Description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seeks a Great Lakes‑Northern Forest CESU partner to conduct a one‑year research project that advances national‑scale biogeographic information for freshwater fish and other aquatic organisms. The work will develop and refine statistical and analytical methods for species distribution modeling, evaluate habitat model accuracy and uncertainty, and employ artificial‑intelligence tools to synthesize up‑to‑date species‑trait and conservation‑status data. Funding is $150,000 in a cooperative agreement, with deliverables that include data products, technical reports, and public dissemination of results. The effort supports DOI strategic objectives and multiple executive orders related to land‑water conservation, AI transformation, and gold‑standard science.
• Advance statistical methods that integrate multiple lines of evidence for freshwater species distribution models.
• Evaluate accuracy, uncertainty, and environmental sensitivity of habitat models.
• Apply AI‑driven synthesis to maintain current species‑trait, status, and habitat databases.
• Produce technical reports, datasets, and peer‑reviewed publications for USGS and broader scientific community.
• Complete work within a single‑year performance period; final technical report due 120 days after project end.