Federal Partner: National Park Service

Monitoring mercury in dragonfly larvae to inform management of fishing, water quality, and wildlife health

Project Description: This project aims to identify locations where mercury concentrations in fish and wildlife may be elevated and pose risks to public health and ecosystem integrity. By engaging students and community members in collecting dragonfly larvae samples, the project will enhance public understanding of mercury contamination and promote shared stewardship of natural resources.

Lead Principal Investigator: Nick Fisichelli, Schoodic Institute

Partner Institution: Schoodic Institute

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Mr. Abe Miller-Rushing

Project Type: Research

Project Discipline: Natural Resources

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2029

Initial Funding Amount: $150,000.00

Federal Grant Number: P25AC01918-00

Acadia National Park Wildlife Crossing Data Collection and Analysis

Project Description: This project aims to improve understanding of amphibian road crossing behavior and associated mortality in Acadia National Park. The findings will inform scientists, the public, and park managers about risks faced by amphibians and guide transportation planning and other mitigation measures designed to reduce mortality where crossings currently occur.

To achieve these goals, the project will support year-round monitoring to collect wildlife crossing data, assess annual variation, and identify roadway hotspots. Monitoring efforts will involve researchers, technicians, and citizen science volunteers. Collected data will be analyzed to develop a park-wide map of amphibian crossing hotspots and to identify opportunities for reducing amphibian mortality while also enhancing motorist safety.

Lead Principal Investigator: Nick Fisichelli, Schoodic Institute

Partner Institution: Schoodic Institute

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Mr. Abe Miller-Rushing

Project Type: Research

Project Discipline: Natural Resources

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2027

Initial Funding Amount: $74,612.00

Federal Grant Number: P25AC01264-00

Location: Acadia

State(s): Maine

Maine Counties: Hancock

Respond to Urgent Threat from Avian Influenza by Monitoring Seabird Islands and Communication

Project Description: This project will evaluate seabird populations in Acadia National Park for the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and establish a framework for long-term monitoring of seabird population health. By improving understanding of disease prevalence and population trends, the project supports proactive management and conservation of vulnerable seabird species.

Project objectives include developing consistent, repeatable estimates of nesting seabird populations; measuring the incidence of HPAI among seabird communities; and creating GIS products that track seabird movement patterns. These spatial analyses will help identify where birds may interact with visitors and how seabirds move between Acadia and other regional HPAI hotspots, strengthening the park’s ability to manage both wildlife health and visitor safety.

Lead Principal Investigator: John Anderson, College of the Atlantic

Partner Institution: College of the Atlantic

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Mr. Abe Miller-Rushing

Project Type: Research

Project Discipline: Natural Resources

Project Sub-Discipline(s): Biological (Ecology, Fish, Wildlife, Vegetation, T&E)

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2026

Initial Funding Amount: $23,782.00

Federal Grant Number: P25AC01166-00

Location: Acadia

State(s): Maine

Maine Counties: Hancock

Bat Population Monitoring and Habitat Assessment in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

Project Description: This project aims to document existing bat populations within Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and to predict species occupancy using survey detections and remotely sensed habitat characteristics. Over the course of the study, the project will track northern long-eared and tricolored bats during key life history periods and, when possible, identify roost locations. It will also assess the health of captured bats, including evaluating potential exposure to white-nose syndrome. The effort will culminate in a final report suitable for the NPS Natural Resource Report series and a public-facing communication product. All published results—excluding any sensitive locations of rare species—will be made freely and publicly accessible.

Project activities include conducting acoustic surveys over three years in areas most likely to experience pressure from visitation and development; capturing and tagging target species for condition assessments and telemetry tracking; performing telemetry surveys to identify roosts and other important habitat features; and analyzing, vetting, and archiving all collected data throughout the project. The project will also develop occupancy models for target species based on acoustic detections, telemetry data, and remotely sensed habitat characteristics.

