and highlighting the important linkage between these awards and the CGSP raffle by inviting members to buy raffle tickets. By the postmark deadline of April 1, 11 abstracts had been submitted to each the ichthyology and herpetology sections. The drawing was April 10 in front of two witnesses. Awardees were chosen randomly by Dr. Bruce Cowell, Professor, Biology Dept., University of South Florida in front of a notary public, and the list of awardees and alternates mailed to Dr. Larry Page, Treasurer. Herpetology awards went to Karen Warkentin, Carol Britson, Scott Keogh, and Dawn Wilson. Ichthyology awards went to Marian Maas, David Neely, Cheryl Wilga, and Gayle Barbin. Alternates for Herpetology and Ichthyology were Paul Doughty and Erick Sturm, respectively.

Logistics for the 1995 Graduate Student Social were arranged with the Local Committee by Robert Espinoza, Keith Jackson and several volunteer students from the University of Alberta. Volunteer work by Keith Jackson was greatly appreciated. He organized several meetings of University of Alberta students before the meeting to solicit student participation and help for several graduate student events. Without the help of students like Keith from the local meeting site, the job of Chair and Member of the CGSP would be extremely difficult. The social took place June 16 preceding the General Reception. Chris Tracy served this year as the CGSP member on the Time, Place, and Program Committee.

As part of an ongoing effort to offer useful services to student members, and to promote positive interaction among them, the CGSP conducted its annual workshop June 16. The theme this year was "Preparation and Submission of Scientific Manuscripts to Journals." Cheryl Wilga and Dawn Wilson coordinated the event, and the committee was delighted to have Drs. Catherine Toft and Robert Jaeger direct it. Dr. Toft has written several essays on "Writing for Scientific Journals" and Dr. Jaeger, has been editor of Herpetologica for over 13 years. Each spoke for 20 minutes and questions followed. Lunch was provided for all participants.

The CGSP reported that e-mail made a clear difference in the speed, efficiency and effectiveness of communications and encouraged all members to list their e-mail addresses in the ASIH directory. The chair also suggested that new chairpersons of the CGSP solicit at least one graduate student volunteer from the local meeting site to be a member of the CGSP.

The position of Representative to the American Association for the Advancement of Science was vacant in 1994, so no report was available, and the Representative to the Association of Systematics Collections, Lawrence M. Page, reported that this year's meeting of the ASC would be held after this year's ASIH meeting. His report on that meeting will thus be in the 1996 report.

The Representative to Early Life History Section of American Fisheries Society, Mike Fahay, reported that for the second consecutive year, the Early Life History Section (AFS) meeting will be held in a foreign country. This year's meeting is scheduled for June 26 thru July 2, 1995, at the University of Sydney, hosted by the Australian Society for Fish Biology. Of possible interest to ASIH members are the following symposia, listed with their conveners: Population dynamics and oceanography (R. Cowen & M.J. Kingsford); Condition & growth of fish larvae (I. Suthers & J. Kalish); Biology/life history strategies of Pomatomus saltatrix (J. Hare & A. Miskiewcz); Larval fish & systematics (J. Leis, J.Olney & M. Okiyama); Aquaculture (S. Battaglene, J. Holt & B. Nowak); Morphology, physiology and behavior of fish larvae (L. Fuiman, & M. Milicich); Contrasting larval biology from different environments (P. Gehrke & J. Govoni); Biology of reef fish larvae (P. Doherty, R. Schmitt, S. Holbrook & V. Dufour). Proceedings will be published in Aust. J. Mar. & Freshw. Res. or Bull. Mar. Sci. The 1996 meeting is scheduled to be held in conjunction with ASIH in New Orleans.

Dr. George B. Rabb, ASIH Representative to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), reported that under the new Director General, David McDowell, the IUCN Secretariat is undergoing restructuring, including decentralizing and relying more on the IUCN Regional offices as a means of increasing effectiveness of programs within IUCN, as well as a way of keeping in closer contact with IUCN's members. There is a strong movement for member organizations and volunteer Commissions to work more closely together, towards integrated goals, and to help realize the great potential of IUCN.

The SSC and the Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas are working together with IUCN Regional Offices to develop National Biodiversity Conservation Groups. By encouraging the cooperation of SSC and CNPPA members within a region, these groups will help to promote regional and national recognition of species diversity and its conservation. Many nations will use these groups to respond to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Pilot programs have been set up in several South American countries, and networks are being identified in Eastern Africa.

Also taking a regional approach is the Sustainable Use Initiative, on which Dr. Rabb reported spending a great deal of time as Chair of SSC. The Sustainable Use Initiative will address issues broadly and look at ecological, socioeconomic, cultural/philosophical, and institutional factors that affect sustainable use. To look at more specific questions, the Sustainable Use Specialist Group will break into regional networks which will be expanded to include social scientists and resource managers. Results of case studies in various regions will be presented at the next General Assembly.

The SSC is pursuing an information management system for information capture and retrieval. To enable the network to analyze data in more effective ways and to answer more questions, data will be linked to a GIS, or data on protected areas. A Vision Working Group and a Technical Working Group have been established to implement this system and will meet in April 1995 to address questions of scale, partnership, data ownership and data managers.

At the November 1994 meeting in Fort Lauderdale, the SSC Steering Committee adopted the SSC Strategic Plan. While the Sustainable Use Initiative, the National Biodiversity Conservation Groups, and the information management system are external goals of the SSC, other strategic goals are more internal. The need for more effective communication (both internal and external) and the need for monitoring and evaluation systems were recognized in the Strategic Plan.

Many of the SSC Steering Committee members and other SSC members attended the Ninth Conference of the Parties to CITES. One of the largest issues at this COP was that of listing criteria for species on Appendices to CITES. The main proposal on the new criteria was largely drafted by IUCN. After some debate, the issue was given to a working group which modified the original proposal, but retained numerical guidelines. The Parties passed the compromise unanimously.

In addition to the new listing criteria, several proposals garnered much attention at the CITES meetings. Four controversial issues involved crocodilians: 1) the transfer of Ecuador's black caiman population to Appendix II to enable development of a ranching operation; 2) the maintenance of Indonesia's saltwater crocodile population (currently allowed for wild harvest on a quota basis) on Appendix II for ranching; 3) the maintenance of Madagascar's Nile crocodile population (currently allowed for wild harvest on a quota basis) on Appendix II for ranching; and 4) approval of a wild harvest quota for Nile crocodiles in Tanzania (previously approved by the CITES Parties for ranching rather than wild harvest).

The only fishery issue formally before the meeting involved sharks, as proposals to list various bluefin tuna species had been withdrawn before the meeting. As was expected, there was opposition to discussing sharks as a commercial fishery in the context of CITES, with Japan taking the lead, arguing that there were other agencies more competent than CITES to regulate trade in sharks, as no species of sharks are currently listed on CITES. A discussion document submitted by the United States calling for the CITES Animals Committee to review the status and trade of sharks was adopted. IUCN played a major role in achieving a satisfactory outcome to this debate, through an intervention and negotiations on the working group established to draw up a compromise text. Although the CITES Animals Committee will be responsible for the review, the Committee expects the technical work to be carried out by the SSC Shark Specialist Group and TRAFFIC.

A few weeks after CITES, the IUCN Council adopted SSC's recommended new categories of threat for its Red Lists. A Red Lists for plants is being compiled, and the next Red List for animals, to be published in time for the next General Assembly in October 1996, will use the new categories. The new categories have already been applied to all birds and to primates. The SSC is now developing an expert system (user-friendly software) to aid in applying the new categories. Guidelines to use the Red List Categories will also be developed in the near future.

In addition to the Red Lists, the Specialist Groups continue to compile Action Plans, the most recent being the revised Cetacean Action Plan, Dolphins, Porpoises, and Whales: 1994-1998 Action Plan for the Conservation of Cetaceans. Published in December, it identifies 51 priority conservation projects. The first edition listed 45 projects of which 15 have been completed, 23 are underway, 9 were downlisted, and 12 are in early stages of implementation.

The South Asian Reptile and Amphibian Specialist Group was recently awarded a grant to cover costs related to the production of an Action Plan for species covered by this Specialist Group. A draft manuscript is expected later this year.

The Coral Reef Fish Specialist Group has developed a coral reef fish data base and is preparing a Conservation Overview, which will include a list of coral reef fishes used in the marine aquarium industry. The listing will indicate the ease with which each species can be kept in home aquariums, and a study of conservation issues organized by country.

The Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group has continued to make progress in its efforts to protect Mexico's Bolson Tortoise. In 1993, a privately owned 45,000 acre tract of prime Bolson tortoise habitat was protected through an agreement between project scientists and the land owner. In 1994, owners of adjacent land expressed interest in joining this voluntary land management and protection effort. Unlike the original tract, these properties have been overgrazed and will require grassland restoration. Plans are underway to incorporate these large land-holdings into the reserve which would protect a significant portion of this remote valley, securing the future of the Bolson tortoise in the wild.

SSC continues to examine possible effects of global factors on species through the Task Force on Declining Amphibian Populations (DAPTF). Two major DAPTF groups were established during 1994, one on climatic and atmospheric change, and one on chemical contaminants. Additionally, SSC and the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society have been cooperatively developing a major marketing campaign to benefit amphibian conservation.

Dr. Rabb concluded his report by pointing out that the SSC is also one of 20 partner organizations in Ocean Aid, a rock concert series that will benefit marine conservation.

The Representative to Society for Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR) and Herpetologists League (HL), Alan H. Savitzky, reported that Herpetologists' League is meeting with ASIH this year, following a hiatus of one year during which HL met with the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Present plans call for HL to meet in association with ASIH into the foreseeable future. That arrangement has worked to the benefit of ASIH in previous years, as evidenced by herpetological attendance at the meetings at the University of Illinois and the University of Texas.

The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles continues to resist regular joint meetings with ASIH. However, SSAR will join ASIH and HL in Seattle in 1997, and is favorably disposed toward a subsequent joint Canadian meeting. It seems likely, however, that joint meetings of all three herpetological societies will continue to be the exception.

An additional issue of joint concern is a combined herpetological society membership directory. This matter is complicated by recent establishment of Internet sites for ASIH and SSAR, which will provide some of the same information to individuals with access to Internet services. The need remains, however, for a maximally inclusive hardcopy directory of herpetologists, and discussions continue on ways to best meet that need. Although all three societies approved of the concept of such a directory in the past, the project will likely require an individual dedicated to meeting the logistic challenges presented by merging dissimilar and often inconsistent databases.

The ASIH Representative to American Elasmobranch Society (AES), George H. Burgess, reported that AES held its Tenth Annual Meeting on 2-6 June 1994 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, meeting concurrently with ASIH. AES program chairman Jeff Seigel organized the meeting with assistance from fellow members of the ASIH local committee. The meeting consisted of four sessions of contributed papers, a one-session "Selected Topics in Elasmobranch" symposium, and the traditional open slide/video finale. The contributed sessions were devoted to Morphology, Systematics and Evolution (9 papers); Population Structure, Demography, and Reproductive Biology (9); Behavior (6); and Feeding (4). The "Selected Topics in Elasmobranch Physiology" symposium had eleven contributed papers. Eight presentations were made at the open slide/video session. The AES Presidential Address, "Sharks Then and Now: How Times Have Changed", was given by Donald R. Nelson during the ASIH plenary session. AES sessions were equally well attended by AES and ASIH members. Two student workshops, "Helpful Hints for Presenting Papers" and "Use of Computer Networks" also were conducted.

The Society's Executive Board and Board of Directors met on 2 June, and the Business meeting was held on 4 June. Elections conducted at the Business Meeting produced the following results: President-elect - William Raschi; Secretary - Sanford Moss; Treasurer - Franklin Snelson; Nominating Committee - Enrique Cortes, Sonja Fordham, Todd Hopkins, Charles Manire, Joe Sisneros.

The AES Banquet was held on 6 June. The Gruber Award for best student paper was awarded to Steven Kajiura for his contribution "Seasonal dynamics of dental sexual dimorphism in the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina". The evening was highlighted by the Second Annual Elasmo Auction which raised considerable funding for the Student Travel Fund.

Dr. Burgess concluded his report by stating that AES is continually appreciative of ASIH for its support of joint meetings, and looked forward to meeting with ASIH in Edmonton.

The ASIH Representative to Fish Behavior Group of the Animal Behavior Society (ABS), Arthur A. Myrberg, Jr., reported that ABS had its annual meeting at the University of Washington, Seattle, July 24-28, 1994, 432 papers were presented, an increase of 18% over the number presented at the ABS meeting in 1993. Fifty papers dealt with subjects of direct interest to members of our Society: 28 (6.5%) dealt with fishes, 16 (3.8%) dealt with reptiles, and 6 (1.3%) dealt with amphibians. These three fields increased their representation by almost 14% over that contributed in 1993, with the % of total contributions remaining approximately the same as in 1993 (11.5% vs 12%).

More families of fishes were represented than seen in many years, but their % of representation continues to slip (i.e., 1992: 12.4%, 1993: 8.1%, 1994: 6.5%). The most 'popular' families included the poeciliids and gasterosteids (6 papers each), followed by the pomacentrids, centrarchids, cyprinids and mormyrids (2 papers each) and the salmonids, batrachoidids, chaetodontids, percids, gobiids, labrids and cichlids (one contribution each). One paper was of a general nature. The number of cichlid papers dropped precipitously from that presented in previous years.

The most 'popular' herpetological group, as in previous years, was lizards (7 papers), followed by snakes (5), turtles (4) and salamanders and frogs (3 each). Contributions dealing with reptiles, particularly snakes, increased markedly over the number reported during the last several years.

Reports were divided among the following subjects (loosely defined):

Subject	Fishes	Reptiles	Amphibians
Mate-choice	6	3	1
Predator / prey	4	5	0
Habitat-selection	4	1	0
Communication	3	1	2
Reproduction	3	0	2
Aggression	3	1	0
Parental care	2	0	0
Movement-patterns	1	1	0
Sensory	1	0	1
Recognition-patterns	0	1	0
Rhythms	1	0	0
Learning	0	1	0
Behav.thermoregulation	0	1	0
Endocrine function	0	1	0
Totals	28	16	6

The 32nd annual meeting of the Animal Behavior Society will be held 8-13 July, 1995 at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

An ad hoc Latin American Affairs Committee has been created by the ABS. The committee has the dual function of not only trying to increase the diversity of the membership, but also of reaching out to the many countries to the south so as to broaden the perspective of the Society and hopefully benefit behavioral scientists in Latin America.

The journal Animal Behaviour has changed one part of its format. The Short Communications section has been dropped. All short communications will, henceforth, follow the format of formal papers. A new format has been created: Commentaries. It will deal with constructive critiques of previously published papers, including comments on statistical analysis, theory, methodology or nomenclature.

Carol K. Malcolm, ASIH Representative to the Society for Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) reported that the 1994 SPNHC meeting was held in conjunction with the Association of Systematic Collections (ASC) annual meeting in St. Louis, Missouri on 11 May to 15 May 1994, hosted by the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

The major focus of these meetings was how institutional policies and long-term planning play an integral role in natural history collections. The tremendous value of natural history collections was emphasized, especially in light of continued threats to living biotas.

A workshop on collections care initiatives had presentations from multiple groups. Conclusions included the fact that it is very important that care of collections material must be in mission statements, that public awareness of the value of collections is important, and that museums must train personnel, and encourage inter-disciplinary education and training. They also felt that much can be gained from technology transfer (borrowing information from others areas, industry, etc.). and that Conservation Research Programs are important (Collection care must include research). It was recommended that guidelines be established for storage, labels, documentation, sampling, procedures, and information management (databases and networks).

A summary of the Madrid meeting of the World Council on Collections Resources (WCCR) included four themes; the importance of natural history collections, the need to assess the status of natural history collections, an overview of national and international incentives, and the directions collections care should take. A series of resolutions was developed by moderators of sessions. These focused on the importance of documenting use and benefit of natural history collections, and development of strategies to gain support for collections (facility and resource needs) especially in developing countries. The resolutions were endorsed by UNESCO, UNCED, and adopted by several organizations.

The National Science Foundation's Research Collections in Systematics and Ecology Program (RCSE) presented a report. International and collaborative efforts with other countries and training of foreign students is important to this program. The section also co-funds environmental and biotic survey projects, as well as development of infrastructure, software for databases and data entry projects. They agree there is a need for research in conservation. New guidelines are available on the Internet.

There was major discussion on the role of taxon level systematic groups (such as ASIH) and how discipline-specific groups need to be involved. It was also mentioned that the taxon-oriented societies have their own collection committees which have influence. It was suggested that SPNHC may need to take the initiative to involve these groups.

Breakout sessions focused separately on Education, Research, Technology Transfer, Educating the Public, and Strategies to Develop Resources. A workshop on institutional planning and policies covered Long Term Planning, Collections Policies, and Data Policies. Key points in the latter subject included the suggestion that data release agreements should be signed. These should state: a) Recipient can't pass data on or re-release it, b) there are no guarantees made regarding the data, c) the institution should reserve right to change, but will only update the institution's version of the data, d) a fee should be associated with the data to assign value. It was further suggested that collections might want to buffer localities to add a "safety zone."

Group Reports dealt with setting Collections Priorities, Accessions, Information Management, Repatriation and Legal Issues, and Health and Safety. A half day risk assessment workshop covered agents of deterioration, risk recognition, estimating the magnitude of risk and mitigation strategies and priorities. The National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory presented information about their lab, and a number of short technical presentations were given.

The Representative to the National Biological Service, Dr. Walter R. Courtenay, Jr., reported that there were no official contacts between the National Biological Service and the ASIH representative during the past year.

Southeastern Division of ASIH, as reported by A. Floyd Scott, Secretary/Treasurer, held its 1995 meetings at the Holiday Inn Worlds Fair and Convention Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, 19-21 April, in conjunction with the Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB). The University of Tennessee at Knoxville hosted the meetings, which included 27 papers in three ichthyology sessions and 11 papers in one herpetology session. Additional papers dealing directly or peripherally with fishes, amphibians, or reptiles were presented in other sessions and as posters.

