Opportunity Information: Apply for F16AS00284
Apply for F16AS00284
- The DOI-FWS in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Investigation of the Impacts of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Recruitment of Freshwater Mussels in the Maumee Watershed" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.662.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 14, 2016 and posted on Jun 14, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 21, 2016. (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 $87,125.00 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).
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Investigation of the Impacts of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Recruitment of Freshwater Mussels in the Maumee Watershed" is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) effort to understand whether contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are interfering with freshwater mussel reproduction and successful recruitment in the Maumee River watershed in Ohio. The core idea is to combine on-the-ground mussel population surveys with targeted biological sampling and then link those biological findings to measured contaminant levels in both mussels and their surrounding habitat (water and sediment). By tying population structure and reproductive health indicators to environmental chemistry, the project aims to clarify if CEC exposure is contributing to poor recruitment or reduced reproductive performance in these mussel communities, including species of conservation concern.
Field work is planned at six locations across the Maumee watershed. At each site, researchers will survey mussel populations and record data that help describe population condition and long-term viability, including mussel size, age class patterns, sex, and reproductive condition. These observations are meant to reveal whether populations are skewed toward older individuals (suggesting weak recruitment), whether reproductive activity appears normal, and whether demographic patterns differ among sites in ways that could align with contaminant gradients or hotspots. In addition to broad survey metrics, the project includes direct biological sampling to evaluate reproductive biology and physiological condition more deeply.
The biological sampling approach deliberately mixes non-lethal and lethal methods. Non-lethal sampling includes procedures such as testes biopsies and glochidia sampling. Glochidia are the larval stage of freshwater mussels, and assessing their presence and condition can provide direct evidence about reproductive output and timing. Testes biopsies can support evaluations of male reproductive status without sacrificing individuals, which is especially relevant when working with sensitive or protected species. Lethal sampling is also included for analyses that require tissue collection, such as fatty acid profiling, glycogen measurement (a common indicator of energy reserves and overall condition), and direct contaminant evaluations in tissues. Together, these measurements can indicate whether mussels are energetically stressed, whether reproductive investment is altered, and whether contaminants are accumulating in ways that could plausibly affect gametes, larvae, or overall health.
Because freshwater mussels have a life cycle that depends on host fish, the project also looks at host fish infestation rates and host species use. Mussel larvae typically attach to fish hosts for a developmental period, so changes in host availability, host choice, or infestation success can strongly influence recruitment even when adult mussels remain present. By quantifying which fish species are serving as hosts and how frequently infestation occurs, the study can separate (as much as possible) recruitment limitations driven by host dynamics from those potentially driven by contaminant exposure. This host component also helps interpret site-to-site differences, since contamination could affect fish communities or fish health and thereby indirectly affect mussel recruitment.
A key deliverable of the work is the correlation of biological and demographic data with contaminant concentrations measured in mussel tissues and in the surrounding environment (sediment and water). This design implies an integrated assessment rather than a simple presence/absence contaminant screen. The intention is to evaluate whether higher CEC levels are associated with measurable changes in reproductive condition, larval production or viability indicators, energy storage metrics, or recruitment signals in population structure. The outcome is expected to support USFWS decision-making by improving understanding of how CECs might be impacting trust resources, including endangered freshwater mussels, and by identifying where impacts appear most likely or where management attention may be warranted.
Administratively, this posting is not a typical competitive grant call. It is a notice of intent to make a single-source award to Central Michigan University (CMU) without competition, justified under 505DM.14.B.4. The rationale provided is that competition is not practical because CMU is considered uniquely qualified to carry out the specialized field surveys, biological sampling, and laboratory evaluations required. The notice emphasizes CMU personnel experience with mussel bed population assessments, reproductive and physiological sampling techniques, and lab-based analyses, along with their established expertise in freshwater mussel ecology and routine work involving endangered mussel species. In other words, the agency is explicitly selecting a partner based on demonstrated niche capability and prior experience that is expected to improve the quality and efficiency of the study.
The opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant under the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with funding activity in environment and natural resources (CFDA 15.662). The funding opportunity number is F16AS00284. The posted and creation dates are June 14, 2016, with a closing date of June 21, 2016. The anticipated award is a single grant (expected awards: 1) with an award ceiling of $87,125. Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the original posting, but the practical intent of the announcement is to document and support the planned single-source award to Central Michigan University for this specific research effort in the Maumee River watershed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Investigation of the Impacts of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Recruitment of Freshwater Mussels in the Maumee Watershed."
Which federal agency is offering or administering this opportunity?
This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) opportunity under the Department of the Interior.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project aims to determine whether contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are interfering with freshwater mussel reproduction and successful recruitment in the Maumee River watershed in Ohio by linking mussel population and reproductive health data with contaminant measurements in mussels and their habitat.
