Monitoring to Estimate Trends in the Presence and Abundance of Colonial Nesting Seabird Populations on the Kenai Fjords Coast

This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service (NPS), intention to fund the following project with University of Alaska Fairbanks under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program. CESUs are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. The project intended award is $36,076. This is a continuation of an existing agreement, number P11AT36065 for the last year of a 3 year study. The project period is June 1,2013 through December 31, 2014. Objectives: The overall purpose of this study is to obtain critical information on and establish monitoring protocols for colonial breeding seabirds in both Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ) and adjacent areas of the AMNWR. Our specific objectives are to: 1) determine the status (occupied or not occupied), and species composition to estimate population abundances of all known seabird colonies in KEFJ and selected colonies in adjacent areas AMNWR; 2) systematically survey the KEFJ shoreline for undocumented seabird colonies; 3) produce GIS maps of the location of seabird colonies in KEFJ and selected colonies in adjacent areas of AMNWR; 4) develop statistically valid protocols for monitoring presence and abundance of colonial nesting seabirds in KEFJ and selected colonies in adjacent areas of AMNWR. Public Purpose: This project will benefit the public by providing an understanding of seabird occupancy and abundance that will help monitor long term trends in seabird populations ensuring their continued health and presence in the Kenai Fjords area. Results from the study will be available on the NPS website for use by the general public to understand seabird ecology and abundance. The journal articles published as a result of this study will be used by the scientific community in public and private institutions to further the understanding of seabird monitoring and occupancy at colonies and as a basis for more in-depth studies. In addition, NPS involvement in this project supports the research and educational mission of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the academic department mission to provide leadership in natural resource studies through the experience and knowledge gained by the participating students. Substantial Involvement: This is a collaborative research project conducted by the NPS and University of Alaska. The NPS will play a substantial role in this study by providing project oversight, historical data, logistical support, supplies and equipment, staffing and training. The NPS has conducted pilot efforts over the past 4 years that will inform this study and personnel familiar with previous work and archived historical data will contribute important insight into the design and implementation of this study. The NPS will provide field housing and transportation to support this study. The graduate student and field technicians will conduct research in the fjords from the live-aboard NPS vessel the M/V Serac or based out of field camps from smaller NPS motor boats provided for the study. The NPS will also provide all necessary field gear (float coats, dry bags, GPS units, survival gear, field camp supplies, etc.) and a ruggedized laptop for the project. The NPS will be responsible for hiring a field technician for the project and will provide in-kind personnel support (GS-07 term biological technician and GS-11 ecologist) to assist with field work and to help arrange logistics. The NPS will provide the motor boat operator and bear safety training to all personnel working on this project. Project Outcome: the population estimates and status assessments for colonial nesting seabirds, the GIS maps of seabird colonies, the management recommendations and educational strategies for minimizing disturbance to nesting seabirds, and the statistically valid protocols for monitoring colonial nesting seabirds to KEFJ. Single Source: Department 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. (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.