Species Status Assessment Framework

Topic outline

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  Introduction

  Welcome to Species Status Assessment Framework.

  This online video series provides the background training to support both Fish and Wildlife Service programs and state agencies. The state partners may choose, not only to participate, or participate more fully, but may also lead an SSA if they so desire. Thus we are committed to help build the capacity across our region so that we can take full advantage of planning and implementing collaborative conservation of species at-risk.

  Course Registration

  The course contents are visible without logging in. However, you will need to register here on the Landscape Partnership Learning Network in order to:

  • Receive your Certificate of Completion
  • Create and update your Profile
  • Access your Dashboard

  Certificate of Completion

  After completing the activities in this course, you can download the optional Certificate of Completion. Simply click the course name next to the certificate icon. You must be logged in to access the certificate.

  Course Description

  There are six modules in this course and a total of 30 video presentations.

  At a regional conservation scale, we are presenting this overview course because we want program staff trained and we need your help. You are central to our ability to take advantage of the collaborative conservation opportunities for some of the species in our region. Traditionally this is an ecological services program’s role but we are really expanding this to be a service wide, even outside the service effort.

  Think of the SSA Framework this way: The SSA framework allows us to work with partners and other experts to analyze these questions and expressly document these in a report that help us make policy decisions.

  The basic SSA diagram shows you those three phases.

  1. It's an analytical approach and the species need is where we compile information on the life history, ecological relationships, similar to a doctor taking a patient's history if you will, if you want to use that analogy.
  2. The species current condition and why it is the way it is. Basically the diagnosis, when you are at the doctor's office.
  3. Then we project plausible future scenarios and summarize that information and those conditions similar to a doctor's prognosis.

  The framework provides a way to reflect that species biological status through an iterative, versus this look step by step, but a lot of these the interim phases in between or the information that we use and start with and then relook is rather iterative, not quite the step by step approach that might be reflected here.

  Objective

  The objective is leave course participants with a greater understanding about:

  • What goes into an SSA
  • The timing and the process
  • The components that make up an SSA

  Technical Requirements

  You will need the ability to stream videos with sound.
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  Module 1: Intro to SSA and the 3Rs

  This module contains Videos 1 – 5. Click Video 1 to get started.

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  • 1. Video: What is a Species Status Assessment or SSA? Page

    

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  • 2. Video: What are the three elements of the SSA Framework or phases of the SSA analysis? Page

    

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  • 3. What do we mean when we say that the SSA characterizes the species Viability? Page

    

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  • 4. Video: How do we define “the 3Rs”? Page

    

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  • 5. How are these interrelatedness as expressed by the pop structure to reflect the concept of the 3Rs? Page

    

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  Module 2. Describing Species Needs and Populations

  This module contains Videos 6 – 10. Click Video 6 to get started.

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  • 6. How can we express the SSA Framework as simple equations? Page

    

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  • 7. How do we capture the species needs in terms of the individual? Page

    

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  • 8. How do we capture the species needs in terms of the population needs? Page

    

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  • 9. What are the types of Population Structure? Page

    

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  • 10. Bumblebee example of defining the population Page

    

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  Module 3. Analyzing Threats

  This module contains Videos 11 – 17. Click Video 11 to get started.

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  • 11. [Stage One] How do we determine the driving factors that influence viability if there are scarce or poor data for the species? Page

    

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  • 12. [Stage Two] How do we determine Current Condition? Page

    

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  • 13. Influence Diagram Examples Page

    

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  • 14. What are some of the things to consider at this stage (Stage Two: Current Condition)? Page

    

  • 15. Examples of how we can present information: representation Page

    

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  • 16. Examples of how we can present information: connectivity between populations – graphical and tabular Page

    

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  • 17. What are some of the metrics use to describe current conditions? Page

    

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  Module 4. Determining Future Conditions

  This module contains Videos 18 – 24. Click Video 18 to get started.

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  • 18. [Stage three] Future Condition Page

    

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  • 19. What are some of the difficulties, and why is it important, to include information on future conditions when writing an SSA? Page

    

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  • 20. What are some of the ways to present future condition information? Page

    

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  • 21. What’s the key time frame to consider in evaluating future conditions and identifying possible scenarios? Page

    

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  • 22. How many scenarios do you need to include in the risk profile? Page

    

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  • 23. How do we communicate our uncertainty in presenting these future conditions? Page

    

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  • 24. How do we integrate changing climate into our species status assessment? Page

    

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  Module 5. Review of the SSA

  This module contains Videos 25 – 28. Click Video 25 to get started.

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  • 25. What’s the next step in the process once the analysis is completed and the SSA report is written? Page

    

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  • 26. What is the distinction between the SSA and the task-at-hand of making listing decision? Page

    

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  • 27. How is the listing recommendation managed within the FWS Region? Page

    

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  • 28. What is the process followed by the recommendation team (that is responsible for review of the SSA with their interpretation of ESA policy)? Page

    

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  Module 6. Overview of the Policy-side: Decision Making Process

  This module contains Videos 29 and 30. Click Video 29 to get started.

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  • 29. What are some of the things (the recommendation team must consider) in evaluating their policy decision? Page

    

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  • 30. What are the next steps that the recommendation team will take to list, down list or delist a species? Page

    

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  Certificate of Completion

  Once you have completed the activities in this course, you can download the optional Certificate of Completion. The Certificate will display the name you used to create your account.

  You must be logged in to access the certificate.