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ALBANY, NY -- The New York State Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) has awarded $433,023 in grant funds for biodiversity research, stewardship, and education efforts in New York State.

The BRI serves as a comprehensive source of biological information, which is used to advise both public and private agencies on matters relating to the status of New York’s biological resources. The New York State Legislature created the Institute in 1993 to help meet the challenges associated with preserving the state’s biodiversity. The BRI is housed within the New York State Museum and is funded through the Environmental Protection Fund. The BRI is collaboration between the State Museum, Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, New York Natural Heritage Program, Audubon New York, and The Nature Conservancy.

The Biodiversity Research Institute, based on the recommendations of leading researchers in the fields of environmental science and education, selected the following projects to support over the coming year:

Title: A List of the Insects of New York Principal Investigators: Sam Adams (The Olive Natural History Society Inc.) and Timothy McCabe (New York State Museum)

Amount: $6,930

Title: Application of Inventory Data for Developing a Comprehensive Wildlife Monitoring Plan for New York Principal Investigator: Milo Richmond (New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit)

Amount: $19,465

Title: Audubon Enhancement of the New York Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey Principal Investigators: Richard Haley (Audubon New York) and Andrew Mackie (Audubon New York)

Amount: $35,000

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Title: Biodiversity of Freshwater Algae in New York Rivers: An Ecological and Biogeographic

Assessment Principal Investigator: John D. Wehr (Louis Calder Center – Biological Station, Fordham University)

Amount: $52,395

Title: Bog Turtles in the Prairie Peninsula/Lake Plain Recovery Unit of New York State Principal Investigator: Peter Rosenbaum (SUNY Oswego)

Amount: $30,353

Title: Development of a Field Guide to the Common Mosses of New York State Principal Investigators: Robin Kimmerer (SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry) and Donald J. Leopold (SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry)

Amount: $14,000

Title: Development of Interactive Keys of New York State’s Woody Plants with Professional and Educational Applications Principal Investigators: Gerry Moore (Brooklyn Botanic Garden), Steve Glenn (Brooklyn Botanic Garden), and Jinshuang Ma (Brooklyn Botanic Garden)

Amount: $10,000

Title: Distribution, Abundance, and Ecology of Round-leaved Orchids in New York State Principal Investigator: Donald Leopold (SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry)

Amount: $10,980

Title: Effects of Amphibian Predation on Forest Floor Biodiversity and Decomposition Principal Investigator: Richard Wyman (Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve Inc.)

Amount: $17,125

Title: Evaluation of Invasive Plant Impacts on Larval Amphibian Performance and Diversity Principal Investigator: Bernd Blossey (Cornell University)

Amount: $28,910

Title: Field Guide to the Land Snails of New York State Principal Investigator: Ken Hotopp (Appalachian Conservation Biology)

Amount: $29,868

Title: Habitat Management for Conservation of Inland Barrens Buck Moth in the Albany Pine Bush Principal Investigators: Dylan Parry (SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry) and Neil A. Gifford (The Nature Conservancy – Albany Pine Bush Preserve)

Amount: $20,159

Title: IBA conservation: Developing Outreach Products and Establishing a Monitoring Framework for New York State Principal Investigators: Jillian Liner (Audubon New York) and Michael Burger (Audubon New York)

Amount: $16,225

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Title: Impacts of Invasive Wetland Plants on New York State’s Amphibians Principal Investigators: James Gibbs (SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry) and Nancy Karraker (SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry)

Amount: $15,245

Title: Northeastern Mosses, A Graphic Guide Principal Investigator: Jerry Jenkins (White Creek Field School)

Amount: $7,000

Title: The Amphibians and Reptiles of New York State: A Natural History and Conservation Guide Principal Investigator: Peter Prescott (Oxford University Press)

Amount: $21,449

Title: The Effect of Anthropogenic Barriers on the Population Genetic Structure of Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) Principal Investigator: Harry Greene (Cornell University)

Amount: $29,730

Title: The Effects of Acid and Mercury Deposition on Forest-breeding Terrestrial Bird Diversity in New York Principal Investigators: Kenneth Rosenberg (Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology) and Ralph Hames (Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology)

Amount: $32,835

Title: Updating the Rare Moss List for New York State: Ecological Community and Species-centered Approaches Principal Investigators: Natalie Cleavitt (Cornell University), Nancy Slack (Russell Sage College), and Susan Williams (Independent bryophyte consultant)

Amount: $23,270

Title: Vouchered Floras of Underreported Counties of New York State Principal Investigator: Donna Vogler (SUNY College at Oneonta)

Amount: $12,084

Further information is available at: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/bri/ or by calling 518-486-4845 or 518-474-6531.

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