Six students attending the meetings applied for travel awards of $50 each and all were funded. They were Kyle R. Piller and David J. Eisenhour from Southern Illinois University; James W. Barron, Timothy R. Brophy, and Mark C. Turner from Marshall University, and Carol A. Britson from the University of Memphis. (Carol Britson was unable to attend the meeting and will return her award to the Secretary/Treasurer.) Fourteen students, five in herpetology and nine in ichthyology, competed for two Best Student Paper awards of $100 each. Judges included Ken Marion, Rebecca Pyles, Joseph Mitchell, Lynette Siebert, Julia Wade, and Paul Cupp in herpetology and Peggy Shute, Wayne Van Devender, David Etnier, Lonnie Shull, and Mary Freeman in ichthyology. The herpetology award went to James W. Barron of Marshall University for his paper (coauthored with Thomas K. Pauley) "Natural history of the anurans in the Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area, Cabell County, West Virginia, with special consideration for Rana palustris and Rana pipiens." A tie in the ichthyology session resulted in the award being split between David J. Eisenhour, Southern Illinois University, and Bernard R. Kuhajda, University of Alabama. David's paper, titled "Status and identification of the chunky madtom, Noturus (Rabida) sp." was coauthored with Brooks M. Burr and James M. Grady. Richard L. Mayden was coauthor of Bernard's paper, "Discovery of a new species of snubnose darter (Percidae, Etheostoma) endemic to the Cumberland Plateau in Alabama."

The SEASIH annual business meeting was held on 21 April with President Wayne Van Devender presiding. The treasures s report for 1994-95 was presented by Secretary/Treasurer Floyd Scott. It showed a balance of $338.36 brought forward from 1994. Income (from voluntary dues and checking account interests) up to the time of the meeting was $294.90; expenditure (postage, checks, and travel awards) totaled 345.74. Anticipated expenditures following the meeting were $100.00 each for two Best Student Paper awards, leaving an end-of-the-year balance of $87.52.

As of the meeting date, the Southeastern Division had 79 active members (including 22 non-paying student members). Dues reminders for 1995 were mailed to around 100 Southeastern Division members, primarily those who had contributed in 1994. Dues received in 1994-1995 equaled exactly ($290) those received the previous year.

Minutes of the 1994 meeting (prepared by then Secretary/Treasurer Mary Freeman) were distributed by Secretary/Treasurer Scott for scrutiny by the members present. After a short period of discussion, a motion was made, seconded and passed approving the minutes as printed.

Under old business, President Van Devender reminded the membership that the Southeastern Division exists mainly to promote and support student research in our region. He noted that in 1995, only six of the 14 students presenting papers at the annual meeting applied for travel awards (all six were funded) and urged members to encourage their students to apply for both travel and best paper awards. Vice President Mary Freeman suggested that paying members consider contributing more than the minimum $5 dues to help fund additional students each year. President Van Devender announced that membership forms were available from the Secretary/Treasurer. A membership directory, promised last year, was distributed by Secretary/Treasurer Scott, who noted that student members had increased from eight to 22 over the past year.

Under new business, Vice President Freeman nominated Carol Johnston (U.S. Forest Service, Mississippi) as the next Secretary/Treasurer. As no other nominations were forthcoming, a motion was made to elect her by acclamation. The motion passed by a resounding affirmative voice vote. The question was asked if awards for travel and best papers would be given at the 1996 ASB meetings in Statesboro, Georgia, even though the SEASIH will not be officially meeting there. (SEASIH will, of course, be meeting with the ASIH in New Orleans in 1996). After a lengthy discussion on this topic, a motion was made by David Etnier that at the 1996 meeting with ASIH in New Orleans, and at all subsequent meetings with the parent organization, all student awards of the SEASIH should be travel awards that will go to student members presenting either a paper or poster as senior author, and that the funds normally used for best paper awards be incorporated into these travel awards. The motion was seconded, and after some clarification and discussion, was passed by voice vote.

Before adjourning, the membership was reminded of the following upcoming meetings: ASIH in Edmonton, Alberta, 15-19 of June 1995; SSAR meetings in Boone, North Carolina, 8-13 August, 1995; the Gopher Tortoise Council Meetings at FT. Gaines, Georgia, 13 and 14 October 1995, and the 1996 ASIH meetings in New Orleans. Member Chris Thompson suggested that anyone interested in holding a symposium at the 1996 ASIH meetings should contact its organizers right away, as the deadline for inclusion is very near.

The chairs of local committees for future meetings were asked by President Greenfield to report on meeting plans. Bob Cashner announced that the 1996 meeting will be held in New Orleans June 13-19. Meeting with ASIH will be the 20th Annual meeting of the Larval Fish Conference, the 12th Annual Meeting of American Elasmobranch Society, the 22nd Annual Meeting of Southeastern Fishes Council and the 44th Annual Meeting of the Herpetologists' League. The meetings will be held in the Hotel Intercontinental within easy walking distance of the French Quarter. Rooms in the hotel will be available for $90 (single or double), $95 triple and $100 quad. Additional housing is available at other nearby hotels, and dormitories on the Tulane campus. Symposia confirmed so far include: "Phylogeny, Evolution, and Behavioral Ecology of Gobioid Fishes" (organized by Helen Larson and Mike Fitzsimmons); "Zoogeography of the Gulf of Mexico" (organized by Steve Bortone); "Unisexual Fishes" (organized by Ingo Schlupp). Other symposia have been proposed, but not yet confirmed.

Ted Pietsch provided information about the 1997 meeting in Seattle, Washington. Dates will be June 26-July 2, and ASIH will be joined by American Elasmobranch Society, Herpetologists' League, the Annual Larval Fish Conference and Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, although participation of SSAR has yet to be officially confirmed. Two symposia are being planned: "Molecular Phylogeny" and "Contributions of Behaviour and Ecology to Conservation Biology". Several field trips are planned. Dormitories will run about $48/night double occupancy.

Old business included the method of selecting honorary foreign members. In the past, the committee was charged with providing nominations and had provided the BOG with information on all candidates, sometimes as many as 6 or more. Meg Stewart explained last year's recommendation that it was impossible or impractical to provide full information on all candidates to the entire BOG, and that it was difficult to fairly represent candidates' qualifications in the brief summaries provided in the past. Discussion ensued, ending with the approval of the following procedure by vote of the Board:

The President will appoint a Committee to Nominate Honorary Foreign Members. This committee will develop a list of potential candidates and obtain CVs for preferred candidates for each vacancy. The Committee will then present to the BOG for selection a minimum of two candidates for each opening, along with a short summary of the major qualifications of each.

President Greenfield then called on Marvalee Wake, Secretary General of the Third World Congress of Herpetology, to make an announcement regarding the next meeting of the World Congress. The first circular regarding the congress will be mailed in August. The Congress is to be held August 2-10, 1997 in Prague, Czech Republic. Dr. Zbynek Rocek is the local chair. Registration fees currently equate to about $360 U.S. with half that for students, postdocs, and accompanying persons. The deadline for abstracts is January 1, 1997. The Scientific Program committee has been designated. A full and diverse scientific and social program is planned. Eight tours for accompanying persons and three post-congress tours are projected in conjunction with the Congress. Ichthyologists are invited as well.

New items of business followed, beginning with discussion of reports which had been exempted from the blanket approval.

The Report of the Secretary reported that on January 4, 1995, he and the new Business Office Manager, Sue Rogers, drove to Carbondale, Illinois to retrieve the ASIH Business Office files and discuss the operations of the Business Office with outgoing Secretary, Brooks Burr. The new Business Office address is in Copeia and on renewal forms to be sent with 95(3). The mail delay, and the large number of membership renewals arriving during the time of the office move, combined with longer than normal data entry delays at Allen Press contributed to an undetermined (but vociferous) number of members failing to receive the 1995(1) issue of Copeia. The backlog was mostly processed prior to mailing of 1995(2), and most who failed to receive 1995(1) on time should have received it by this time.

Electronic mail has proven to be an efficient medium for most Business Office communications, and it is apparent that many inquiries from members could be easily answered by provision of selected Society files on an easily accessible electronic information service. Toward that end, standard files of the Society, an updated version of the membership directory, meeting information, and other files have been published on Internet on the World Wide Web:

http://www.asih.org

The system has not been widely publicized, but has been well received by all who have accessed it. The Secretary's office welcomes suggestions regarding expansion of this service and how the WWW and gopher might be best used to serve the needs of members. Contributions from members are welcomed.

The Business Office is investigating alternatives to the current arrangement with Allen Press for membership database management. The Business Office now processes all dues payments, but Allen Press manages the membership database. The system is inefficient, slow and error prone, and does not lend itself to efficient response by the Business Office to members' inquiries. The Business Office will work with the Executive Committee and Allen Press to revise this system.

For the period 1 January 1994 - 31 December 1994 (as compiled by the current secretary), the number of members in the respective categories of the Society's mailing list included 1312 regular, 560 student, 287 foreign, 197 life, 54 associate, 10 sustaining, and 29 honorary foreign members, for an overall total of 2449 members. Overall totals for recent years are: 1984 - 2,217; 1985 - 2,199; 1986 - 2,241; 1987 - 2,151; 1988 - 2,215; 1989 - 2,325; 1990 - 2,407; 1991 - 2,442; 1992 - 2,389; 1993 - 2,410; 1994 - 2,449. As of December 1994 there were 697 domestic and 391 foreign institutional subscriptions. A letter was sent in May to the 378 delinquent members who had not renewed by the end of April 1994, encouraging renewal. This resulted in 144 renewals, 9 cancellations and 125 non-responses.

The total number of Copeia 1994(4) mailed was 3,527, compared with 3,460, 3,491 and 3,542 for the last (i.e., no. 4) issues of 1993, 1992 and 1991, respectively. Permission was granted on 13 requests to reprint 31 figures published in Copeia, on two requests to make 80 and 72 photocopies each of two Copeia articles for use in formal courses on two campuses. Nineteen requests for Copeia mailing-list rentals were received (either for entire lists or parts of lists) during 1994 for a total income to the Society of $4485. This represents an increase of $1545 over that of 1993. The Society realized $294.71 during 1994 in royalty payments from University Microfilms International from sales of microfilm and microfiche of Copeia ($6.75 less than 1993). Herpetological and Ichthyological career pamphlets sent during 1994 numbered 284 and 259, respectively.

Governor Stuart Poss inquired what plans the Secretary had for growth of the Society's World Wide Web pages. Secretary Hendrickson replied that the WWW system had been instituted to provide information to the members, and currently contained files or membership information that was frequently requested by members. Hendrickson indicated that he hoped the membership, committees and officers would contribute relevant, society-related information, and that at least the Society Historian, and both Herpetological and Ichthyological Information Coordinators had already indicated an interest in contributing. The career pamphlets will be scanned and posted there, as will be the ASIH/AFS Policy Statement on Animal Use and Care, but other societal contributions are solicited. A members' announcement area is provided and announcements submitted will be considered for posting there. Questionable contributions to the WWW will be subject to approval by the Executive Committee.

Long Range Planning and Finanance Committee (LRPFC) - Victor H. Hutchison, Chair, indicated that the LRPFC was charged by President Roy McDiarmid to consider whether ASIH should adopt a code of ethics. If ASIH determines that such a code should be drafted, the committee believed that one much like those of other societies (American Society of Zoologists [in preparation], Animal Behavior Society, Ecological Society of America, etc.) would be appropriate. Adoption of such a code now would let us be proactive, rather than reactive, especially if some future events show that a code of ethics would have saved the Society from harm.

The LRPFC was asked to draft a proposal for discussion at the meetings of the Executive Committee, Board of Governors and the Membership during the 1995 annual meeting. After consideration, the LRPFC decided more general discussion should precede a draft document. After participation from the bodies concerned, the LRPFC can then decide if a code of ethics is needed and develop a draft for consideration at the 1996 meeting.

ASIH has had problems that fell within the guidelines normally covered by codes of ethics. These dealt mostly with sexual harassment and publication. The President, in consultation with at least some members of the Executive Committee, handled the problem informally.

Although most members of the Society already fall within the "jurisdiction" of policies and rules of their own institutions, granting agencies, other professional organizations, etc., there are currently no stated policies for handling infringements within ASIH. The Guidelines for Herpetological Collections: The Ethics of Maintenance and Use is a 22-page document. A code similar to those of other societies (ASZ, ESA, etc.) should probably serve as models for a general, succinct document.

The LRPFC believes that use of a detailed process for handling problems with ethical conduct of a member is unnecessary. Simple referral of such cases to the Executive Committee would likely be sufficient. Final action (if any) and disposition would be left to that body.

A code of ethics, if adopted, should address in a general way the principles that guide professional conduct of members in their activities of training others, research, publication and dissemination of knowledge, and communicating with society at large. Such a code also usually includes items addressing sexual harassment, animal care, discrimination (gender, creed, religion, sexual preference, disability, race, national origin, etc.).

ASIH does not have liability insurance. Thus, actions taken by the Executive Committee against a member for infringement of the code could leave the Society and its officers at some financial risk. Under such actions the officers could be held personally liable. If a code of ethics is adopted, should ASIH seek liability insurance coverage (or should we anyway)?

All members are encouraged to submit additional comments and suggestions to the LRPFC before 15 October 1995. These comments will be compiled, analyzed and passed on to the new LRPFC in January 1996.

Dr. Vic Hutchison, LRPF committee chair, pointed out during discussion that many people may not recognize some violations of ethics, such as mis-use of byline addresses which sometimes claim credit for research at a new address though work was actually done at the author's previous institution. Following some discussion President Greenfield asked for a show of hands of Governors supporting the committee's suggestion that they develop a Code of Ethics statement for ASIH to be provided for BOG approval at next year's meeting. A majority of Governors favored discussion that might lead to the development of a Code of Ethics, and President Greenfield charged the Committee with this task.

Time, Place and Program Committee (TPPC) - Patrick T. Gregory, Chair, reported that ASIH received an invitation to meet at Pennsylvania State University in 1999, with Jay Stauffer as Local Committee Chair. The TPPC unanimously supported this invitation and recommended its acceptance by the Board of Governors. Gregory indicated that the committee was still looking for a meeting site for 1998 and welcomed offers to host future meetings. Gregory's motion to accept the invitation for 1999 carried.

Endowment Fund Committee - Marvalee H. Wake, Chair, reported that the Endowment Committee, initially chaired by David Heins, had pursued a number of aspects of the establishment of a suitable endowment to facilitate the activities of the Society. At its last meeting in June, 1994, the committee discussed investment policy, and decided to review data on the Society's first request for donations from the ASIH membership before proceeding. A brochure drafted by Jay Savage and printed by David Heins was mailed to the entire membership. It described the prospects of a good endowment for implementing diverse activities important to the Society and its future, especially the development of students, and asked that donations be sent to the ASIH Treasurer. Between 4 June 1944 and 14 February 1995, 103 members of all categories (e. g., student, regular, etc.) made contributions ranging from $10 to $1000, for a total of $18,193.00. Contributors represent 4.3% of the total membership of ASIH. Jay Savage proposed at the Board of Governors' meeting that former Presidents of ASIH establish the endowment fund by contributing $500 (or more). 53% of the 32 colleagues who have held (or are holding or shortly will hold) that office responded with donations, 88% of them for $500 or more (these are included in the total sum donated, and constitute nearly half of the fund). This demonstration of loyalty and commitment is deeply appreciated, as is that of all of the contributors.

The Endowment Committee will continue to ask the membership for donations to the fund, but it recognizes our collective economic reality. The Committee at its meeting in Edmonton will consider diverse strategies. It must establish more realistic short- and longer-range, goals. Only if the proportion of the membership that contributes to the fund is considerably greater, can industrial and other private concerns be approached. Only one response to the request a year ago for suggestions was received from a member; Mark Jennings recommended several innovative possibilities, among them that regional "speakers' bureaus" be established, with our members addressing various local agencies, clubs, societies, etc., for an appropriate cost-shared fee, the proceeds to be contributed to the ASIH Endowment Fund.

The Endowment Committee will consider any feasible means of increasing the Endowment Fund, and ways to implement them. At the same time, the committee will develop longer-range growth policies for the fund as it accumulates, and seeks the endorsement of the Society to continue these efforts, which we believe will contribute constructively to the future of ASIH.

Dr. Wake stressed that any contribution (as little as $5) is welcome and very important in reaching a high level of participation. The Committee plans to send another letter to the members reiterating its request for contributions and emphasizing the importance of broad participation of the membership in the effort.

Discussion of plans of the LRPFC ensued. It was pointed out that the Endowment Committee, under the leadership of David Heins, had provided administrative policies for the fund at the time of its creation. Details can be found in the Constitution and in earlier meeting summaries. The suggestion was made that future meeting registration forms include a line soliciting contributions to the Endowment Fund, and it was pointed out that the renewal and membership forms have such a line for contributions.

Reports of the Herpetological and Ichthyological Information Coordinators, John E. Simmons and Stephen Walsh, respectively indicated that 50 letters in the field of herpetology were received and answered during the past year. Of these, 5 dealt with frogs, 1 with salamanders, 10 with lizards (5 of these were about iguanas), 17 with snakes, and 2 with turtles. Eleven asked general questions about herpetology, 5 had questions on captive care, and 1 on careers in herpetology. Forty seven came from the USA ( 26 states) and 3 from foreign countries (UK, Slovok Republic, Spain). Walsh reported receipt of seven ichthyological letters since April 1994 from 4 U.S. states and 2 foreign countries. These pertained to aquarium fishes, endangered species, global change, impacts of wildfire on stream communities, ecological data for development of an elementary school curriculum, as well as specific questions relating to science fair and independent study projects. Governor Stuart Poss indicated that the reply of the Secretary to his inquiry about the Secretary's report had also provided answers to his questions about these reports and there was no further discussion.

Special Publications Committee (Dr. Michael E. Douglas, chair), reported that during the 1994 annual meeting, the BOG voted to return the issue of special publications to the Executive Committee for further discussion and recommendations. Two aspects of ASIH Special Publications were discussed by the committee: an irregularly-produced series of book-length publications, and a regular monograph series to accommodate larger, accepted manuscripts. For both series, an adequate discussion of background, need, format, editing/ production, marketing, etc., was provided by J. Humphries and S. Fink in their lengthy "Report of the Ad-hoc Committee on Special Publications," provided to the BOG at the 1993 annual meeting. These topics are thus not reiterated here. The committee recognized that each special publication series should be developed by the society, and offered its recommendations regarding implementation of each.