Lead Principal Investigator: Mr. Josh Guilbert, Biodiversity Research Institute

Partner Institution: Biodiversity Research Institute

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Dr. Brian Mitchell

Project Type: Research

Project Discipline: Natural Resources

Project Sub-Discipline(s): Biological (Ecology, Fish, Wildlife, Vegetation, T&E)

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2029

Initial Funding Amount: $58,476.00

Federal Grant Number: P25AC00645

Location: Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

State(s): Maine

Maine Counties: Penobscot

Support the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network Seagrass and Estuarine Water Quality Condition Monitoring Program

Project Description: This project supports the implementation of the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network’s (NCBN) seagrass and estuarine water quality monitoring program across NCBN-managed parks. The work focuses on advancing long-term ecological monitoring essential for understanding the health of coastal ecosystems. As part of this effort, the project will include conducting seagrass and estuarine water quality fieldwork at Cape Cod National Seashore (CACO), as well as performing data entry, management, and analysis for water quality and seagrass datasets collected by other NCBN partners at Fire Island NS (FIIS), Gateway NRA (GATE), and Assateague Island NS (ASIS).

This project directly serves the public purpose of environmental protection and stewardship. Estuaries and seagrass meadows are vital ecosystems that support biodiversity, protect shorelines from erosion, and help maintain water quality. By supporting the conservation and sustainable management of these systems, the project aligns with public interests in safeguarding natural resources and promoting ecological resilience.

Lead Principal Investigator: Cathrine Macort, Center for Coastal Studies

Partner Institution: Center for Coastal Studies

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Ms. Holly Plaisted

Project Type: Research

Project Discipline: Natural Resources

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2026

Initial Funding Amount: $47,475.00

Federal Grant Number: P25AC00543-00

Location: Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network

ORLP Task Agreement

Project Description: This project provides technical expertise and cooperative research in applied Landscape Architecture and Community Engagement to support the planning and development of outdoor recreation projects nationwide. The Recipient contributes specialized skills that help communities expand and improve outdoor recreation opportunities at state and local levels. Their demonstrated expertise, facilities, experience, and strong history of collaborative research align with National Park Service program interests and past work under Notice of Funding Opportunity P17AS00037.

Through this project, the Recipient will deliver technical assistance to State and Municipal partners seeking support for outdoor recreation project development. A student–faculty mentoring model will guide the development of public park and trail concepts while addressing both previous and anticipated technical assistance requests related to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Because these services extend beyond what the program can provide directly, NPS involvement will focus on advising university partners to ensure that all project outputs meet national standards and best practices relevant to Land and Water Conservation Fund initiatives.

Lead Principal Investigator: Ms. Holly Nelson, Rutgers University

Partner Institution: Rutgers University

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Dr. David Goldstein

Project Type: Technical Assistance

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2028

Initial Funding Amount: $250,000.00

Federal Grant Number: P25AC00517-00

Support Long-term Ecological Monitoring of Salt Marshes

Project Description: The goal of this project is to collect, analyze, and report data that support long-term ecological monitoring of salt marsh ecosystems within the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network along the North Atlantic coast. To accomplish this, the recipient will assist with fieldwork, data management, data analysis, and report preparation as needed to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of salt marshes in NPS-managed coastal parks. The data collected will include salt marsh surface elevations, water levels, and other information essential for tracking ecosystem condition over time.

Lead Principal Investigator: Katie Castagno, Center for Coastal Studies

Partner Institution: Center for Coastal Studies

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Ms. Holly Plaisted

Project Type: Research

Project Discipline: Natural Resources

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2026

Initial Funding Amount: $48,379.00

Federal Grant Number: P25AC00487-00

Location: North Atlantic Coast

Where the Currents Meet: Passamaquoddy Stories of Place

Project Description: The project will expand interpretive storytelling at St. Croix Island International Historic Site by working in direct collaboration with Passamaquoddy community members to develop and share Wabanaki perspectives, stories, and artistic interpretation. This project centers on the development of new interpretive signage and digital storytelling content based on guidance and participation from Passamaquoddy Elders, educators, and artists. The Passamaquoddy Tribes at Pleasant Point and Indian Township are federally recognized Indian Tribes affiliated with St. Croix IHS. NPS is meeting its responsibility for government-to-government consultation with this project to collaborate fully on education and interpretation.

