Revised_SOW_NBTB_2025-2026.pdf

United States Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Virginia Ecological Services Field Office

6669 Short Lane

Gloucester, VA 23061

Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle (Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis) Adult Surveys in the Chesapeake Bay of Virginia

Statement of Work

Background

With increasing threats to its continued existence and declining numbers through most of its range, it is important to consistently survey for the federally listed threatened northeastern beach tiger beetle (NBTB; Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis) to assess current status. The NBTB was last surveyed along Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay shorelines, one of the species’ strongholds, in 2020 (eastern shore) and 2021 (western shore).

Regular annual monitoring of adult NBTBs is a Priority 1 recovery task in the Recovery

Plan. The contractor shall conduct surveys for adult NBTB and characterize habitat. This project, coupled with the recently completed population viability analysis, will help the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) identify priority sites critical to ensure survival of the NBTB. The contractor shall also conduct a study to look at a variety of environmental factors to determine how each of these factors independently or combined might impact population counts. The proposed project is expected to provide evidence of environmental factors that influence adult activity and enhance survey guidelines for best results and a better understanding of the species.

Primary Project Objectives:

1. Conduct adult NBTB surveys and habitat assessments on the Virginia eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay necessary to obtain population trend and beach habitat information, including identification of suitable larval and adult habitat, required for recovery and management of the NBTB (Phase 1).

2. Conduct adult NBTB surveys and habitat assessments on the Virginia western shore of the Chesapeake Bay necessary to obtain population trend and beach habitat information, including identification of suitable larval and adult habitat, required for recovery and management of the NBTB (Phase 2).

3. Conduct a study on environmental factors at a specific site to determine how they might influence adult NBTB surveys and to determine best practices for adult surveys (Phase 3).

Methods

The contractor shall be an entomologist and approved adult and larval NBTB surveyor who has conducted field surveys for both adult and larval NBTB, applying the appropriate protocols for adult NBTB surveys and identifying suitable habitat for both larval and adult NBTB.

The contractor shall conduct a complete adult inventory of the NBTB along Virginia’s eastern and western shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay (one shoreline each year). Beaches known to support NBTBs since 1992 and other beaches of suitable habitat shall be surveyed for presence/absence of NBTB, and, if present, for numbers of adult NBTBs.

The contractor shall coordinate with USFWS personnel on the appropriate survey protocols for adult NBTB and to confirm survey sites. Access to sites will be the responsibility of the contractor. Adult NBTBs will be inventoried on warm, sunny days during peak seasonal activity period, currently determined to be from approximately mid-to late-June through late-July, for each shoreline survey. The total number of adults will be recorded for the complete shore or by segments if the shoreline has notable changes in habitat conditions using the previously established beach numbering system and site names in 2020 and 2021 survey reports (Knisley 2021, Knisley and Meyer 2022). Global

Positioning System (GPS) readings (in decimal degrees, NAD83) for the start and end points, and for any segment breaks associated with habitat conditions, of all survey sites will be provided. Habitat assessments will be conducted in conjunction with adult surveys (e.g., poor, marginal, or suitable habitat for adult and larval NBTB). Habitat characteristics to be included will be:

1. Beach width is measured at each survey waypoint as the distance between the most recent high tide to the back edge of the beach, often indicated by a defined vegetation zone or non-habitat features. Record tidal stage.

2. Take photographs looking north and south from each survey point.

3. Record presence and if appropriate, use a GPS to determine location of other features of the site, including shoreline structures (groins, breakwaters, revetment, riprap), back beach characteristics (vegetation, structures, dune, etc.), evidence of human activity, offshore bars, wrack in intertidal or upper beach), etc.

4. Record presence of other tiger beetle species [typically hairy-necked tiger beetle], if observed.

The contractor shall provide management recommendations to assist in the recovery of the NBTB, based on the analysis of population data. The contractor shall provide a final report, excel spreadsheets, and GIS images for each survey of shoreline, thus two final reports after completing the survey work for each shoreline.

