This grant from the Department of the Interior supports a research project focusing on using unmanned aerial systems to monitor waterfowl nests and nesting behavior at Kigigak Island on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The project aims to develop less intrusive methodologies for nest searching to minimize disturbance and nest mortality. Anticipated outcomes include a Master’s Thesis and publications to inform waterfowl monitoring efforts and promote conservation stewardship. The grant aligns with the Secretary of Interior’s priorities, emphasizing science-based land and water resource management and conservation stewardship, as well as supporting relationships with conservation organizations advocating for balanced stewardship of public lands.
Opportunity ID: 319980
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | F19AS00354 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | 15.678 Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Cooperative Agreement |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Science and Technology and other Research and Development |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 1 |
| Assistance Listings: | 15.678 — Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Aug 26, 2019 |
| Last Updated Date: | Aug 26, 2019 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Aug 31, 2019 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Aug 31, 2019 |
| Archive Date: | Sep 01, 2019 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $80,000 |
| Award Ceiling: | $80,000 |
| Award Floor: | $80,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | Sole source intended for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Description: | The research team will evaluate the utility of imagery collected using low-level unmanned aerial systems (UAS) observation methods to locate nests and monitor nesting behavior of waterfowl at Kigigak Island on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, AK. Nest visitation by researchers can increase waterfowl nest and egg mortality due primarily to increased abandonment and depredation. This is a concern for all waterfowl monitoring and research activities, but is particularly problematic at Kigigak Island, a long-standing research camp with extremely high densities of nesting waterfowl. Monitoring activities at Kigigak Island are specifically focused on a number of high profile species including the threatened Spectacled Eider. Developing effective and less intrusive methodologies for nest searching and data collections has been identified as a critical recovery task by the Spectacled Eider Recovery Team. Recent research using UAS to observe nesting waterfowl both within and outside of Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge has demonstrated such that observations can be conducted with minimal disturbance on both nesting and staging waterfowl. Additionally, further development of emerging remote sensing technologies to observe nesting waterfowl using less intrusive methods will benefit all research aimed at waterfowl nesting ecology.
Anticipated products from this funding opportunity will include a Master¿s Thesis and manuscripts to be published in the primary literature useful to inform monitoring and research efforts on the conduct and utility of UAS-based waterfowl observation methods. This funding opportunity will support a number of the Secretary of Interior¿s Top Ten Priorities. Most notably it will help to create a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt by utilizing science to identify best practices to manage land and water resources and adapt to changes in the environment. Additionally, it will folster relationships with conservation organizations (Waterfowl Conservation Commission of the Alaska Village Council Presidents) advocating for balanced stewardship and use of public lands. Similarly, it will help strike a regulatory balance by ensuring Endangered Species Act decisions (i.e., Spectacled Eider) are based on strong science and thorough analysis. |
| Link to Additional Information: | http://www.grants.gov |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Supervisory Wildlife Biologists Lewis Coggins 907-543-1022
lewis_coggins@fws.gov Email:lewis_coggins@fws.gov |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
Related Documents
Folder 319980 Full Announcement-Full Announcement -> F19AS00354 Full Announcement.pdf
Folder 319980 Full Announcement-Full Announcement -> F19AS00354 Application Instructions.pdf
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | Supervisory Wildlife Biologists Lewis Coggins 907-543-1022 lewis_coggins@fws.gov Email: lewis_coggins@fws.gov |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.678 | PKG00254267 | Aug 31, 2019 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
319980 SF424_2_1-2.1.pdf
319980 SF424B-1.1.pdf
319980 SF424A-1.0.pdf
319980 ProjectNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
Optional forms
319980 AttachmentForm_1_2-1.2.pdf
319980 SFLLL_1_2-1.2.pdf
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