This SOW details the objectives for a cooperative management and monitoring project for vertebrate species ofconcern inhabiting the longleaf pine (pinus palustris) ecosystem on eafb

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Recovery Implementation program (CFDA 15.657) provides $651,295.96 to Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) to conduct a vertebrate species management and monitoring project for the ESA-listed reticulated flatwoods salamander and the ESA-petitioned Florida bog frog within the longleaf pine ecosystem on Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The key products and services to be delivered include: monitoring and managing these endangered and at-risk species and their habitats, conducting genetic analysis of flatwoods salamander populations, implementing wetland restoration techniques, coordinating translocation plans and habitat restoration efforts, and providing updated information on the spatial distribution, hydrology, and habitat quality of these species. This 5-year project, running from May 2025 to May 2030, aims to enable the highest level of management capability and flexibility to support the military testing and training mission at Eglin AFB.

The project focuses on management andconservation of the ESA listed reticulated flatwoods salamander (ambystoma bishopi), with additional work on theesa-petitioned-for-listing florida BOG frog (lithobates rana okaloosae).the cooperator shall provide labor, support, and technical expertise to monitor and manage esafocus species and habitats to enable the highest level of capability and flexibility to the eafbmilitary testing and training mission. Work shall be done IAW appropriate drivers, including the monitor statusof reticulated flatwoods salamanders across eafb. Conduct genetic analysis of flatwoods salamander tissue samplesto monitor populations, assess success of translocations. Using an adaptive management approach, conduct andmonitor effectiveness of wetland restoration techniques on habitat of reticulated flatwoods salamanders and otheramphibians on eglin. Coordinate with jackson guard, FWS, and recovery team on translocation plans and habitatrestoration efforts to bolster installation-wide population under a 3-RS framework and conduct an adaptivemanagement study to test effectiveness of different management and translocation strategies on effectivepopulation size, larval growth, and survival. 3.5 provide updated information on spatial distribution, hydrology, and habitat quality work with eglin NRO to prioritize sites for expanding and establishing additionalmetapopulations in order to provide that information to partners. Monitor status of florida BOG frogs acrosseglin.