The contractor shall also conduct a study at a site in Virginia with a known large population of adult NBTBs to study a variety of environmental factors, including, yet not limited to, air temperature, substrate temperature, wind speed, humidity, barometric pressure, tide, and cloud cover, to determine how each of these factors independently or combined might impact adult population counts. The contractor shall coordinate with

USFWS on the selection of the study site. Access to site will be the responsibility of the contractor. The contractor shall statistically analyze the environmental factors and their effects on adult NBTB population counts. The contractor shall provide recommendations for improving survey protocols and methods currently used to collect population information based on varying environmental parameters. The contractor shall provide a final report.

Project Timeline and Deliverables

Phase 1: Conduct adult NBTB surveys and habitat assessments at all sites of the eastern shore of the

Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.

Data analysis and report writing.

Final report of the adult NBTB surveys and habitat assessments at all sites of the eastern shore of the

Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, and associated files, due.

Phase 2: Conduct adult NBTB surveys and habitat assessments at all sites of the western shore of the

Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.

Data analysis and report writing.

Final report of the adult NBTB surveys and habitat assessments at all sites of the western shore of the

Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, and associated files, due.

Phase 3: Conduct study on environmental factors at a specific site to determine how they might influence adult NBTB surveys and to determine best practices for adult surveys.

Data analysis and report writing.

Final report for study on environmental factors to determine how they might influence adult NBTB surveys and to determine best practices for adult surveys due

Responsibilities of the Contractor

Unless otherwise established in the Purchase Order, the Contractor shall complete all work as set forth in the Project Scope of Work in full compliance with the terms of the

Contract. The responsibilities of the Contractor include:

a. The Contractor shall provide all personnel, labor, supplies, equipment, tools, materials, transportation, supervision and other items and incidental services necessary to satisfactorily perform the survey work. All work should be completed in 12 months, but not to exceed 18 months.

b. The Contractor is responsible for all necessary collection permits, if needed.

c. The Contractor shall coordinate with USFWS personnel on the appropriate survey protocols for adult NBTB and to confirm survey sites. The contractor shall also coordinate with USFWS on the selection of the study site.

References

Knisley, C.B. 2021. A survey of the northeastern beach tiger beetle (Habrosceliomorpha dorsalis dorsalis) at Eastern Shore of Virginia sites, 2020. Final report. Report to U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Gloucester, VA.

Knisley, C.B. and M. Meyer. 2022. Survey for the northeastern beach tiger beetle, Habrosceliomorpha dorsalis dorsalis, along the western Virginia shoreline of the

Chesapeake Bay. 2021 with management/conservation recommendations. Final report.

Report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gloucester, VA.

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 1

Performance Requirements Summary The contractor service requirements are summarized into performance objectives that relate directly to mission essential items. The performance threshold briefly describes the minimum acceptable levels of service required for each requirement. These thresholds are critical to mission success.

Performance Objective

(The Service required—usually a shall statement)

Standard Performance

Threshold (This is the maximum error rate. It could possibly be

“Zero deviation from standard”)

Method of

Surveillance

PRS # 1.

The contractor shall provide a final report by 10.1.2025 including number of adult

NBTBs surveyed and habitat assessment at all sites of the eastern shore of the Chesapeake

Bay in Virginia.

The contractor provided final report, Excel tables, and accompanying GIS images of all sites.

Surveys will be conducted at all sites between June 25 and

July 25, 2025.

Adult visual counts will be conducted using standard protocol.

PRS # 2

The contractor shall provide a final report by 10.1.2026 including number of adult

NBTBs surveyed and habitat assessment at all sites of the western shore of the Chesapeake

Bay in Virginia.

The contractor provided final report, Excel tables, and accompanying GIS images of all sites.

Surveys will be conducted at all sites between June 25 and

July 25, 2026.

Adult visual counts will be conducted using standard protocol.

PRS # 3

The contractor shall provide a final report by 10.1.2026 including environmental parameters and their potential effect on adult NBTB surveys.

The contractor provided final report evaluating environmental parameters and effect on adult beetle surveys.

Surveys will be conducted weekly between June 25 and

July 25, 2025.

Adult visual counts will be conducted using standard protocol.