Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G15AS00024) is a discretionary U.S. Geological Survey award offered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically the Californian CESU. The administering office is the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, and the funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically signals an arrangement where the federal agency expects to be actively involved in the project as it is carried out (for example, through coordination, data sharing, technical input, or joint planning), rather than simply providing funds with minimal interaction.

The project focus is "Landscape Genetics of Mule Deer in Southern California." The core goal is to improve understanding of landscape connectivity for mule deer across southern California by analyzing genetic patterns alongside local population sizes. In practical terms, the work is meant to reveal how connected or isolated different mule deer groups are, whether movement between areas is being restricted, and how those restrictions show up as measurable genetic differences across the landscape. By pairing genetics with estimates of local population size, the study can better distinguish between true movement barriers and patterns that might otherwise be explained by small, fluctuating herds.

A major motivation for the work is the growing evidence that transportation infrastructure, especially large highways, can function as significant barriers to wildlife movement. In southern California, several highways have already been identified as genetic barriers for carnivores and other wildlife. Research on species like bobcats and mountain lions has shown that freeways can reduce gene flow, fragment habitat, and over time create isolated populations with conservation consequences. Mule deer, however, had not been evaluated at the same landscape scale at the time of this announcement, leaving a gap in regional connectivity planning. The study is designed to answer whether mule deer show fragmentation patterns similar to those already documented for other species, or whether they respond differently to the same network of roads, urban development, and remaining habitat.

The announcement highlights why mule deer may not be well-served by connectivity strategies developed primarily around carnivores. Even though deer often occur at higher densities than large predators, they may have fewer safe opportunities to cross highways. One specific reason is physical: the height and body form of deer can prevent them from using some undercrossing structures that carnivores can access. Another reason is behavioral ecology: deer may be more selective about crossing locations due to predator avoidance and their general response to risk, which could reduce their willingness to enter confined structures or cross exposed areas. Together, these factors imply that infrastructure solutions and corridor designs that work for carnivores may not automatically work for deer, and that deer-specific evidence is needed to guide effective mitigation.

Funding for the opportunity is listed as an estimated total of $40,000, with no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The CFDA listing associated with the opportunity is 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection). The solicitation was originally posted on December 23, 2014, with a creation date of January 5, 2015. The original closing date was January 9, 2015, later extended to January 16, 2015. The opportunity was archived on March 22, 2015. While the award ceiling and floor are both shown as 0 in the listing, that typically reflects how the notice was configured in the system rather than indicating that no funding would be provided, especially since the estimated total funding amount is explicitly stated.

Eligibility is limited to partners within the Californian CESU network. In other words, applicants must be participating members of the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit; the opportunity is aimed at selecting one CESU member university for the cooperative agreement. CESUs are partnership frameworks intended to connect federal agencies with universities and other partners to deliver research, technical assistance, and education that support resource management. This opportunity fits that model by funding applied research that can inform real-world conservation planning, especially around wildlife connectivity and transportation barriers.

For applicants or interested parties who needed help accessing the full announcement, the contact listed is Faith Graves at the USGS (703-648-7356, fgraves@usgs.gov). The general entry point for the full posting is Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/home.html).

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