2011

The program for the 2011 Desert Fishes Council meeting in Hermosillo, Mexico are now available in pdf format:

Long program (with abstracts)

Short program

The 43nd Annual meeting of the DESERT FISHES COUNCIL (DFC) will be held 8 to 12 NOVEMBER (Tuesday thru Saturday) 2011 in the Hotel Gandara, in Hermosillo, Sonora, México. Local host is DICTUS (Departamento de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas), University of Sonora (Universidad de Sonora).

Meeting attendees that pre-pay online can pick up their registration materials beginning at 4:00 on Tuesday November 8 thru Wednesday November 9. For this meeting, DFC will also offer onsite registration for Universidad de Sonora undergraduates to participate for the cost of $20 (US)*.  An informal social reception (ice breaker) will occur at the hotel Tuesday evening. Technical papers and posters are presented starting at 8:00 AM Wednesday and continuing until 5:00 PM each day through Friday. The DFC business meeting and banquet are Thursday afternoon and evening, with a field trip on Saturday. The Banquet will be held at Xochimilco Restaurant, and will feature Carne Asada (beef barbecue, salad, flavor tortillas, barrel of beer).

HERMOSILLO GENERAL INFORMATION

Hermosillo is the capital of northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. The city is located at 200 m above sea level on a plain in the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by flat areas with grass, behind which are greener hills that are then framed by serrated peaks in the background. Weather during the meeting is unpredictable, but daily lows in November is about 55o F (13 o C) with highs of 82 o F (28 o C). Precipitation of the area gets < 190 mm (7.56 inches) of annual rainfall, and usually comes mostly from June to October with the monsoon. November is a low precipitation period. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermosillo)

Dollars are accepted at almost all businesses in the city, but we suggest to use pesos to avoid fluctuations in rate exchange. ATMs in Hermosillo are very common, and will work with most US bank accounts, and are the easiest way to buy pesos. Major credit cards are accepted in all hotels in the city (except American Express).

ACCOMMODATIONS

The Hotel Gandara is holding a block of rooms for us until 7 November 2011 at the special rate of $66 (single or double occupancy, tax included). To receive the discounted room rate you must make your reservation by phone (011-52-662-109-1200), clearly identifying yourself as a DFC attendee. Reservations must be made at least 30 days in advance. Hotel amenities include: bar, swimming pool, wireless internet, refrigerator in each room, air conditioning, cable TV, and walking distance to many restaurants including the Sonoran Steak, El Horno de Castilla (international cuisine) right across the street, and several hotel restaurants on the same side of the street, like La Siesta Steak, Holiday Inn restaurant, and others. Those interested in room sharing or car pooling may announce their interests online via DFC-L.

For those wishing to arrive a day early or stay a day late, we blocked a limited number of rooms at the Hotel Gandara for those nights. These will be available at the discounted meeting price for meeting attendees.

TRANSPORTATION

General information about traveling in México is in the U.S. State Department web page, and their travel tips for México is available at http://travel.state.gov/.  To enter Mexico, everyone has to go through customs (Aduana) and submit an FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) form.  This form is available at the Aduana office, and you will need you passport to complete the authorization.  If you are planning to stay more than 5 days, the FMM cost is  262.00 pesos (close to 22 US dlls), but the local officer of INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración) suggests staying NO MORE THAN 5 days to avoid this fee. The FMM form must be returned to the Aduana Officer (Custom) at the border line, and there is a penalty for extra days in the case of no fee FMM. There is also a Aduana web site – www.aduanas.gob.mx.

Vehicle Permits: Tourists wishing to travel beyond the border zone with their vehicle must obtain a temporary import permit. For us, the only exception to the requirement is for vehicles traveling only in Western Sonora. The program “Only Sonora” generally covers the area west of Mexican Federal Highway 15 between the Arizona border and the Gulf of California, ending in Empalme, this includes Hermosillo in the “Only Sonora” Program. To acquire a permit, you must submit evidence of citizenship, title for the vehicle, a vehicle registration certificate, a driver’s license, and a processing fee to either a Banjercito (Mexican Army Bank) branch located at a Mexican Customs (Aduana) office at the port of entry, or at one of the Mexican consulates located in the United States. Mexican law also requires the posting of a bond at a Banjercito office to guarantee the export of the car from Mexico within a time period determined at the time of the application. For this purpose, American Express, Visa or MasterCard credit card holders will be asked to provide credit card information; others will need to make a cash deposit of between $200 and $400, depending on the make/model/year of the vehicle. In order to recover this bond or avoid credit card charges, travelers must go to any Mexican Customs office immediately prior to departing Mexico, the port of entry is the best option. Travelers without the proper permit may be incarcerated, fined and/or have their vehicle seized at immigration/customs checkpoints. For further information, contact Mexican Customs.