What are "contaminants of emerging concern" (CECs) in the context of this project?
In this opportunity, CECs refer to contaminants that are of concern for potential biological effects on mussels and are being investigated to see whether their presence and concentrations are associated with reduced recruitment or altered reproductive performance.
Where will the field work take place?
Field work is planned at six locations across the Maumee watershed in Ohio.
What kinds of mussel population data will be collected during surveys?
Surveys will record information used to describe population condition and long-term viability, including mussel size, age class patterns, sex, and reproductive condition.
Why does the project focus on size and age class patterns?
Size and age class patterns can indicate whether a population is skewed toward older individuals, which can suggest weak recruitment (few younger mussels entering the population).
What does "recruitment" mean in this project?
Recruitment refers to successful addition of new individuals (younger mussels) into the population, reflecting successful reproduction, larval development, and survival to detectable juvenile stages.
What types of biological sampling will be used?
The project includes a combination of non-lethal and lethal biological sampling methods to evaluate reproductive biology, physiological condition, energy reserves, and contaminant accumulation.
What are examples of non-lethal sampling methods mentioned in the opportunity?
Non-lethal methods described include testes biopsies and glochidia sampling.
What are glochidia and why are they sampled?
Glochidia are the larval stage of freshwater mussels. Sampling them helps assess reproductive output and timing, and their presence/condition can provide evidence about reproductive activity.
Why are testes biopsies used?
Testes biopsies support evaluation of male reproductive status without sacrificing individuals, which is particularly relevant when working with sensitive or protected species.
Why does the project include lethal sampling?
Lethal sampling is included for analyses that require tissue collection, such as fatty acid profiling, glycogen measurement (an indicator of energy reserves and overall condition), and direct contaminant evaluations in tissues.
What physiological or condition indicators will be evaluated?
The opportunity specifically mentions fatty acid profiling and glycogen measurement to assess energy reserves and physiological condition, along with tissue-based contaminant evaluations.
What environmental media will be tested for contaminant concentrations?
Contaminant concentrations will be measured in mussel tissues and in surrounding habitat, specifically sediment and water.
How will the project connect biology to chemistry?
A key deliverable is correlating demographic and biological measures (population structure, reproductive condition, larval indicators, energy metrics) with contaminant concentrations measured in tissues, water, and sediment to evaluate whether higher CEC levels align with measurable biological changes.
Does the study consider factors beyond contaminants that can affect mussel recruitment?
Yes. Because freshwater mussels depend on host fish for part of their life cycle, the project also evaluates host fish infestation rates and host species use to help separate recruitment limitations driven by host dynamics from those potentially driven by contaminant exposure.
What host fish information will be collected?
The project will quantify host fish infestation rates and identify which fish species are serving as hosts and how frequently infestation occurs.
Why is the host fish component important for interpreting results?
Host availability, host choice, and infestation success can strongly influence recruitment even when adult mussels are present. Measuring host dynamics helps interpret site-to-site differences and consider whether contamination might affect fish communities or fish health and indirectly affect mussel recruitment.
What outcomes does USFWS expect from this work?
The expected outcome is improved understanding of how CECs might be impacting trust resources, including endangered freshwater mussels, and identifying where impacts appear most likely or where management attention may be warranted.
Is this a competitive grant opportunity?
No. The posting is a notice of intent to make a single-source award without competition.
Who is the intended recipient of the single-source award?
The notice indicates the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to make the single-source award to Central Michigan University (CMU).
What is the justification for making a single-source award to CMU?
The notice states competition is not practical because CMU is considered uniquely qualified for the specialized field surveys, biological sampling, and laboratory evaluations required, and because CMU personnel have experience with mussel bed assessments, reproductive and physiological sampling, lab analyses, and work involving endangered mussel species.
What authority is cited for the single-source justification?
The notice cites 505DM.14.B.4 as the justification basis for the single-source award.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is F16AS00284.
What is the CFDA number and program area listed?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.662 with a funding activity area in environment and natural resources.
What type of award is anticipated?
The posting indicates an anticipated single grant award (expected awards: 1).
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $87,125.
What are the posted, creation, and closing dates shown in the announcement?
The posted and creation dates are June 14, 2016, and the closing date is June 21, 2016.
Who is listed as eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the original posting. However, the practical intent of the announcement is to document and support the planned single-source award to Central Michigan University for this specific project.
What species are being studied?
The work focuses on freshwater mussels in the Maumee watershed, including mussel communities that contain species of conservation concern, and the notice references endangered freshwater mussels as trust resources potentially affected.
Is the project designed as an integrated assessment or a simple contaminant screening?
The design described is an integrated assessment that links field population structure and reproductive/physiological indicators with contaminant measurements in tissues, sediment, and water, rather than a simple presence/absence contaminant screen.
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