INTRODUCTION
Lorin I. Nevling, Chief
Dr. Lorin Nevling, after 10 years of dedicated service as Chief, retired in
December 1996. His support of Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) research
and educational programs and our many other activities has been greatly
appreciated by our staff. The Board of Natural Resources and Conservation
approved an emeritus appointment for Dr. Nevling and he has been busy
continuing his research interests in the Center for Biodiversity with the
obscure and little known plant genus, Dirca. Dr. Nevling has carved out
a special niche as the world authority on the American members of the plant
family Thymelaeaceae that includes Dirca. In addition to this activity,
Dr. Nevling accepted a University of Illinois appointment as interim director
of the University's arboretum project. The arboretum plan when finished will
encompass the Survey's prairie.
Edward J. Armbrust, Acting Chief (January 1997)
Several additional retirements have taken place during this reporting period. Research Farm Manager Doyle Dazey retired in December 1996. Insect pathologist Dr. Joseph Maddox retired in July 1997 after 35 years of outstanding service to Illinois and his profession. His position will be filled by Dr. Leellen Solter, one of Dr. Maddox's many former graduate students. Assistant Professional Scientist John Dettmers has accepted the position of Director of the Lake Michigan Biological Field Station at Zion and Associate Research Biologist Timothy Mihuc assumed leadership of the Great Rivers Research Station, Long-term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP), Reach 26 at Alton. The Center for Aquatic Ecology has appointed Dr. Carla Cáceres to fill the Center's aquatic ecologist position to focus on ecological and evolutionary aspects of diapause in aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Edmond Zaborski has joined the Center for Economic Entomology to study soil invertebrate ecology in natural and agricultural ecosystems.
Numerous support scientists and research biologists have joined INHS to assist with administrative services and a number of our research programs, such as the Critical Trends Assessment Project. The Human Resources Office has been extremely busy with many new appointments and Ms. Jacque Sanders, Human Resources Manager, has actively participated in the Scientific Surveys' efforts to revise the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation's Common Policy Manual that governs the Survey.
The Survey is a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Scientific Research and Analysis, which is headed by Karen Witter. The Board of Natural Resources and Conservation, under the leadership of Brent L. Manning, Chair and Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, oversees the activities of the three scientific Surveys and the Illinois Waste Management and Research Center.
INHS staff continue to participate in many scientific research projects related to the natural resources of Illinois and provide recommendations on important natural resource issues. We are extremely proud of our achievements related to educational outreach and the production of associated materials for use by students, teachers, and the general public. Survey scientists have formed partnerships with numerous organizations including the University of Illinois, the Council for Food and Agricultural Research, the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program, the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, the Chicago Council for Biodiversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other state agencies including the Departments of Agriculture and Transportation, and other divisions within the Department of Natural Resources.
As Acting Chief, I have had the opportunity to work closely with Chief William Shilts of the Illinois State Geological Survey, Chief Derek Winstanley of the Illinois State Water Survey, and Director David Thomas of the Illinois Waste Management and Research Center to ensure that our scientists and staff continue collaborative efforts to address some of the complex environmental, social, and economic issues facing our state and nation.
Mission
INHS staff are dedicated to the following mission:
* To acquire, organize, and utilize collections and associated data pertaining to all aspects of the biotic resources of Illinois;
* To perform scientific inquiry concerning the diversity, life histories, growth and development, ecology, population dynamics, ecosystem properties, and management of the biotic resources of Illinois and to present research results to the scientific and educational communities;
* To formulate and provide recommendations about the status, protection, development, and informed use of biotic resources of Illinois;
* To provide scientifically based information to the public and to policymakers, leading to an understanding and appreciation of our natural heritage and the wise preservation, management, and utilization of our biotic resources.
Current research projects are described in each of the Center sections that follow. Survey scientists present their findings in a variety of ways: electronic format, exhibits, presentations at scientific meetings, publishing in scientific journals, educational materials, and recommendations to develop sound policy. The staff have been very productive in publishing their work. For a full accounting for 1996-1997, please refer to "Publications of the Staff" beginning on page 48.
Financial Support
The financial support provided by the Illinois General Assembly for Fiscal Year 1997 provided for an increase in the salary line and enabled us to reward staff for their overall contributions to the success of the Survey. However, staff salaries need to be maintained at competitive levels with similar agencies and academic institutions if we are to continue to recruit and retain skilled research staff. Recently we have streamlined a number of our financial and business procedures to better account for support services and provide for a sound financial status.
Excellence in research is often recognized by successfully obtaining competitive awards from external funding agencies. INHS scientists have been successful in obtaining numerous such awards to support their programs. Support of this nature is essential to the Survey's research and outreach activities. The Survey's financial statement may be found on page 47.
I believe you will find our report informative and interesting, and hopefully, it will offer a greater understanding of our contributions and efforts to provide knowledge related to the natural resources of Illinois. In addition to the research vignettes, the section on public services summarizes the informational activities offered to researchers, educators, and the citizens of Illinois. You are most welcome to visit our Champaign facilities or field stations at any time.
