Subject: [SEABIRD] [Fwd: RFP Pacific Lumber Company MarbledMurrelet Research Funds]
Date: Dec 1 17:35:10 2003
From: Jon. Anderson and Marty Chaney - festuca at olywa.net


Ladies & Gentlemen (I used to say "Hi folks", but I understand that our 'folksy' Geo. W. has commandeered that phrase.....) -

Didn't know if anyone on the list might be able to benefit from the Marbled Murrelet research funding from Pacific Lumber. Feel free to pass this on to any appropriate folks.

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net

>>> John Cooper <jcooper at adu.uct.ac.za> 11/30/03 11:49PM >>>

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RFP Pacific Lumber Company Marbled Murrelet Research Funds
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2003 15:58:44 -0800
From: "Heather Beeler" hbeeler at madriverbio.com
To: jcooper at botzoo.uct.ac.za

2004 Request for Proposals
Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
Regional Conservation Research

To All Interested Parties

As part of The Pacific Lumber Company (PALCO) Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), PALCO, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California Department of Fish and Game are seeking proposals to conduct scientific research regarding the conservation needs for the marbled murrelet in Northern California.

Successful proposals will address one or more important issues regarding the conservation needs of the marbled murrelet. Proposals should be for fieldwork within marbled murrelet conservation zones 4 and/or 5 (as described in the USFWS Recovery Plan for the marbled murrelet). Research topics that may be funded include, but are not limited to those detailed below under Research Priorities.

Research projects are expected to have a rigorous, hypothesis-based scientific work plan and a strong rationale for the proposed research. Each proposal will be evaluated for its ability to contribute in a cost-effective manner to our understanding of marbled murrelet biology and conservation.

Funding will be available for single-year or multi-year projects, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. Continued funding for multi-year projects will be contingent upon satisfactory progress.

Those interested in submitting proposals are encouraged to contact Ron LeValley at Mad River Biologists, 707-839-0900, ron at madriverbio.com

Background

The Pacific Lumber Company's multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan includes measures for marbled murrelet conservation and minimization of incidental take. The HCP sets aside certain habitat from harvest for 50 years, allowed PALCO to sell other habitat to the state and federal governments, and phases the harvest of other murrelet nesting habitat. The HCP also requires PALCO to establish a fund to conduct research regarding the conservation needs of the marbled murrelet. Per the HCP, research funds will be applied according to recommendations of the Marbled Murrelet Scientific Review Panel and the agencies.

Eligibility

Proposals may be submitted by individuals, public or private corporations, partnerships, or other associations or entities (including institutions of higher education, institutes, or laboratories).

Proposal Guidelines

All pages should be single spaced, typewritten in a 12-point font. Each proposal should contain sufficient detail to evaluate the proposal, but no more than 15 pages of text. Tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs, and other pictorial presentations are not included in the 15-page limitation. Similarly, the literature cited, project schedule, permits and permissions, curriculum vitae, references, and budget sections (items 3(g) through (m) and 4 below) are not included in the 15-page limitation). If applicable, the proposal may describe how the project addresses marbled murrelet management under the HCP, how existing data may be used, or how the proposed work will be coordinated with other ongoing research efforts.

Successful proposals will have the following sections:

1. Title of proposal, together with name(s) and affiliation(s) of author(s).
2. Project summary (1 page limit)
3. Project description
a. Introduction/Background
b. Relevance to marbled murrelet conservation in Recovery Zone 4 or 5
c. Research or Technical Plan, including sampling design, statistical analysis and sample sizes needed
d. Coordination with ongoing research efforts, if applicable
e. Use of existing data, if applicable
f. Expected work products
g. Literature cited
h. Project schedule, including expected dates for progress and final reports
i. State and federal permits needed, pending, or obtained
j. Landowner agreements needed, pending, or obtained
k. Personnel availability
l. Curricula vitae for principal investigator(s) and other key personnel
m. Names, affiliations, and contact information and three professional references for the principal investigator
4. Itemized budget - indicate other funds needed, pending, or obtained

Base salaries for personnel should not exceed the equivalent of $80,000/year and should be commensurate with education and ability to conduct the research.

Proposal Evaluation

All proposals submitted will be initially evaluated for completeness. Incomplete proposals will be rejected. Complete proposals will be evaluated and ranked by the MMSRP. Decisions for funding will be made by the MMSRP, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and California Department of Fish and Game. Proposals will be evaluated on:

Statistical validity of the proposal design
.. Technical merit of the proposed study
.. Degree that proposal addresses above objectives
.. Costs
.. Capability of principal investigator to complete project

The person(s) or group(s) selected for funding will be contacted via mail and given further instructions regarding the payment of research funds. All publications resulting from work funded by this program must acknowledge the support of the Pacific Lumber Company.

Priority Research Questions for the 2003 RFP
The following research areas have been selected as research priorities for 2003; however, all murrelet research projects within zones 4 and 5 will be considered.

(1) Examine the use of radar to assess the occupancy of forested stands. For example, a simultaneous pairing of radar tracking with radio telemetry to examine the behavior of birds at known nest sites, known occupied stands, or locating new nest sites. This work is needed to interpret the radar data already collected and to aid in the interpretation of the monitoring data. Research would be designed to compare radar signatures and apparent flight behavior on radar in nesting (occupied) stands versus non-nesting stands.

(2) Effects of stand and landscape characteristics on occupancy by marbled murrelets in managed forests. An analysis of occupied versus unoccupied stands and the intervening matrix. Hypotheses would be tested based on existing knowledge and potential effects (e.g., stands with high perimeters and low interior surrounded by younger forests would negatively affect occupancy). This work would focus on stands as the sampling unit (rather than circles surrounding detections) and would also focus more on heavily managed forests (i.e., private lands). Ideally, the use of recently developed estimators for occupancy could be used in conjunction with a quasi-experimental design.

(3) Examine the use of radar to assess seasonal variation in forest use, especially during the breeding season. This would also address changes in habitat use as a function of stage in the breeding cycle.

(4) Examine the use of radar to determine flight behaviors. For example, what are the main marine entry points for inland bound murrelets? Also, do murrelets minimize flight distances between feeding locations and nest sites?

(5) Evaluation and improvement of adult:juvenile ratios as a measure of marbled murrelet productivity, in Marbled Murrelet Conservation Zone 4. While studies elsewhere have indicated biases of the method, there is value in trying to overcome biases and improve the technique in Zone 4, where the relatively simple coastline may reduce some of the problems encountered with the method further north. An improved method for estimating productivity based on A:J ratio, if reliable, would directly measure productivity, a parameter of high priority for conservation and management of the species. This research could also take advantage of ongoing at-sea population trend monitoring efforts by using the same crews and boats.

(6) Predation and other factors affecting nest success in Zone 4. The focus of this would be to better understand the causes of nest failure, and how landscape and other factors affect nest success. Understanding the relationships between predators/predation risk and landscape patterns and stand structure in the redwood zone may also provide insight into the management of habitat in parks, reserves, and adjacent areas.

(7) Extensive surveys to sample known, and locate additional nest sites. The focus would be on estimating nest success; characterize habitat structure and composition at various spatial scales centered on the nest site.

(8) Examine factors affecting population dynamics at different levels. Studies are needed to assess how biotic and abiotic factors affect life-history traits, such as survival, reproduction, recruitment, etc., as well as population numbers.

Submission

Proposals are due by January 31, 2004

Ron LeValley
Mad River Biologists
1497 Central Avenue
McKinleyville CA 95519
ron at madriverbio.com

Submission of proposals via electronic means is encouraged. Please also submit a printed version.

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