Partnership for Ecological Monitoring in the NPS HTLN

Description

The National Park Service’s Vital Signs Monitoring Program, established in the late 1990s, designs and implements long term monitoring for key indicators of change, or ‘vital signs.’ Monitoring ‘vital signs’ of ecosystem health, such as water quality and species diversity, provides early detection of emerging threats to park resources. These threats might result in loss of natural habitat, invasion by exotic species, or other disturbances to natural systems. This detection and tracking enables park managers to take action before serious damage can occur. Monitoring is implemented through groups of parks or ‘networks’ working together and sharing resources. The Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network (HTLN) in partnership with Missouri State University provides the science to support stewardship of natural resources at 15 National Park Service units across eight states in the central Great Plains. The objectives of this agreement are to: 1) engage university faculty and students for the benefits of NPS part natural resources through scientific inquiry and discovery while providing students unique educational and professional opportunities in the field of natural resources management, 2) monitor "vital signs" of ecosystem health in 15 National Park units in collaboration with students and faculty at Missouri State University by enhancing science-based natural resource stewardship to protect and conserve natural resources; 3) facilitate an awareness of resource conservation to students and the public; 4) support the Government's objective to provide opportunities for youth to learn about the environment by spending time working on projects in the National Parks. The project engages recipients, partners, communities, and/or visitors in shared environmental stewardship. The project motivates its youth participants to become involved in the natural, cultural and /or historical resource protection of their communities and beyond. Students gain “real world” or hands-on experience outside of the classroom of natural, cultural and/or historical resource projects. The scientific community and/or researchers external to NPS gains by new knowledge provided through research and related results dissemination of natural, cultural and/or historical resource information. The project assists in the creation, promotion, facilitation, and/or improvement of the public’s understanding of natural, cultural, historic, recreational and other aspects of areas such as ecological conservation areas, and state and local parks. University will recruit one (1) full time research assistant to assist with natural resource monitoring. The research assistant will collaborate with NPS staff to accomplish annual data collection to monitor trends in breeding birds, deer, vegetation communities, protected species, and invasive plants in 15 NPS units. The assistant will conduct data entry, data summary, and collaborate with NPS staff to report monitoring results to park managers, responsible for the stewardship of park resources. The assistant will prep and maintain field equipment to ensure efficient field operations. University will recruit one (1) full time research assistant to assist with natural resource monitoring. The research assistant will collaborate with NPS staff to accomplish annual data collection to monitor trends in fish, aquatic invertebrate, springs and water quality in 15 NPS unites. The assistant will conduct data entry, data summary, and collaborate with NPS staff to report monitoring results to park managers responsible for the stewardship of park resources. The assistant will prep and maintain field equipment to ensure efficient field operations.University will recruit one (1) temporary student worker to assist in field and laboratory work.

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