U.S. Geological Survey’s NBII Program Grant for Cooperative Ecosystem Studies on Biological Data and Information Enhancement

The NBII is a collaborative effort among federal, state, local, agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, and private sector groups to provide an integrated gateway to biological data and information. NBII is used by land managers, researchers, decision makers, educators, and the general public for many purposes that include land-use decisions, scientific research, policymaking, and general information needs of its users.

The NBII provides the nation with a mechanism for accessing the vast amount of existing disparate biological and natural resources data, information products, and analytical tools that support and enhance science-based decision-making. Using enterprise portal technology, the NBII helps provide an integrating framework for making these data and information accessible. In 2001, the NBII program was authorized to establish a series of regional and thematic Nodes throughout the country with the objective of providing data and information relevant to those areas available that support efforts of federal, non federal, university, non-profit, and citizens of each Node.

The NBII is looking for collaborative opportunities with a CESU partner to increase the availability and usefulness of biological and natural resources related scientific data and information by developing or enhancing them through visualization products, tools, models, web based applications, and/or semantic systems. Project relates to the following research areas:

Butterflies and Moths of North America
The goal is to further the development of the data and mapping components of the Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA). This cooperative effort to build a national database in support of pollinator research and management includes interaction with various state, federal and international organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions.

Whirling Disease
The goal is to further the development of the data and mapping components of the Whirling Disease Mapping and Data Repository. Whirling disease impacts 25 states across the country, but the data are contained in disparate data sets and infrastructure systems. This cooperative effort to build a national database to integrate and provide research data and information to support whirling disease research and management includes interaction with various state and federal agencies as well as interested research and educational institutions.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
The goal is to further the development of the data sharing component of the NBII Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Node partnership. This cooperative effort brings together data and that provides information for researchers and managers in the fisheries and aquatic resources disciplines that include interaction with various state, federal and international organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions.

Bird Conservation
The goal is to further the development of the data sharing component of the NBII Bird Conservation Node partnership. This cooperative effort brings together data and that provides information for researchers and managers in the bird conservation community that includes interaction with various state, federal and international organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions. This effort also provides support to the national Focal Bird Species initiative.

Fire Research and Management Exchange System
The goal is to further the development of data sharing within the region on fire data, models, and tools in support of the Fire Research and Management Exchange System (FRAMES). The FRAMES cooperative effort brings together scientific data, models, tools and other resources that provide information for researchers and managers across the country that includes interaction with various state and federal organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions. The products will be available to scientists, policymakers, and the public.

Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership
The goal is to further the development of data and information sharing within the region on aquatic habitat, salmonid monitoring, and related programs as part of the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership (PNAMP). The PNAMP forum facilitates coordination, communication, sharing of resources and data that will work towards compatible monitoring efforts that will provide increased scientific credibility, cost-effectiveness, and greater accountability to stakeholders. The PNAMP effort includes interaction with various state, federal and international organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions.

Mountain Prairie Region
The goal is to enhance data sharing within the region including the states of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. The Mountain Prairie cooperative effort brings together scientific data, models, tools and other resources that provide information for researchers and managers that impact regional issues. The effort includes interaction with various state and federal organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions. The products will be available to scientists, policymakers, and the public.

Threatened and Endangered Mammals in Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem
The goal is to further the development of the data sharing component of the Threatened and Endangered Mammals in Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem and surrounding region. This cooperative effort brings together scientific information for researchers and managers that include interaction with various state, federal and international organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions.