OpportunityTitle: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.  CESU&#226;&#191;&#191;s are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education.  Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Colorado Plateau (CESU) Program.
Description: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Alaska Science Center (ASC) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research characterizing the long-term physiological stress response of polar bears to a changing environment. Specifically, the objective is to investigate the relationship between polar bear hair cortisol concentrations and sea ice conditions across three decades for polar bears captured in the southern Beaufort and Chukchi seas. The southern Beaufort and Chukchi sea polar bear subpopulations are responding differently to loss of sea ice habitat. A comparative analysis of potential habitat-mediated stress effects can reveal the degree of plasticity present in polar bears in Alaska and elucidate the potential for their long-term persistence.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Contract Specialist
GrantorContactText: Faith Graves 703-648-7356&lt;br/&gt;fgraves@usgs.gov&lt;br/&gt;