Group items tagged

The project would examine gray wolf hunting behavior in an area with abundant beavers to better understand how the availability of vulnerable beaver prey may affect wolf predation on moose and deer. Gray wolves are widely known to prey on adults and fawns/calves of deer and moose. Beavers also make up a large portion of the diet in areas where beavers are plentiful. Recent studies in Voyageurs National Park (VNP) and surrounding area, where beaver densities are very high, demonstrated that up to 38% of the summer diet is beavers. In other areas of the state beavers are much less a part of wolf diet, generally <5-15%. Moose persist in VNP at low numbers, despite a healthy gray wolf population. Does the high abundance of beavers, a more easily killed prey item than moose, result in lower predation on moose? Likewise, how does the availability of beaver prey affect wolf predation on adult and fawn deer in summer and fall?

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Alaska Science Center (ASC) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research to support an evaluation of how changes to foraging behavior may be influencing contaminant exposure of polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea. Specifically, the objective is to use adipose tissue samples to estimate polar bear diets and quantify exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation of polar bears has experienced sea ice loss leading to an increasing trend of polar bears spending time on land during summer and possibly increased divergent foraging strategies with differential exposure to contaminants. A characterization of dietary influence on exposure may reveal whether changing behavior has the potential to mediate declines in polar bear health.

U.S. Geological Surveyâ¿¿s (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center is offering a funding opportunity for research on â¿¿Analysis of Piscivore Diets in Lake Huron. This research will provide insight about the forage fishes used by top predator in Lake Huron. These types of contemporary information are necessary given the continued decline of most forage species over the past few years, and the need to understand how these fish are using the limited prey base in Lake Huron. Information gleaned from these studies will be used to guide sportfish management in the study areas and across the Great Lakes.

The Blooming Prairie Foundation is dedicated to promoting innovative ideas and practices in the area of organic and natural foods in order to further the health of the people, the health of the environment, and cooperative ideals. The Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations that conduct any of the following activities: developmental, research, and educational efforts in the organic industry and the cooperative community; the development of organic and natural products; and cooperative development in the natural products industry. The application deadline is March 1, 2018. Visit the Foundation's website to review the grant guidelines.