National Park Service Grant for Acoustical Environment Monitoring and Wildlife Impact Study

OVERVIEW

Noise is an increasingly pervasive pollutant in protected natural areas. Data collected by Colorado State University (CSU) Research Associates in 22 National Park units show that noise is audible about one quarter of the time (hourly median value across all hours and sites), and some wilderness sites can have hourly noise audibility levels exceeding 50%. Chronic noise exposure can have many potential effects on wildlife behavior and ecology, and numerous scientific papers provide evidence of changes in wildlife behavior, fitness, distribution, and community structure. Noise has also been shown to affect plant communities, through its effects on wildlife. Although the broad outlines of noise impacts to wildlife are clear, more detailed understanding is needed to identify priorities for noise management in protected natural areas, and to devise efficient and effective mitigation.

The research and development goals are:

– To develop and test innovative methods for monitoring acoustical environments and analyzing the resulting data;
– To stimulate observational and experimental research that addresses fundamental issues regarding the effects of noise on wildlife behavior and ecology;
– To expand the scientific basis for evaluating the potential effects of noise exposure on wildlife;
– To promote collaborative conservation working groups consisting of academic professionals and natural resource managers to provide scientific input to decision makers regarding the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance and associated noise;
– To further the career development of research associates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, expanding their command of acoustical monitoring and understanding of auditory perception;
– To expand educational and research opportunities for undergraduates by providing opportunities for participation in research;
– To provide opportunities for project participants to produce peer-reviewed papers and outputs for scientific conferences reporting these research results; and
– To stimulate interdisciplinary research and education at CSU by promoting development and use of innovative instrumentation to study ecological systems, encouraging collaboration with wildlife conservation, biology, ecology, and engineering students and faculty, and possibly hosting scientific workshops or conferences addressing the importance of sound to wildlife.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

CSU agrees to:
– Collaboratively undertake the project;
– Work with the NPS Technical Expert to identify tasks and develop a schedule for their execution;
– Work with the NPS Technical Expert to recruit research associates, temporary hourly, and student hourly personnel to fill vacancies;
– Work with the NPS Technical Expert to coordinate the CSU research associates efforts;
– Oversee education of and research by CSU graduate students;
– Organize monthly meetings with the NPS Technical Expert and CSU research associates to discuss ongoing research and development efforts, evaluate progress, and develop plans for the next phase of work;
– Present results at scientific conferences, when applicable; and
– Oversee translation of research results in peer-reviewed papers.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part 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:
– Work with the Recipient to identify tasks and develop a schedule for their execution,
– Offer regular opportunities for discussion and consultation with the CSU Research Associates and CSU Postdoctoral Researcher;
– Provide acoustical data for algorithm development or analyses as needed for research;
– Participate in regular meetings to discuss project results and plans,
– Participate in data analyses, as appropriate,
– Participate in drafting scientific manuscripts, as appropriate, and
– Provide scientific reviews of draft scientific papers that are produced.

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

(2) CONTINUATION, AND
(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

With regards to the criterion Continuation, the Recipient has been a highly successful partner in this work since 2008. The cost of educating another partner and successfully migrating the intellectual property of this project vastly outweighs the potential benefits of competition.

With regards to the criterion Unique Qualifications, geographic proximity is critical to foster frequent interaction among the NPS’ Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division staff in Fort Collins, CO and the Recipient¿s graduate students and engineers. Colorado State University is the only Carnegie Doctoral/Research-Very High Research Activity (“RU/VH”) university in Northern Colorado. Prior to the 2008 award, scientific publication records were searched for appropriate partners at CSU, University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, and Denver University.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 U.S.C. §1a-2(j) Cooperative research and training programs
Secretary of the Interior¿s authorization of activities – Enter into cooperative agreements with public or private educational institutions, States, and their political subdivisions, for the purpose of developing adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training programs concerning the resources of the National Park System, and, pursuant to any such agreements, to accept from and make available to the cooperator such technical and support staff, financial assistance for mutually agreed upon research projects, supplies and equipment, facilities, and administrative services relating to cooperative research units as the Secretary deems appropriate; except that this paragraph shall not waive any requirements for research projects that are subject to the Federal procurement regulations.

16 U.S.C. §5933 Cooperative agreements
(a) Cooperative study units – The Secretary is authorized and directed to enter into cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, including but not limited to land grant schools, in partnership with other Federal and State agencies, to establish cooperative study units to conduct multi-disciplinary research and develop integrated information products on the resources of the National Park System, or the larger region of which parks are a part.
(b) Report – Within one year of November 13, 1998, the Secretary shall report to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives on progress in the establishment of a comprehensive network of such college and university based cooperative study units as will provide full geographic and topical coverage for research on the resources contained in units of the National Park System and their larger regions.