Identify Vulnerable Populations of Dall’s Sheep in Alaska’s National Parks Using Climate Models

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This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service (NPS), intention to fund the following project activities without competition.ABSTRACTFunding Announcement P15AS01026Project Title Identify Vulnerable Populations of Dall’s Sheep in Alaska’s National Parks Using Climate ModelsRecipient University of IdahoTotal Anticipated Award Amount $90,061Cost Share NoneAnticipated Length of Agreement 2 YearsAnticipated Period of Performance 8/30/15 - 10/30/17Award Instrument Cooperative AgreementStatutory Authority 54USC§100702(b) Cooperative Studies Units: The Secretary shall enter into cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, including 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 System, or the larger region of which System units are a part.CFDA # and Title 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs – Resources of the National Park System (CESU)Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique QualificationsPoint of Contact Erica CordeiroOVERVIEWDall’s sheep (Ovis dalli) are a the quintessential resident of the rugged and mountainous parks in Alaska including Denali National Park and Preserve, Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Yukon-Charlie Rivers National Preserve, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Western Arctic National Parklands including Noatak National Preserve and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve because they may be hunted in preserve areas, are one of the most readily viewed large mammals by visitors, and may serve as a sensitive indicator of climate and vegetation change. Highly seasonal environments such as those in arctic and alpine areas are expected to be strongly affected by climate change, and changing plant phenology could have strong repercussions on recruitment in mountain sheep whose reproduction is closely linked to vegetation green-up. This project will use existing spatial data for Dall’s sheep to model resource selection in combination with climate models to identify vulnerable populations in Alaska’s National Parks.STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLANObjectives1. Model resource selection for Dall’s sheep within Alaska National Parks using traditional and bioclimatic variables.2. Use climatic models and resource selection data to assess Dall’s sheep response to projected changes in climate. 3. Determine the vulnerability of park sheep populations to predicted climate induced habitat changes.RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENTThe recipient will:1. Use animal location data to evaluate habitat selection and develop space use models that include bioclimatic variables along with more classic habitat variables. 2. Evaluate movement patterns at different temporal scales in relation to bioclimatic variables. 3. Model bioclimatic envelope under future scenarios, and use results from the best model(s) of resource selection that include bioclimatic variables to predict animal responses. 4. Project changes in availability and distribution of habitats under climate change scenarios, and examine loss or expansion of habitats used by sheep within parks.5. Complete annual and final accomplishment reports, final completion report, and draft 2 manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENTSubstantial involvement on the part of 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: 1. Providing Dall’s sheep location data from Alaska National Parks.2. Providing geographic information system data on landscape features in Alaska National Parks.3. Provide site-specific ecological knowledge that is critical to the development and assessment of modelling efforts4. Assist in the preparation and review of models, reports, and manuscripts.SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATIONDEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORSINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTSDepartment of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable.In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:(1) Unsolicited Proposal – The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives;(2) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity;(3) Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;(4) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications;(5) Emergencies – Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed.NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:(4) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications. Unique Qualifications – The PI, Dr. Janet Rachlow, is a leading research investigator with technical expertise in wildlife habitat relationships in the western US and Alaska. Dr. Rachlow has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed research articles on various aspects of behavioral ecology of mammals, wildlife-habitat relationships, conservation of fragmented populations, and ungulate ecology and management. Dr. Rachlow co-authored the Dall’s and Stone’s sheep chapter in Ecology and Management of Large Mammals in North America (Bowyer et al. 2000), conducted research on Dall’s sheep in Alaska (Rachlow and Bowyer 1991, 1994, 1998), and collaborated on multiple wildlife-habitat relationship projects in Alaska (Sorum et al. in review). Dr. Oz Garton is a research leader in quantitative wildlife ecology, and, along with graduate students and Dr. Rachlow, has developed and advanced methods for analysis of wildlife-habitat relationships that will be used in this study (see Horne et al. 2008, Wells et al. 2014). Relevant publications by the UI research team include: Bowyer, R.T., D.M. Leslie, Jr. and J.L. Rachlow. 2000. Dall’s and Stone’s sheep. In: Ecology and Management of Large Mammals in North America (P.R. Krausman and S. Demarais, eds.). Prentice Hall, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Horne, J.S., E.O. Garton, and J.L. Rachlow. 2008. A synoptic model of animal space use: simultaneous analysis of home range, habitat selection, and inter/intra-specific relationships. Ecological Modelling. 214:338-348.Rachlow, J.L. and R.T. Bowyer. 1998. Habitat selection by Dall’s sheep (Ovis dalli): maternal trade- offs. Journal of Zoology (London). 245:457-465.Rachlow, J.L. and R.T. Bowyer. 1994. Variability in maternal behavior by Dall's sheep: environmental tracking or adaptive strategy? Journal of Mammalogy. 75:328-337.Rachlow, J.L. and R.T. Bowyer. 1991. Interannual variation in timing and synchrony of parturition in Dall's sheep. Journal of Mammalogy. 72:487-492.Sorum, M. J.L. Rachlow, J.S. Horne, W.B. Leacock, and C.T. Robbins (in review). Using diet analyses to inform behavior-specific models of resource selection by brown bears. Journal of Mammalogy.Wells, A.G., C.C. Blair, E.O. Garton, C.G. Rice, J.S. Horne, J.L. Rachlow, and D.O. Wallin. 2014. The Brownian Bridge synoptic model of habitat selection and space use for animals using GPS telemetry data. Ecological Modelling. 273:242-250.

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