Multispecies Assessment Survey

8/20/2019

Multispecies Status Assessment Survey

Multispecies Status Assessment Survey
USGS and USFWS are conducting a review on the use of multispecies status assessments in support of
Endangered Species Act decisions. Your response to this brief survey will help us better understand how
multispecies assessments are currently implemented within the community of practice.
Your email address ([email protected]) will be recorded when you submit this form. Not
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General Information
1. Which multispecies status assessment did you
participate in? *
Please provide species names or a brief
description. This includes multispecies SSAs,
multispecies listing packages or recovery plans
prior to the SSA framework, or any assessment
process where information or resources were
shared between species. If you have completed
several, please select one representative
assessment to consider while completing this
survey.

2. How many species were included in the status
assessment? *
If the number changed throughout the process,
please provide the final number of species
assessed jointly.

3. What was the primary decision context for the multispecies assessment? *
Mark only one oval.
Candidate assessment
Listing
Critical habitat
5 year review
Recovery planning
Section 7
Section 10
Other

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4. Which best describes your role in the assessment process? *
Mark only one oval.
Species lead
Project manager
Regional or national coordinator
Assessment team member
Specialist or technical support
Other:
5. What year was the assessment completed?

Decision to use a multispecies approach
Please answer the following questions related to why you chose to use a multispecies assessment rather
than individual assessments.
6. Was species biology a major factor for performing a multispecies assessment rather than
individual assessments? *
This may include taxonomic, geographic, ecological, or physiological aspects of the species.
Mark only one oval.
Yes
No
I don't know
7. Were the anticipated threats to the species a major factor for performing a multispecies
assessment rather than individual assessments? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes
No
I don't know
8. Were species petitions a major factor for performing a multispecies assessment rather than
individual assessments? *
For example, if the species being petitioned as a group influenced the decision to assess them as a
group.
Mark only one oval.
Yes
No
I don't know

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9. Was species priority status a major factor for performing a multispecies assessment rather
than individual assessments? *
Priority status may include Bin numbers, Listing Priority Numbers, or any internal ranking schemes for
prioritizing assessments or ESA decisions.
Mark only one oval.
Yes
No
I don't know
10. Were administrative or policy concerns a major factor for performing a multispecies
assessment rather than individual assessments? *
Administrative or policy concerns may include regional directives, Federal Register processes, listing
workplans, workload balancing, deadlines, or other factors unrelated to the species being assessed.
Mark only one oval.
Yes
No
I don't know
11. Are there species you considered including but ultimately did not? If so, please explain what
impacted that decision.

Details of the species included
Please answer the following questions about the specific species included in the assessment.
12. Which of the following factors describe why these species were able to be assessed together?
Please check all that apply.
Check all that apply.
Similarities in their distributions
Similarities in their life history
Similarities in their habitat requirements
Similarities in the threats to species persistence
Close taxonomic relationships
Limited data were available
Other:

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13. Did information arise during the assessment
process that changed your opinion of whether
these species should be assessed together? If
yes, please provide the type of information. *
For example, if new distribution data or changes in
taxonomy were discovered during the
assessment.

14. Were any species included or excluded after the assessment officially began? *
Mark only one oval.
Yes
No

Attitudes towards multispecies assessments
Please indicate the level to which you agree or disagree with the following statements.
15. I am aware of written guidance (formal or informal) on how and when to combine multiple
species in a single assessment process. *
Mark only one oval.
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

16. Multispecies assessments are more efficient than a comparable number of single species
assessments. *
Mark only one oval.
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

17. Multispecies assessments lead to greater consistency compared to several independent
assessments. *
Consistency may be evaluated in terms of metrics or analyses used, level of detail provided, format of
results, or similar aspects of the assessment.
Mark only one oval.
1

2

3

4

5

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

18. Using a multispecies assessment rather than several individual assessments will influence
the ESA decision making process. *
Mark only one oval.
1
Strongly disagree

2

3

4

5
Strongly agree

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19. What is the maximum number of species you
would combine in a single assessment?

20. Can you describe any impediments to including multiple species in an assessment?

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