Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Grant for Enhancing Biological Data and Information

The NBII is a collaborative effort among federal, state, local, agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, and private sector groups to provide an integrated gateway to biological data and information. NBII is used by land managers, researchers, decision makers, educators, and the general public for many purposes that include land-use decisions, scientific research, policymaking, and general information needs of its users.

The NBII provides the nation with a mechanism for accessing the vast amount of existing disparate biological and natural resources data, information products, and analytical tools that support and enhance science-based decision-making. Using enterprise portal technology, the NBII helps provide an integrating framework for making these data and information accessible. In 2001, the NBII program was authorized to establish a series of regional and thematic Nodes throughout the country with the objective of providing data and information relevant to those areas available that support efforts of federal, non federal, university, non-profit, and citizens of each Node.

The NBII is looking for collaborative opportunities with a University to increase the availability and usefulness of biological and natural resources related scientific data and information by developing or enhancing them through visualization products, tools, models, web based applications, and/or semantic systems. Technical assistance relates to the following research areas:

Butterflies and Moths of North America
The purpose is to further the development of the data component for the Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA). This cooperative effort to build a national database in support of pollinator research and management includes interaction with various state, federal and international organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions.

Efforts include updating BAMONA with the most accurate and current distribution record, photographs, life history, and nomenclature available by collaborating with experts in the community (including USGS scientists), enhancing the database so multiple records can be entered for the same species and location to help create the capability of mapping trends over time, a web interface for display and analysis of data, investigating the ability to create maps that distinguish between historical and recent records, and participating in national efforts to develop standards and tools for pollinator data and information through the North American Pollinator Protection Council.

Whirling Disease
The purpose is to further the development of the data and mapping components of the Whirling Disease Mapping and Data Repository. Whirling disease impacts 25 states across the country, but the data are contained in disparate data sets and infrastructure systems. This cooperative effort to build a national database to integrate and provide research data and information to support whirling disease research and management includes interaction with various state and federal agencies as well as interested research and educational institutions.

Efforts include providing additional whirling disease data from at least 2-4 states within the affected area through collaboration and partnerships, updating the database with the most accurate and current point data and descriptors, and enhancing the GIS interface to include a set of environmental and other contextual GIS data that can be linked through the map application to occurrence/point data.

Threatened and Endangered Mammals in Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem
The purpose is to further the development of the data sharing component of the Threatened and Endangered Mammals in Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem and surrounding region. This cooperative effort brings together scientific information for researchers and managers that include interaction with various state, federal and international organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions.

Efforts include developing a user friendly web-database interface that brings together widely dispersed information throughout the region to facilitate access and enter data, perform queries, and retrieve customizable reports.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
The purpose is to further the development of the data sharing component of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Node partnership. This cooperative effort brings together data and that provides information for researchers and managers in the fisheries and aquatic resources disciplines that include interaction with various state, federal and international organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions.

Efforts include data and website assessment, planning and development of new site structure, development of new pages and content writing, maintenance of portal-based web pages as well as collaboration with other FAR Node base partners providing application development at Penn State University.

Bird Conservation
The purpose is to further the development of the data sharing component of the Bird Conservation Node partnership. This cooperative effort brings together data and that provides information for researchers and managers in the bird conservation community that includes interaction with various state, federal and international organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions.

Efforts include data and website assessment, collaborating on emerging research data and publications to access, planning and development of new content, enhancing portal-based applications as well as collaboration with other Bird Conservation Node partners including the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Fire Research and Management Exchange System
The purpose is to further the development of data sharing within the region on fire data, models, and tools in support of the Fire Research and Management Exchange System (FRAMES). The FRAMES cooperative effort brings together scientific data, models, tools and other resources that provide information for researchers and managers across the country that includes interaction with various state and federal organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions. The products will be available to scientists, policymakers, and the public.

Efforts include developing a user friendly web-database interface that brings together widely dispersed information throughout the fire community to facilitate access, perform queries, and promote collaboration among FRAMES partners including Forest Service, NOAA, and USGS.

Mountain Prairie Region
The purpose is to enhance data sharing within the region including the states of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. The Mountain Prairie cooperative effort brings together scientific data, models, tools and other resources that provide information for researchers and managers that impact regional issues. The effort includes interaction with various state and federal organizations as well as interested research and educational institutions. The products will be available to scientists, policymakers, and the public.

Efforts include developing a user friendly web-database interface that brings together widely dispersed information about climate, the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Northwest Environmental Data Network, and prairies to facilitate access, perform queries, and encourage collaboration among regional partners.

Overall, the USGS and CESU participants will collaborate to develop and deliver biological data and information, tools, models, products, and web based systems, and in ensuring the information reaches professionals in federal and state agencies, educators, and ultimately the public. The CESU partnership will supplement and enhance work already underway on these various geographic and thematic Nodes and their projects to contribute in the development of a national NBII network.

Award Information

The USGS NBII expects this cooperative agreement to last up to 3 years with the opportunity for renewal. The USGS NBII anticipates making a single award for this project in FY2008 to an existing CESU Program university within the Rocky Mountain CESU. It is anticipated that the total amount of funding available for the project is $425,000, of which $132,700.00 will be made available in FY2008. Continuation of the project in years 2 and 3 will be based on successful performance and available funding. Award of funding through this year’s competition is not a guarantee of future funding.