The committee felt that there was no direct pressure in 1994 to immediately enact specific guidelines with regard to publishing of book-length monographs. This was because no proposal was pending at that time. However, two "feelers" with regard to book-length publications were received by the committee during 1995. Given this, and recognizing that each book-length monograph will differ with regard to subject matter, reader interest, and financial support, the committee suggested that each proposal be immediately dealt with on an individual basis by an ASIH standing committee. This committee would be charged with evaluating proposals that formally request ASIH support and/or subsidy for book-length monograph publication. The committee would consist of individuals who have accrued recent experience with regard to publishing of books or book-length monographs.

The committee offered the following general points which pertain to book-length monographs: Proposals would be submitted directly to the committee chair, and after being reviewed by the committee, a recommendation be provided to the BOG at the next annual meeting. The BOG would then vote on the recommendation. Every monograph proposal would demonstrate (or accrue) financial support outside the society to cover at least 80% of estimated publishing costs. The society would subsidize no more than 20%. Funding would hopefully be committed at the time of submittal, but must certainly be in place when the committee recommendation is forwarded to the BOG.

The SP committee also forwarded these comments with regard to a monograph series composed of publications greater than 50 manuscript pages in length. Such manuscripts would be compiled into a single issue of 100-200 published pages. For a given year, a monograph may consist of only a single, large article, or alternatively, a compilation of several shorter ones. The latter situation is more likely. The monograph series would be multi-disciplinary (i.e., both ichthyological and herpetological), and unrestricted with regard to subject matter. It is believed that longer papers with genetic, ecological, or behavioral themes will be equally as probable as those of a systematic nature. In other words, with regard to subject matter, the monograph series would simply mirror current issues of COPEIA.

The monograph would be published and mailed concurrently with the fourth issue of COPEIA. This approach has both economic and editorial implications: publishing and mailing the series would be handled by Allen Press. Its mailing concomitant with the fourth issue of COPEIA would be a substantial cost saving measure. The series would also utilize the current editorial staff at Arizona State University for its implementation, and rely upon appropriate COPEIA sectional editors for the review process. Given the potential lengths of these manuscripts, however, additional reviewers and lengthier review times would be an inherent aspect of the monograph series. However, the COPEIA copy editor's appointment, currently 51% time, should be increased to 60% to cover the additional work load.

The monograph series would be titled COPEIA Monographs, and would utilize a different cover design and color. Volume number would be congruent with regularly-issued COPEIA. The series would be initiated in 1997, and the first issue would appear concomitant with COPEIA 1997(4). The monograph series would be included with ASIH membership. In one scenario, ASIH membership fees would be elevated $5.00/year to cover publishing costs (figures appended). Alternatively, savings accrued from publishing COPEIA in electronic format (approximately $10,000.00; see managing editor's report) would be re-invested by the society into the monograph series. In this scenario, institutional fees rather than individual membership fees would then be elevated to cover additional funds required. The committee recommends the second scenario.

Pricing [as per 1995(1)] from Allen Press re: COPEIA Monographs:

Print composition, etc.: per COPEIA

Print order (3500 + add'l 250 = 3750) $10,815.00

Print materials cost: 3,462.00

Tabular typesetting (estimated) 1,000.00

Illustrations (estimated) 1,000.00

Binding 465.00

Supplement mailing (estimated) 1,000.00

Supplement handling 188.00

TOTAL $17,930.00

TOTAL/3500 (i.e., cost/subscription) $5.12

After some discussion of these proposals, Dr. Douglas moved to create a Standing Committee on Book-Length Publications. Governor Poss asked how books are funded and another governor asked what the demand is for book publication by ASIH. Douglas indicated that he had received one inquiry this year, but could not speak to the demand. Regarding financing of books, he indicated that it would be the responsibility of the author and committee to deal with the financing. Brooks Burr pointed out that publication of the Pietsch and Anderson book has already been approved and it is well along toward publication. A market analysis for that book was done by the authors in conjunction with the Special Publications Committee. President Greenfield indicated that the committee would be charged with researching funding and market issues regarding each book.

A governor asked how the committee would be appointed, and Managing Editor Douglas indicated it would be by Presidential appointment. Governor Ed Wiley stated that forecasting sales and dealing with marketing issues in general is very complex and that a committee may not have the necessary expertise. Governor Carter Gilbert asked if the BOG would approve all books, and Dr. Douglas answered affirmatively. Wiley indicated that he would be unable to vote unless provided a detailed market analysis. President Greenfield called for a vote on the motion, which carried as follows:

An ASIH Standing Committee, named the Committee on Book-Length Publications, will be created and appointments made by the President. The Committee's charge will be to research market issues and establish levels of financial support for each proposal for a book-length publication, to create a schedule for publishing each work, and to report to the BOG.

Dr. Douglas then moved that the Society establish a COPEIA Monograph Series. This series would be supported by a $5 increase in general dues, a $10 increase in institutional subscriptions, and no increase in student dues.

Governor Poss inquired how the dues structure was derived and questioned whether it would support the publication and if the increases might result in decreased membership and subscriptions. Dr. Douglas replied that the current Institutional subscription rate of $90 is very low compared to other journals that in some cases exceed $4,000. Dr. Brooks Burr pointed out that membership did decrease slightly following the last dues increase a few years ago, but recovered quickly. Governor Clark Hubbs suggested that monographs be included in COPEIA. There was an inquiry as to whether postage had been factored into the publication cost analysis. It was pointed out that a new series mailed separately may require a new postage permit, which would be costly. Dr. Douglas indicated that the new series would be mailed as a fifth issue of COPEIA under the same permit. Governor Roy McDiarmid pointed out that unless it is published as COPEIA, the same permit could not be used. Governor Dan Cohen asked Copeia Editor Douglas for his definition of a monograph and an explanation of how it would differ from a long paper in Copeia. Dr. Douglas replied that addition of long papers to COPEIA would increase the backlog for that journal and at present, submissions are increasing. Dr. Cohen asked again for a definition of a monograph, and Dr. Douglas replied that it is a "big paper." Governor Rosenblatt asked why not simply raise dues to publish more pages in Copeia. Treasurer Larry Page indicated thata monoraph series might attract more manuscripts. Governor Bob Johnson asked if the monographs would follow the same review procedure as manuscripts for COPEIA or if a separate review procedure would apply. Dr. Douglas indicated that the procedure would be the same, but that more reviewers would be used. Dr. Hubbs suggested increasing the size of papers in COPEIA and suggested that publication of monographs only once per year might deter some authors from publishing there. Dr. Rosenblatt asked if funds generated for this purpose by the proposed dues increase would go into a separate fund and Treasurer Page responded affirmatively. Dr. Douglas indicated that permission must be obtained from BOG to publish > 1200 pages/year in COPEIA. Governor Ed Wiley asked why publication of monographs should be limited to once per year. Dr. Douglas replied that it was simplest and cheapest to do it this way through Allen Press, processing it as Copeia #5. Dr. Wiley also pointed out that the number of manuscripts submitted will likely vary from year to year. Dr. Douglas said he had received 2 inquiries about the series this year, and 3 last year. Governor Berra asked if each issue would be restricted to a single paper or if they might contain multiple monographs. Douglas indicated that there might be multiple papers in each issue. It was suggested that many concerns might be addressed by publishing supplements to COPEIA. Governor Rosenblatt pointed out that the issue is simply whether or not we want to publish more pages. Dr. Wiley indicated that he was of the opinion that we should do a "real monograph series" and not a "tack-on." Dr. Douglas indicated that the "tack-on" impression stems from economic issues. It is cheapest to process such publications through Allen Press as additional issues of COPEIA. Dr. William Eschmeyer asked if the monograph series could be purchased separately and Dr. Douglas said that it could be purchased as other back issues now are. Dr. Wiley indicated that if a monograph series is established, the Society would be compelled to publish at least one per year. A vote on the motion that ASIH establish a monograph series was then defeated by a narrow margin.

Society Historian, Mark, R. Jennings, reported having continued work on a history of ASIH and was to present some of this research at this meeting. He had received only one piece of mail this year - a request for a letter of support in the award from another scientific society to a distinguished ASIH member. He continues to work on a guide to interviewing "old time" fishery biologists and herpetologists, which should be completed later this year. Governor Poss again indicated that his inquiry about this report had been addressed earlier in the Secretary's response to inquiries about the Secretary's report, and there was no further discussion.

ASIH Representative to the American Fisheries Society (AFS), Melvin L. Warren, Jr., had submitted a report indicating that several activities within AFS were of direct relevance to ASIH, particularly those concerning conservation of aquatic organisms. The Fisheries Action Network of AFS has chosen "Stocks at Risk" as a focus topic for 1995; Mel Warren serves as the Steward for the topic. At the 1994 annual AFS meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Warren chaired a facilitated session co-sponsored by the AFS Endangered Species Committee and the AFS Genetics, Fisheries Management, and Education sections. Participants from over 12 AFS subunits examined current and future issues and potential AFS activities for stocks at risk. Discussions ranged from genetic conservation pools for Pacific Northwest salmonids to marine fishes and rare crayfishes. In part from that effort, the Endangered Species Committee of AFS, chaired by Paul Angermeier, began work on several new initiatives including establishment of subcommittees on marine fishes (co- chairs Gene Huntsman and Jack Musick), crayfishes (co-chairs Chris Taylor and Mel Warren), freshwater mollusks (chair Richard Neves), Pacific salmon restoration (chair Jack Williams), watershed restoration/protection (chair Kevin Richards), and reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act (chair to be selected). The Marine Fishes Subcommittee has established a liaison with the Office of Protected Resources in the National Marine Fisheries Service and has chosen taxonomists to aid in assessing status of depleted and rare marine species. Ultimately, the subcommittee plans to present the findings of their assessment in Fisheries. The Crayfishes Subcommittee has assembled a team of crayfish scientists and reviewers, secured funding for color plates, developed status assessments and state and provincial distributions of all crayfishes of the United States and Canada, and prepared a manuscript for publication in Fisheries in early 1996. The Freshwater Mollusks Subcommittee will express professional knowledge, opinions, and concerns on molluscan topics of regional and national significance such as the recent proposal to list seven mussel species in the Apalachicola Basin, dredging of the Sunflower River, Mississippi, and a proposed dam on the North Fork Hughes River, West Virginia.

The AFS 1995 annual meeting in Tampa, FL, will feature a workshop organized by Jack Williams on watershed restoration. The workshop is co-sponsored by the AFS Endangered Species Committee, AFS Fisheries Management Section, Bureau of Land Management, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The 1995 meeting also will include a day-long symposium, co-sponsored by the AFS Endangered Species Committee and Southeastern Fishes Council (chair and organizer, Mel Warren), featuring application of long-term and large-scale aquatic data bases (e.g., fishes, mussels, non-indigenous species) for management of imperiled species and communities in the southern United States.

Of paramount importance to the ASIH membership are AFS activities associated with the upcoming reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act. In the words of an AFS committee leader, "some Congressional 'leaders' are drawing up plans to gut and fillet the Endangered Species Act prior to reauthorization." The ecological importance of maintaining the integrity of this overarching Act can hardly be overstated, and if ever there was a time when ichthyologists and herpetologists need to provide expert input, that time is now. The AFS Endangered Species Committee is forming a Reauthorization Subcommittee to provide science-based knowledge to the debate. The subcommittee will communicate with key Congressional staffers and representatives of the Endangered Species Coalition. The ASIH membership is urged to participate in the reauthorization process by writing legislators, critically reviewing and providing comments on proposed principles and changes to be incorporated in the reauthorized Act, contacting Paul Angermeier to express your willingness to contribute to the efforts of the Reauthorization Subcommittee, and supporting AFS efforts to see the Act come through the debates intact. An excellent package on letter writing tips for the reauthorization of the Act was developed by the Western Division of AFS (Carl Burger, President) and is available upon request from Mel Warren (601\234-2744 or e-mail: fswarren@vm.cc.olemiss.edu). Paul Angermeier can be contacted at 703\231-4501.

The AFS has published a policy statement concerning reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act (Angermeier and Williams. 1994. Fisheries 19(1):26-29). To date, ASIH has passed a resolution (Copeia 1994:1106) strongly supporting the reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act, but no other action has been taken to date. Societal action on this issue is not only appropriate and timely, but an ethical and professional obligation as reauthorization debates and hearings proceed in Congress in 1995. As ASIH representative to AFS, Mel Warren requested that the BOG provide informed approval of endorsement of the AFS policy statement on reauthorization and that the ASIH Resolutions Committee draft a resolution of full endorsement of the AFS policy statement for approval at the business meeting. To that end the AFS policy statement was provided to the ASIH Secretary for distribution to the BOG. The ASIH membership and committees also are urged to read and digest the AFS policy statement and use it in reauthorization activities. Larry Page, in Warren's absence, agreed to lead discussion of endorsement of the AFS reauthorization policy statement and answer BOG or member inquiries at the BOG and business meetings of the 1995 annual ASIH meeting in Edmonton. Upon consideration and passage of a resolution of endorsement at the 1995 meeting, Warren requested that the President of ASIH or appointed delegate distribute the resolution to all members of Congress, legislative committees, appropriate federal agencies, the Endangered Species Coalition, and the executive director of AFS.

Representative Warren had asked that Treasurer Larry Page ask the BOG to endorse the AFS policy statement on the Endangered Species Act, which was provided as an appendix to Warren's report. Walt Courtenay, chair of the Environmental Quality Committee, had also sent word that his committee supported this action. Dr. Page moved that the BOG so endorse the statement and the motion was seconded. President-elect Stewart asked if the statement applied to amphibians as well, and Dr. Page replied that it addressed all imperiled aquatic species. President Greenfield called for a vote, and the motion was carried unanimously.

The next agenda item was to elect a new Honorary Foreign Member. Ballots were distributed, along with ballots for election of a new member to the Gibbs Award Committee. Dr. John R. Paxton, of Australia, was elected as the new Honorary Foreign Member, and Dr. G. David Johnson was elected as the new member of the Gibbs Award Committee.

The next item of business was nomination of candidates for the Nomination Committee. Secretary Hendrickson explained the procedures for nomination to this Committee. The Governors nominated from the floor ichthyologists Drs. Rob Wood, Don Buth, and Steve Ross, and herpetologists Drs. Miriam Benabib, Jack Sites, Aaron Bauer, and Kiisa Nishikawa.

President Greenfield then announced that the Society was in need of a volunteer to serve as ASIH Representative to the AAAS, and a volunteer was needed to update the Ichthyology Career pamphlet.

Governor Jay Savage announced that the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is working on a revision of the code. A draft is available from ICZN for $5 or from the ICZN at the Smithsonian for $3. Comments are being solicited. Marvalee Wake mentioned that the Berkeley Internet node has been designated as a recipient of comments.

The Board of Governors meeting was adjourned by President Greenfield at 5:26 PM. The Board was re-convened by President Greenwood, immediately prior to the Business Meeting, to address business that arose in the intervening days. A report on this second meeting is provided below.

Subsequent events reported below include listings of papers and posters presented at the meeting. In these listings, abbreviations in parenthesis after paper or poster title indicate the following categories: GDM-Competitor for Stoye Award in Genetics, Development and Morphology; GI-Competitor for Stoye Award in General Ichthyology; EE-Competitor for Stoye Award in Ecology and Ethology; HL-Competitor for Herpetologists' League Award for Graduate Research; GH-Competitor for Stoye Award in General Herpetology; SG-Competitor for Samuel Gruber Award; PPE: Competitor for Stoye Award in Physiology and Physiological Ecology; I-Competitor for best poster, ASIH Storer Award in Ichthyology; H-Competitor for best poster, ASIH Storer Award in Herpetology. Presenter(s) are indicated by asterisk (*).

Events of June 16, 1995

Plenary Session. Chairs: Joseph S. Nelson and Mark V. H. Wilson. Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta. Myer Horowitz Theater, SUB

Introduction. Joseph S. Nelson

Welcome. Dr. Richard E. Peter, Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta.

Dr. Roy W. McDiarmid, Past President, ASIH, On tadpoles and tepuis and other things natural!

Dr. William G. Raschi, President, American Elasmobranch Society, The Chondrichthyes of the 90's: what's been lost and what's been gained

Dr. Michael J. Ryan, Distinguished Herpetologist Lecture, Evolution of a communication system

ASIH/HL Symposium: Snake Phylogeny - Organizers: Joe Slowinski and Brian Crother

I. Relationships of Snakes Among Squamates

Reeder, Tod W. Phylogenetic placement of snakes within the Squamata: evidence from molecules and morphology

II. Relationships of Major Groups of Snakes

Crother, B. I., White, M. E., and Toal, K. R. Higher order relationships among snakes: evidence from nuclear ribosomal DNA

Forstner, Michael R. J., Davis, Scott K., Barker, Dave, and Barker, Tracy. Phylogenetic analysis of the Henophidia using mitochondrial DNA sequence data

Kraus, Fred, and Brown, Wesley M. Phylogenetic relationships among Colubroidea: evidence from mitochondrial DNA sequences

AES Contributed Papers - Chairs: Don Nelson and Madeline Oetinger

Ferry, Lara, Cailliet, Gregor M.*, Leaman, Bruce M., and Love, Milton S. Review of senescence in fishes with application to elasmobranch demography

Testi, A. D., Mollet, H. F.*, and Compagno, L. J. V. Refutation of identification of a lamnoid shark embryo by Sanzo (1912) as Carcharodon carcharias

Morrissey, John F. A summary of ten years of shark taxonomy

Last, Peter. The taxonomy of Indo-Pacific stingrays (F. Dasyatididae) - did Bleeker get it wrong?

