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For Immediate Release –October 3, 2014 Contact: Valerie Gohlke 575-785-3090, Carlsbad Caverns National Park Contact: Rebecca Burghart, 575-479-6124, White Sands National Monument NEW MEXICO RESEARCHER RECEIVES REGIONAL DIRECTOR'S AWARD CARLSBAD, NM and ALAMOGORDO, NM - On Sept. 26, National Park Service volunteer researcher Eric Metzler received the National Park Service's (NPS) Intermountain Regional Director's Award for Natural Resource Research. This esteemed honor is in recognition of Mr. Metzler's significant moth research at White Sands National Monument and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. In 2007, Eric undertook a study to survey and identify species of moths at these two national park units. Eric's work exemplifies excellence in advancing and publishing scientific research that furthers the goals of science and natural resource management in the Metzler received the award because of key accomplishments in the field of research: 1) discovering more than 600 species of moths, 36 of which are new to science, and nearly all of the new species are endemic in the dunes of White Sands;2) developing a baseline database for moth richness and diversity that helps NPS accomplish the all-taxa inventory goals;3) providing interpretive materials, seminars and other formal presentations for both local and regional NPS staff;4) publishing nine scientific papers, and one paper for the general public emphasizing the remarkable endemism of moths at White Sands and 5) volunteering 1600+ hours annually at both parks. "Eric's scientific contributions inspire stewardship and collaboration in the spirit of protection, preservation, and improvement of the natural resources of White Sands National Monument and Carlsbad Caverns National Park," said NPS Intermountain Regional Director, Sue Masica. About the National Park Service,more than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national properties and work with communities across the nation to help
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Last updated: February 24, 2015