Attachment 3 Sample of Successful Proposals

Attachment 4 – Sample of successful proposals

Science Support Partnership (SSP) Program

Identification of previously undocumented Florida Grasshopper Sparrow occurrences on public and private lands, and confirmation of the current population status and distribution The status of the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow (FGSP) is perilous. Breeding season reports from the three public land areas supporting the FGSP indicate a further, and sharp, decline in 2011 (Figure 1). Monitoring projects at all three populations recorded their lowest counts on record (Figure 2). At Avon Park Air Force Range, only two males were detected, indicating that FGSP are functionally extirpated from the area. While there are reports of small, remnant populations on at least three private ranches, none of these are likely to be as large as those at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park and Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area. Population trends suggest that extinction may occur in as few as 5 years. The objectives of the project are to: 1. Develop rigorous population and distribution estimates for FGSP on public lands where the only known populations of the FGSP occur. 2. Identify previously unknown populations of FGSPs on private lands where they are known or believed to occur. 3. Collect and manage habitat and landscape data for possible use in future development of species distribution and habitat suitability models, and assist with habitat enhancement efforts as needed.

Clarifying taxonomic uncertainty for three freshwater mussels listed or considered for listing under ESA, Fuzzy Pigtoe, Oval Pigtoe, and Rayed Creekshell. Effective conservation and restoration plans require clearly definable management units (MUs) or evolutionary significant units (ESUs) (Waples et al. 2007). It is possible that many unionid species are arbitrarily defined and managed as metapopulations. Characterizing patterns of genetic variation within and among populations is essential to manage recovery activities for a species (e.g., Grobler et al. 2011). Studies comparing genetic structure of species within and between major rivers are essential to helping managers identify genetically distinct populations and guide restoration and recovery of imperiled species (Jones et al. 2006a). Specific freshwater habitats in lotic systems are patchy, and species tend to be structured in networks linking habitat patches and localized populations. Without knowledge of connectedness and levels of gene flow among natural populations, the possibility exists for populations that are genetically distinct yet difficult to distinguish morphologically to be managed as a single conservation unit. This becomes increasingly important when recovery efforts include augmentation and reintroduction from conservation hatcheries. Several genetic studies (e.g., Roe and Lydeard 1998, King et al. 1999, Serb et al. 2003, Jones et al. 2006b) have detected and described broad-scale genetic differences between allopatric populations of federally protected mussels, suggesting that understanding the phylogeographic variability within and between closely related species is a useful tool for assessing the benefits and risks inherent with recovery efforts (see Jones et al. 2006a). There are three primary objectives of this comprehensive project. The first objective is to utilize gender-associated mitochondrial markers (see Brenton et al. 2007) to investigate range-wide phylogeographic structure among extant populations of P. strodeanum, P. pyriforme, and A. radiatus throughout the range of each species. This will allow us to characterize patterns of genetic variation within and among populations and delineate species boundaries to better inform conservation managers about connectivity of existing populations. The second objective is use genetic data to help clarify taxonomic uncertainties for all three species and similar, possibly closely related taxa by estimating divergence among shell morphotypes and populations in a phylogenetic context that includes other species in the tribes Anodontini (for A. radiatus) and Pleurobemini (for P. strodeanum and P. pyriforme). The goal here is to clarify the systematic and phylogenetic relationships among these lineages in the southeastern United States and to draw on ecological and life history data that might be specific to each evolutionary cluster. Lastly, the utility of the markers will be demonstrated for use in characterizing and maintaining genetic diversity by identifying relationships within and among potential source and recipient populations with the goal of maximizing genetic integrity and potential for translocation success. Once identified, management plans could target genetically similar source populations for use in conservation efforts to augment declining or restore extirpated populations.

Development of Aquatic Data & Decision Information Compilation Tool for Southeastern United States resource conservation The Southeast Aquatic Habitat Plan was developed by SARP, partners, and stakeholders from throughout the southeast and was intended to provide guidance on the identification of conservation needs throughout the region (SAHP 2008). The SAHP explicitly identified the need for geographic prioritization of habitat conservation initiatives to effectively use limited resources (SAHP 2008). Thus, in 2009, a prioritization tools subcommittee was formed with the objective of devising a prioritization scheme. The subcommittee was composed of multiple agencies, states, academia, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Formal questionnaires of SARP members, multiple meetings, and the review of existing science- based data sources and tools resulted in the development of the Prioritization Tool Conceptual Model (revised in Feb 2011), a model that was reviewed by the Science and Data Committee and represents the consensus of members. Funding this proposal will take the model from a concept and turn it into a reality. The objective of the project is to work with SARP and collaborators to develop a web-based interactive aquatic habitat restoration and conservation prioritization and information tool for both freshwater systems and coastal systems in the southeastern United States. The tool is intended to be highly flexible with functionality to overlay information from aquatic plans, federal and state fisheries management plans, and conservation priorities from other organizations in the region (e.g., TNC and the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture). The flexible design will allow the tool to serve as an outlet for new datasets that are generated by SARP and partners in the region, enabling the conservation community to readily obtain and capitalize on these new resources. The tool will be designed to allow for integration of data at multiple scales, allowing for prioritization of objectives at multiple levels from the large regions down to the specific actions at the project site level. This will also allow an organization to integrate its specific funding allocation mandates to address the goals and objectives of the larger collaborative effort and be able to account for specific actions on the ground. In addition, the tool allows for the marriage of aquatic and terrestrial prioritization providing synergy between landscape and watershed conservation goals.

QR proposals –

Landscape modeling of Kentucky arrow darter (Etheostoma sagitta spilotum) occurrence and response to water quality parameters Response of endangered mussels to decreased flows Despite the greatly improved habitat conditions, increased mussel abundance and ongoing reintroduction efforts, listed mussels in the Duck River are faced with an impending threat – a conflict over water. Urban and industrial growth in the watershed is placing ever greater demands for off-stream use of water. Drought conditions in recent years severely threatened municipal water supplies, and minimum flows released from Normandy Dam have been reduced to conserve water for municipalities. Currently, there is no protocol for determining instream flow requirements of freshwater mussels. However, a protocol is being developed in an ongoing SSP Project (title: Predicting the effects on endangered mussels from incremental decreases in minimum flows) initiated by the Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Research Unit in 2010. Results of that study to date indicate that reduced flows elicit different behavioral responses among mussel species. In accordance with the Study Plan, the response of three species was evaluated with short-term replicate trials in an indoor flume. Two distinctly different behavioral responses occurred: one species burrowed deep below the substrate surface with limited lateral movement; in contrast, two species remained epibenthic and moved horizontally throughout the trial. Behavior of these same species in long-term studies in hatchery raceways was consistent with results from the flume study. Moreover, differences in growth rate occurred between the burrower and the movers in the raceway. Preliminary results of the ongoing field portion of the SSP study suggest that survival of burrowers and movers differ. Thus, lethal and non-lethal effects differ between burrowers and movers. At this time, it is unknown if the different behaviors are related to shell morphology or taxonomic lineages. Determining how a particular species will respond is crucial to predicting the effects of a reduction of flows. Identifying species traits that are associated with being a burrower or mover will make predictions developed by the SSP study more robust and the protocol developed will have broad application to similar rivers and a wide range of listed mussel species throughout the southeastern United States. A primary objective of this project is to identify traits of a species that are associated with determining whether the species is a burrower or mover.