Theodore Roosevelt National Park (THRO) is seeking a CESU member to conduct a project entitled “Population Viability Analysis for Feral Horse Management Scenarios at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ANTICIPATED WORK
NPS wishes to conduct a Population Viability Analysis (PVA) that considers horse herd genetics, management scenarios, population objectives, and biological factors, to ensure that management actions minimize the ecological effects of the herd on the natural ecology of the park while satisfying concerns regarding genetic diversity of the horse herd.

Key questions include:
-Which management scenario(s) increase and sustain genetic diversity of the horse herd at healthy levels (i.e. in the absence of genetic disease and inbreeding depression) for the next century or longer?
-What number of horses and demographic stratification of the herd is necessary to ensure the herd’s genetic diversity, relative to intensity of management?
-Which external genetic sources provide the greatest benefit to the herd for genetic augmentation, given the current genetics and phenotypic variation of the herd.

Responses should be directed to Blake McCann – Director of Resource Management and Science at THRO (blake_mccann@nps.gov).