Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

Corvid Abundance and Recreational Use in Pacific Northwest National Parks

Project ID: J8W07080027

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: University of Washington

Fiscal Year: 2008

Initial Funding: $50,877

Total Funding: $77,243

Project Type: Research

Project Disciplines: Biological

National Park: Mount Rainier National Park

Principal Investigator: Marzluff, John

Agreement Technical Representative: Rochefort, Regina

Abstract: The Mount Rainer National Park General Management Plan (2001) directs park managers to evaluate visitor caused effects on natural resource conditions, among other things, as a means to establish thresholds for management actions. Establishing indicators of the condition of wildlife resources is a necessary first step. This project will evaluate the use of corvid abundance as a Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) indicator of the condition of wildlife resources. Field studies will be conducted across a range of recreational use intensities in Mount Rainier National Park (MORA) and will analyze these data along with data collected in North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Depending upon future need and funding availability this task agreement may be modified in the future.

Deliverables: