The Western Ecological Research Center of the USGS invites funding proposals from CESU partners to evaluate the effects of altered plant diets on the gastrointestinal microbiome of Mojave desert tortoises and other wildlife. This research aims to assess changes in tortoise health and immune function due to dietary shifts. The project includes a pilot diet experiment monitoring juvenile tortoises fed invasive grass or native forb plants, analyzing body mass, shell growth, and clinical condition. High-throughput sequencing technology will process fecal samples. The study will contribute to a comprehensive biological health database for tortoises, enhancing understanding of environmental stressors’ impacts on wildlife.
Opportunity ID: 318200
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | G19AS00103 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Cooperative Agreement |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Science and Technology and other Research and Development |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 1 |
| Assistance Listings: | 15.808 — U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Jul 09, 2019 |
| Last Updated Date: | Jul 09, 2019 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Jul 26, 2019 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jul 26, 2019 |
| Archive Date: | Oct 09, 2019 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $32,979 |
| Award Ceiling: | $32,979 |
| Award Floor: | $0 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESU¿s are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Geological Survey |
| Description: | The Western Ecological Research Center of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) partner for ¿Evaluating effects of altered plant diets by analyzing the gastrointestinal/fecal microbiome (lineages and community diversity) present in the Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and other wildlife¿. This project is aimed at understanding the negative consequences of altered diets by evaluating how potential changes in the gastrointestinal microbiota may influence the growth, health, and immune function of juvenile tortoises. Building from previous work, the USGS and its partners will conduct a small pilot diet experiment designed to address these questions. Juvenile tortoises will be housed in out-door predator proof enclosures and fed a diet of either invasive grass (Bromus rubens) or a mixture of native forb plants. Juveniles will be evaluated for changes in body mass, shell growth, body and clinical condition, and survivorship each month. Fecal scat samples will be analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technology. Samples and data from this project will also be analyzed using a library of biological health information on tortoises and environmental covariates that is maintained by USGS and will continue to be developed as part of this collaboration. By analyzing microbiome data and the influence of tortoise diet, we can explore opportunities to identify and quantitatively measure molecular and cellular responses that may be changing as a result of landscape disturbance, altered plant diets, and other environmental stressors. These experiments may include, but are not limited to, the analysis of gastrointestinal/fecal microbiome data from Mojave desert tortoises foraging on invasive, native, and commercial plant diets. Other health classifications may be considered as the work proceeds |
| Link to Additional Information: | https://www.grants.gov/ |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Faith Graves 703-648-7356
fgraves@usgs.gov Email:fgraves@usgs.gov |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
Related Documents
Folder 318200 Full Announcement-FUNDING OPPORTUNITY -> FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.pdf
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | Faith Graves 703-648-7356 fgraves@usgs.gov Email: fgraves@usgs.gov |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.808 | G19AS00103 | Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU | PKG00252759 | Jul 09, 2019 | Jul 26, 2019 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
318200 SF424_2_1-2.1.pdf
318200 ProjectNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
318200 SF424A-1.0.pdf
318200 SF424B-1.1.pdf
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