Flying to the meeting – Daily flights from Phoenix (Aeromexico AM0465) and Los Angeles ((Aeromexico AM2201) to Hermosillo are available.  Cost is approximately $300. Rental cars are the most practical way to get to the East of the city where the Hotel Gandara is located, close to the exit to highway 15 to Nogales.

Ground transportation – Mexican bus service is excellent in almost all Mexico, and inexpensive. To Hermosillo, nine daily departures start from Phoenix, and two hours later, the same bus arrives in Tucson and continues to Hermosillo. Departures begin at 06:45 am and end at 23:00 pm from Phoenix. The trip is about 7 hours (form Phoenix) or 4 hours (from Tucson) to Hermosillo, plus the time to clear customs (Aduanas).

Tufesa bus line

Driving to the meeting – The recommended drive from US is via Tucson (100 km US highway 19), entering Sonora from Nogales. Hermosillo (265 km, highway MEX15) is about a four hour drive from Tucson. Information about FMM and vehicle permits explained previously.

Car-pooling – The DFC-L email list is available for those interested in ride sharing. Those offering or seeking rides should reply to the original email “About car pooling to Hermosillo” (but to DFC-L@lists.cc.utexas.edu) or send your own original email to the list (remember you must first be subscribed) using that same subject. Following these instructions will assure that all car-pool-related information will be included in the same thread in the DFC-L archive for easy access by others with the same interests.

 

REGISTRATION

Membership dues must be paid prior to a membership meeting registration is purchased. Please purchase your membership at least 4 days before the meeting registration deadline to ensure you will qualify for member prices.

Click here to pay dues or register for the meeting.

Registration categories and costs (in US dollars): (Early categories disappear from the Online

store at midnight on October 1.

EARLY meeting registration – DFC Latin American student member. $40.00

EARLY meeting registration – DFC Latin American regular member. $60.00

EARLY meeting registration – DFC student member. $60.00

EARLY meeting registration – DFC regular member. $150.00

EARLY meeting registration – DFC non- member. $190.00

 

LATE meeting registration – DFC Latin American student member. $60.00

LATE meeting registration – DFC Latin American regular member. $90.00

LATE meeting registration – DFC student member. $90.00

LATE meeting registration – DFC regular member. $225.00

LATE meeting registration – DFC non- member. $285.00

 

ONSITE meeting registration for Universidad de Sonora undergraduate students ONLY. $20.00*

All registrations *except the discounted onsite undergraduate student rate for local students include one banquet ticket. Additional banquet tickets for guests may be purchased online or onsite for $32.00 US Dollars. Meeting registration rates increase 50% after the October 1 pre-registration deadline. Cancellations will be accepted until 31 October, but a $5.00 USD fee will be charged. Email your online store receipt to Phil Pister for a credit if you have to cancel.

The “VI Universitary Congress of Biology” (VI Congreso Univesitario de Biología) an annual meeting host by the Bachelors in Biology of the University of Sonora will held from 9 to 11 of November, 2011 in the Emilia de Zubeldia Auditorium of the main campus of the University of Sonora. The main goal of the Congress is to promote a forum to present research work and the collaboration between students of the bachelors of biology in the country. Those interested to attend and observe the Congress should use a special transportation from Hotel Gandara to the main campus of the University. More information of the Congress and on schedule of the transportation will be available in the future.

PRESENTATIONS

Abstract Submission

Whether oral or poster, presentations must fall within the scope of the DFC’s mission. No abstract will be accepted or scheduled unless submitted in compliance with the instructions to authors.

The deadline for submitting abstracts is October 1, 2011. Submitted abstracts can be viewed here. DFC membership and meeting pre-registration paid by the abstract deadline are pre-requisites for abstract acceptance; if you plan to present a paper, when you submit your abstract (or before) be sure to pre-register and pay DFC membership dues for 2011.

Oral presentations are allotted 15 minutes (including questions and responses). Each presenter is limited to a single oral presentation, but poster presentations are not limited and are encouraged.

Delivery of PowerPoint files

We no longer require delivery of PowerPoint files by FTP. Simply follow these new instructions. Additional details regarding local ability to read different media (USB memory, CD’s etc.), file naming, etc., may be posted by the local host to DFC-L shortly before the meeting. If you think you may have missed any such notice in your email, you can consult the DFC-L archive.

Viewing submitted abstracts

Submitted abstracts may be viewed here, along with their presentation dates and times once that has been added by the Program Committee.

