REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF INTEREST
NUMBER W912HZ-11-SOI-0009
PROJECT TO BE INITIATED IN FY 2011
Project Title: Using Fin Ray Geochemistry to Assess Historic White
Sturgeon Life History Movements in the Kootenai River
Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential
investigators for a project to be funded by the Corps of Engineers, Seattle District to use
pectoral fin ray geochemistry to reconstruct Kootenai River white sturgeon life history
migration patterns in the Kootenai River, Montana, downstream of Libby Dam. This
insight will provide fisheries managers with information to accurately identify key
nursery habitats, estimate migratory movements, and identify historic spawning grounds.
Approximately $23,000.00 is expected to be available to support this project for one (1)
year.
Background
Scientists can employ several approaches to study the life history of fish species,
including basic sampling of multiple life stages with sampling gears that targets different
size classes. More advanced techniques include tracking individual fish movements with
external physical tags in mark and recapture studies, radio and acoustic tags, or
examining hard parts for geochemical fingerprints of movement history. Laser ablation
ICP-MS of pectoral fin rays for geochemical signatures is a technique that allows a
retrospective look at the life history of individual fish by tracing migration movements
throughout its life and comparing them to unique chemical signatures found in the
watershed (Allen et al 2009; Veinoit et al. 1999). Therefore, the application of fin ray
geochemistry to understand Kootenai River white sturgeon life history patterns can
provide key insights into historic spawning/juvenile rearing habitats (Hobbs unpublished
data). More specifically, the analysis of strontium isotope ratios is useful because the
habitats that sturgeon use for spawning and rearing in the Kootenai River have unique
strontium isotope signatures that can be incorporated into the annuli of the pectoral fin
rays.
Brief Description of Anticipated Work
The primary objectives of this study are to identify (1) Characterize the strontium isotope
landscape of the Kootenai River watershed; (2) Examine migration history of archived fin
rays; and (3) Identify historic spawning grounds. By examining the ratios of strontium
isotopes (87Sr:86Sr) in pectoral fin rays via laser ablation— inductively coupled plasma–
mass spectrometry (LA- MC-ICP- MS) and comparing to the strontium isotope
landscape, migration history and spawning habitats can be retraced.
Fin-ray geochemistry techniques have numerous advantages over traditional radiotracking and mark-recapture studies. White sturgeon are a long-lived species (>100 years
old) and 2-3 year tracking studies can only examine a small portion of their lives. In
addition, telemetry and mark-recapture projects can be costly and there is often a low
recapture rate (Veinott et al. 1999). Inserting transmitters into a fish can potentially alter
the behavior or physiology, and even cause mortality (Bridger et al. 2003; Rein et al.
1994). In contrast, fin ray geochemistry is non-lethal and provides an entire life-history
for every fish caught, and it has already proven to be extremely useful in studying white
sturgeon in the Fraser River and Klamath River (Veinott et al 1999; Allen et al 2009).
There is a fairly large collection of archived Kootenai River white sturgeon fin ray
sections available for examination. The laser ablation of calcified hard parts for trace
element and strontium isotope ratios using quadrapole and multi-collector mass
spectrometry approach is a new tool that allows fisheries managers to reconstruct the life
history of individual sturgeon by analyzing archived isotopes deposited in pectoral fin
rays and comparing them to the isotopes of water samples collected throughout the
watershed (Allen et al. 2009; Veinott et al. 1999). Because the geochemistry of waters in
a watershed is dependent on the age and geological composition of the bedrock, streams
occurring in different geologies have a unique isotopic signature.
Up to 40 water samples from locations throughout the Kootenai River downstream of
Libby Dam to the Canadian border during peak flows and during baseline low flow
conditions (20 samples per time period) will be collected to ascertain linear isotope
landscape of the drainage. The strontium isotope landscape will be used to reconstruct
the migration history of each archived fin ray sample.
Materials Requested for Statement of Interest/Qualifications
Please provide the following via e-mail attachment to:
Benjamin.T.Smithhart@usace.army.mil
(Maximum length: 2 pages, single-spaced 12 pt. font).
1. Name, Organization and Contact Information
2. Brief Statement of Qualifications (including):
a. Biographical Sketch,
b. Relevant past projects and clients with brief descriptions of these projects,
c. Staff, faculty or students available to work on this project and their areas
of expertise,
d. Any brief description of capabilities to successfully complete the project
you may wish to add (e.g. equipment, laboratory facilities, field facilities,
etc.).
Note: A proposed budget is NOT requested at this time.
Review of Statements Received: Based on a review of the Statements of Interest
received, an investigator or investigators will be invited to prepare a full study proposal.
Statements will be evaluated based on the investigator’s specific experience and
capabilities in areas related to the study requirements. Additionally, the evaluation
method and selection criteria for research and development awards must be: (1) The
Technical merits of the proposed research and development; and (2) Potential
relationship of the proposed research and development to the Department of Defense
missions.
Please send responses or direct questions to:
Benjamin T. Smithhart
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
ERDC Contracting Office (ECO)
3909 Halls Ferry Road
Vicksburg, MS 39180
Benjamin.T.Smithhart@usace.army.mil
Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest: Review of Statements of Interest will
begin after the SOI has been posted on the CESU website for 10 working days.