USGS Role in Monitoring Design and Protocol Development

1

• USGS Role in Monitoring Design and Protocol
  Development
• Paul Geissler
• USGS Coordinator, LTEM Program
• Paul_Geissler_at_usgs.gov
• 301-497-5780

2

• USGS Direct Support for NPS
• Natural Resources Preservation Program (NRPP)
  2.8M (Regions)
• Long-Term Ecological Monitoring (LTEM) 1.2M
  (Paul Geissler)
• Vegetation Mapping Program 1.2M (John Mosesso)
• Park Oriented Biological Support USGS/NPS 0.6M
  (Hardy Pearce)

3

• USGS Support for NPS
• Support From Science Centers and Individual
  Scientists
• Other projects assist parks, although they are
  not park specific
• Amphibian Research Monitoring Initiative
• Breeding Bird Survey
• Gap Analysis Program
• Integrated Taxonomy Information System
• National Biological Information Infrastructure

4

• Natural Resources Preservation Program (NRPP)
• Short-term, tactical research to meet natural
  resource management needs of the National Park
  Service.
• Fill gaps in applied biological research in the
  Nations national parks and allow USGS to address
  research needs significant to park resource
  managers.
• Proposals from NPS

5

• Park Oriented Biological Support
• Joint USGS / NPS funding.
• Focuses on technical assistance and
  exploratory research projects.
• Provides seed money for new research on emerging
  issues that may become significant to the parks,
  and to develop products useful to the parks.

6

• Park Oriented Biological Support
• Proposals by USGS scientists working with Park
  resource managers
• Selection by a panel of BRD and NPS reviewers.

7

• Long-Term Ecological Monitoring (LTEM)
• 11 Parks were selected competitively by NPS as
  prototypes, each representing a biome.
• Conceptual model is developed which identifies
  and relates
• Natural resources and ecological processes
• Threats
• Park mission and priorities
• Who is interested in the data why?

8

• Prototype Long-Term Ecological Monitoring (LTEM)
• Indicators (vital signs) are selected
• USGS develops, tests and peer reviews protocols
  and procedures in cooperation with park resource
  managers.
• USGS scientists are stationed at parks to help
  develop an operational monitoring program.

9

• Prototype Long-Term Ecological Monitoring (LTEM)
• Once monitoring becomes operational after about
  5 years, NPS takes over the monitoring funding.
• Handoff review to assure that monitoring is
  effective and meets park needs.
• USGS funds roll over to the next park.
• USGS continues to support the protocols and
  their revision, as necessary.

10

• LTEM Operational Parks
• Channel Islands
• Great Smokey Mountains
• Shenandoah
• Great Plains Prairie Cluster

11

• LTEM Parks Developing Protocols
• (projected completion)
• Virgin Islands Cluster Parks (FY2002)
• Cape Cod (FY2002)
• Denali (FY2004)
• Olympic (FY2006)
• North Cascades (FY2006)
• Mammoth Cave (FY2006)
• Colorado Plateau Cluster (FY2007)

12

• Tasks Supported By USGS LTEM
• FY2002
• Selected in consultation with NPS LTEM
• Workshop to suggest statistical methods of
  measuring change (trends) in populations.
• Statistical support for park monitoring
• Wes Newton, Northern Prairie
• Post Doc, Patuxent

13

• Tasks Supported By USGS LTEM
• Web site and discussion about development and
  use of monitoring protocols.
• Complements excellent site Steve has developed.
• Will provide continuing support.
• Could be used to post statistical questions.
• Being developed suggestions will be welcome.

14

• Tasks Supported By USGS LTEM
• Development of improved methods for estimating
  detectability
• Proportion of area occupied
• Physical simulations
• Chronic Wasting Disease

15

• Tasks Supported By USGS LTEM
• Protocol development and review
• Mountain Lion
• Native Bees
• Vegetation
• Intertidal, Seabirds, and Landbirds
• Calling Amphibians
• Cryptogams

16

• The need for technical support will almost always
  exceed the resources available.
• If you have funding for work in addition to the
  above,
• the USGS would like to compete for your project.
• We have expertise in biology, water, geology and
  mapping.