Espinosa P., H., and Fuentes M., P. Diversity of Elasmobranchs in Mexico

Lowe, Christopher, and Goodman-Lowe, Gwen. They can tan their own hides!!!: evidence for suntanning in juvenile hammerhead sharks

Kajiura, Stephen M., Sebastian, Agustin P., and Tricas, Timothy C. Inferred mating activity from the temporal distribution and abundance of mating scars in the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina

Crow, G. L. The reproductive biology of the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier in Hawaii: a compilation of historical and contemporary data

Heist, Edward Jay. Intraspecific mtDNA variation in three sharks with different species distributions

Luer, Carl A., Walsh, Cathy J., Bodine, A. B., Rodgers, R. S., and Rasmussen, L. E. L. In vitro reactivity of sperm from the clearnose skate, Raja eglanteria, in response to autologous alkaline gland fluid and clasper gland secretion, natural seawater, and elasmobranch-modified semen extender

ASIH Contributed Papers: Biogeography, Systematics, Development - Chair: Carter Gilbert

Jennings, Mark R. Demography of a society: the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists over the past 75 years

Berra, Tim M., Crowley, L. E. L. M., and Ivantsoff, Walter. Galaxias maculatus: a review and possible explanation of its biogeography

Randall, John E. The inshore fish fauna of Oman

Murphy, William, and Collier, Glen. Phylogenetic relationships of the aplocheiloid fish genus Rivulus and its implications for Caribbean and Central American biogeography

Murdy, Edward, Birdsong, Ray, and Musick, Jack. Fishes of Chesapeake Bay

Rosenblatt, Richard H., and McCosker, John E.* Biogeography of ophichthid eels

Williams, Jeffrey T., and Howe, Jeffrey C. Triplefin fishes of the Helcogramma fuscopinna complex (Tripterygiidae) in the Indo-Pacific: new species and biogeographical patterns

Grande, Terry. Revision of the African freshwater gonorynchiform family Kneriidae with comments on the use of paedomorphic characters in phylogenetic analysis

Webb, Jacqueline F., and Fitzgibbon, Erin. Development of asymmetry in lateral line canals of the head precedes development of dermal bone asymmetry in the pleuronectid flatfish, Glyptocephalus zachirus

ASIH Contributed Papers: Ecology - Chair: Richard Haedrich

Douglas, M. E., and Marsh, P. C. Catostomus latipinnis in the Grand Canyon region of Arizona: population estimates and movements

Douglas, Marlis R., and Douglas, Michael E. Ontogenetic allometry of the endangered cyprinid fish, Gila cypha

Wisenden, Brian D., Chivers, Douglas, P., Brown, Grant E., and Smith, R. Jan F.* Reliability of social information and assessment of predation risk by stickleback following the release of chemical alarm signals

Crawford, Maurice, Crowder, Larry, and Fonseca, Mark. Spatial sampling of fish movement in seagrass beds

Belk, Mark C., Smith, Michael E., and Wilson, Kristine W. Lethal and nonlethal effects of predators on populations of mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis): a mesocosm experiment

Grutter, A. S. Parasite removal rates by the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus

Fletcher, Dean E., Wilkins, S. David, and Paul, Regina J. Effects of spawning cover on mate choice by females of two species of sunfish with possible influences of the symbiotic nest associate dusky shiner (Notropis cummingsae)

Merron, Glenn. The conservation of the fishes of the Okavango Delta, Botswana - an update

Merron, Glenn, and Weldrick, Sarah. Fisheries management on the Pongolo floodplain, Zululand, South Africa, with reference to the application of the Geographic Information System (GIS)

HL/ASIH Contributed Papers: Systematics of Amphibians and Reptiles - Chair: John Iverson

Chek, Andrew, and Bogart, James. Genetic affiliation of Allophryne ruthvenii with some other South American anuran taxa

Bobyn, M. L., Darevsky, I. S., MacCulloch, R. D., Kupriyanova, L., Danielyan, F., and Murphy, R. W. Allozyme variation in populations of Lacerta raddei and Lacerta nairensis from Armenia

Bauer, Aaron M., and Good, David A. Phylogenetic systematics of the day geckos (Rhoptropus) of southwestern Africa

Bart, Henry L., Jr., Bailey, Mark A., Ashton, Ray E., Jr., and Moler, Paul E. Taxonomic and nomenclatural status of the upper Black Warrior River waterdog

Haenel, Gregory. Phylogenetic relationships of tree lizard populations

Savage, Jay M., and Slowinski, Joe B. Evolution of coloration and the systematics of the colubrid snake genus Scaphiodontophis

MacCulloch, Ross D., Fu, J., Darevsky, I. S., Danielyan, F. D., and Murphy, R. W. Allozyme variation in three closely related species of Caucasian rock lizards (Lacerta)

Loffler, Deborah L. Do other Sceloporine lizards possess precursors to the blood-squirting mechanism of horned lizards? (GDM)

Events of June 17, 1995

ASIH Symposium: Interrelationships of Fishes - Organizers: Melanie Stiassny, Lynne Parenti, and G. David Johnson

Stiassny, Melanie, Parenti, Lynne, and Johnson, G. David. Introduction and General Remarks

Carvalho, Marcelo. Higher-level relationships of the major elasmobranch groups: a new assessment of the evidence. (GI)

Grande, Lance, and Bemis, William E.* Interrelationships of Acipenseriformes, with comments on "Chondrostei"

Gardiner, Brian. Interrelationships of holosteans

Maisey, John G. Higher levels of relationship among amiiform (=halecomorph) fishes

Li Guo-qing, and Wilson, Mark V. H. Phylogeny of Osteoglossomorpha

Lecointre, G., and Nelson, Gareth. Clupeomorpha, sister group of Ostariophysi

Johnson, G. David, and Patterson, Colin. Interrelationships of lower Euteleostei

Harold, Antony S., and Weitzman, Stanley H. Interrelationships of stomiiform fishes

Baldwin, Carole C., and Johnson, G. David. Aulopiform interrelationships

ASIH Symposium: Natural History of Amphibians and Reptiles - Organizers: Pat Gregory, Harry Greene, and Tony Russell Chair: Karl Larsen

Greene, Harry W. Natural history and modern biology

Gregory, Patrick T. What garter snakes eat, how it varies, and why it matters

Ballinger, Royce E., and Lemos, Julio. Reproduction in Xenosaurus (Mexican knob-scaled lizards): a case for predator escape?

Zamudio, Kelly. Year-to-year variation in demographic patterns in the short-horned lizard Phrynosoma douglasi: implication for life-history evolution

Fitch, Henry S. 47-year changes in a snake community

Brooks, Ronald J. Life-history strategies of long-lived species: insights from long-term studies

Green, David M. Age, size, and population density in Fowler's toads, Bufo woodhousii fowleri: how much do we know about amphibian abundance?

Davis, Theodore M. The natural history of terrestrial salamanders on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Donnelly, Maureen A. Natural history of the strawberry poison frog, Dendrobates pumilio

ASIH Symposium: Northern Fish Biology - Organizers: Jim Reist and Bill Tonn

Introduction

Reist, James D., and Tonn, William. Introduction

Overview

Smith, G. R. Species density gradients in high-latitude North American freshwater fishes

Wilson, Chris C. Evolutionary impacts of Pleistocene events on northern fishes

Biogeography and Diversity

Bernatchez, Louis. Genetic evidence for replicate adaptive radiation in northern fishes: consequences for systematics and taxonomy

Todd, Thomas N. The effects of glacial history and lake structure on the biology and systematics of coregonines in the Great Lakes

Bodaly, Drew, Reist, James, and Vuorinen, Jukka. Life history and morphological variation, tendency to speciation and anadromy: are they related in coregonid fishes?

Wood, Chris C., Bickham, John W., Patton, John C., and Honeycutt, Rodney L. Genetic differentiation, local adaptation, and persistence of sockeye salmon in glacially influenced environments

ASIH/HL Symposium: Snake Phylogeny - Organizers: Joe Slowinski and Brian Crother

III. Relationships Within Colubroid Taxa

Herrmann, Hans-Werner, Joger, Ulrich, and Lenk, Peter. Phylogeny of African vipers: molecular evidence and a reinterpretation of morphological data

Kraus, Fred, Mink, Daniel, and Brown, Wesley M. Phylogenetic relationships among crotaline vipers based on mitochondrial DNA sequences

Wuster, Wolfgang, Salomao, M. da Graca, Thorpe, Roger S., and Butantan-British Bothrops Systematics Project. Systematics and phylogeny of the Bothrops atrox species group: comparative mtDNA sequencing and multivariate morphometrics

Parkinson, Christopher L. The molecular systematics and biogeography of the Subfamily Crotalinae. (GH)

Boundy, Jeff, and Slowinski, Joe B. The phylogeny of elapid snakes based on morphological evidence

Slowinski, Joe B. Phylogeny of the Elapidae (Serpentes) based on mtDNA sequences

ASIH Contributed Papers: Ecology and Ethology - Chairs: Gary Meffe and Marvalee Wake

Wisenden, Brian D., Chivers, Douglas P. and Smith, R. Jan F.* Chemical warning early in the predation sequence: a disturbance pheromone in Iowa darters Etheostoma exile

Gelwick, Frances P. Effects of predatory largemouth bass and filamentous algae on assemblages of green sunfish and big eye shiner minnows. (EE)

Gibbs, Missy. Structure and innervation of the cephalic lateral line neuromasts of the rubynose brotula (Cataetyx rubrirostris) and their ecological implications. (EE )

Chivers, Douglas P., Mathis, Alicia, Brown, Grant E., and Smith, R. Jan F. Evolution of chemical alarm signals: attracting secondary predators benefits alarm signal senders

Gido, Keith Bryant. Spatial and temporal variation of fish communities in secondary channels of the San Juan River, New Mexico and Utah, USA. (EE )

Hovey, Tim. The reproductive strategies of the spotted sand bass Paralabrax maculatofasciatus. (EE)

Mulligan, Timothy J., and Mulligan, Helen L. Fishes associated with drift macroalgae in an exposed surf zone of northern California

Johnson, Jerald B. Life history evolution of Utah chub Gila atraria in the presence of cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki: a comparative study of age, growth, and reproduction among geographically isolated populations. (EE)

Norman, Lynn. Winter behaviour of two garter snake species (Thamnophis sirtalis and Thamnophis elegans) in a northern maritime climate. (EE)

Watkins, Graham G. Aggression, escalation, and the evolution of the mid-dorsal crest in the iguanian lizard Microlophus (Tropidurus) occipitalis. (EE)

Mills, Mark S. Fall and winter movement patterns and activity of brown water snakes (Nerodia taxispilota). (EE)

Doughty, Paul . An experimental test of the effects of long-term energy stores on life history tradeoffs in a montane viviparous skink. (EE)

Lips, Karen R. Quantifying reproductive success and selection in a natural population of tropical treefrogs. (EE)

Tracy, Christopher R. Differences in life history strategy and body size among populations of chuckwallas (Sauromalus obesus). (EE)

ASIH Symposium: Interrelationships of Fishes - Organizers: Melanie Stiassny, Lynne Parenti, and G. David Johnson

Stiassny, Melanie L. J. Basal ctenosquamate relationships and the interrelationships of the myctophiform fishes

Wiley, E. O., Johnson, G. David, and Dimmick, Walter. Phylogenetic relationships of acanthomorph fishes using DNA sequencing and morphology: another progress report

Song, Jiakun. Peripheral innervation patterns as characters in fish phylogeny

Parenti, Lynne R., and Song, Jiakun. Phylogenetic significance of the pectoral/pelvic fin association in acanthomorph fishes: a reassessment using comparative neuroanatomy

ASIH Symposium: Natural History of Amphibians and Reptiles - Organizers: Pat Gregory, Harry Greene, and Tony Russell

Beaupre, Steven J., and Duvall, David. Sexual size dimorphism in the western diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus atrox: natural history, behavior, and physiology

Berven, Keith A. A demographic explanation for latitudinal variation in life history patterns of the wood frog, Rana sylvatica

Van Wyk, J. H. The life history and physiological ecology of the South African lizard, Cordylus giganteus (Sauria: Cordylidae)

Smith, Geoffrey R. Sources of growth rate variation in a population of striped plateau lizard (Sceloporus virgatus)

Powell, G. L., and Russell, A. P. A radiotelemetric study of movement in a northern population of the eastern short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii brevirostre)

Shewchuk, Christopher H. Movement patterns in a population of gopher snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) from British Columbia

Karns, Daryl R., and Voris, Harold K. Movements and thermal ecology of the freshwater homalopsine snake, Enhydris plumbea, in Borneo

ASIH/HL Symposium: Snake Phylogeny - Organizers: Joe Slowinski and Brian Crother

III. Relationships Within Colubroid Taxa

Keogh, J. Scott. Elapids in Australia: phylogenetics of a diverse lineage. (GH)

Zaher, Hussam. Hemipenial morphology of the South American xenodontines, and a proposal for a monophyletic Xenodontinae sensu stricto

Fernandes, Ronaldo. Phylogeny of the dipsadine snakes

Matos, Jennifer A., and Rudolph, D. Craig. A mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of the genus Pituophis

ASIH Symposium: Northern Fish Biology - Organizers: Jim Reist and Bill Tonn

Intra- and Interspecific Variation and Life History

Rublee, Parke A., and McDonald, Michael E. Landscape and climatic constraints on arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, in Alaskan arctic LTER lakes

Proebstel, Don S., and Evans, R. P. Genetic relationship of two morphotypes of lenok (Brachymystax lenok)

Tallman, Ross F., and Wood, Chris C. The evolution of life history variation in temperate and Arctic anadromous fishes

Radtke, Richard L. Life history transitions in Arctic fishes: use of otolith microchemistry in migration studies

Svenning, Martin-A. Latitudinal distribution and frequency of anadromy among Arctic charr

Thorpe, John E. Contrasts in Atlantic salmon development at higher and lower latitudes

Maitland, Peter S. High latitude vs high altitude - how fish keep cool

AES Contributed Papers: Physiology, Morphology, Ecology - Chairs: Greg Cailliet and Peter Last

Bodine, A.B., Wyffels, J.T., Luer, C.A., Walsh, C.J., and Scott, T.R. Effect of a T-cell inhibitor on differential counts and immune organ histology in nurse sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum

Wyffels, J. T., Bodine, A. B., Scott, T. R., Rodgers, R. S., Luer, C. A., Walsh, C. J., and Henningsen, A. Preparation and specificity of monoclonal antibodies against IgM of the Atlantic nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum. (SG)

Amesbury, Elena, and Snelson, Franklin F. Structure and histology of uterine trophonemata in the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina. (SG)

Steege, Kurt F., Morrissey, John F., and Grimes, Gary W. Presence of an incipient swim bladder in the stomach of sand tiger sharks, Carcharias taurus. (SG)

Mariano-Melendez, Everardo, and Villavicencio-Garayzar, Carlos. Reproductive biology of the diamond stingray, Dasyatis brevis, in the western Pacific, Mexico. (SG)

Demski, Leo S., Beaver, Joel, Sudberry, Jonathan and Luer, Carl A. Development of gonadotropin hormone releasing (GnRH)- immunoreactive systems in the terminal nerve and brain of the clearnosed skate, Raja eglanteria, with preliminary observations on terminal nerve regeneration

Mares, Roberta J. Rod-cone ratios and cone characteristics of various chondrichthyan species. (SG)

Carvalho, Marcelo, and Maisey, John G. Phylogenetic relationships of the Upper Jurassic shark Protospinax Woodward, 1919 (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii). SG

Chen, Che-Tsung, Chang, Yung-Chou, and Liu, Kwang-Ming. Reproduction of the bigeye thresher shark, Alopias superciliosus in the northeastern waters of Taiwan

ASIH Contributed Papers: Genetics, Development and Morphology - Chairs: Don Buth and Tony Echelle

Wonsettler, Angela L., and Webb, Jacqueline F. Scale morphology and the organization of the trunk lateral line system in hexagrammid fishes (Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes)

Cook, Amy. Behavior modulation in a juvenile cottid, Clinocottus analis, feeding on elusive and nonelusive prey. (GDM)

Wiley, Brad. Use of microsatellite DNA to detect population structure in spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, from the southeastern U.S.

Hale, Melina E. Development of axial locomotion and locomotor morphology in the salmonid species, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. (GDM)

Cubbage, Carol, and Mabee, Paula. Does ossification sequence vary with temperature?

Drill, Sabrina Lynn. A genetic analysis of hatchery propagation for management of the endangered razorback sucker, Xyrauchen texanus. (GDM)

Garner, Trenton W. J. Genetic determination of reproductive success in the western terrestrial garter snake, Thamnophis elegans. (GDM)

Stevenson, Duane E. Stock identification in Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus, using microsatellite DNA analysis

Gibb, Alice C. Do flatfish feed like other teleosts? A comparison of prey capture behavior in Pleuronichthys verticalis, Xystreurys liolepis, Lepomis macrochirus, and Cheilinus diagrammus. (GDM)

Mulligan, Helen L., Arthur W. Kendall, Jr., and Matarese, Ann C. The significance of morphological variation in adults and larvae of the rock sole, Pleuronectes bilineatus, from the Bering Sea and northeastern Pacific Ocean

Crow, Karen. Reproductive biology of kelp greenlings, Hexagrammos decagrammus, including the use of mtDNA sequences in determining maternal differences among clutches within nests. (GDM)

Toller, Wes, Moses, Kevin, and McFall-Ngai, Margaret. Amino acid substitutions in squirrelfish rhodopsins: a basis for spectral shifting?

