Development of quantitative tools to support species status assessments of southeastern crayfishesproject period: 09 15 2024 - 9 30 2025 abstract summary: this award will provide the salary and…

This $119,288.84 Cooperative Agreement award, funded by the U.S. Geological Survey's Cooperative Research Units (CFDA 15.812) program, will support a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University to develop a generalizable modeling approach for conducting status assessments of southeastern crayfish species. The key deliverables include:

1. A generalizable modeling approach based on the life history of southeastern crayfishes
2. Current and future modeling for status assessments of four rivulet crayfish species
3. A final report and all associated data products

The intended beneficiaries are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's listing and recovery biologists responsible for conducting species status assessments of crayfish species petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. This award does not involve any sub-recipients.

Development of quantitative tools to support species status assessments of southeastern crayfishesproject period: 09 15 2024 - 9 30 2025 abstract summary: this award will provide the salary and benefits for a postdoctoral researcher who will be developing a statistical modeling approach for conducting status assessments of southeastern crayfishes. Activities to be performed - there are four primary activities: 1) the postdoctoral researcher will develop a generalizable modeling approach for status assessments for crayfishes 2) use the modeling approach to conduct modeling for the status assessments of four crayfish species (rivulet crayfishes), 3) evaluate consistency and potential for integration of analytical approaches for estimating species condition, and 4) develop translational science materials that would allow USFWS biologists to use the modeling approach. Deliverables and expected outcomes -recipient will provide a i) a generalizable modelling approach based on the life history of southeastern crayfishes, II) current and future modeling for status assessments of four rivulet crayfishes, and III) a final report and all data products. Intended beneficiary(IES) -the beneficiaries are listing and recovery biologists for the U.S. Fish and wildlife service, which are responsible for the species status assessments of crayfish species petitioned for listing under the endangered species act. The mississippi USFWS field office will directly benefit from modeling results for four crayfish species that are being used as case studies for model development. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award -there is no subrecipient associated with this award. This award will provide the salary and benefits for a postdoctoral researcher who will be developing a statistical modeling approach for conducting status assessments of southeastern crayfishes. Activities to be performed - there are four primary activities: 1) the postdoctoral researcher will develop a generalizable modeling approach for status assessments for crayfishes 2) use the modeling approach to conduct modeling for the status assessments of four crayfish species (rivulet crayfishes), 3) evaluate consistency and potential for integration of analytical approaches for estimating species condition, and 4) develop translational science materials that would allow USFWS biologists to use the modeling approach. Deliverables and expected outcomes -recipient will provide a i) a generalizable modelling approach based on the life history of southeastern crayfishes, II) current and future modeling for status assessments of four rivulet crayfishes, and III) a final report and all data products. Intended beneficiary(IES) -the beneficiaries are listing and recovery biologists for the U.S. Fish and wildlife service, which are responsible for the species status assessments of crayfish species petitioned for listing under the endangered species act. The mississippi USFWS field office will directly benefit from modeling results for four crayfish species that are being used as case studies for model development. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award -there is no subrecipient associated with this award.