National Park Service: Grant for Ocean Acidification Impact Assessment in Glacier Bay

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement Number P15AC01037
Project Title 1
Recipient University of Alaska-Fairbanks
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Principal Investigator:
Russell Hopcroft, Ph.D.
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
University of Alaska-Fairbanks
120 O’Neill Building
P.O. Box 757220
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220
Phone: 907-474-7842
Email: rrhopcroft@alaska

Program Manager:
Lewis Sharman
Ecologist
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
P.O. Box 140
Gustavus, AK 99826
Phone: 907-697-2623
Email: lewis_sharman@nps.gov
Total Anticipated Award Amount $139,234.00
Cost Share None
New Award or Continuation? New Award
Anticipated Period of Performance 08/15/2015 – 08/14/2020

Award Instrument CESU Agreement
Statutory Authority 54USC§100703 Cooperative Studies Units
54USC§101702 (a) Cooperative Agreements, Transfer of Service Appropriated Funds
CFDA # and Title 15.945 Cooperative Research and Training Programs – Resources of the National Park System, Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units Network
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique Qualifications
NPS ATR Point of Contact Lewis Sharman
Ecologist
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
P.O. Box 140
Gustavus, Alaska 99826
Phone: 907-697-2623
Fax: 907-697-2654
Email: lewis_sharman@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

The problem of ocean acidification is one of the most significant threats currently facing marine and coastal systems. This is true globally, but is of greater concern for the planet’s cold, well-mixed waters. At higher latitudes, increases in pH are projected to be most extreme because of naturally low carbonate ion concentrations owing to increased CO2 solubility, the sensitivity of acid-base dissociation coefficients at low temperatures, and ocean mixing patterns. Moreover, many of these areas, including Glacier Bay, support the most biologically productive marine systems on earth. To the extent that there is uncertainty about the magnitude of impacts, it is due only to a lack of information on present pH levels and pH dynamics. The issue has recently become the subject of intense focus, as researchers and managers begin to appreciate that current and projected increases in ocean acidity may well disrupt marine food webs, with far-reaching consequences connected to freshwater and terrestrial systems and wildlife. Stories on the threats of ocean acidification appear in major news outlets with increasing frequency, and the National Park Service (NPS) at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is uniquely positioned to continue making a major contribution to our understanding of how this threat will manifest in the marine food web, given recent work surveying the current extent, duration, and intensity of ocean acidification events in Glacier Bay proper. Understanding the threat to the marine food web is the next critical step in ensuring that the NPS can meet our mission of preserving and protecting the world-renown biological resources of Glacier Bay and all coastal NPS units.
The NPS and the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (UAF) will collaborate to conduct a research project to better understand the effects that ocean acidification may be having on Glacier Bay’s marine zooplankton species and populations. This involves three-year study of field sampling and development of a conceptual model to describe tropic linkages between nearshore coastal marine biological communities and associated physic-chemical dynamics of the environment. The model will be broadly applicable to Alaskan coastal park units, with the primary purpose being to enable managers to identify components of their coastal systems having the greatest need of additional understanding of the impacts of acidification on ocean resources.

Outcomes of this project will include the education of M.S.-level graduate student, and several informational reports, presentations, and publications aimed at a variety of audiences across a range of technical interests, from the general public to academic researchers.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