AREA REPORTS

These are special oral reports coordinated by ecoregion. Agency offices and other organizations desiring to contribute information to these reports should contact their corresponding Area Coordinator. Area coordinators will also be contacting individuals in their areas to solicit input to their reports.  Area Coordinators for 20ll are:

Oregon (State of, and Upper Pit River drainage of California): Paul Scheerer, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 28655 Highway 34, Corvallis, OR 97333. Phone 541-757-4263, ext. 257; 541-231-5772 (cell); FAX: 541-757-4102. Email Paul.scheerer@oregonstate.edu

California (State of, except for the Pit and Klamath drainages of northeast California and mainstem Lower Colorado River): Steve Parmenter, California Department of Fish and Game, 407 W. Line Street,                 Bishop, CA 93514. Phone: (760) 872-1171; FAX: (760) 872-1284. Email spar@dfg.ca.gov

Nevada (State of, except for Virgin River): Eric Miskow, Nevada Natural Heritage Program, 901 South Stewart Street, Suite 5002, Carson City, Nevada 89701. Phone: 775-684-2905; FAX:775-684-2715. Email emiskow@heritage.nv.gov and Darrick Weissenfluh, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, HCR 70 Box 610Z, Amargosa Valley, NV 89020. Phone: 7757- 372-5435; Fax: 775-372-5436. Email Darrick_Weissenfluh@fws.gov

Bonneville Basin (western Utah, far-eastern Nevada, southern Idaho, and sw Wyoming):

Krissy Wilson, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 1594 West North Temple,    Suite 2110, Salt Lake City, UT  84114. Phone: (801) 538-4756; FAX: (801) 491-5646. Email krissywilson@utah.gov

Upper Colorado River (upstream of Glen Canyon Dam, Green, Gunnison, Dolores, and San Juan rivers): Matt Breen, Native Aquatics Project Leader , Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 152 E. 100 North, Vernal UT 84078, Phone: (435) 790-9785, FAX: (435) 789-8343. Email mattbreen@utah.gov

Lower Colorado River (including Little Colorado, Virgin, Bill Williams, and Gila rivers):

Jeremy Voeltz, USFWS, Arizona Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, P.O Box 39, Pinetop, AZ 85935.  Phone: (928) 338-4288 x23. FAX (928) 338-4763. Email:  Email jeremy_voeltz@fws.gov

Upper/Middle Rio Grande and Pecos rivers, including Arkansas, Tularosa and Guzman basins of New Mexico (downstream to the confluence of the Rio Grande [Río Bravo] and Río Conchos):

W. Jason Remshardt, US Fish and Wildlife Service, NM Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, 3800 Commons NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.  Phone: 505-342-9900 x 104, FAX:505-342-9905. Email Jason_remshardt@fws.gov

 

Texas (State of): Gary Garrett, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 5103 Junction Hwy, Ingram, Texas 78025, Phone: (830) 866-3356, FAX: (830) 866-3549, Email gary.garrett@tpwd.state.tx.us

Northwestern Mexico (including the peninsula of Baja California):

Gorgonio Ruiz-Campos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja    California, Km.106 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada, Baja California, 22800, México, Apartado Postal 1653; US Mailing Address:  PMB # 064, P.O. Box 189003-064, Coronado, California 92178, gruiz@uabc.mx

Northeastern Mexico (Río Bravo [Rio Grande] area) and Mexico (national):

Arcadio Valdes Gonzalez, Mayapan 609, Lomas de Anahuac, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, CP62460, Phone: (52) 81 83525353; (52) 81 83294110 ext. 3658, acuacu_uanl@yahoo.com.mx

 

AWARDS

Awards are presented annually for the best presentations given by students. Students competing for these awards must indicate that in the submission of their abstract.

TRAVEL GRANTS

DFC routinely helps defer expenses incurred to travel to present papers or posters, with preference given to students and citizens of Latin American countries. Special instructions detailed in the travel grants page must be followed to request travel support. Travel grant request forms must be received by 1 October.

MEETING RESOLUTIONS

Resolutions must be submitted via the same form as for abstracts and by the same deadline. Additional information and a specific format are required, however, as detailed in the 2004 meeting minutes.

FIELD TRIPS

This year’s field trip will be an arroyo narrative walk into the Nacapule Canyon, a tropical habitat close to the San Carlos Bay (Saturday 12). Personal gears to walk into a sunny area were encouraged for participants. The walk will have a specialist biologist (Michael Bogan) to provide summary of native biodiversity, and conservation actions. Additional details will be provided later form local host.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE MEETING

Watch for announcements to be sent via the DFC email list (DFC-L) and for periodic updates to these web pages.

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