Bureau of Reclamation Grant: Habitat Studies for LCR MSCP Species

There are three tasks associated with this project. Task 1 involves the Cotton rat habitat and demography study. The objectives are to estimate population demographics using mark recapture methods for Sigmodon at localities where they are known to occur along the Lower Colorado River (LCR), to quantify microhabitat characteristics at Sigmodon localities for use in restoration efforts and to establish baseline data and develop a protocol for post development monitoring using results obtained. Task 2 involves the California leaf-nosed bat population genetic study. The objectives of this task are to document genetic structuring of roost sites along the LCR and compare to roosts across their range, to provide estimates for the current and historic effective population size of the LCR population, including the timing of changes in population size (increase and/or decrease), and to provide information about the space use and foraging habitat requirements of M. californicus along the LCR. The third task (Task 3) would be to provide assistance with additional genetic analysis for MSCP species as needed.