The NPS and UAF will collaborate to test the hypothesis that large spatial gradients in aragonite saturation states, particularly in summer and fall, will be manifested in zooplankton stocks throughout Glacier Bay; some species, particularly pteropods (planktonic marine snails that comprise a key food resource for organisms higher on the food chain) will show signs of shell dissolution in summer months, when aragonite saturation states are at their lowest. The NPS and UAF will accomplish this by jointly undertaking a series of ocean surveys throughout Glacier Bay at all seasons to simultaneously collect samples of seawater and marine zooplankton; these samples will be analyzed in the laboratory to characterize water chemistry and the zooplankton community. Those data will then be synthesized to understand the impacts that ocean acidification is having on zooplankton at different locations, seasons, and depths. Additionally, the NPS will support UAF in development of a conceptual model of ocean acidification and marine biological community components for Glacier Bay that describes how ocean acidification influences marine ecosystem structure and composition.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Collaboratively undertake a project titled “Assessing the Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Plankton Populations in Glacier Bay” as described in the Task Agreement.
2. Appoint Russell Hopcroft, Ph.D. as Principal Investigator (PI).
3. Appoint a graduate student (name TBD) to work on the project.
4. Participate (graduate student) directly in regularly-scheduled fall, mid-winter, spring, and mid-summer oceanographic surveys, sampling seawater and plankton from discrete depths at “core stations” as described in the Task Agreement.
5. Provide (except for the CTD and associated SBE 55 ECO water sampler) sampling equipment (e.g., plankton net) and field supplies necessary to conduct the project.
6. Provide for shipping of equipment, supplies, and samples to and from Glacier Bay.
7. Provide for laboratory analyses of seawater (chemical) and zooplankton (biological) samples as described in the Task Agreement.
8. Integrate the results of seawater chemical analyses and zooplankton biological analyses to determine patterns in the biological response to seawater conditions. Provide to the NPS an annual report (the IAR referenced below) outlining major findings and comparing results to historical datasets to better understand local and regional trends in ocean acidification and its impact(s) on zooplankton species/ populations and marine food webs. Data will be evaluated in the contexts of both the dynamics of this unique glacial fjord system and its connection to larger waters and processes observed in other areas of the North Pacific.
9. Provide a final major synthesis of the above, in the form of a M.S. graduate thesis. Additionally provide the following: 1) a presentation of the project at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium; 2) at least one peer-reviewed journal article; 3) required once-yearly Investigator’s Annual Reports (IARs); 4) a brief (two-page) “Research Highlight” summary of the project suitable for distribution to non-scientists and the general public; 5) a comprehensive NPS-published Natural Resources Report (NRR); and 6) an article submitted to one or both of the NPS publications Park Science or Alaska Park Science.
10. Develop a conceptual model of ocean acidification focusing on trophic linkages between nearshore coastal biological communities and nearshore coastal dynamics, with particular consideration of the physio-chemical characteristics and biology found in Alaskan national parks, as described in the Task Agreement. The model will take the form of a digital file containing the conceptual model visualization and the associated detailed written description. This conceptual model will be described in a standalone Research Highlight (see above). Additionally, it will be incorporated in the above-referenced IARs, NRR, and Park Science/Alaska Park Science publication(s). Alternatively, the model can be presented in standalone IARs/NRR/NPS Park Science publications.
11. While present in the park, provide at least one oral presentation of updated project plans and results to park staff and/or park visitors(s) annually.
12. Ensure that all products (presentations, reports, papers) acknowledge NPS support and that the project was conducted through the Alaska CESU and reference this Task Agreement number.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Substantial Involvement on the part of the National Park Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, the National Park Service will be responsible for the following:

1. Provide financial assistance to UAF as indicated in Attachment B to the Task Agreement.
2. Appoint Lewis Sharman, Ecologist, as Project Manager and Agreement Technical Representative (ATR).
3. Work collaboratively with UAF to review, evaluate, and adapt project progress and goals.
4. Provide vessel, fuel, associated equipment, and operator, and oversee gear deployment, for field sampling.
5. Provide CTD/water sampler and laptop computer (for programming/data upload) for field sampling.
6. Provide local area logistical support, as necessary, for extended stays due to unanticipated survey delays.
7. Provide oceanographic and other data as requested to support the project.
8. Provide planning for field activities to support the project.
9. Provide, as requested and in a timely fashion, input/feedback on draft reports and the conceptual model (particularly with regard to coastal resources and applicability of the model to coastal management applications).

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
SINGLE-SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable.

In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Unsolicited Proposal – The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives;

(2) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity;

(3) Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications;

(5) Emergencies – Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed.

The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(4) Unique Qualifications

UAF Principal Investigator Dr. Russell Hopcroft and co-Principal Investigator Dr. Jeremy Mathis are both uniquely qualified to collaborate with the NPS on this project. Dr. Hopcroft has long research experience in Gulf of Alaska waters and is an expert in zooplankton/marine food webs. He has led and participated in numerous multi-disciplinary research projects focusing on the role of zooplankton in marine trophic structure. Co-PI Mathis directs the Ocean Acidification Research Center (OARC) at UAF, a world-renown center for cutting-edge ocean acidification research, particularly in the North Pacific. He also heads the Ocean Environment Research Division of NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, specializing in ocean acidification studies. In particular, Dr. Mathis recently oversaw, through UAF, a multi-year ocean acidification research project at Glacier Bay that characterized spatio-temporal patterns of ocean acidification and described the influence of glacial meltwater on the alkalinity of the Bay’s seawater. This important study laid the physico-chemical groundwork for the next logical step of understanding how the marine biological community is shaped by acidifying ocean waters. These two scientists are leaders in their respective fields, and their combined expertise uniquely positions them to carry out the work described in this Task Agreement.