Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

Summary

The U.S. Geological Survey is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner to develop scientific tools to collaborative research that evaluates ecological and population risks across western rangelands and alpine ecosystems. This research to understanding animal-habitat relationships, assessing resource selection and population demography of birds and ungulates within grassland, shrubland, and alpine ecosystems. This work could focuses on how sage-grouse and sagebrush and grassland songbirds respond to land-use changes, ranging from vegetation treatments and other disturbances, helping inform conservation and a management and planning efforts of sagebrush habitats and wildlife species of conservation concern. Proposed work could also build upon ongoing work that has also modeled resource selection and population dynamics of ungulates, helping to assess spread of diseases like CWD. Such research could expand current efforts using simulation modeling and expand to new geographies. Work is also require to maintain long-term research in the alpine of Colorado to assess population dynamics and resource needs for white-tailed ptarmigan across seasons, as well as assessing plasticity and potential for genetic adaptation, assessing the risk of threats to these species.