Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit, North Atlantic Coast CESU | G19AS00046

Opportunity Information: Apply for G19AS00046

This funding opportunity, titled "Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit, North Atlantic Coast CESU" (Funding Opportunity Number G19AS00046), was issued by the Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as a discretionary research award using a cooperative agreement. It falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is listed under CFDA 15.808. The opportunity was created on May 06, 2019, with an original application closing date of May 20, 2019, indicating a short submission window typical of targeted CESU competitions.

The core purpose of the project is to support a CESU partner in developing and implementing a comprehensive research approach to evaluate and establish dragonfly larvae as reliable bio-sentinels for aquatic mercury (Hg) contamination. In practical terms, the research is meant to strengthen the scientific basis for using dragonfly larvae as an indicator organism that can help detect, compare, and monitor mercury contamination in aquatic environments located within National Park units across the United States. Because mercury can bioaccumulate and pose ecological and human health risks, especially through food webs, the emphasis on "robust bio-sentinels" suggests the work is intended to produce methods and evidence that are consistent, repeatable, and broadly applicable across different parks and water bodies.

The award is limited to eligible applicants within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit framework, specifically a CESU partner (the eligibility category is listed as "Others," with clarification typically provided in the full eligibility text). The USGS expects to make one award, with an award ceiling of $44,248, meaning the project is designed as a focused, single-recipient effort rather than a large multi-site program with multiple awards. The cooperative agreement mechanism also implies that USGS program staff are likely to have substantial involvement in the project beyond simply providing funds, such as collaborating on study design, data management expectations, analytical approaches, or coordination with National Park units and other federal partners.

Overall, the opportunity supports applied, conservation-relevant science aimed at improving how aquatic mercury contamination is assessed in national parks, using dragonfly larvae as a standardized monitoring tool. The deliverables implied by the description would likely include a validated approach or framework for sampling and interpreting mercury levels in dragonfly larvae, along with findings that help determine how well this organism reflects mercury contamination across diverse aquatic habitats within the National Park System.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit, North Atlantic Coast CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 06, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 20, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $44,248.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G19AS00046

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