Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Lakes – Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G25AS00081

Opportunity Information: Apply for G25AS00081

The US Geological Survey (USGS) is soliciting a Cooperative Agreement proposal under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program, specifically limited to organizations that are official partners in the Great Lakes - Northern Forest CESU. The project centers on applying modern genomics tools to answer conservation-relevant questions for two freshwater mussel species of concern: the yellow lampmussel (Lampsilis cariosa) and the tidewater mucket (Atlanticoncha ochracea). The overarching purpose is to generate genetic and genomic information that can help Department of the Interior (DOI) management agencies better understand population connectivity, refine species identification where shell-based morphology can be misleading, and support more informed conservation and management decisions.

The work has two main scientific objectives. First, the awardee will use a technique described as genome skimming to recover mitochondrial genomes and ribosomal DNA from L. cariosa and A. ochracea, and also from other closely related mussel species. These data will be used for phylogenomic analysis, with an emphasis on clarifying evolutionary relationships among morphologically similar taxa. A practical driver behind this objective is quality control in identification: freshwater mussels often show shell shape variation that can blur species boundaries, so genomic reference data can help confirm or correct morphological determinations and improve confidence in agency monitoring, surveys, and museum or field identifications.

Second, the project will assess genetic diversity within populations and evaluate whether there is genetic structuring across the geographic ranges of both focal species. In plain terms, this means estimating how much genetic variation remains in different locations, and whether populations are genetically similar (suggesting higher connectivity or recent gene flow) or genetically distinct (suggesting fragmentation, isolation, or long-term separation). For species of conservation concern, these outcomes can feed directly into management questions such as how to define conservation units, where to prioritize habitat protection or restoration, whether translocations could be risky due to mixing distinct lineages, and how resilient populations may be to environmental change.

Administratively, this opportunity is categorized as a discretionary award using a Cooperative Agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project (for example, coordination on study design, data standards, sample access, interpretation needs, or integration with DOI management priorities). The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA (now commonly referenced through assistance listings) number provided is 15.808. The opportunity is issued by the USGS within DOI.

Eligibility is restricted: applicants must be participating partners of the Great Lakes - Northern Forest CESU program. The notice lists eligible applicants under "Others," but the CESU partnership requirement is the controlling condition, meaning non-member institutions would not be eligible unless they are formally part of that CESU network.

Key solicitation details include the funding opportunity number G25AS00081, a posted (creation) date of 2024-11-04, and an original closing date of 2024-12-04. The maximum federal funding (award ceiling) is $116,899. The posting also indicates "ExpectedAwards:" without a number, which commonly implies a single anticipated award or that the number is not specified in the abbreviated notice, but the ceiling and cooperative agreement structure suggest a focused, defined scope intended for one CESU partner team working in coordination with DOI management agencies.

In short, this grant is a targeted, CESU-restricted USGS cooperative agreement to produce mitochondrial and ribosomal genomic resources and population genetic insights for two imperiled freshwater mussels, with the explicit management value of improving species identification, clarifying relationships among similar taxa, and evaluating connectivity and genetic structure across their ranges.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Lakes – Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" 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 2024-11-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-12-04. (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 $116,899.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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