Passamaquoddy knowledge holders will share oral histories and cultural context through interviews, which will be recorded and featured in the National Park Service mobile app. These stories will also serve as the basis for interpretive signage developed in partnership with an Indigenous artist based in Sipayik. The artist will work with the community and National Park Service staff to visually represent culturally significant stories in a manner consistent with Passamaquoddy tradition and aesthetic. The collaborative process will build upon existing relationships between the Tribal Historic Preservation Office and St. Croix Island International Historic Site. The project will support meaningful community involvement, honor Wabanaki knowledge systems, and provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the region’s Indigenous history.

Lead Principal Investigator: Nick Fisichelli, Schoodic Institute

Partner Institution: Schoodic Institute

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Mr. Andrew Petit

Project Type: Research

Project Discipline: Cultural Resources

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2026

Initial Funding Amount: $25,997.00

Federal Grant Number: P25AC00484-00

Inventory of Reptiles and Amphibians to Inform Species Status and Management Objectives at MIMA, MORR, and SAIR Parks

Project Description: This project will collect an inventory of herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) in Saugus Iron Works Historical Site (SAIR), Morristown National Historical Park (MORR), and Minute Man National Historical Park (MIMA), including several rare, threatened or endangered (RTE) species, to determine their presence, relative abundance, distribution, and habitat use. The goal is to provide summaries of the temporal and spatial occurrences and health status of species to inform specific data needs related to park management actions and conservation planning. This information can be disseminated to others in the region with similar conservation concerns. The project objectives include collecting data on herpetofauna with a special focus on RTE species to inform the effects of habitat modifications (i.e. trail modifications, invasive plant cover, and dredging), changes to adjacent properties (i.e. developmental pressure and connectivity to a neighboring wildlife sanctuary), and upcoming construction (i.e. replacement of visitor center, new trail, addition of trail bridge, and building wheelchair accessible ramp).

Lead Principal Investigator: Dr. Robert Stevenson, University of Massachusetts Boston

Partner Institution: University of Massachusetts Boston

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Mr. Scott Esser

Project Type: Research

Project Discipline: Natural Resources

Project Sub-Discipline(s): Biological (Ecology, Fish, Wildlife, Vegetation, T&E)

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2027

Initial Funding Amount: $190,000.00

Federal Grant Number: P25AC00286-00

Location: Northeast

State(s): Massachusetts, New Jersey

Trends in Vital Signs of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park

Project Description: The Great Smoky Mountains (GRSM) long-term ecological monitoring program, known as “Vital Signs Monitoring”, was designed to provide the minimum infrastructure needed to track the overall condition of natural resources in parks and to provide early warning of situations that require intervention. GRSM vital signs are a subset of physical, chemical, and biological elements and processes of park ecosystems that are selected to represent the overall health or condition of park resources, effects of stressors, or elements that have important human values (NPS 2014). The GRSM ecological monitoring program began in the early 1990s and re-focused in 2011 toward critical natural resource issues, or Vital Signs, which reflect a new understanding of natural ecological processes and roles of an increased number of interacting stressors.

At the simplest level, vital signs monitoring seeks to track the condition of the resource, the trend of its condition, and the confidence with which the condition and trend are stated. As the GRSM’s resources do not exist in a vacuum, an integrated analysis is more telling of the ecosystem’s health and potential inter-relationships between vital signs. Assistance with analysis of related or co-located data across disciplines is a primary need. The main question to be addressed is: conduct trend analysis for all six vital signs to tease out which metrics within each vital sign are most informative and provide trigger points for concern. Additional secondary questions involve the interaction between different vital signs in terrestrial and aquatic systems, how climate changes and other threats impact the vital signs, and how observed trends within GRSM compare with historic and regional patterns.

Lead Principal Investigator: Dr. Noah Charney, University of Maine

Partner Institution: University of Maine

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Mr. Paul Super

Project Type: Research

Project Discipline: Natural Resources

Project Sub-Discipline(s): Biological (Ecology, Fish, Wildlife, Vegetation, T&E)

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2025

Initial Funding Amount: $59,871.48

Federal Grant Number: P25AC00141-00

Location: Great Smokey Mountains

National Park or Protected Area: Great Smoky Mountains (NPS)

State(s): Maine

Maine Counties: Penobscot