Opportunity Information: Apply for 08HQPA0045
Apply for 08HQPA0045
- The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf 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 U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 22, 2008 and posted on Jul 22, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $8,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $8,000.00 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).
- This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program the Gulf Coast CESU. CESUs 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)
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity, issued by the U.S. Geological Survey under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program and specifically the Gulf Coast CESU, is a small, targeted cooperative agreement intended to support research that develops practical genetic tools for conserving the European bison (Bison bonasus). The Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NoRock) is seeking work that helps address a central conservation problem for the species: an extreme historical population bottleneck in which the modern population descends from only 13 founders. Even though the species had rebounded to more than 2,800 individuals by the early 2000s, it remains endangered and continues to face multiple pressures, including hunting, political instability affecting management capacity, very low genetic variation, and genetic contamination from American bison (Bison bison) and bison-cattle (Bos taurus) hybridization. The program also highlights an added long-term genetic risk created by the species being maintained in separated, geographically isolated free-ranging herds and in captive settings such as zoos and small parks, which can further erode genetic diversity over time.
The main goal of the funded work is to create genetic methods that can be used broadly and consistently to measure and manage genetic diversity across herds, detect introgression or contamination from closely related species, and track ancestry in ways that directly support breeding and management decisions. The opportunity emphasizes that evaluating patterns of genetic diversity among individuals and herds is one of the most pressing needs for continued recovery, and it frames the research as highly applied: the outputs should be quick, cost-effective, and transferable to laboratories around the world so that conservation programs can use them without specialized or proprietary infrastructure.
The research approach described in the announcement centers on developing three complementary genetic marker systems. First, the project would characterize polymorphisms in the mitochondrial genome across European bison, American bison, and domestic cattle, then translate those differences into a PCR-based assay that can reliably distinguish mitochondrial types among the three. This supports maternal lineage tracing and helps identify cases where mitochondrial DNA indicates non-European bison ancestry. Second, the project would use nuclear autosomal microsatellites to directly compare genetic diversity between European bison and American bison, providing a broader picture of genome-wide variation beyond maternal inheritance. Third, the project would develop a panel of Y-chromosome markers to identify and trace male lineages, filling a common gap in conservation genetics where paternal ancestry and male-mediated gene flow are harder to resolve. Together, these tools are meant to provide a clearer inventory of what genetic variation remains in European bison, how it differs from related species, and which variants may be unique to European bison and therefore useful for rapid identification and purity assessment.
In terms of expected outcomes, the grant anticipates generating both scientific knowledge and practical diagnostic tools. The work should clarify the amount and structure of variation in mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, enable comparisons with American bison and cattle, and ideally identify European-bison-specific variants that can be turned into straightforward tests to differentiate species and detect introgression. A key expectation is usability: the methods should be designed so that other labs can adopt them for additional studies, routine screening, and ongoing conservation management.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning substantial involvement and collaboration with the federal partner is typical. The announcement lists one expected award with total funding of $8,000, with the award ceiling and floor both set at $8,000, indicating a single fixed-size award. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA number is 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection). Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the Gulf Coast CESU network, since CESUs are structured partnerships meant to facilitate collaborative research, technical assistance, and education. The opportunity was posted July 22, 2008, with an original and current closing date of July 31, 2008, and it was archived August 30, 2008. The listed point of contact is Faith Graves, Contract Specialist, at 703-648-7356.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a small, targeted U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding opportunity offered under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically the Gulf Coast CESU. It is intended to support applied research that develops practical genetic tools for conserving the European bison (Bison bonasus).
Which USGS office is seeking this work?
The Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NoRock) is seeking the work described in the announcement.
What conservation problem is the research meant to address?
The work is designed to help address a central conservation problem for European bison: an extreme historical population bottleneck, where the modern population descends from only 13 founders. This has contributed to very low genetic variation and ongoing genetic risk.
Why is genetics such a pressing need for European bison conservation?
