NPS: Effects of Sound on Wildlife, Ecosystems, and Visitors

The National Park Service is accepting applications for its Effects of sound on wildlife, ecosystems, and visitors in units of the National Park system.

Donor Name: National Park Service

Deadline: 06/01/2023

Size of the Grant: $360,000

Grant Duration: 5 years

Details:

The National Park Service “preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.” A key consideration for protecting park resource, values, and visitor enjoyment is ability to hear the natural and cultural sounds of parks.

The Public Purposes of this financial assistance include strengthening scientific support for NPS management of national park resources and visitor experience; increasing public awareness of national park soundscapes; stimulating scientific research and the development of emerging technologies that can reduce noise; and educating and training of students and young scientists. Improved management of noise within parks will increase habitat availability to wildlife and increase opportunities for visitors to view wildlife in a natural setting, and experience the health benefits of spending time in nature.

The Overall Goals are to provide direct support to park managers by measuring and interpreting responses of wildlife to noise, monitoring noise levels in parks and protected areas, and quantifying the benefits of managing or mitigating noise. The Objectives are to

• to advance sound source identification beyond its current manual state by developing and using machine learning techniques,
• to provide scientific support to NPS staff in parks, regions, and national offices by analyzing park acoustic monitoring data, and publishing scientific reports and papers that elevate conservation,
• to engage a cadre of trained students of varying levels to analyze, interpret, and research acoustic analyses, and
• to support career development for young scientists.

Preference will be given to proposals that emphasize equity and inclusion, providing opportunities for historically underserved communities, in keeping with U.S. Department of Interior priorities of equity and environmental justice. Preference will also be given to proposals that describe demonstrated experience with machine learning or image/signal processing.

Primary responsibilities:

• Maintain a laboratory or facility where undergraduate and graduate students can work collaboratively with NPS on acoustical data analyses and reporting.
• Recruit, train, and oversee staff (or research associates, temporary hourly, or student hourly personnel) conducting data analysis.
• Work collaboratively with the NPS to improve data collection and refine processing techniques for acoustic environments.
• Prepare and submit Investigator’s Annual Report to the NPS Agreement Technical Representative [ATR] and Contract Officer.
• Principal Investigator [or designee] provides financial and performance reporting through the Grant Solutions platform.
• Organize quarterly meetings with the NPS Technical Expert [TE] and university-based project participants to discuss ongoing research and development efforts, evaluate progress, review problems, and develop plans for the next phase of work.
• Summarize results using NPS reporting templates and park-specific customizations to enhance public access to and utility of acoustic analyses in parks. Provide computing and listening equipment/environment sufficient to carry out acoustic analysis tasks.
  • NSNSD requires Windows workstations for current data analysis workflow.
• Adhere to the agile software development paradigm.
• A minimum of 1000 hours of attentive listening for park-specific projects to be accomplished each year.
• Data are screened such that final products do not contain significant errors such as sound source misidentification, or event duration miscalculation.
• Produce training materials on any new methodology developed.
• Transfer all files, code, reports or other products developed through the project to NPS as they are completed, and no later than the end date of the project.

Secondary responsibilities

• Produce educational and outreach materials that explain new techniques for understanding and managing acoustic issues in national parks.
• Maintain a website that fosters public access to the research and educational products of the team.
• Participate in and assist NPS with maintenance of an annual literature review via a Web of Science query, using standard search terms to capture relevant papers on sounds and night skies topics.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $360,000
• Award Ceiling: $360,000
• Award Floor: $100,000

Project Period

Agreement terms for funded projects can range between one and five years, depending on the negotiated project statement of work. Agreements are not effective until fully awarded by the NPS Financial Assistance Awarding Officer.

Eligible Applicants:

• County governments
• State governments
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• City or township governments
• Private institutions of higher education
• Individuals
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Foreign Entities or Projects:

• This program does not provide funding to foreign entities or for projects conducted outside the United States.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.