20160426_Line_1_PR_1300567238_SOW.docx

Statement of Work

PR 1300567238

Background. Recent data indicate that beaked whales of the genera Mesoplodon and Ziphius exhibit behavioral responses to anthropogenic noise, including Navy sonar (Cox et al. 2006; Tyack et al. 2011). A key requirement for effective management and mitigation is to document under what conditions and to what extent these behavioral responses occur, and if these result in biologically significant effects on individuals and/or populations. To address this need, contractor services are required to analyze data collected at the US Navy’s Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in the northern Bahamas and at a comparative site off of Abaco.

2. Scope. The contractor shall analyze photo-identification data collected from 2005-2016 for Blainville’s beaked whales to compare reproductive success and social structure between populations at AUTEC and Abaco.

3. Applicable Documents.

3.1 Claridge, D.E. and Durban, J.W. 2009. Distribution, abundance and population structuring of beaked whales in the Great Bahama Canyon. ONR Program Review 7-10 December 2009, Alexandria, VA.

3.2 Cox, T.M. et al. 2006. Understanding the impacts of anthropogenic sound on beaked whales. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 7: 177-187.

4. Requirements.

4.1 Task A. Analysis of mark-recapture data collected for Blainville’s beaked whales at AUTEC to compare reproductive success to Abaco.

Photo-identification data collected from 2005-2016 for Blainville’s beaked whales will be analyzed to further investigate the reproductive success of this species on the AUTEC range (as per Claridge 2013) using the full range of data now available. Results are directly applicable to the Population Consequences of Disturbance (PCoD) model for this species. Efforts will be repeated for Abaco (an undisturbed population) and the reproductive success will be compared between the two areas.

4.1.1 Deliverable Product. The contractor shall provide a report detailing the results of the analysis. The report shall be delivered IAW CDRL A001.

4.2 Task B. Analysis shall be conducted on mark-recapture data collected for Blainville’s beaked whales at AUTEC to compare social structure to the population at Abaco.

Photo-identification data collected from 2005-2016 for Blainville’s beaked whales will be analyzed to investigate the social structure of this species on the AUTEC range (as per Dunn 2015). Results are directly applicable to the Population Consequences of Disturbance (PCoD) model for this species. Efforts will be repeated for Abaco and the social structures will be compared between the two areas.

4.2.1 Deliverable Product. The data shall be delivered IAW CDRL A002.

4.3 Task C: Program Review Support

As required by NAVFAC, the contractor shall attend one 3-day Program Review. The program reviews shall take place in either Port Hueneme or San Diego, CA.

5. Progress Reports. Upon completion of the project, the contractor shall provide a report summarizing all work completed, and all data analyzed. The report shall be delivered IAW CDRL A003.