Sclerocactus Demographic Monitoring and Distribution Assessment

Post Date

August 15th 2011

Application Due Date

August 16th 2011

Funding Opportunity Number

FWS-R6-SCLEROCACTUS

CFDA Number(s)

15.657

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Cooperative Agreement

Funding Activity Categories

Environment
Natural Resources

Number of Awards

1

Eligibility Categories

Other

This is a notice of intent to award this agreement as a single source agreement to SWCA Environmental Consultants for the purpose of long-term monitoring to statistically quantify population demographic processes and habitat characteristics for Pariette cactus (Sclerocactus brevispinus) and Uinta Basin hookless cactus (Sclerocactus wetlandicus).

Funding

• Award Range:

  $1000 - $100000

Grant Description

The tasks to be performed under this agreement are as follows: -Project Design oProject site selection oDisturbance model development oDatabase development -Demographic Monitoring & Distribution Assessment oBiannual monitoring during the flowering and fruiting period oAssessment will expand understanding of biology and ecology of Sclerocactus in order to assess relationships between demographic processes and habitat conditions. -Data Analysis & Reporting oDemographic monitoring data will be compiled biannually into an Access database and analyzed in MS Excel oDemographic data will be summarized by habitat stratum and range into a report summarizing the distribution of individuals of life stage for each species. This Single Source Award is being made in accordance with Department of the Interior Policy 505 DM 2.14 B #4, which allows for award without competition to an applicant if the applicant is uniquely qualified. SWCA is uniquely qualified to perform the Scleoracactus Demographic Monitoring & Distribution Assessment because: -SWCA is recognized for its rare plant expertise by state and federal agencies in the Uinta Basin, and has an expert botanical team that has been conducting Sclerocactus brevispinus and S. wetlandicus surveys and monitoring in the Uinta Basin since 2004. -SWCA botanists J. Hope Hornbeck and Lynda Sperry have nearly 10 years of combined survey and habitat assessment experience in the Uinta Basin. In 2008, Hope and Lynda worked with the USFWS, BLM, and Utah Natural Heritage Program on the development of a monitoring and reclamation plan for Sclerocactus spp. in the Uinta Basin. -The habitat assessment and demographic monitoring protocols proposed in 2008 were further developed in 2011 to assess data needs for demographic modeling of Sclerocactus species. Specific life stages have been identified as critical to the long-term viability of Sclerocactus populations and have been incorporated into the demographic monitoring plan. The Sclerocactus brevispinus demographic model currently in development requires a minimum of four years of demographic data to be statistically supported. Longer-term demographic studies will further support demographic modeling results and are needed to identify demographic trends in response to stochastic events such as short-term climatic cycles, disease and predation events, and changes to habitat conditions. -SWCA has developed a statistically rigorous sampling scheme and demographic monitoring protocols specific to the elusive nature and cryptic life stages of Sclerocactus species over the past four years.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of the Interior

• Office:

  Fish and Wildlife Service

• Agency Contact:

  Andrea Meyer
  Contracting Officer

• Agency Mailing Address:

  Email

• Agency Email Address:

  andrea_meyer@fws.gov