BLM CA CESU GIANT KANGAROO RAT METAPOPULATION | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) opportunity titled "BLM CA CESU GIANT KANGAROO RAT METAPOPULATION" (Funding Opportunity Number L13AS00098) is a discretionary cooperative agreement focused on natural resources research and conservation planning for the giant kangaroo rat in California. The work targets the northern portion of the species range, specifically the Panoche/Ciervo area, where habitat fragmentation has likely broken the species into partially isolated groups. The central purpose of the grant is to generate practical, management-ready science on how these groups are connected (or not) and what that means for long-term recovery efforts.

The proposed study uses population genetics to understand metapopulation dynamics. The project design calls for field sampling of roughly 10 to 20 individual giant kangaroo rats at each of about 20 to 30 sampling sites. Genetic analysis would be conducted using a suite of 12 microsatellite loci, a commonly used marker set for evaluating population structure, relatedness, and movement of genes across landscapes. By comparing genetic patterns across the sampled sites, the project aims to clarify how many genetically distinct populations exist within the northern metapopulation, how strongly separated they are, and whether the landscape is allowing enough movement among them to maintain genetic diversity.

The stated aims are threefold. First, the project will determine the number of discrete populations present in the Panoche/Ciervo region, which helps managers understand whether the animals function as one broadly connected unit or as multiple isolated populations that may need separate management attention. Second, it will estimate both the magnitude and the direction of gene flow among populations. That directionality piece is especially important because it can reveal which areas are acting as "sources" (producing dispersers that bolster other groups) and which are "sinks" (persisting mainly because they receive immigrants). Third, the work will identify intermediate "stepping-stone" populations that may facilitate connectivity across otherwise fragmented habitat. These stepping-stone sites can be disproportionately valuable for conservation because protecting or restoring them can maintain movement corridors and reduce the genetic and demographic risks that come with isolation.

From a management perspective, the project is framed as essential for informed recovery actions. Connectivity in fragmented systems can determine whether small groups can be naturally rescued by immigrants, whether inbreeding risks are rising, and where habitat protection or restoration would most effectively maintain a functioning metapopulation. The deliverables implied by the description would likely include maps or models of population boundaries, evidence-based estimates of connectivity, and identification of priority areas that either export individuals (source areas), are vulnerable without immigration (sink areas), or serve as bridges between clusters (stepping stones). In practice, those results can guide land-use planning, habitat restoration priorities, and monitoring strategies on BLM-managed lands and adjacent areas.

Administratively, the opportunity was posted June 4, 2013, with an application closing date of July 3, 2013, and it was later archived June 30, 2018. The program anticipates a single award with an estimated total funding amount of $200,000; the award ceiling is $200,000 and the floor is $500. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants are limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, which aligns with the technical and field-intensive nature of genetic sampling and analysis. The CFDA number is 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management), and the issuing agency is the Bureau of Land Management. For access issues or administrative questions, the listed contact is Leona B. Parker, Grants Management Officer, at 530-252-5338 or lparker@blm.gov, and the general opportunity information was made available through Grants.gov.

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