Modeling plant community composition and vegetation structure in core sage grouse habitats

 

In order to assist and direct the future management of sagebrush habitats for the conservation of Greater Sage Grouse, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is desirous of acquiring an analysis of sage-grouse habitat to examine how climate change and disturbance will influence the soil water conditions needed for persistence of the key sagebrush plant community components. We anticipate the need to simulate daily soil water dynamics as a function of climate and soil variables and employment of a modeling platform which comprises a daily time step soil water model and a plant demographic model to simulate the effects of water availability and inter- and intraspecific competition on species composition and production of sagebrush plant communities, including invasive alien species such as cheatgrass and Japanese brome. The Service expects that this analysis, when completed, will address the following questions: 1. How will climate change and disturbance affect sagebrush plant communities over the first half of the 21st century? 2. To what variables will sagebrush plant communities be most sensitive? 3. How will competition from invasive annual grasses such as cheatgrass and Japanese brome influence sagebrush plant communities? 4. To which kinds of disturbance will sagebrush plant communities be most sensitive? The Service anticipates that the successful applicant will possess the expertise and capability to develop and apply simulation modeling that integrates projected soil moisture conditions with plant community dynamics to produce estimates and associated uncertainties for seedling establishment, plant survival, species composition, and production under current conditions and climate change scenarios for individual species or functional groups of plants. The Service also expects that the analyses will utilize specific locations in state-identified priority sage-grouse habitat that presently supports sagebrush. All results will be described in peer-reviewed scientific publications and presented to interested resource managers.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Deleted 08/22/2013 (Archived.)
Program Number
F13AS00259
Federal Agency/Office
Agency: Department of the Interior
Office: U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
Cooperative Agreement
Number of Awards Available
1
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Rocky Mountain CESU university partners possess the unique expertise to substantially involve and collaborate with the Service in the modeling and assessment of sage grouse habitats across the range of the species, and to provide for substantial cost savings to the Service by minimization of overhead through a negotiated rate in the CESU agreement.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Application Procedure
This opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Program - Rocky Mountain CESU Cooperative and Joint Venture Agreement (#60181AJ402). Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Rocky Mountain (CESU).
Deadlines
08/05/2013
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program does not have cost sharing or matching requirements.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Headquarters Office
Greg Watson, Project Officer, 303 236-8155
greg_watson@fws.gov
E-mail Address
greg_watson@fws.gov
Financial Information
Obligations
$155,000.00
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Awards range from $100,000.00 to $155,000.00

 


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