Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Kittlitz’s (and Marbled) Murrelets

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

NPS Photo: Sergeant

Justification

• Rare, pelagic seabird of AK, Russian Far East

• Rangewide declines– 40-80% rangewide, at least

since ~1990…earlier?• ESA Candidate, listing

decision due in 2014• GLBA is a major

population center

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

NPS Photo

Justification

• GLBA jurisdiction over uplands, marine waters, outer coast to 3 miles

• Permitting authority for commercial, private party entries

• Administrative and research traffic

• If listed, what constitutes “take”?

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Objectives

• To monitor annual abundance of KIMU in Glacier Bay proper in July, with 80% power (at a=0.05) to detect a decline of 25% over 15 years

• To describe spatial variation in KIMU distribution in Glacier Bay proper

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Technical Approach• A spatially balanced, unequal sampling

probability, serially augmented panel design• Spatial balance: GRTS

– All the benefits of randomness while ensuring spatial balance• Unequal Sampling Probability

– Similar to stratification– Informed, but not determined, by past densities

• Panel design– emphasizes what we know, but allows us to capture

distribution shifts

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Technical Approach

• Tempered by constraints: 2 weeks, crew of 4, 1 vessel

• No-go areas, planning around park regs

• Early July, birds on the water

• 10 kts transect speedSoutheast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

NPS Photo: Moynahan

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

Logistics and Budget

• Field work: 4 crew, 10 days early July• Analysis, reporting: 10 days each fall• Protocol development: $185K, FY08-11• Annual Supplies: $2K SEAN, $2K GLBA

(fuel) • Tech Assistance: $10K FY12• Shared vessel: R/V Fog Lark• Periodic contracting for 5-y reports

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

What we’re learning

• Up-front investments in design are well worth it!– Field effort (km) down 79%, precision up 60%– Cheaper, more statistically sound, less exposure to

risk, lower fuel consumption, reduced presence• Power to detect trend is much more

sensitive (25% v. 50% over 15 y)

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

What we’re learning

• GLBA much more important than we thought…

• Huge numbers of marbled murrelets• Annual variation in distribution• Upcoming opportunities to integrate

distribution with oceanographic data

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Program Delivery

Protocol Status:• All chapters, 10

of 12 SOPs drafted

• Peer-review in May 2012

• National Audubon, July 2012

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

brendan_moynahan@nps.gov 364.2621

NPS Photo: Moynahan