DIRECTORATE OF CONTRACTING, P. O. BOX 5-5179 MELOY HALL, BLDG 6 ROOM 207 (MAIL ROOM), FT. BENNING GA. 31905-5179

F -- BIODIVERSITY IN GOPHER TORTOISE COLONIES ON MILITARY SITES SOL DABT10-CBD5-0005 DUE 022895 POC NILSA I. SUMMEY, CONTRACTING OFFICER, (706) 545-2200 BIODIVERSITY IN GOPHER TORTOISE, USAIC, FORT BENNING, GA. Reply no later than 022895. Send letter of interest and qualifications to Mr. Peter Swiderek, USAIC, ATTN: ATZB-PWN-R, Fort Benning, GA 31905-5122; FAX (706) 544-6206; or call for information at (706) 544-7319. The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), a federal candidate for listing under ESA, occurs on Fort Benning in suitable habitat. This species is very sensitive to disturbance due to low rates of recruitment, small home ranges and low migration rates. Some areas of Fort Benning containing gopher tortoises have subjected to military training including tracked vehicles. The objective is to determine the diversity and density of understory plants associated with active, inactive, and abandoned gopher tortoise burrows at sites impacted and unimpacted by tracked vehicle use. Also, determine vertebrate diversity and abundance in gopher tortoise colonies and rate of use of understory plants. The approach is to emplace date back cameras triggered by motion sensitive devices to document vertebrate activity at active, inactive, and abandoned gopher tortoise burrows at nine colony locations. Comparison of impacted and unimpacted sites will be used to determine what proportion of the vertebrate fauna is retained at gopher tortoise locations near heavy tracked vehicle use. This IS NOT a Request for Proposals and no contract will be awarded solely on the basis of a response hereto or any follow-up information subsequently submitted. The Army will not make any reimbursement for any costs in connection with providing this information. (0044)

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