Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G24AS00058

Opportunity Information: Apply for G24AS00058

This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G24AS00058) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically through the Desert Southwest CESU. The purpose is to support applied science and conservation research that directly helps the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) meet management and recovery needs for threatened and endangered species. The work is framed as collaborative by design, meaning projects are expected to be developed and carried out in coordination with USFWS biologists so that the research outputs can be used in real-world decision-making for species recovery.

The focus of this particular award is the conservation genetics and management of Yaqui catfish, with an emphasis on understanding and responding to hybridization with channel catfish. The research is intended to answer three management-critical questions. First, the project will investigate whether any genetically "pure" Yaqui catfish lineages still persist in Mexico. This is a foundational question for recovery planning because if intact lineages remain, they can serve as high-priority sources for conservation, protective actions, and potential broodstock.

Second, the project will use modeling approaches applied to admixed genomic datasets (genetic data that reflect mixing between species or lineages) to clarify the timing and geography of hybridization between Yaqui catfish and channel catfish. In practical terms, this means using genomic evidence to estimate where hybridization is occurring or occurred, how widespread it is, and whether patterns suggest recent, ongoing introgression versus older historical mixing. Understanding the temporal and spatial footprint of hybridization helps managers determine what threats are active today, which habitats or watersheds are most affected, and where conservation actions may still prevent further genetic swamping.

Third, using the results from genomic modeling and admixture estimates, the project will identify the most appropriate Yaqui catfish populations to support future captive breeding and translocation strategies in both Mexico and the United States. This is aimed at producing actionable guidance on which populations offer the best conservation value, for example populations with minimal introgression, higher genetic diversity, or traits that make them suitable for reintroduction or augmentation efforts. The intent is to ensure that any propagation, captive management, or movement of fish is informed by strong genetic evidence, reducing the risk of inadvertently spreading hybrid ancestry, undermining local adaptation, or compromising long-term recovery goals.

Administratively, the award uses a cooperative agreement instrument, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project (for example, coordination on study design, data needs, sampling priorities, and management relevance). The activity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category and is associated with CFDA number 15.808. Eligibility is limited: applicants must be participating partners in the Desert Southwest CESU, reflecting the CESU model of using established partnership networks to deliver research, technical assistance, and education services for federal resource management needs.

Key published details include an award ceiling of $153,000. The opportunity was created on September 20, 2023, and the original closing date listed is November 10, 2023. Overall, this opportunity is designed to generate defensible genomic evidence about lineage purity, hybridization dynamics, and population selection, with the explicit goal of supporting near-term management decisions for Yaqui catfish recovery actions, including captive breeding and translocation planning across the species range.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-09-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-11-10. (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 $153,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G24AS00058

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