A dynamic model to understand historical changes and real-time availability of suitable habitat for the alabama beach mouse (peromyscus polionotus ammobates)period of performance: 09 30 2025 - 07 31…

Auburn University received a $137,017.07 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Acquisitions and Grants under the Cooperative Research Units program (CFDA 15.812), effective September 30, 2025, through July 31, 2030. The award funds development of a dynamic habitat suitability model for the Alabama Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates), an endangered subspecies restricted to a 25-mile stretch of coastal sand dunes in Baldwin County, Alabama. The primary deliverable is a satellite imagery-based model that will map historical and real-time distribution of suitable habitat by correlating known Alabama Beach Mouse detection locations with random reference sites and extracting habitat variables from satellite data products, including dune maps and vegetation cover classifications.

The project will produce a validated predictive model incorporating expert biological input and a web-based application enabling users to query habitat suitability by geographic location and time period. These tools address a critical operational gap for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which currently lacks the capability to monitor habitat distribution in real time or track habitat changes over time—essential functions for assessing whether sufficient habitat exists to support delisting the species from the Endangered Species List. The work advances the Cooperative Research Units Program's applied research mission by providing federal and state wildlife agencies with science-based decision support tools for endangered species management and habitat recovery planning.

A dynamic model to understand historical changes and real-time availability of suitable habitat for the alabama beach mouse (peromyscus polionotus ammobates)period of performance: 09 30 2025 - 07 31 2030ABSTRACT summary: the alabama beach mouse (ABM, peromyscus polionotus ammobates) is an endangered subspecies of oldfield mouse that inhabits a 25 mile stretch of beachfront property from fort morgan to alabama point in baldwin county, alabama. ABM are largely restricted to coastal sand dunes where they live in burrows and forage for seeds and fruits among the dune vegetation. One of the primary causes for ABM population declines has been loss of habitat due to coastal development and frequent hurricane disturbances. Consequently, active recovery depends on being able to monitor the distribution of suitable ABM habitat to ensure enough is available to warrant removing the species from the endangered species list. At present, however, the U.S. Fish wildlife service (USFWS) lacks a method for identifying the locations of suitable habitat in real time or for tracking changes in suitable habitat over time. Activities to be performed - this project will develop a model that uses satellite imagery to plot the historical and real-time distribution of suitable alabama beach mouse ((ABM), peromyscus polionotus ammobates))ABM habitat. To do this, the recipient will pair locations of known ABM detections with random locations and fit a model that distinguishes between these types of sites based on satellite imagery and derived products (e.g., dune maps and vegetation cover). Recipient will ensure that this model generates accurate predictions of ABM habitat in space and time using validation data, and by including expert opinion from biologists familiar with the coastal landscape and ABM habitat requirements. Finally, recipient will develop a web-based application that allows users to specify a spatial location and temporal period of interest, and then returns an ABM habitat suitability model relevant for that space and time. Deliverables and expected outcomes -this tool will have numerous applications that will improve management for the ABM. IT will help them identify habitat characteristics preferred by ABM, understand how ABM habitat has changed in space and time historically, make better decisions about permitting for coastal development projects, identify areas to target for potential habitat restoration, and monitor the success of active restoration projects. In fact, results from this project will support 5 of 7 high-priority recovery actions that are outlined for ABM recovery. Further, IT will act as a steppingstone for assessing viability of the ABM population and thus provide a path for removing the species from the endangered species list. Lastly, this tool will be easily adaptable for use with other oldfield mouse populations, potentially providing improved management tools for approximately 5 other subspecies listed under the endangered species act. Intended beneficiary(IES) -USFWS subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award -not applicable