OpportunityTitle: Multi-Species Inventory &amp; Monitoring Protocol Development
Description: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (hereinafter referred to as the &#147;Service&#148;) Headquarters Region 7 intends to award a single source Cooperative Agreement to the Pennsylvania State University as authorized by 505 DM 2.14.B. This notice is not a request for proposals and the Government does not intend to accept proposals. Award will be made 15 days after this notice. The purpose of this document is to provide written justification and notice of intent to award cooperative agreement number 70181AJ111 to the Pennsylvania State University without competition based on the following criteria: Purpose: The primary purpose of this proposed project is to establish an inventory and monitoring program which would increase public awareness, understanding and ability to manage natural resources throughout periods of climate change. The assistance award will provide support for Pennsylvania State University&#146;s (PSU) research program into the uncertain effects of climate change, specifically in environments such as found on Izembek NWR. This award will facilitate a qualified student to pursue and attain a graduate degree, Ph.D., producing a dissertation of new knowledge in the field. Objectives: Initially project objectives will include populating a list of species about which baseline information on ecology and population status is desired, development of methods suitable for acquiring this information in a feasible and timely manner, and finally, field test implementing the protocol on a sub-set of focal species. It is envisioned that the protocol will allow for qualitative or quantitative assessment or both, of (i) non climate-related and (ii) climate-related factors influencing abundance, distribution, and population trends. This approach could be used to identify species most at risk of suffering declines due to human pressure or climate change, and target them for concentration of management and conservation efforts. Background: Per statutory mandate and agency policy each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System operates under a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP), including one or more wildlife and habitat plans and/or inventory and monitoring (I&amp;M) plan. Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) does not have an established I&amp;M program designed to fulfill our responsibility under these policies. In addition to these policies Izembek NWR is 95% designated wilderness. The lack of baseline information in concert with wilderness status sometimes leads to state jurisdiction and public user conflicts. The proposed project would supply an I&amp;M program fulfilling our obligations to these policies as well as managing public lands to minimize user conflicts. Izembek NWR is in the focus for multiple issues including a proposed land exchange and road corridor through designated wilderness, elevated state rights land management issues, and unknown cause and effect of population trends and climate change. Concomitantly, changes in demographics have led to an increase in variety and intensity of uses of public lands. Based on this combination of factors and our inability to fulfill our responsibility to manage trust resources, we need to act now in developing an I&amp;M program. This proposed project will implement science-based management decisions and practices. Unique Qualifications - Per statutory mandate and agency policy each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System operates under a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP), including one or more wildlife and habitat plans and/or inventory and monitoring (I&amp;M) plan. Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) does not have an established and approved I&amp;M program designed to fulfill our responsibility under these policies. In addition to these policies Izembek NWR is 95% designated wilderness. The lack of baseline information in concert with wilderness status sometimes leads to state jurisdiction and public user conflicts. The proposed project would supply an I&amp;M program fulfilling our obligations to these policies as well as managing public lands to minimize user conflicts. Izembek NWR is in the focus for multiple issues including a proposed land exchange and road corridor through designated wilderness, elevated state rights land management issues, and unknown cause and effect of population trends and climate change. Concomitantly, changes in demographics have led to an increase in variety and intensity of uses of public lands. Based on this combination of factors and our inability to fulfill our responsibility to manage trust resources, we need to act now in developing an I&amp;M program. This proposed project will implement science-based management decisions and practices. Based on the statutory and regulatory information needs of Izembek NWR and current interest of public land users, we find it imperative that we establish this study in 2010. Due to the high number of plant species and resident and migrant animal species occurring on Izembek NWR, it is important that this research is undertaken and supervised by personnel experienced in multi-species sampling and monitoring. Evidence from multiple recent studies in Arctic and sub-Arctic systems indicates complex, non-linear, and interactive responses of plants and animals to environmental change, including climate change. It is imperative that this effort involves those with experience in development of field-based studies integrating species interactions, the implications of climate change for such interactions, and analytical modeling of large, multi-species data sets aimed at forecasting biodiversity consequences of environmental change. Through investigating recent studies on measuring the effects of climate change on species assemblages of both plants and animals in arctic environments, and talking to field experts, we found Dr. Eric Post of Pennsylvania State University (PSU) has the unique qualifications required to conduct an inventory and monitoring research project at Izembek NWR. These requirements include development and use of methodologies specifically adapted to areas such as Izembek NWR, long-term experience with life history dynamics (plant phenology and timing of migration and reproduction), population dynamics of various species including arctic ungulates and carnivores and their forage species, as well as other mammal and bird populations, application of mathematical and statistical modeling to long-term data sets, and experience with extreme environmental conditions common to the maritime climate of the Alaska Peninsula area. Over the course of his career, Dr. Post has developed unique, long-term experimental and monitoring studies in the Arctic. These studies were aimed at investigating responses of multiple species of plants, animals, and their interactions, to environmental change. Dr. Post&#146;s unique blend of expertise in the areas of biodiversity monitoring, conservation biology, climate change ecology, and statistical ecology has been brought to bear in NSF&#146;s Studies of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) program, for which he served on the &#147;Observing Change&#148; committee; the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), for which he served on developmental workshop committees; and the USA National Phenology Network, for which he served on several developmental committees and currently serves on the Steering Committee. Importantly, Dr. Post&#146;s studies, which subsequently have been applied in both Low- and High Arctic Greenland, were initially developed during fieldwork on Izembek NWR over a five year period that encompassed seven field campaigns. Thus he is eminently familiar with the area, logistics required for sustained fieldwork there, and species of importance on Izembek NWR. Dr. Post&#146;s studies have been used to determine species-specific responses of plant phenology to experimental and observed warming; the consequences of plant phenological responses to climate change for caribou and muskoxen; and the role of species interactions and plant phenology in timing of bird migration and population dynamics of multiple species of migratory birds. Dr. Post has also developed unique statistical modeling approaches to understanding the consequences of disruptions to species interactions and climate change for population dynamics, extinction risk, and biodiversity loss. He has applied his modeling approaches to case studies of moose, wolves, muskoxen, caribou, several species of migratory and non-migratory birds, and multiple long-term datasets on plant community composition and plant phenology across the Arctic. After several years of working on Izembek NWR, and 20 total years of working in the Arctic, Dr. Post is also well acquainted with the cooperating agencies and organizations, extreme environmental conditions, and logistical challenges that characterize the area. Dr. Post has a currently, funded graduate student (Fulbright Fellowship) available to begin field work in 2010. Working with Dr. Post and his student will insure use of tested and tried methodology for these environments, quick and timely implementation of this project, and efficient production of useable and applicable information. In addition, Pennsylvania State University meets other criteria including voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability, and technical expertise which preclude competition for this cooperative agreement. This proposed project when established is planned for cooperative implementation throughout public lands on the Alaska Peninsula.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Work
GrantorContactText: Richard Primmer &lt;br/&gt;Contract Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 907-786-