Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU
The Western Ecological Research Center of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a Member of the Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) Program. The project is titled ¿Geospatial Analyses of Western Landscapes¿. This project is aimed at gaining a better understanding of population connectivity and habitat availability for western wildlife and plants by identifying existing corridors and core habitat areas that have the potential to promote gene flow and population viability across a landscape encumbered by a variety of renewable energy development areas in addition to utility and transportation corridors, military training, recreation activities, urbanization, and climate change. Present, past, and future species distributions will be analyzed by incorporating various climate scenarios. Data from a variety of projects and different research designs will be spatially analyzed using a library of environmental covariates that is maintained by USGS and will continue to be developed as part of this collaboration. By identifying these corridors and habitat areas, we can explore opportunities to maintain viable populations and genetic connectivity by providing data that can inform adaptive management decisions. The experiments may include, but are not limited to a variety of wildlife species such as Mojave and Sonoran desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii and G. morafkai, respectively), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizards (Uma notata), and up to 25 other species that will be considered as the work proceeds.
Office: Geological Survey
fgraves@usgs.gov