Wilga, Cheryl A. Denesha. Kinematics of the feeding behavior in the Altantic guitarfish Rhinobatos lentiginosus. (GDM)

ASIH/HL Contributed Papers: Lizards, Turtles, and Frogs - Chairs: Joe Mitchell and Rebecca Pyles

Viets, Brian E., Ewert, Michael A., and Nelson, Craig E. Reproductive ecology of Anolis carolinensis

Porchuk, Benjamin D., and Brooks, Ronald J. A critique of the ecological and adaptive significance of home range estimates: blue racer snakes as a case study. (HL )

Vess, Tomalei J., and Harris, Reid N. Kin discrimination in Hemidactylium scutatum: avoidance versus attraction

Johnson, Steve A., and Ehrhart, L. M. Florida green turtle nest-site fidelity. (HL)

Passmore, Heather L., and Brooks, Ronald J. Effects of geographic origin and incubation temperature on sex ratios of hatchling snapping turtles, (Chelydra serpentina)

McCoy, J. Kelly. Proximate causes of sexual dimorphism in the collared lizard, Crotaphytus collaris (Sauria: Crotaphytidae). (HL)

Ramirez-Bautista, Aurelio. The life history of Anolis nebulosus from the tropical dry forest of Mexico with comparisons to the other Anolis species from the Caribbean

Pechmann, Joseph H. K., Semlitsch, Raymond D., Scott, David E., and Gibbons, J. Whitfield. Predation, competition, and disturbance in a natural amphibian community over 16 years

Drewes, R. C., and Altig, R. Anuran egg predation and heterocannibalism in a breeding community of East African frogs

Rudolph, D. Craig, and Burgdorf, Shirley J. Habitat use and ecology of the Louisiana pine snake, Pituophis melanoleucus ruthveni

d'Orgeix, Christian A. Breeding biology of red-eyed treefrog: male response to single and multiple amplexus

Events of June 18, 1995

ASIH Symposium: Northern Fish Biology - Organizers: Jim Reist and Bill Tonn

Ecology Naesje, Tor F., and Sandlund, Odd Terje. Recruitment and growth dynamics of an opportunist: the smelt Osmerus eperlanus in Lake Mjoesa

Klemetsen, A., and Staldvik, F. Winter habitat, diet and food intake rates of Arctic charr in a subarctic lake

Holopainen, Ismo, and Aho, Jussi. Predator-induced change in growth rate of Crucian carp

AES Contributed Papers - Chairs: Carl Luer and John Maisey

Mollet, H. F., and Van Dykhuizen, G. Is the Von Bertalanffy growth function adequate to describe the growth of sevengill sharks, Notorynchus cepedianus?

Summers, Adam P. Is there really bilateral asynchrony in muscle activation patterns in batoids? (SG)

Yano, Kazunari. Aspects of the biology of two deep-sea lantern sharks, Etmopterus granulosus and E. unicolor, collected from the waters around New Zealand

Cowley, Paul D. Age and growth of the blue stingray, Dasyatis chrysonota chrysonota, from the southeastern Cape coast of South Africa (SG)

Villavicencio-Garayzar, Carlos J. Two populations of the angel shark, Squatina californica Ayres, in the north Pacific

Henningsen, Alan D. Biology of the spiny butterfly ray, Gymnura altavela, in a captive environment. (SG)

Stevens, John, Gunn, John, and Davis, Tim. Observations on the short-term movements and behaviour of whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Barton, Kimby N., Buhr, Mary M., and Ballantyne, J. S. The effects of urea and trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) on membrane properties: the elasmobranch connection. (SG)

Gonzalez, Manoel Mateus Bueno. Maintenance of nurse sharks in captivity. (SG)

Simpfendorfer, Colin. The southern Western Australian shark fishery - management and stock assessment in a multispecies shark fishery

Ferry, Lara A., and Lauder, George V. How does the heterocercal tail function in leopard shark locomotion? (SG)

Gelsleichter, James J., and Musick, J. A. Cartilage canals and chondrocyte nutrition in the vertebral cartilage of the sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus (SG)

O'Sullivan, John, Mollet, Henry*, and Welsh, Joe. Morphometrics and preliminary feeding and growth data for the pelagic stingray, Dasyatis violacea

ASIH Contributed Papers: Herpetology Systematics Chairs: Jay Savage and Al Savitzky

Savitzky, Alan H. An osteological synapomorphy uniting a lineage of North American colubrid snakes

Cundall, David. Snake length, bending, and intervertebral joint function

Zamudio, Kelly. Phylogeography of a wide-ranging lizard (Phrynosoma douglasi) inferred from mtDNA sequences. (GH)

Summers, Adam P., and O'Reilly, J. C. Comparative kinematics of lateral undulation and concertina locomotion in aquatic and terrestrial caecilians (Gymnophiona: Amphibia)

Upton, Darlene. MtDNA, plate tectonics, and a mid-peninsular seaway in Baja California. (GH)

Kizirian, David A. Phylogenetic systematics and biogeography of the Gymnophthalmidae (Squamata). (GH)

Waye, Heather L. Age determiniation of individual garter snakes (Thamnophis spp.). (GH)

Espinoza, Robert E. Viviparity in the lizard genus Liolaemus: adaptation or evolutionary baggage? (GH)

Hollingsworth, Bradford D. The systematics of the chuckwalla lizards (Sauromalus: Iguanidae) and the evolution of Iguanidae. (GH)

Noecker, Robert, Roosenburg, Willem, Miles, Donald, and White, Matthew*. Relationships within Sceloporus undulatus based on allozyme electrophoresis

Zani, Peter A. Concordant evolution of tail morphology, locomotor performance, and caudal autotomy in lizards. (GH)

Secor, Stephen M. and Diamond, Jared. Evolution of the digestive response in snakes

Gergus, Erik. Systematics of the Bufo americanus species group: allozyme evidence. (GH)

Roosenburg, Willem M., Miles, Donald, and White, Matthew*. Evolutionary relationships within the genus Sceloporus

ASIH Contributed Papers: Ichthyology, General Biology - Chair: Robert Cashner and Susan Jewett

Ross, Stephen T., and O'Connell, M. T. Stability and density of riffle-inhabiting fish assemblages in a geomorphically dynamic stream (Bayou Pierre, Mississippi)

Sada, Donald W. Rare wetland species conservation as a guide for endangered fish recovery in the Owens River basin of eastern California

Chotkowski, Michael A., and Marsden, J. E. Will the invasion of the round goby into Lake Michigan impede the rehabilitation of lake trout populations?

Platania, Steven P. Reproductive biology of a guild of plains stream cyprinids

Raesly, Richard L., Albertson, Lance E., and Neely, David A. A fall-breeding Cottus bairdi population from the Youghiogheny River drainage, western Maryland

Powell, Allyn B. Ichthyoplankton associated with live-bottom habitats in Onslow Bay, North Carolina

Colvocoresses, James. Responses of the Florida Bay (USA) fish community to severe environmental perturbations

Adite, Alphonse, and Winemiller, Kirk O. Fish community structure of the Nokoue Lake, Benin, West Africa

Acero, Arturo, and Santos-Martinez, Adriana. The Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta (Colombia): a recruitment paradise under stress

Hendry, Andrew. The adaptive divergence of introduced sockeye salmon populations within a lake system

Beerli, Peter, Kuhner, Mary K., and Felsenstein, Joe. Maximum likelihood estimation of population parameters using gene trees

Branstetter, Steven. Implications as to the effect of shrimp trawl bycatch reduction for juvenile red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus

Thompson, Bruce A., and Suttkus, Royal D. Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi in Louisiana with emphasis on Pearl River sturgeons

Cody, Richard P., and Bortone, S. A. Mosquitofish morphometry as a potential assay for the determination of levels of exposure to papermill effluent

ASIH Contributed Papers: Ichthyology, Systematics - Chairs: Jack Briggs and Dick Rosenblatt

Cromwell, Robert L., and Poss, Stuart G.* Use of single-plane structured light range-sensing to measure osteological material

Simons, Andrew M. Phylogenetic relationships of North American cyprinids inferred from 12S and 16S MtDNA sequences. (GI)

Burr, Brooks M., and Mayden, Richard L. Evidence for a second species of Cycleptus (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from coastal drainages of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, with documentation of character modification in populations occupying the Rio Grande Basin of New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico

Armbruster, Jonathan W. Revision of Aphanotorulus and its relationships within Hypostominae (Siluriformes, Loricariidae). (GI)

Bruner, John C. Intergeneric and intrageneric relationships of Percidae (Actinopterygii: Perciformes) based on osteology, meristics, and morphometrics. (GI)

Grose, Michael J. Hybridizing Gambusia species across the North American Gulf Coast (Teleostei: Poeciliidae)

Cooper, J. Andrew. A morphological examination of pleuronectid intrarelationships. (GI)

Ghedotti, Michael J., and Wiley, Edward O. Phylogenetic relationships within the Fundulus nottii species group

Gilmore, R. Grant , Jr. Zoogeographic variation in Antillean and continental deep reef fish faunas at depths between 100 and 700 m in the Caribbean and Bahama Islands

Roe, Kevin J. Molecular systematics of the Middle American cichlid fish genus 'Cichlasoma (Amphilophus)'. (GI)

Koppelman, Jeffrey, and Gale, Craig. Biochemical and morphological comparison of three Ambloplites species (Centrarchidae) occurring in the Ozark Highlands

Van Tassell, James L. Phylogenetic relationships of the species within the Gobiosomini tribe. (GI)

Mickevich, Mary F., Collette, Bruce, Fauchald, K., Fraser, M., Munroe, T., Vecchione, M., and Williams, A. Combining nomenclature and phylogenetic information within the (US)MBD (United States Marine Biodiversity Database) of NOAA/ NMFS

HL Contributed Papers - Chair: Hinrich Kaiser and Harold Voris

Bogart, J. P., Lautenschlager, R. A., and Bell, W. Monitoring the effects of herbicide treatments on amphibians and reptiles in northwestern Ontario

Jorge da Silva, Nelson, Jr., and Sites, J. W., Jr.*. Patterns of Neotropical squamate diversity, with emphasis on the Brazilian Amazon and a potential conservation network

Navas, C. A. Implications of microhabitat selection and patterns of activity on the thermal ecology of high elevation Neotropical anurans

Lee, John R., and Mills, Mark S. Relative rates of weight loss in brown water snakes maintained at different simulated winter temperatures.

Paulissen, Mark. Aggressive and reproductive behaviors in a natural population of the parthenogenetic whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus laredoensis

Graham, Karen L., Bogart, J. P., and Bonar, Rick. The long-toed salamander in west central Alberta: habitat use and genetic variation

Mushinsky, Henry R., and McCoy, Earl D. Distribution and abundance of two rare skinks in Florida scrub

Kissner, Kelley J. Demographics and den use of prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis viridis) in Saskatchewan

Buhlmann, Kurt A., and Gibbons, J. Whitfield. Terrestrial habitat use by aquatic turtles of Carolina bays: implications for upland habitat conservation

Harris, Megan L., Bishop, Christine A., Struger, John , and Bogart, James P. Effects of habitation of wetland in fruit orchards on northern leopard frog and green frog populations

Harvey, Michael B., and Gutberlet, Ronald L., Jr. A phylogenetic interpretation of the scale surface morphology of scincoid lizards

Gutberlet, Ronald L., Jr., and Harvey, Michael B. The implications of scale surface microstructure for the systematics of New World crotaline snakes

Rye, Leslie. Ventral scale counts in Thamnophis sirtalis: a different approach

AES Contributed Papers - Chair: Blaise Eitner

Snelson, Franklin F., Jr. Observations on manta rays in Yap, Micronesia

Simpfendorfer, Colin. Biology of the Australian sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon taylori

Simpfendorfer, Colin. Biology and status of the dusky whaler (Carcharhinus obscurus) in the waters off Western Australia

Bush, Aaron, and Holland, K. Gastric evacuation in juvenile scalloped hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna lewini. (SG)

Ellis, Jim R. and Shackley, S. E. Feeding ecology of Scyliorhinus canicula in the Bristol Channel

Bradley, James Lee, IV, and Tricas, Timothy C. Multiple foraging strategies to maximize energy return in the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina. (SG)

Castro, Dr. Jose I. The biology of the blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, off the southeastern United States

ASIH Contributed Papers: Lizard Ecology - Chair: Diane Secoy

Heppell, Selina S., and Crowder, Larry B. When is an iguana like a mud turtle? Life history analyses to aid conservation efforts for poorly-known species

Doughty, Paul. The allometry of reproduction in the gecko genus Gehyra

Goldberg, Stephen R., Bursey, C. R., and McAllister, C. T. Gastrointestinal helminths of nine species of Sceloporus lizards (Phrynosomatidae) from Texas

Rodda, Gordon, Campbell, Earl W., III, and Fritts, Thomas H. Extraordinary lizard densities on Guam, as revealed by complete removal sampling

Van Wyk, J. H., and Mouton, P. le F. N. Reproductive cycles in South African cordylid lizards: a comparative perspective.

Cohen, Laura. Behavioral inventory of the desert iguana

Baird, Troy A., and Sloan, C. L. Within-season changes in the social behavior of adult male collared lizards, Crotaphytus collaris

ASIH Contributed Papers: Ichthyology, Systematics - Chair: Francois Chapleau

Stacey, Norman E., and Cardwell, James, R. Diversity and phylogenetic distribution of hormonal sex pheromone systems in fish

Dimmick, Walter W., Fiorino, Karen L., and Burr, Brooks M. A Reevaluation of the Lythrurus ardens (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) species complex

Kellogg, Karen A., Markert, J. A., Stauffer, J. R., and Kocher, T. D. Microsatellite analyses reveal multiple paternity in the cichlid fishes of Lake Malawi, Africa

Echelle, Anthony A., Meyer, A., Knowles, L., Childs, M., and Echelle, A. F. mtDNA variation and relationships of inland pupfishes in the Cyprinodon variegatus complex

Dowling, Thomas E., and Naylor, Gavin J. P. Evolutionary relationships of minnows in the genus Luxilus as inferred from cytochrome b sequences

Chapman, Robert W. Genetic analysis of red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, suggests the "Hedgecock effect" is in operation

Buth, Donald G., Gordon, Malcolm S., Plaut, Itai, Drill, Sabrina L., and Adams, Lisa Gunn. Genetic heterogeneity in isogenic homozygous clonal zebrafish, Danio rerio

ASIH Contributed Papers: Ichthyology, Ecology - Chair: Brian Coad

Brown, Grant E., Chivers, Douglas P. and Smith, R. Jan F. Familiarity influences anti-predator behaviour of fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas

Browne, Linda E. Reproduction and diet of the snubnose sculpin, Orthonopias triacis, in Monterey, California. (EE)

Vandenbos, Rena E., and Tonn, William M. Density dependent mechanisms affecting egg survival in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

Bryan, Kelly L. Growth and feeding of Percina caprodes (Rafinesque) in Woodcock Creek, Pennsylvania. (EE)

Kuhajda, Bernard R., and Mayden, Richard L. Status of the Alabama cavefish, Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni (Teleostei: Amblyopsidae)

Eklund, Anne-Marie. Effects of reef shelter characteristics on juvenile fish density, species composition, growth rates and condition. (EE)

Patek, Sheila N. and Brainerd, E. L. Vertebral column morphology and the magnitude of body curvature during C-starts of four coral reef fishes

Friesen, Trevor G. Variability in survival rates of young fishes: importance of larval history, density, and growth. (EE)

HL Contributed Papers: Evolution - Chair: Pat Gregory

Grismer, L. Lee. An application of the evolutionary species concept to the herpetofauna of Baja California, Mexico and its associated Pacific and Gulf of California islands

Stewart, James R., and Thompson, M. B. The evolution of reptilian placentation: reconsideration of a model based on Australian scincid lizards

Blackburn, Daniel G. A punctuated equilibrium model for the evolution of viviparity in squamates

Events of June 19, 1995

ASIH/HL Symposium: Turtle Systematics and Morphology - Organizers: Don Brinkman, Gene Gaffney, and Tony Russell

Turtle origins

Lee, Michael S. Y. A phylogenetic perspective on homologies of the turtle skeleton

Commentary and discussion on turtle origins

Early Eucryptodires Peng, Jianghua, Brinkman, Donald B., and Russell, Anthony P. A new species of Sinemys (Testudines: Sinemydidae) from the Early Cretaceous of Otog Qi, Inner Mongolia

Moody, Richard T.J., Walker, Cyril A., and Chapman, Sandra D. A problematic 'eucryptodiran' turtle skull from the Lower Cretaceous of the Isle of Wight, England

Brinkman, D. B., and Peng, J.-h. The early evolution of the basicranial region in cryptodirian turtles

Gaffney, Eugene S., Brinkman, Don, Hutchison, Howard, and Meylan, Peter. Early history of the Eucryptodira

Commentary and discussion on the early eucryptodires

Marine turtles Eschberger, Beverly S. A new Cretaceous turtle from the Zilker Botanical Gardens dinosaur trackways, Edwards Formation

Gove, Jonnie, and Wood, Roger. Evolution of leatherback (dermochelyid) turtles

Hooks, G.E., III. Cladistic analysis of the Protostegidae

Hirayama, Ren. Oldest known sea turtle from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil

Kohler, Richard. A first record of Psephophorus (Reptilia: Testudines: Dermochelyidae) from the Southern Hemisphere.

ASIH Symposium: Northern Fish Biology - Organizers: Jim Reist and Bill Tonn

Ecology

Auster, Peter J., and Malatesta, R. J. Habitat utilization by outer continental shelf fishes in the northwest Atlantic: implications for conservation

Dick, Terry A. Fish parasite communities in North temperate and Arctic regions of North America

Whittier, Thomas R., and Halliwell, David B. Regional-scale losses in cyprinid species richness from lakes in northeastern USA.

Davidson, William S. Post-glacial colonization of Newfoundland by salmonids: intra-specific hybrid zones

ASIH Contributed Papers: Ichthyology, Systematics - Chairs: Alex Peden and Stu Poss

Mooi, Randy. Cleaning up the sweepers - a preliminary investigation of pempheridid relationships (Teleostei: Perciformes)

Grogan, Eileen D., and Lund, Richard. Revelations and cautions concerning soft tissue pigments in Bear Gulch fossil fishes

Lund, Richard, and McCarthy, Kelly. New Cladistia (Actinopterygii) from the Lower Carboniferous Bear Gulch Limestone, and the basal characters of the Actinopterygii

Rodriguez, Carlos M. Phylogenetic analysis of the Poeciliinae (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae)

Dimmick, Walter W., and Larson, Allan. A molecular and morphological perspective on the phylogenetic relationships of the otophysan fishes

Bernardi, Giacomo. DNA base composition and phylogenetic information: compositional relationships within the genus Aphyosemion (Cyprinodontiformes, Teleostei)

Borowsky, Richard, McClelland, Michael, Cheng, Rita, and Welsh, John. An AP-PCR nuclear DNA phylogeny of Xiphophorus, Poeciliidae

Chanet, Bruno. What is new about fossil Pleuronectiformes?

