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SOW:

Michigan Areas of Concern Bald Eagle Population Health Assessments: Productivity, Contaminants, and Genetic Assessments Year 2021 Project Title: Michigan Areas of Concern Bald Eagle Population Health Assessments: Productivity, Contaminants, and Genetic Assessments Project Summary:

This project aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of bald eagle health and reproduction in four Great Lakes areas of concern (AOCs) through three project components:

(1) productivity flights will assess if current reproductive adults produce ≥1 chick per occupied nest indicative of a self-sustaining, healthy population,

(2) contaminants assessments in chick plasma to determine if current contaminant levels are at or below that of healthy populations, and

(3) genetics assessments of AOC-reared chicks to measure reproductive success and nest turnover rates through gene flow and population genetic structure This project is a collaborative effort of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Mandy Annis and Dr. Carly Akin), Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, Michigan Department of Nnatural Resources, University of Maryland (Dr. Bill Bowerman), Oklahoma State University (Dr. Ron Van Den Bussche) and U.S.G.S Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) (Dr. Katy Klymus). Eurofins BioDiagnostics Inc. (EBDI) will act as the service provider for the DNA extraction and genotyping.

This work will contribute data to improve our understanding of how current contaminant levels affect eagle reproduction and health in these four AOCs, using a multiple lines of evidence approach. Current data suggests that contaminant levels in eaglet plasma are above that of healthy populations. Additional genetic analyses will help determine if eagles hatched and reared in these four AOCs are able to successfully reproduce.

Scope of work The role of Eurofins BioDiagnostics Inc. (EBDI) is to provide DNA extraction, microarray genotyping, data creation and raw data delivery to Oklahoma State University (Dr. Ron Van Den Bussche). EBDI has years of experience in microarray technology and DNA extraction. The DNA extraction will be performed on whole blood samples provided by other project entities. Post DNA extraction, samples will be genotyped using a custom Axiom (Affymetrix) microarray for eagle samples. The custom array was designed by Dr. Ron Van Den Bussche, a collaborator on the project, and contains ~75,000 markers of genetic importance. Once data has been delivered, samples will be shipped to another collaborator (TBD) for final storage. EBDI is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory (Cert # 3907.01) and upholds the highest standards for all laboratory work. Work will completed in two phases to allow for proper selection of samples that will be most informative to the study.

CERC in this project is to help analyze population genetic structure, gene flow and genetic diversity among AOC and non-AOC eagle populations. Scientists at CERC have experience in population genetic/ genomics approaches and data analysis. Research Biologist, Dr. Katy Klymus will work with Dr. Ron Van Den Bussche at Oklahoma State University to run the bioinformatic and statistical analyses needed to examine population genomic parameters and gene flow. A two-phase approach will be utilized, examining a portion of the total samples in spring of 2021, this will indicate whether certain types of samples provide the best quality DNA for the analyses. It will also indicate the best approach for processing and analyzing the second portion of samples in terms of which samples will be most informative for answering the questions of gene flow, reproductive success and turn over. Dr. Klymus will work in conjunction with Dr. Van Den Bussche for both phases. Data and results from these analyses will be archived in spreadsheets and written reports.

Timeline for project Phase 1

Phase 2

USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center Requested Funds 2021

Personnel Justification Research Biologist, GS-12 183 hours ($46.43/hr with benefits) 8,496.69

Total Personnel 8,496.69

Travel Travel to Stillwater, OK, Oklahoma State University for collaboration on data analysis. All travel will be at federal allowable rates.

Total Travel 1,500

Other

Total direct costs 9,996.69 Indirect costs at negotiated rate for DOI-client (USFWS)

Budget Justification - USGS-CERC personnel will help analyze genetic results. The data will be summarized in data reports and manuscripts for publication with the other investigators from the team. Salary is being requested for a Research Biologist (GS-12), Dr. Katy Klymus. Additionally, we request coverage for travel expenses from Missouri to Stillwater, Oklahoma for training and analysis ($1,500/trip).