Contacts: Bob Parmenter, (505) 277-7619 Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821

October 9, 2002 UNM PARTICIPATES IN OPEN HOUSE AT SEVILLETA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE The University of New Mexico Long Term Ecological Research Program (LTER) and the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge are teaming up to provide a rare open refuge experience to the general public on Saturday, Oct. 12. Since its establishment in 1974, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, which is also the home of the LTER, has opened its doors to the general public on four occasions. Visitors will once again have the opportunity to tour areas of the refuge ordinarily closed to the general public as part of the Fifth Annual Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge & La Joya Community Open House. Tours, presentations and exhibits will be available as part of the open house celebration. Scientists from the UNM Biology Department will participate in a Research Refuge Tour as part of the event. A team of researchers and professors, led by LTER Sr. Program Manager Bob Parmenter, will take visitors on a research trip through four different transition zones dealing with plants, animals and the climate, and will also visit research monitoring sites. They will answer questions and explain long-term effects weather has on the life forms found in these transition zones. “Sevilleta is our host site for our LTER program that examines the dynamics of different ecosystems at Sevilleta in response to climate changes,” said Parmenter. “This includes El Niño, La Niña, drought cycles and even longer term changes in climate, both natural and man made. Guests can tour the visitor’s center and research/education facilities at the headquarters.” Several guided tours are still available for visitors Saturday including a historical refuge tour, Chihuahuan Desert/Great Plains grasslands plant tour, native plants of the desert tour and a research refuge tour. The cost for the guided tours, which are scheduled at various times throughout the day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., is $6 per person, per tour. The cost includes breakfast or lunch depending on the time of the tour. Free exhibits include: Zoo To You, a live animal exhibit from the Albuquerque Biological Park; Hawks Aloft, a live hawk exhibit and raptor display; Santa Fe Museum, an archeological exhibit from this museum of international folk art; Talking Talons, learn about bats and a live animal exhibit; the Socorro Soil and Water Conservation will demonstrate irrigation and water management; Hawk Watch International will have an information booth with live raptors; the U.S. Forest Service will have information available about the national forests; and the Socorro Chamber of Commerce will have local area information available. The exhibits will be open from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. The Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is located approximately 50 miles south of Albuquerque. Take Interstate 25 to exit 169 and head about 1/4 mile west on the paved road to the refuge visitor center. Call (505) 864-4021 for more information on the open house, scheduled tours and exhibits. # # #

The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981