Munroe, Thomas A., and Chapleau, Francois. Familial intrarelationships of the Achiridae (Pleuronectiformes): morphological evidence

Chapleau, Francois, and Desoutter, Martine. Phylogenetic relationships within the true soles (Soleidae; Pleuronectiformes): evidence from fin morphology and associated structures

Das, Mrinal K. Phylogenetic interrelationships of the species of Bembrops (Actinopterygii: Perciformes)

Norris, Steven M. Evolution and possible paedomorphosis within the African Anabantidae

Phillips, Christopher A., Sabaj, M. H., Uzzell, T., and Pfletscher, S. Genetic relationships among the Ozark and mottled sculpins (genus Cottus) from the midwestern United States

ASIH Contributed Papers: Ichthyology, General Biology - Chairs: Clark Hubbs and Bev Scott

Stauffer, Jay R., Jr., Centron, M., Sullivan, J. J., Chitsulo, L. A., Turner, G. F., and McKaye, K. R. Schistosomiasis in Lake Malawi: decrease in numbers of snail-feeding fishes and emergence of human disease

Smith, John. Early life history of the spotted sand bass Paralabrax maculatofascias in Baja California

Stecko, Timothy D. Scale shape analysis of six species of Pennsylvania centrarchids. (GI)

Briggs, John C. Tropical diversity and conservation

Blizard, Robert. Seasonal variation in larval stage duration and otolith microstructure of four intertidal sculpins (Family Cottidae)

Snodgrass, Joel W. Factors affecting the occurrence and structure of fish assemblages in isolated wetlands of the Upper Coastal Plain, U.S.A. (GI)

Borden, Cal. The essentials of unicornfish: diet and morphology. (GI)

Sosebee, Katherine A., and Conover, David O. Growth and reproduction of a southern population of the Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia

Cochran, Philip A., and Kraft, Clifford E. Exotic species and the changing fish assemblage in the lower Fox River, Wisconsin

Crabtree, Roy E., Harnden, C., Snodgrass, D., and Stevens, C. Age, growth, reproduction, and feeding habits of bonefish, Albula vulpes, from the waters of the Florida Keys

Schoenfuss, H. L., Kuamo'o, D. G., and Blanchard, T. A. Morphological requirements for the upstream migration by the amphidromous Hawaiian Goby Sicyopterus stimpsoni

Dueck, Lucy A. Rainbows of Lake Ontario: population structuring in a manipulated system

Burns, John R., and Weitzman, Stanley H. A novel gill-derived gland in the male swordtail characin, Corynopoma riisei (Teleostei: Characidae: Glandulocaudinae)

Howland, kimberly l., Tallman, Ross F., and, Tonn, William M. Is there a relationship between migratory behavior and life history? a comparison of two populations of inconnu (Stenodus leucichthys) in the Mackenzie River system

ASIH Contributed Papers: Herpetology, Morphology, Ecology - Chair: Henry Fitch and Kentwood Wells

Wake, David B. Evolutionary implications of limb development in giant salamanders, Dicamptodon

Reilly, Stephen M. Cranial ontogeny in Siren intermedia: paedomorphic, metamorphic, and novel patterns of heterochrony

Brainerd, Elizabeth L. Lung ventilation in salamanders and the evolution of aspiration breathing

Holomuzki, Joseph, Brunkow, Paul, Ziemba, Robert, and Collins, James. Salamander impacts on pond trophic structure: the role of habitat complexity and macroinvertebrates

McClelland, Blinda E., Wilczynski, Walter, and Rand, A. Stanley. Sex and species differences in the larynx and ear of two neotropical hylids

Warkentin, Karen M. Effects of hatching age on development in the red-eyed treefrog, Agalychnis callidryas

Delis, Pablo R., and Summers, Adam P. Burrowing substrate preference in the eastern spadefoot toad Scaphiopus h. holbrookii (Pelobatidae: Anura)

Jennings, Mark R. Status and conservation of native true frogs (Ranidae) in the transverse and Peninsular Ranges of southern California

Flowers, Matthew. Juvenile toads avoid chemical cues from an ophidian predator

Britson, Carol A., and Gutzke, William H. N. Relationship of habitat use to feeding behavior in three species of hatchling, freshwater turtles

Bulova, Susan J. Chemical cues influence burrow choice by desert tortoises

St. Clair, Robert. Do differences in growth explain sexual size dimorphism in box turtles?

ASIH Contributed Papers: Physiology and Physiological Ecology - Chairs: Peter Wainwright and Jacqueline Webb

Likongwe, Jeremy S. Combined effects of temperature and salinity on growth and feed utilization of juvenile Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L) in tanks. (PPE)

Cardwell, James R., Stacey, Norman E., and Wilkens, Horst. Evolutionary significance of extreme olfactory sensitivity to sex pheromones in the blind cave tetra (Astyanax mexicanus)

Jackson, Kate. Effects of habitat and phylogeny on salinity discrimination in crocodilians. (PPE)

Barbin, Gayle P. Olfaction in silver phase and artificially matured silver phase American eels (Anguilla rostrata): olfactory degeneration? (PPE)

Himick, Bev A., and Peter, R. E. Neuropeptide regulation of food intake in goldfish

Sturm, Erick. Food choice and digestive ability of zebraperch, Hermosilla azurea, an herbivorous fish of southern California marine waters. (PPE)

VanderKooy, Steven J., and Peterson, Mark S. Swimming performance and potential current refuges of young-of-the-year Gulf Coast walleye, Stizostedion vitreum

Yan, Hong Y. An automated system for the measurement of fish lateral line sensitivity

Christiansen, Jorgen S., Dalmo, Roy A., and Ingebrigtsen, Kristian. Kidney morphology and xenobiotic excretory routes in marine teleost fish from high latitudes - a comparative study of the Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, and the polar cod, Boreogadus saida

Norton, Stephen F., and Sidell, Bruce. The scaling of maximal activity by aerobic and anaerobic enzymes from red and white axial muscle of Morone saxatilis

Wainwright, Peter, Osenberg, Craig, Mittelbach, Gary, and Lauder, George. Population variation in the feeding mechanism of pumpkinseed sunfish: evolution or phenotypic plasticity?

Rhodes, Justin, Fernald, Russell, and Francis, Richard. Sex determination in the African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni

ASIH Contributed Papers: Ecology and Ethology - Chair: Herb Boschung and Doug Markle

Bortone, Stephen A., and Nelson, B. D. Food habits and forage limits of artificial reef fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Polivka, Karl M. Factors affecting microhabitat selection by the Arkansas River shiner, Notropis girardi. (EE)

Paszkowski, Cynthia A., Bronmark, C., Tonn, William M., and Hargeby, A. Population characteristics of Crucian carp and tench in Swedish lakes: effects of predation

Posner, D. Mason. The effect of the environment on the development of lens pigmentation in the California halibut, Paralichthys californicus (Teleostei: Paralichthyidae). (EE)

van Snik, Ellen. Habitat partitioning in a diverse assemblage of darters in the Allegheny River system. (EE)

Szedlmayer, Stephen T. Movements and site fidelity of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, in the northeast Gulf of Mexico.

Ryer, Clifford, and Olla, Bori. The pro's and con's of group foraging: the role of food distribution, behavior, and foraging energetics in the growth of juvenile walleye pollock

Padgett, Sandra M. Age, growth and reproduction of white grunt, Haemulon plumieri, of the southeastern coast of the United States. (EE)

Cuellar, Nicole. Reproductive seasonality, fecundity, spawning frequency, and maturation of the vermilion snapper, Rhomboplites aurorubens, off the southeastern U.S. (EE)

Peterson, Mark S., and VanderKooy, Steven J. Prey size choice in juveniles of Gulf Coast walleye Stizostedion vitreum: artifacts of fixation and preservation

Sogard, Susan M., and Olla, Bori L. Behavior of juvenile sablefish Anoplopoma fimbria in a stratified water column: balancing food and temperature requirements

Wolfe, Carolyn. Vertical distribution of larval California halibut, Paralichthys californicus in the laboratory. (EE)

Sabaj, Mark H., Page, Lawrence M., and Phillips, C. A. Hybridization in Shaver's Fork, Cheat River system, West Virginia

ASIH/HL Symposium: Turtle Systematics and Morphology - Organizers: Don Brinkman, Gene Gaffney, and Tony Russell

Pleurodires

Moody, Richard T. J., and Walker, Cyril A. The pelomedusid turtles of the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Tertiary deposits of West Africa

Wood, Roger, and Gawlas, Andrea. Evolution of the Madagascan side-necked (pleurodiran) turtle Erymnochelys madagascariensis

Meylan, P.A., Gaffney, E.S., and Wood, R.C. The case for recognition of the Podocnemidae

Commentary and discussion on the evolution of pleurodires

Molecular data

Iverson, John B. Phylogenetic analysis of the turtle family Kinosternidae

Shaffer, H. B., McKnight, M., and Meylan, P. A.*. The phylogeny of turtles: tests with molecular aata

Starkey, David E., Guthrie, Robert W., and Davis, Scott K. Molecular systematics and biogeography of the turtle genus Trachemys

Commentary and discussion on molecular data in turtle systematics

ASIH Contributed Papers: Fish Communities - Chairs: Bruce Thompson

Seegert, Greg. Recovery of streams in SE Ohio following the release of iron-contaminated mine water

Bart, Henry L., Jr. , Taylor, Michael S., and Harbaugh, Jeffrey T. Changes in fish communities in two east-Alabama watersheds over a twenty-year interval

Crawford, Rachel L. A comparison of the ichthyofaunal species richness of two lakes in the upper Amazon Basin, Ecuador

McCormick, Frank H. Results of the 1993 Mid-Atlantic Highlands Assessment Project (EMAP)

Musick, John A. Historical stability in deep-sea demersal fish communities

Rountree, Rodney. Fish predator guilds for Georges Bank, and the continental shelf from Cape Sable to Cape Hatteras

Taylor, Christopher M., Matthews, W. J., and Winston, M. R. Temporal variation in tributary and mainstem fish communities in a great plains stream system

Sutton, Tracey, and Hopkins, Thomas. Trophic analysis and predation impact of a low latitude midwater fish assemblage

Stouder, Deanna J., and Fresh, Kurt L. Evaluating the effects of an introduced plant, Spartina alterniflora, on an estuarine fish community: techniques, distribution, and behavior

ASIH Contributed Papers: Systematics - Chair: Rick Winterbottom

Etnier, David A., and Boschung, H.T. What names should be applied to stonerollers (Cyprinidae, Campostoma) from eastern and central North America?

Skelton, Christopher E. Preliminary evaluation of a new dace (Phoxinus: Cyprinidae) endemic to Tennessee

Williams, Robert R. G. The jaw muscles and suspensoria in the Aplochitonidae (Aplochiton + Lovettia) and their possible phylogenetic significance

Vari, Richard P. Supra and intrafamilial phylogenetic relationships of the Neotropical fish family Ctenoluciidae (Characiformes)

Bullock, Andrea, and Monod, Theodore. Cephalic myology of two parrotfish (Scaridae: Teleostei)

Westneat, Mark W. Phylogenetic relationships of labrid fishes: an initial survey of characters

ASIH Contributed Papers: Systematics

Nickerson, James G., Cooper, J. Andrew, Chapleau, Francois, and Drouin, Guy. Molecular phylogeny of Pleuronectidae based on mitochondrial Cox I gene

Eitner, Blaise J., Kimbrell, C. A., and Vetter, R. The systematics and larval identification of selected species of rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) using molecular analysis of the cytochrome b gene

Rocha-Olivares, Axayacatl, and Vetter, Russel. Molecular systematics of rockfish species (Sebastes spp.) of the subgenus Sebastomus using mitochondrial DNA sequences

Dimmick, Walter W., Mina, Mikhail M., Dgebuadze, Yurij Y., and Golubtsov, Alexander S. Variability of the mtDNA control region among morphotypes of the Lake Tana (Ethiopia) Barbus species flock

Kaiser, Hinrich, Feichtinger, W., Hober, G., Rupprecht, A., Steinlein, C., and Schmid, M. Chromosome variability and evolution in Lesser Antillean Eleutherodactylus (Anura, Leptodactylidae): lessons from phylogeny

Wood, Robert M. Geographic variation and phylogenetic systematics of Crystallaria asprella (Teleostei: Percidae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences

Tao, Hsi-Jen, Shen, Shih-Chieh, and Hu, Chung-Hung. The fossil Chondrichthyes and Actinopterygii from Taiwan

Posters on display June 17 - 19, 1995

AES Contributed Posters

Bain, Christopher A., Lacy, Eric R., and Miller, Donald H. The kallikrein-kinin system in the Atlantic stingray

Bonfil, Ramon. Global trends and status of elasmobranch fisheries.

Koop, John. Reproduction of captive rays from temperate waters

Powlik, James J. On the geometry and mechanics of tooth position in the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias

Rosenberger, Lisa, and Didier, Dominique. A new look at Hydrolagus media (Garman, 1911): is this species really just another Hydrolagus colliei (Lay and Bennett, 1839)?

Spivack, Warren D., Naylor, Gavin J. P., and Gould, Robert M. Phylogenetic relationships among myelin basic proteins from Chondrichthyes

Thompson, Bruce A, and Russell, Sandra J. First record of the bramble shark, Echinorhinus brucus, from the Gulf of Mexico with comments on life history and morphological variation

HL Contributed Posters

Bogart, J. P, Channing, A.*, and Rye, L. Relationships of a polyploid sand frog from South Africa

Carreno, Carrie A., and Harris, Reid N. Brooding females just don't care! (about other females' eggs within the joint nest)

Gardner, James D. A new genus of North American Late Cretaceous and Paleocene soft-shelled turtles

Heidemann, Richard L, and Viets, Brian E. The effects of incubation temperature on sex and growth in the gecko Hemitheconyx caudicinctus

MacCulloch, Ross D., Kupriyanova, L. A., Darevsky, I. S., and Murphy, R. W. Genetic diversity in parthenogenetic Caucasian rock lizards (Lacerta)

Murphy, Robert W., Lowcock, Leslie A., Smith, Cheryl, Darevsky, Ilya S., Orlov, Nikolai, MacCulloch, Ross D.*, and Upton, Darlene E.*. Flow cytometry in biodiversity surveys: methods, utility and constraints

Perry, Gad. The evolution of sexual dimorphism in Anolis polylepis: evidence from intraspecific variation in foraging behavior and diet

ASIH Contributed Posters

Babaluk, John A., Halden, Norman H., Reist, James D.*, Kristofferson, Allan H., Campbell, John L., and Teesdale, William J. To sea or not to sea - evidence for non-anadromous behaviour of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, from Lake Hazen, Ellesmere Island, Northwest Territories

Bailey, Carmen L. Diet of introduced bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) based on gut analysis

Barry, Karen L., Austin, James D., and Hawryshyn, Craig W. Evaluating the visual conspicuousness of the Hawaiian cleaner wrasse Labroides phthirophagus in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

Beaudet, Luc, Novales Flamarique, Inigo, and Hawryhsyn, Craig W. Retinal topography in spawning chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) and its implications for visually guided behaviors

Bielawski, Joseph P., and Gold, J. R. Nucleotide sequence evolution of the mitochondrially-encoded cytochrome b and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4L genes in notropin shiners

Bodie, J. Russell, and Tuberville, Tracey D. Using GIS to predict distribution patterns of Heterodon simus and Pituophis melanoleucus on the Savannah River site

Brodman, Bob, Cortwright, Spencer, and Resetar, Alan. Reptile and amphibian surveys of northwest Indiana fish and wildlife properties

Chivers, Douglas P., Wisenden, Brian D., Brown, Grant E., Mathis, Alicia, and Smith, R. Jan F. The role of alarm signalling in fish predator/prey interactions

Coad, Brian W., and Murray, Alison M. Biodiversity of Canadian fishes

Cole, Kathleen S., and Noakes, David L. G. Sex and the single fish: Rivulus marmoratus Poey.

Collette, Bruce B., McDiarmid, Roy, and Mickevich, Mary F. Interagency Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

Comendant, Tosha. Emergence, transit, and foraging behavior in two species of Pacific island geckos (Lepidodactylus lugubris and Gehyra oceanica)

Doyle, Kevin D. Osteological variation in the sand stargazer, Dactyloscopus tridigitatus. (I)

Dueck, Lucy A. Do sibs hang with sibs in the wild? molecular evidence on salmonid schooling

Dunn, Katherine A. Phylogenetic relationships of the skates and rays inferred from the mitochondrial encoded cytochrome b and 12S rRNA genes. (I)

Elliott, Joel K, and Leggett, W. C. The effect of temperature on predation by fishes and jellyfishes on larval capelin

Elliott, Joel K., and Mariscal, Richard N. Protection of anemonefishes from being stung by sea anemones

Grande, Terry, and Jones, Warren. The ontogenetic development of the opercular apparatus in Kneria wittei in association with a possible acoustic function

Grubach, Paul, and Coburn, Miles. An analog Weberian apparatus in the armored catfish Corydoras paleatus (Siluriformes, Callichthyidae)

Grudzien, Thaddeus A., and Platz, James E. Phylogenetic relationships of the Ramsey Canyon leopard frog Rana subaquvocalis

Harrington, Michael E. Sexual selection in Diplogrammus pauciradiatus (Callionymidae): does female choice or male-male aggression determine male spawning success? (I)

Helfman, Gene S., Collette, Bruce B., and Facey, Doug E. Everything we always wanted to know about fishes II

Jackson, Keith L. FishTalk 2.0: educational software on fish audio-communication for the Macintosh (I)

Keivany, Yazdan. Taxomonic revision of the genus Pungitius with emphasis on P. hellenicus (Teleostei: Gasterosteidae). (I)

Leppa, Markus, and Karjalainen, Juha. The effect of mass removal of cyprinids on water quality, benthic invertebrates, and zooplankton in a small northern lake

Lienesch, Philip W., and Gophen, Moshe. Predation on Daphnia lumholtzi, an exotic cladoceran, by Menidia beryllina in Lake Texoma, Oklahoma-Texas.

