Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated with Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS), Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NoROCK), is offering a funding opportunity to improve model- and design-based inferences for natural resource monitoring programs. The proposed research will advance the understanding of approaches to model long-term monitoring data collected by Department of Interior agencies. Statisticians from NoROCK and CESU Partner will collaborate with the Everglades National Park and North American Bat Monitoring Program partners to understand resource management decision needs. A sound monitoring program requires periodic assessments of both the survey design in order to identify whether original and current objectives are being met. Specifically, whether the spatial sampling design, temporal frequency of data collection within a year and among years, field methods used, and analytical methods employed for status and trend estimation are aligned to deliver management relevant information with enough accuracy and precision. Statistical assessments such as summarizing data available with preliminary exploratory data analyses [graphics/tables etc], preliminary analyses and/or sample size [power analyses] investigations can help assess monitoring efforts or inform new efforts.