Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU | G19AS00045

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically via the Columbia Environmental Research Center.

2. What is the program or network associated with this opportunity?

The funding opportunity is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the Great Rivers CESU.

3. What type of award is being offered?

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement.

4. What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally means USGS expects to be substantially involved during the project. That involvement could include collaboration, shared technical input, and coordination on methods and deliverables, rather than providing a stand-alone grant with minimal interaction.

5. What is the overall goal of the funded work?

The overall aim is to support applied science and technology work that improves the tools and knowledge needed to study and manage freshwater mussels.

6. What research areas or needs does the opportunity focus on?

The project focus is on three closely related research needs for freshwater mussel conservation and monitoring: (1) improved laboratory culture methods for a diverse range of mussel species, (2) evaluating how early life-stage growth influences freshwater mussel life history, and (3) using environmental DNA (eDNA) as a marker for detecting freshwater mussel species.

7. What is meant by developing or improving laboratory culture methods for freshwater mussels?

This refers to creating or refining methods to culture (rear/maintain) a diverse range of freshwater mussel species in a laboratory setting. Laboratory culture is described as a key bottleneck because mussels have complex early life stages and species-specific requirements.

8. Why is laboratory culture described as a bottleneck for mussel research?

According to the opportunity description, many mussel studies are limited because mussels have complex early life stages and species-specific requirements. Better culture methods can enable more consistent experimentation, propagation, and conservation work.

9. What does the opportunity mean by evaluating how early life-stage growth influences life history?

It means studying how conditions and growth rates early in a mussel's life may affect later outcomes such as survival, development, reproduction, or other traits that shape population health and resilience.

10. What is environmental DNA (eDNA) in the context of this project?

In this opportunity, eDNA refers to genetic material shed by organisms into water that can be detected and used as a marker for identifying freshwater mussel species.

11. Why is eDNA being emphasized as a detection tool for freshwater mussels?

eDNA approaches can provide sensitive, low-impact detection by identifying genetic material in water. The description notes this can be especially valuable for rare or hard-to-find mussel species and for broad monitoring across river systems.

12. Is this opportunity focused on conservation, monitoring, or both?

Both. The work is positioned as supporting freshwater mussel conservation and monitoring by improving lab culture techniques, understanding life-history effects, and advancing eDNA-based detection.

13. What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is G19AS00045.

14. What category of funding is this listed under?

It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

15. What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is tied to CFDA number 15.808.

16. When was the opportunity posted?

The posting date was April 1, 2019.

17. What was the application deadline?

The original application deadline was April 16, 2019.

18. How many awards did USGS anticipate making?

USGS anticipated making one award.

19. What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $84,866.

20. Does the opportunity suggest this is a multi-project program or a single focused project?

Based on the expectation of one award and the stated award ceiling, it is described as a single, focused project rather than a multi-project program.

21. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is noted as "Others," with additional clarification expected in the full eligibility text. The description also notes that CESU opportunities are commonly aimed at specific partners within the CESU network (such as certain universities, nonprofits, or other qualified organizations associated with that CESU), but the exact eligibility conditions would be defined in the official notice.

22. Is this opportunity specifically tied to a particular CESU region?

Yes. It is specifically associated with the Great Rivers CESU.

23. What practical outcomes is the government looking for from this project?

The intended value is practical: stronger laboratory rearing methods can support experimentation and restoration, improved understanding of life history can help predict population responses to environmental conditions, and improved eDNA detection can strengthen surveys and conservation decision-making in Great Rivers and similar freshwater ecosystems.

24. What is the plain-language summary of what the government is funding?

The government is looking to fund one collaborative research effort that strengthens laboratory rearing methods for multiple freshwater mussel species, clarifies how early growth affects long-term mussel biology and outcomes, and advances eDNA-based detection as a monitoring tool.