Lin, Xinwei, Lin, Hao-Ran, and Peter, R. E. Direct influences of tempearture on gonadotropin-II release from perfused pituitary fragments of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in vitro

Maas, Marian, and Stasiak, Richard H. Unique tuberculation analyzed by light and scanning electron microscopy in three species of Phoxinus (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

McGehee, M. Angela. Quantification of water motion in the marine environment for determining correspondence between fish community structure and gradients of hydrodynamic activity

Meador, Michael R., Gurtz, Martin E., and Cuffney, Thomas, F. Nationally consistent biological methods for integrated water-quality assessments

Murphy, Cheryl A., Cardwell, James R., and Stacey, Norman E. Steroidal sex pheromones of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)

Neely, David A., and Raesly, Richard L. Genetic variation in the Potomac sculpin, Cottus girardi Robins: a preliminary analysis

Olofsson, Hans Ake, Mosegaard, Henrik, and Hoglund, Bengt Erik. Spatial and temporal distribution of brown trout redds in a small temperate stream

Peden, Alex E. Distribution and status of Cottus bairdi and C. confusus in British Columbia determined from allozyme electrophoresis

Pellerin, Nicole M. New evidence for tail structure in Irregulareaspidinae (Heterostraci, Cyathaspididae) from the Lower Devonian of northern Canada. (I)

de la Pena, Antonio. The Leuciscinae (Cyprinidae, Cypriniformes) of the Oligocene from the Loranca Basin (Spain): paleobiogeographical consequences

Phillips, Ruth B., Reed, Kent M., and Rab, Petr. Revised karyotypes of coregonid fishes from the Great Lakes

Pinsent, David L., and Haedrich, Richard L. Matching the plankton peak matters for larval Atlantic cod

Potts, Thomas A., Sluka, Robert, and Sullivan, Kathleen M. Groupers (family Serranidae) and symbiotic cleaning organisms off Key Largo, Florida: diversity, densities and symbiotic interactions

Powell, G. L., and Russell, A. P. Morphological change in a monophyletic group of anoles: phylogenetic and ontogenetic comparisons

Rakocinski, Chet. Interaction between darter predation and lotic disturbance in a southeastern Gulf Coastal-Plain stream, USA

Reed, Kent M., and Phillips, Ruth B. Characterization and localization of Alu I fragments from lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush

Rittenhouse, David R., Russell, Anthony P., and Phillips, Douglas S. Gekkonid laryngeal skeletal morphology as revealed by computer-generated three-dimensional reconstructions

Rosa, Ricardo S., and Moura, Rodrigo L. Community structure of reef fishes in the biological reserve of Atol das Rocas, off Brazil

Russell, Anthony P., Powell, G.L., and Hall, D.R. Growth and age in Alberta long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum krausei): a comparison of two methods of estimation

Sajdak, S. Linn, Phillips, Ruth B, and Bernatchez, Louis. Biogeographic and phylogenetic relationships within the genera Coregonus and Stenodus based on rDNA spacer sequences

Schmidt, Erin M., and Bornbusch, Alan H.* Evolutionary morphology of the pectoral musculature in mochokid and doradoid catfishes

Smith, Michael E. The effects of predator size on reactive distance and schooling of western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis

Soehn, Kenneth L. Evidence concerning formation of superficial and lamellar layers of the exoskeleton in Wenlockian (Silurian) Cyathaspidiformes (Heterostraci, Agnatha) from Canada. (I)

Sutton, P. Eric. A comparative study of sampling techinques for Neoseps reynoldsi. (H)

Sutton, Stephen G., and Haedrich, Richard L.*. Atlantic salmon parr lose weight in the fall

Van Wyk, J. H., and Maderson, P. F. A. Epidermal glands and the shedding cycle in the cordylid lizard, Cordylus giganteus (Sauria: Cordylidae)

Vitic, Renato, and Strobeck, Curtis. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis of populations of lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, in west-central Canada: implications for stock identification

Walker, H. J., Jr., and Bussing, William A. Two new pufferfishes of the genus Sphoeroides (Tetraodontidae) from the eastern Pacific

Wessel, James H., III, and Johnson, Robert Karl. A preliminary report on the Sternoptychidae of the Somali Current region of the western Indian Ocean

Williams, Barry. Assessing mtDNA variation in the Phoxinus complex of cyprinid fishes in Voyageurs' National Park, Minnesota. (I)

Williams, Robert R. G., and Wilson, Mark V. H. Systematic position of the enigmatic teleost Platacodon nanus Marsh, from the Upper Cretaceous of North America

Wilson, Dawn S. Gender biases within herpetology

Wilson, Mark V. H., and Li Guo-qing. Osteology of the Eocene fossil salmonid Eosalmo driftwoodensis, with comments on its phylogenetic significance

Reconvening of the ASIH Board of Governors - June 19, 1995

Issues which arose subsequent to the June 15, regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Governors prompted President Greenfield to re-convene the Board, calling it to order at 3:31 PM in the Tory "Turtle" Auditorium, room TL11, on the University of Alberta campus. Pat Gregory, chair of the Time, Place and Program Committee, was called to speak. He explained that the society had just received an invitation to meet on the campus of the University of Guelph in 1998. Dr. James Bogart, who would serve as Local Committee Chair, provided a brief description of the facilities and proposed dates in the third week of July in order to accommodate a joint meeting with SSAR. Gregory moved acceptance of the invitation, and it was seconded by Dr. Clark Hubbs. Dr. Vic Hutchison asked if SSAR had agreed to meet with ASIH. Dr. Gregory indicated that they almost certainly would if ASIH agreed to the July dates. There was brief discussion of the geographic distribution of recent and near-future meeting sites before Dr. Jay Savage inquired whether an invitation had been received from a high-level administrative office at University of Guelph. Hearing that such an official invitation had not yet been received, Dr. Savage moved that the motion be amended to accept the invitation contingent upon receipt of an official, written invitation from an administrative office. Dr. Marvalee Wake seconded the motion. The president called for a vote, and the motion carried with 1 opposing vote.

President Greenfield then called on Dr. Walter Courtenay, chair of the Environmental Quality Committee. Courtenay explained that ASIH had been asked by the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to join it in supporting a proposal to establish a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Diversity Funding Initiative. Dr. Courtenay read a section of the letter from the IAFWA, and moved that ASIH support the initiative. Dr. Ed Wiley asked how it related to Dingle-Johnson funds, and whether it differed in implementation. Courtenay explained that it was limited to funding of projects involving non-game species, and excluded support of picnic areas and similar public facilities. The motion was made, and seconded, to support this initiative, and Greenfield's request for a show of hands resulted in passage without dissent. The meeting adjourned at 3:39 PM.

Annual Business Meeting, 19 June 1995

The meeting was called to order by President Greenfield at 3:49 PM in Tory "Turtle" Auditorium, room TL11, on the University of Alberta campus. Greenfield announced that Dr. Dick Rosenblatt was serving as Parliamentarian and requested a motion to approve the minutes of the last business meeting, as published in Copeia 1994(4):1105-1108. The motion was made, seconded and carried unanimously.

Dr. Steve Bortone, Chair of the Resolutions Committee, read substantive resolutions. The following resolutions were approved by the membership:

WHEREAS, the membership of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists is keenly aware of the precarious existence that many species of fishes, amphibians and reptiles face; and

WHEREAS, the membership believes that Federal stewardship is required to reduce the probability of extinction of many of these species;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists endorses the policy statement of the American Fisheries Society that states: The AFS (American Fisheries Society) vigorously supports reauthorization of a strengthened ESA (Endangered Species Act) and supports complementary legislation to protect ecological integrity of aquatic systems, thereby averting future endangerment of species. Further, the AFS supports all agency cooperation, proactive programs, and public education that enhance wise resource use or generate public appreciation of aquatic systems. (P. L. Angermeier and J. E. Williams. 1994. Fisheries Vol. 19, No. 1:29.)

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ASIH expands its support of the American Fisheries Society policy statement to include both aquatic (marine and freshwater) and terrestrial systems that harbor species of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles.

WHEREAS, the Alabama sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus suttkusi, was described by Williams and Clemmer (1991: Bull. Ala. Mus. Nat. Hist. No. 10:17-31) in a scientific peer-reviewed publication, and is seriously endangered of extinction due to habitat modifications and degradation from dam construction, impoundments, channel modifications, siltation, pollution, and limited access to areas in the Mobile Basin; and

WHEREAS, the Alabama sturgeon was proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an endangered species with critical habitat designation in June, 1993, with this listing opposed by the Alabama River Coalition, with allegations that this fish is not a valid species or is extinct; and

WHEREAS, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service withdrew the listing petition for the Alabama sturgeon in December, 1994, on the basis that the species was extinct, only one year after an adult specimen had been captured in the Alabama River below Claiborne Lock and Dam, and

WHEREAS, it has been established by reputable, professional systematists and taxonomists, using morphological and acceptable statistical procedures, that the Alabama sturgeon is a valid and distinct species, with two additional adult specimens captured in the Alabama River in April and May, 1995, and

WHEREAS, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is not currently proposing the Alabama sturgeon as an endangered species,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH), a professional scientific society dedicated to the study and conservation of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles, at its 75th meeting held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 15-19 June 1995, urges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Alabama sturgeon as an endangered species with designation of critical habitat,

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbit, and Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mollie Beattie.

Bortone explained th

at the American Elasmobranch Society had requested that ASIH support a resolution they had passed regarding the Magnuson Act. The motion was read and discussion ensued. Dr. Jay Savage suggested that the motion was too complex and detailed to be appropriately considered during the meeting, and moved that it be returned to Committee. Savage's motion was approved by a show of hands.

The Secretary then presented the slate of candidates for election to the various offices of the Society. Ballots with the full slate developed by the Nominating Committee were distributed, and Dr. Greenfield called for nominations from the floor. Motions made and seconded from the floor, and accepted by the nominees, included Joseph C. Mitchell for Board of Governors in Herpetology and Katherine S. Cole and Lawrence M. Page for Board of Governors in Ichthyology. The following were elected (as later announced at the banquet):

President-Elect - Theodore W. Pietsch; General Ichthyology Editor - Richard L. Mayden; Board of Governors [Class of 2000] (Herpetology) - James P. Bogart, Alan De Queiroz, Harry W. Greene, Alan H. Savitzky, David B. Wake; Board of Governors (Ichthyology) - William D. Anderson, Jr., William N. Eschmeyer, Gene S. Helfman, Lynne R. Parenti, Edwin P. Pister; Nominating Committee - Patrick T. Gregory (Chair), Herpetology - Jack W. Sites, Roy McDiarmid (automatic appointment as immediate past president of Society), Ichthyology - Donald Buth, Stephen T. Ross; Honorary Foreign Member- John R. Paxton. Margaret M. Stewart automatically moves from President-Elect to President for calendar year 1996. The complete list of current officers, editors, foreign members, and distinguished fellows is published on the inside front cover of Copeia.

Committees appointed by President Greenfield to serve from June 1995 to June 1996 are as follows ("consultants" are not ASIH members but serve in advisory capacity):

Long Range Planning and Finance Committee: Robert K. Johnson (Chair) (1995-1998), Brooks M. Burr (1995-1997), Maureen A. Donnelly (1994-1997), Harry W. Greene (1994 -1997), Deanna J. Stouder (1995-1998), Joseph Travis (1995-1998), James D. Williams (1993-1996)
Time, Place, and Program Committee: Patrick T. Gregory (Chair), James P. Bogart, Robert C. Cashner, Robert J. Lavenberg, Joseph C. Mitchell (HL Representative), Sanford A. Moss (AES Representative), Joseph S. Nelson, Theodore W. Pietsch, Jay R. Stauffer, Christopher Tracy (Graduate Student Representative)
Endowment Fund Committee: Jay M. Savage (Chair, 1993-97), William N. Eschmeyer (Chair-elect, 1995-2000), John M. Fitzsimons (1993-97), David C. Heins (1995-2000), Marvalee H. Wake (1993-96)
Environmental Quality Committee: M. L. Warren, Jr. (Chair), Miriam Benabib, Noel M. Burkhead, Salvador Contreras-Balderas, Walter R. Courtenay, Jr., E. J. Crossman, C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr., Thomas H. Fritts, Patrick T. Gregory, Karsten E. Hartel, Selina Heppel, Richard L. Mayden, Frank McCormick, W. L. Minckley, Joseph C. Mitchell (HL Liaison), H. R. Mushinsky, John A. Musick (AES Liaison), Joseph S. Nelson, Edwin P. Pister, George Rabb, Gerald Ray Smith, Glenn R. Stewart, James D. Williams
Ichthyological and Herpetological Collections Committee: Brooks M. Burr (Chair); Newsletter Subcommittee: H. J. Walker, Jr. (Chair), George H. Burgess, Lou VanGuelpen, Susan Jewett, Cynthia Klepadlo, John E. Simmons; Supplies and Resources Subcommittee: Alexandra M. Snyder (Chair), Henry L. Bart, Lou VanGuelpen, Susan Jewett, Steven P. Platania, Mary Anne Rogers; Policy and Practices Subcommittee, Douglas W. Nelson (Chair), Karsten E. Hartel, Jonathan A. Campbell, Darrel Frost, Hinrich Kaiser, Richard L. Mayden, Alexandra M. Snyder; Data Standards Subcommittee: Stuart G. Poss (Chair), Ichthyology Division: Paulo Andreas Buckup, David Catania, Dean Hendrickson, Julian M. Humphries, Mary Mickevich, Richard L. Mayden, Richard Pyle, Jeffrey T. Williams, Stanley D. Blum (consultant); Herpetology Division: John E. Cadle, David Cannatella; Linda S. Ford, John E. Simmons, Robert Reynolds, Jens V. Vindum
Joint ASIH-AFS Committee on Names of Fishes: Joseph S. Nelson (Chair), E. J. Crossman, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, Donald J. Stewart, James D. Williams, Ray Hunziker (consultant)
Publications Policy Committee: Managing Editor, all Sectional Editors, Book Review Editors (see inside front cover)
Editorial Board: (see inside front cover)
Committee on Special Publications: Michael E. Douglas (Chair), William J. Matthews, Steven P. Platania, José P. Rosado
Committee on Book-Length Publications: Richard L. Mayden (Chair), Linda Trueb, Theodore W. Pietsch
Committee to Nominate a New Honorary Foreign Member: Ichthyology - Bruce B. Collette (Chair), Barry Chernoff, Daniel M. Cohen, Lynne R. Parenti; Herpetology - Harold K. Voris (Chair), Richard Etheridge, David B. Wake, Richard G. Zweifel
Equal Participation Committee: Dominique Didier (Chair), Carol Britson, Karen Warkentin
Student Awards Committee: Stuart G. Poss (Chair), E.D. Brodie, III (Chair-elect), Dawn S. Wilson
Committee on Graduate Student Participation: Dawn S. Wilson (Chair), Jacqueline Webb (Faculty Representative), Carol Britson, Robert Espinoza, Phillip Harris, Chris Schieble, Jeff Stewart, Adam Summers, Christopher Tracy, Cheryl A. D. Wilga
Gaige Fund Award Committee: Maureen A. Donnelly (Chair), Kiisa Nishikawa, Steve M. Reilly
Raney Fund Award Committee: Robert K. Johnson (Chair), Dannie A. Hensley, George R. Sedberry
Robert H. Gibbs, Jr. Memorial Award Committee: Brooks M. Burr (Chair), John McEachran, G. David Johnson
Committee to Revise the Herpetological Animal Care Leaflet: Rebecca A. Pyles, Robin Andrews (SSAR representative), Robert Wayne Van Devender, F. Harvey Pough, Jos. J. Schall
Committee to Revise the Careers in Herpetology Pamphlet: John E. Simmons
Society Historian: Mark R. Jennings
Herpetological Information Coordinator: John E. Simmons
Ichthyological Information Coordinator : Stephen J. Walsh
Representative to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature: George Rabb
Representative to American Association for the Advancement of Sciences: Alan E. Leviton
Representative to Association of Systematics Collections: Larry M. Page
Representative to American Fisheries Society: M. L. Warren, Jr.
Representative to Early Life History Section of American Fisheries Society: Michael P. Fahay
Representative to Society for Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and Herpetologists' League: Alan H. Savitzky
Representative to American Elasmobranch Society: George H. Burgess
Representative to Fish Behavior Group of Animal Behavior Society: Arthur A. Myrberg
Representative to Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections: Carol K. Malcolm
Representative to the National Biological Survey: M. L. Warren, Jr.

President Greenfield then asked that the members approve establishment of a new standing Committee on Book Length Publications, and explained the need for this, as discussed at the BOG meeting. The motion to approve establishment of this committee was made, seconded, and unanimously passed (and appointments were subsequently made by the president - see above).

Dr. Bruce Thompson, representing the Local Committee hosting next year's meeting in New Orleans, spoke about plans for that meeting, mostly reiterating details provided in the minutes of the BOG meeting (above). In response to a question about roommate matching, Dr. Thompson replied that neither the hotel or local committee would make matches. Dr. Rosenblatt suggested that the ASIH World Wide Web pages might be used to facilitate communications among those members looking for roommates. Secretary Hendrickson agreed to help facilitate this by posting announcements on the Web pages. Other societies routinely provide roommate-matching services, and Dr. Thompson promised to investigate possibilities of doing so in New Orleans. Thompson indicated that the Local Committee will mail announcements to both domestic and foreign members of ASIH. Dr. Ted Pietsch then reported on plans for the Seattle meeting in 1997 (see minutes of the BOG meeting, above).

Dr. Marvalee Wake, chair of the Endowment Committee, reported on the status of the endowment fund (see minutes of BOG meeting above). Dr. Wake continued with an announcement of the World Congress of Herpetology, reiterating for all members the announcement made earlier to the BOG (above).

President Greenfield asked for a volunteer to serve as the ASIH representative to the AAAS. He then called for Old Business, and seeing no response from the members, called for New Business. Karen Warkentin, representing the Women's Lunch group, reminded the members of a resolution passed at the Illinois meeting (1992) that was to be printed in all subsequent meeting announcements and programs, and noted that an oversight had apparently led to its not being printed in this year's program. She then read the following resolution from the Women's Lunch group, which was subsequently passed unanimously by the members present as follows:

WHEREAS the ASIH consists of men and women dedicated to the study of ichthyology and herpetology, and

WHEREAS demographics have shown that women are under-represented in the society, and

WHEREAS it is understood that the full participation of all members will benefit the society,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that there be a committee of three members appointed by the president to promote the participation of women in the ASIH. This committee would be responsible for running a Women's Lunch at the annual meetings, as well as other activities designed to foster women's participation in the society. Also,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a Women's Lunch be a regular part of the annual meetings, and that the local committee have the responsibility of scheduling such a lunch, preferably early in the meetings, providing a room where it will be held, and announcing it in the program.

