The US Geological Survey is offering this grant to a CESU-affiliated partner for research aimed at preventing the introduction of invasive aquatic species (AIS) into the U.S. This grant is for assessing “hitchhikers” on imported aquatic plants and algae, an underappreciated pathway for invasion. The project seeks to evaluate currently imported aquatic plants and their packaging for hidden exotic taxa, determining factors like plant structural complexity, country of origin, and packaging that facilitate unintended introductions. By conducting a lab-based empirical investigation, the research will identify common hitchhikers and assess problematic sources. This crucial information will assist in developing nation-wide strategies for managing the live aquarium and ornamental aquatic trade, providing vital insights to prevent future AIS incursions and mitigate their significant ecological and economic impacts.
Opportunity ID: 353944
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | G24AS00358 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit |
| 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: | – |
| Assistance Listings: | 15.808 — U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | May 02, 2024 |
| Last Updated Date: | May 02, 2024 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Jun 03, 2024 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date. |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jun 03, 2024 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date. |
| Archive Date: | – |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | – |
| Award Ceiling: | $150,000 |
| 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 Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Geological Survey |
| Description: | The US Geological Survey is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in assessing invasive hitchhikers on imported aquatic plants: exploring the role of plant structural complexity in facilitating introductions. Once an aquatic invasive species (AIS) becomes established, it is rarely possible to eradicate. The best way to avoid the negative impacts that invasive species can cause to a watershed’s ecological function, economic value, or citizens’ health is to prevent their initial entry. To date, the unintended transport of exotic species alongside imported aquatic plants, algae, and their packaging represents an underappreciated invasion pathway. The high structural complexity of many common aquarium and ornamental aquatic macrophytes reduces encounter rates with fauna which may reside within interstitial spaces and thus go undetected. This potentially problematic pathway was highlighted in the recent Marimo moss ball (Aegagropila linnaei) contamination incident carrying live hitchhiker zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and a multitude of other exotic taxa in the spring of 2021. Given that introductions of exotic aquatic species contribute to millions of dollars of damage and management costs for the U.S., the identification of potential aquatic plants, algae, and packaging with a high potential of serving as a vector for unintended hitchhikers will aid in managing this group of organisms in trade. Evaluate currently imported aquatic plants and algae for hitchhiking taxa and determine factors (e.g., plant/algae species and their structural complexity, packaging, country of origin, vendor, etc.) influencing the unintended importation of non-native species. Because the live aquarium/ornamental trade is a significant global market, this work will be landscape in nature and not specific to a geographic region and, as such, will serve to provide information that is useful on a nation-wide scale. To accomplish this by conducting a lab-based, empirical investigation of plants, algae, and their packaging for hitchhiking organisms. The products of this effort include a list of hitchhikers on the common aquatic plants and algae, along with an assessment of plants, regions, packaging materials, shipping, handling, and other factors that will most likely serve as a source of hitchhikers. This project will provide vital information that will assist in the prevention of invasive species introduction on a nation-wide, landscape scale. |
| Link to Additional Information: | – |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
FAITH GRAVES
fgraves@usgs.gov Email:fgraves@usgs.gov |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
Related Documents
Folder 353944 Full Announcement-Full Announcement -> CESU Funding Opportunity.pdf
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | FAITH GRAVES 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 | G24AS00358 | Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | PKG00286195 | May 02, 2024 | Jun 03, 2024 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
353944 SF424_4_0-4.0.pdf
353944 ProjectNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
353944 SF424A-1.0.pdf
353944 SF424B-1.1.pdf
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