The announcement emphasizes that evaluating patterns of genetic diversity among individuals and herds is one of the most pressing needs for continued recovery. Because the species experienced a severe bottleneck and is managed across separate herds and captive settings, practical tools are needed to measure and manage remaining diversity over time.
What threats to European bison does the opportunity mention?
The opportunity notes multiple pressures, including hunting, political instability affecting management capacity, very low genetic variation, and genetic contamination from American bison (Bison bison) and bison-cattle (Bos taurus) hybridization.
What long-term genetic risk is highlighted in the announcement?
The announcement highlights that maintaining European bison in separated, geographically isolated free-ranging herds and in captive settings (such as zoos and small parks) can further erode genetic diversity over time.
What is the main goal of the funded project?
The main goal is to create genetic methods that can be used broadly and consistently to (1) measure and manage genetic diversity across herds, (2) detect introgression or contamination from closely related species, and (3) track ancestry in ways that directly support breeding and management decisions.
How applied is the research expected to be?
The announcement frames the research as highly applied. It expects outputs that are quick, cost-effective, and transferable to laboratories around the world so conservation programs can use them without specialized or proprietary infrastructure.
What genetic tools or marker systems does the announcement describe?
The research approach centers on developing three complementary genetic marker systems: (1) mitochondrial genome polymorphisms translated into a PCR-based assay, (2) nuclear autosomal microsatellites, and (3) a Y-chromosome marker panel.
What is the mitochondrial DNA component expected to do?
The project would characterize polymorphisms in the mitochondrial genome across European bison, American bison, and domestic cattle, then translate those differences into a PCR-based assay that can reliably distinguish mitochondrial types among the three. This supports maternal lineage tracing and helps identify cases where mitochondrial DNA indicates non-European bison ancestry.
What is the nuclear autosomal microsatellite component expected to do?
The project would use nuclear autosomal microsatellites to directly compare genetic diversity between European bison and American bison, providing a broader picture of genome-wide variation beyond maternal inheritance.
What is the Y-chromosome component expected to do?
The project would develop a panel of Y-chromosome markers to identify and trace male lineages, addressing a common gap in conservation genetics where paternal ancestry and male-mediated gene flow can be harder to resolve.
How do the three marker systems work together for conservation management?
Together, these tools are meant to provide a clearer inventory of what genetic variation remains in European bison, how it differs from related species, and which variants may be unique to European bison. The combined outputs are intended to support rapid identification, ancestry tracking, and purity/introgression assessment for management and breeding decisions.
What kinds of outcomes are expected from the funded work?
The grant anticipates both scientific knowledge and practical diagnostic tools. Expected outcomes include clarifying the amount and structure of variation in mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, enabling comparisons with American bison and cattle, and ideally identifying European-bison-specific variants that can be turned into straightforward tests to differentiate species and detect introgression.
What does the announcement say about usability and adoption by other labs?
A key expectation is usability. The methods should be designed so that other laboratories can adopt them for additional studies, routine screening, and ongoing conservation management.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement. The announcement notes that this typically involves substantial involvement and collaboration with the federal partner.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. The announcement describes it as a discretionary funding opportunity.
How many awards are expected?
The announcement lists one expected award.
What is the total funding amount for the award?
The total funding is $8,000.
Is there a minimum or maximum award amount?
Yes. The award ceiling and floor are both set at $8,000, indicating a single fixed-size award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the Gulf Coast CESU network.
Why is eligibility limited to Gulf Coast CESU partners?
The announcement explains that CESUs are structured partnerships intended to facilitate collaborative research, technical assistance, and education, and this opportunity is issued within the Gulf Coast CESU.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on July 22, 2008. The original and current closing date is July 31, 2008.
Is this opportunity still active?
No. The announcement indicates it was archived on August 30, 2008.
Who is the point of contact?
The listed point of contact is Faith Graves, Contract Specialist. The phone number provided is 703-648-7356.
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