The meeting adjourned at 4:58 PM.

Annual Banquet, 19 June 1995

The banquet was called to order at 7:29 PM by emcee Robert Lavenberg. After a warm welcome and opening remarks by Local Chairs Joseph S. Nelson and Mark V. H. Wilson, emcee Lavenberg welcomed members to this banquet celebrating the 75th Annual Meeting of the ASIH and the 43rd Annual Meeting of HL. Members of the local committee were recognized for their outstanding efforts in assuring an excellent meeting. Staff members participating on the local committee were: M. Barrett, D. Brinkman, M. Caldwell, J. Filipski, R. Fox, J. Gardner, C. Gouter, B. Hall, K. Larson, W. Mackay, R. Mandryk, B. Naylor, J. Nelson, A. Neuman, C. Paszkowski, J. Post, W. Roberts, D. Radford, H. Rosenberg, A. Russell, G. Scrimgeour, N. Stacey, M. Steinhilber, P. Stepney, M. Sullivan, W. Tonn, and M. Wilson.

Chairs Joseph S. Nelson and Mark V. H. Wilson received invaluable assistance from the following students as local committee members and/or volunteers: Barry Bayley, Mike Brack, John Bruner, Janice Burke, Jim Cardwell, Andy Danylchuk, Kim Howland, Keith Jackson, Mariola Janowicz, Hilary Jones, Li Guo-qing, Yazdan Keivany, Sue Kiesling, Teresa McDonald, Debbie Mucha, Barbara Müller, Cheryl Murphy, Alison Murray, Roshni Narayan, Kristin Olson, Nicole Pellerin, Stephen Petersen, Al Shostak, Ken Soehn, Elaine Street, Wendy Strembiski, Kathy Strobl, Tuula Tavila, Rena Vandenbos, Renato Vitic, Sue White, and Sandra Zohar. Local Committee participants functioned in the following capacities:

Society Liaisons

Announcement and Program

Poster and Audio-visual

Field Trips

ASIH Graduate Students

Graduate Student Activities

Registration, Information and Housing

Receptions, Picnic and Banquet

Social Events and Transportation

Artwork

T-shirts and Registration

Fundraising

Group Photograph

Spouse Activities

Museum Visits

Conference Coordination

Beer Labels

At the Head Table were seated the following ASIH and HL Officers and Guests: David W. Greenfield, ASIH President; Margaret Stewart, ASIH President-Elect, and George Martin; Dean Hendrickson, ASIH Secretary, and Sherry Hendrickson; Larry Page, ASIH Treasurer; Roy W. McDiarmid, ASIH Past President; James P. Bogart, HL President; Joseph C. Mitchell, HL Secretary; Joseph S. Nelson, Local Co-Chair, and Claudine Nelson; Mark Wilson, Local Co-Chair; Michelle Hoyle, Conference Coordinator; Joan Clarke, Conference Coordinator; J. Ralph Nursall, Guest Speaker, and Mary Nursall.

Guest Speaker, J. Ralph Nursall, provided an entertaining lecture on the subject Virtual Reality, reflecting on changes in Herpetology and Ichthyology during his lifetime. It was then noted that approximately 615 members of ASIH, HL and AES attended this conference, including members representing at least the countries of Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Malawi, México, New Zealand, Norway, Panamá, Portugal, People's Republic of China, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and Wales.

ASIH Past Presidents in the audience were recognized: Reeve M. Bailey; William A. Gosline; W. Beverly Scott; Bruce B. Collette; Jay M. Savage; C. Richard Robins; Marvalee H. Wake; Daniel M. Cohen; Clark Hubbs; Victor Hutchison; Richard H. Rosenblatt; Gerald R. Smith; Carter R. Gilbert; and Roy. W. McDiarmid. HL Past Presidents present and recognized were J. Whitfield Gibbons, Edmund D. Brody, Jr., and Roy. W. McDiarmid

ASIH President Greenfield presented special awards to Brooks M. Burr, for extraordinary service to the society as Secretary, and to Roy W. McDiarmid, the immediate Past President. President-Elect Margaret Stewart presented a special award to Walter Courtenay for 20-years of dedicated service to the society in the field of environmental sciences. ASIH Secretary Dean Hendrickson announced the results of elections (see minutes of the Business Meeting).

Dawn Wilson, Chair of the Graduate Student Participation Committee, thanked the society and its membership for supporting students through their generous contributions to the raffle and other fund-raising efforts.

Maureen Donnelly, as Chair of the Stoye and Storer Awards Committee, explained background of these awards and how recipients are chosen, and introduced the respective chairs for each of the award judging committees (see Minutes of Board of Governors meeting), who presented the awards as follows:

Storer - Ichthyology

Diplogrammus pauciradiatus

Stoye - General Herpetology

Liolaemus

Stoye - General Ichthyology

Stoye - Genetics, Development and Morphology

Hexagrammos decagrammus

Stoye - Physiology and Physiological Ecology

Anguilla rostrata

Stoye - Ecology and Ethology

Chair, Gene Helfman also acknowledged a runner-up in this competition: Jerald B. Johnson for "Life history evolution of Utah chub Gila atraria in the presence of cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki: a comparative study of age, growth, and reproduction among geographically isolated populations."

Dr. Fran Gelwick, was called upon as representative of the Raney Awards committee to present the Raney awards to the recipients listed above in the minutes of the Board of Governors meeting.

Maureen Donnelly, member of the Gaige award committee, then presented the Gaige Awards to the recipients listed above in the minutes of the Board of Governors meeting.

Emcee Lavenberg asked members to remember and acknowledge three ASIH members, P. Humphrey Greenwood, Hugh H. DeWitt, and Ray Birdsong, who died during the past year; and especially acknowledged G. David Johnson for his eloquent tribute to Ray.

John Lundberg, Chair of the Gibbs Award Committee, presented the Gibbs Award to Dr. Reeve M. Bailey, who eloquently expressed his gratitude to the audience, and the emotions associated with receiving an award which honors a distinguished colleague he had known well. Lavenberg then pointed out that Lenora and Carl Bond were celebrating their 53rd wedding anniversary on this day, and members joined him in extending them their congratulations.

Dr. Gene Helfman presented a special award, proclaiming that he regretted discontinuance of the outlandish t-shirt awards, and that he and his ad hoc committee had therefore decided to replace it with a new award, the Carter Gilbert Bounds of Decency Award. The idea from the award stems from a letter from Carter Gilbert to the Executive Committee, suggesting that all activities at the annual meetings should be "... within the bounds of decency." Dr. Helfman reported that his ad hoc committee had chosen to honor Ken Soehn, Chair of the Local Committee's Entertainment Committee, as recipient of this year's award, for his suspected, but unconfirmed, role in the decision made by the Local Committee to offer no free beer to meeting participants, a decision which surely contributed to assuring that participants adhered to Carter's admonition.

Dr. Steve Bortone, Chair of the Resolutions Committee, then read this year's resolutions as follows:

The task of the Resolutions Committee was particularly difficult this year because, quite frankly, nothing much went wrong for which a resolution was needed to correct;

THEREFORE the first order of business of the Resolutions Committee hereby establishes that all future meetings of the ASIH must have some type of calamity so as to provide ample material for those responsible for writing resolutions. However, several resolutions are hereby proposed with the intention of enlightening an otherwise 'well oiled' venture.

WHEREAS Leo, the official lumberjack of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, was not able to attend the 75th annual meeting of the ASIH held on the campus of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada from 15 - 19 June 1995; and

WHEREAS other Canadians heeded the call to meet the Societies' demands for good cheer, camaraderie and a VIMS-free workplace;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists acknowledges and gratefully thanks to the local committee who made this meeting such a great success;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the society thanks the White Braid Society and the staff at Fort Edmonton for providing entertainment at the picnic that was informative, educational, and interesting;

BE IT EVEN FURTHER RESOLVED that the society thanks The Almighty (i.e., the Great Stickleback in the Sky) for not allowing Wayne's giant white poster boards to collapse en masse during the poster sessions.

WHEREAS the 75th annual meeting of the ASIH was held in Edmonton, Canada with gracious hosts, lots of promised sunshine (except when it rained); and unusual surroundings which included trees with dandruff, dormitories with rat maze-like corridors reminiscent of the hotel in the "Shinning", elevators with minds of their own, mimicry of tropical and humid biotopes in the dormitories that made attendees from the Amazon rainforest feel more at home (including temperature conditions which were kept somewhere between the thermal neutral zone and the upper thermal maximum for a large mammal); and

WHEREAS the finer hotels in Edmonton have saunas and the Lister Hall dormitories have gone one better where each room is a sauna; and

WHEREAS the membership of the ASIH enjoyed itself imbibing on its very own beer and became the only scientific society to be able to lay claim to having BULL TROUT and CANADIAN TOAD as its official brews; and

WHEREAS in spite of the availability of the above mentioned 'official brews', the society has set a new standard for sobriety in that not one single keg of beer was consumed at this annual meeting; and

WHEREAS the term 'being buzzed' during a talk has now taken on a new meaning;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the ASIH hereby invites itself for a return visit to beautiful and hospitable Edmonton and the University of Alberta 20 years hence for its annual meeting to be held coincidentally, but simultaneously, with the publication of the 53rd edition of Joe Nelson's "Fishes of the World" and the extrication of Butch Brodie's cigar; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that at these next meetings ASIH contribute to a fund to be established at the University of Alberta to help in the purchase slide projectors, each with operable autofocus (even though student operated focusing was deemed to be cheaper by the local committee); and

BE IT ALSO FURTHER RESOLVED that at this next meeting the members of ASIH will have the option of deciding for themselves whether or not they can purchase the green or the blue tee-shirt; and

BE IT EVEN FURTHER RESOLVED that these same tee-shirts be embossed with the logo: "ASIH 2015 - Return to Butterdome!".

WHEREAS the address by past president Roy W. McDiarmid entitled "On Tadpoles and Tepuis and Other Things Natural!" was presented in such a way as to bring tears to the eyes and fond remembrances to the heart of the membership of ASIH; and

WHEREAS Roy McDiarmid's membership in ASIH has had an impact on several aspects of modern science such as: the dramatic increase in ASIH membership, the number of pages published in Copeia, the number of new species of elasmobranchs, and even the relevance of the journal Science;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the ASIH extends to past president, Roy W. McDiarmid, its appreciation and gratitude; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that he should hereafter be known by the title of "Esteemed Herpetologist" even though, as pointed out by a certain ichthyologist from Bishop, California, such a title as "Esteemed Herpetologist" is an oxymoron.

WHEREAS Sheron Emmerson, longtime member of ASIH, is recent recipient of a MacArther Award;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Society extend to her congratulations of the highest order.

WHEREAS the concept of the cash bar is as foreign to the membership of the ASIH as is the practice of Carter Gilbert buying the house a round of drinks; and

WHEREAS the consumptive ability of the typical participant at these meetings can easily lead to a depletion of her or his travel allotment;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that during the planning stages for all future meetings, when the idea of "cash bar" is mentioned, that the idea is to be placed solely with the chair of the planning committee in a place where the sun does not shine.

WHEREAS the advent of computer graphic software and the availability of computers (as evidenced by the number of ASIH members observed carrying softsided black bags with shoulder straps past curious Canadian customs agents) has made its inevitable impact on the graphic presentations at these meetings; and

WHEREAS the audience to the above mentioned presentations deserves lucid and enlightening displays of graphs and charts; and

WHEREAS the graphs prepared by the typical presenters at these meetings indicates that they have impaired retinal capacities that inhibits their ability to reliably judge color relationships (either that or the Society can no longer claim to be completely drug free);

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that at future meetings, presenters of papers be advised that just because Harry Chapin said "...there are so many colors in the rainbow..." that when preparing a slide it is not necessary to use every one; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no member of ASIH be permitted to choose the colors for his or her own graphs and charts, but rely on the judgment of colleagues from the social sciences, thus, simultaneously, improving the quality of visual presentations at the ASIH annual meetings and inadvertently giving relevance to several other disciplines.

WHEREAS the members of the society are often transportationally disadvantaged when traveling far from home;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the ASIH recognizes the efforts of Larry Allen, who managed to commandeer a charter bus following Saturday night's reception at the museum and got the bus driver to deliver 30 of the Societies thirstiest members to the Black Dog Pub.

WHEREAS the Olympics will be held in Atlanta in 1996; and

WHEREAS the ASIH has rarely produced the caliber of athlete that any Olympic team truly deserves;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a special Olympic fund be established to encourage the pre-Olympic trial, back reverse flip performed by Darryl Frost, in hopes that he will bring home the gold.

WHEREAS the Society has tried for the past three years to establish a monograph series; and

WHEREAS there is an apparent inability for any member to come up with a definition which clearly and unambiguously delineates the essence of a monograph; and

WHEREAS most members would not be able to recognize a monograph if they ever saw one;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a working definition be adopted to serve as a guide when determining if a submission qualifies as a monograph; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the definition should be based on the opinion of the current managing editor of Copeia who sees a monograph in light of his own personal attributes: "Its big, but its not too big!".

WHEREAS Henry S. Fitch's compassion for life history variation in reptiles directly and indirectly inspired the work of several generations of biologists, including that presented at this meeting by some of our youngest members; and

WHEREAS Henry single-handedly established the study of snake biology as a reputable activity; and

WHEREAS during several decades Henry has consistently treated his colleagues and his associates - be they high school students or professional press - with warmth, respect, and consideration, thereby enriching their careers in subtle but very important respects; and

WHEREAS by virtue of his presentation at this meeting, Henry has irrevocably changed the criterion for the phrase "long term field study" by an order of magnitude and therefore beyond most of our grasp;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the ASIH on the occasion of its 75th meeting, and his 86th year, heartily congratulates Henry S. Fitch for his distinguished career and wonderful personal example, and wishes him the very best in the coming field seasons.

WHEREAS the word newt has long indicated a group of slimy and sometimes toxic animals that inhabit the more lugubrious parts of the earth; and

WHEREAS newts are considered by herpetologists to be valued and dear creatures from which much enlightenment can be obtained through their careful and attentive study;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the congressman from Georgia, even though also considered by some to be slimy and toxic and also known for his lugubriousness, so as not to be confused with the delicate animals of the same name, be hereafter referred to as 'Quasi Newto' as his ability to understand the needs of our society is not quite as astute as that of a real live newt,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a real newt be acknowledged as being considerably more user friendly than 'Quasi Newto'.

WHEREAS several members of the society have not learned that the essence of socialization is cooperation and facilitation; and

WHEREAS some of these members think that no one pays attention to just how deleterious to the well being of the Society their attitudes can be;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that at the choice of the Resolutions Committee, upon concurrence with many ASIH members, the following awards are imparted on some of the membership:

to Ed Wiley - the Lister Hall tee-sheet inscribed with the words: "You are born naked, you die naked, and in between you play on teams",

to Bruce Thompson and H.J. Walker - a years subscription to GQ and an accompanying gift certificate to be used to do something ... anything, to improve their corporate image,

to Interrelationships of Fishes moderator, Dave Johnson - a tazer alarm clock that stuns him when a speaker goes over his or her time limit so that the session attendees can have at least some morsels left by the scavenging hordes at the end of the coffee break,

and to the rest of the Society the following whooppee cushions, to be used at significant, but appropriate moments at future meetings when the only retort to the often posed question "Exactly why did you do this study in the first place?", is a loud but resounding retort.

WHEREAS many of the mature members of the society were a bit chagrined at their hands being stamped upon entry to the 'Power Plant'; and

WHEREAS those duly imparted pink stamps lasted several days upon the wrists of some of the members (especially Bob Johnson's);

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that at future meetings, all members of ASIH be stamped upon registration so as to serve as a reminder that a 'clean body is a healthy body' and that its saponified removal can serve as a barometer of the Societies motto 'cleanliness is next to Darwinism'.

WHEREAS several members were not in attendance at this years annual meeting of the ASIH; and

WHEREAS the future of the Society depends upon the active participation and attendance of even the most bland of us;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the following list of top-ten reasons for attending an ASIH meeting be adopted for consideration by the membership:

WHEREAS the next meeting of the ASIH is to be held in New Orleans, a city known for easy flowing booze, and considerable extravagance; and

WHEREAS many members themselves have indicated, with some trepidation, their intentions to travel to the Big Easy in 1996

WHEREAS the attending members have been promised post cards pre-addressed by Bob Cashner that read 'Dear Mom and Dad, having a wonderful time, wish you were here' to soften any fears that relatives may have;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that these pre-meeting anxieties be left at home; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the attendees be made aware that in New Orleans that the phrase 'suck the head, and bite the tail' applies only to crawfish consumption.

Lastly, the Resolutions Committee (consisting of Steve Bortone, Bill Tonn, and Julian Lee) would not like to thank the many people who responded to the query "Do you have anything for the Resolutions Committee?" by saying "Don't forget to say something about the temperature in the dorms". Thanks, but you really weren't much help and to the others, thanks for the input and we will see you all 'Una vez mas' in New Orleans. 'Hasta la vista'.

Dawn Wilson, as Chair of the Graduate Student Participation Committee, proceeded to carry out the raffle, with emcee Lavenberg calling out winners who claimed their prizes. Finally, Joe Nelson and Mark Wilson made final comments and acknowledgments, inviting ASIH to meet in Edmonton again on the occasion of the Society's 100^th anniversary in the year 2020. Bruce Thompson, on behalf of the 1996 local committee, extended the invitation to all present to reassemble in June 1996 in New Orleans. The banquet adjourned at 10:47 PM to dancing and conversation.

Two field trips were held the following day: a seining trip to the Saskatchewan River and an overnight trip to the Royal Tyrrell Museum and badlands in Drumheller, Alberta, thus concluding Society affairs for the 1995 annual meetings. -- Dean A. Hendrickson, Secretary.

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