Hosted by the University of Oklahoma at the National Center for Employee Development/ Marriott Conference Center, Norman, Oklahoma.

20th annual meeting of the American Elasmobranch Society
84th annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
62nd annual meeting of the Herpetologists' League
47th annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

Once again, ichthyologists and herpetologists will be descending on Norman, Oklahoma. For those of you who came to Oklahoma for the 1984 meeting, you will first notice that Norman has grown significantly and we have much more in the way of entertainment and restaurants. The university also continues to grow, adding many new buildings in the last few years. Most importantly, we have a new natural history museum, which, in addition to housing our excellent herp and fish collections, has 11 other curators in collections ranging from Archeology and Native American Languages to Paleobotany and Invertebrate Paleontology. We have a recently renovated football stadium that can be seen from more than 10 miles away and probably heard on the moon during the fall. As we write, the Sooner Nation has high expectations for the 2003 season.

The 2004 meetings are sponsored by the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and the Department of Zoology of the University of Oklahoma. The Local Committee members will be doing their best to see that you have not only an educational experience, but a good time as well. Although this may come as a surprise (especially for those who ran loose during the 1984 event), Oklahoma does have laws and police, so we ask you to check your letter openers and toenail clippers at the state line. Nevertheless, Oklahoma lifestyle and culture is an entity unto itself, and we do hope you will indulge in some of the local undertakings (no pun intended).

Oklahoma has tricked most non-residents into thinking that the state has low habitat diversity and thus should be driven through as rapidly as possible. Anyone traveling I-35 from north to south or I-40 from east to west will attest to that. Since you are our esteemed colleagues and friends, we will let you in on a little secret-Oklahoma in fact has among the greatest habitat diversity in the US. Foothills of the Rockies extended into the panhandle, followed to the east by short and tall grass prairies. To the northeast lies the western end of the Ozark Plateau, a formation covered by eastern deciduous forest. To the southeast lies the upper coastal plain with swamps, mudsnakes, alligators (yes, we have alligators), bowfin, and other typically southern species. To the southwest lies the northeastern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert. Rivers and streams that vary from broad, sand-bottomed channels to fast moving clear streams, many of which have darters, minnows, and other diverse native fish, dissect all these habitats. Just east of Norman, a band of mixed oak woodland known as the Cross Timbers transects the state. So, if time allows, travel around Oklahoma-you will be greatly surprised.

Of course, we will all descend on Norman to discuss our research, argue minutia and concepts, and perhaps most importantly, to revitalize our interest in herps and fishes. Along with that comes the camaraderie that ultimately results in major advances in science and often leads to lasting friendships. With all of this in mind, we welcome you to Norman for the 2004 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

Jan, Laurie, Bill, Edie, and Rich

Janalee P. Caldwell
Chair
Curator and Professor, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Dept. of Zoology
University of Oklahoma
caldwell@ou.edu

Charles C. Carpenter
Honorary Co-Chair
Curator Emeritus of Herpetology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Professor Emeritus, Department of Zoology

Victor H. Hutchison
Honorary Co-Chair
George Lynn Cross Research Professor Emeritus of Zoology

Edith Marsh-Matthews
Assistant Professor of Zoology
Assistant Curator of Fishes, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
emarsh@ou.edu

William J. Matthews
Chair and Professor, Department of Zoology
wmatthews@ou.edu

Laurie J. Vitt
George Lynn Cross Research Professor
Associate Director of Research and Collections, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Curator of Herpetology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Professor of Zoology
vitt@ou.edu

Ellen J. Censky
Director, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Professor of Zoology

Richard E. Broughton
Assistant Professor of Zoology
Biologist, Oklahoma Biological Survey
rbroughton@ou.edu

Sara Cartwright
Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

Amy D. Estep
Collection Manager, Herpetology
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
aestep@ou.edu

Melody A. Brooks
Graduate Student, Ichthyology

P. Raelynn Deaton
Graduate Student, Ichthyology

Adrian A. Garda
Graduate Student, Herpetology

David P. Gillette
Graduate Student, Ichthyology

Chad W. Hargrave
Graduate Student, Ichthyology

Christopher J. Leary
Graduate Student, Herpetology

Rachael K. Remington
Graduate Student, Ichthyology

Paulette S. Reneau
Graduate Student, Ichthyology

Stephen C. Richter
Graduate Student, Herpetology
richter@ou.edu

Eric D. Roth
Graduate Student, Herpetology

Donald B. Shepard
Graduate Student, Herpetology

Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma

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