Opportunity Information: Apply for G24AS00163
This opportunity is a US Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement aimed at supporting a CESU-affiliated partner within the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network to conduct research on how cotton farming practices may influence bird gut microbiomes. The project focus is tightly centered on understanding the biological and ecological connections between cotton production stressors, particularly pesticide exposure and related dietary shifts, and changes in the composition and function of the avian gut microbiota across multiple biological domains. In practical terms, the work is meant to clarify how agricultural conditions associated with cotton fields can shape microbial communities in birds and what those shifts could imply for bird health, ecology, and broader environmental health indicators.
A major component of the proposed research involves advanced molecular profiling, specifically shotgun metatranscriptomics alongside other "omics" approaches, to capture not just which microorganisms are present but what they are doing. The intent is to measure how pesticide exposure and diet changes linked to cotton production affect gut microbial communities that include bacteria and other prokaryotes, microbial eukaryotes, and viruses. Beyond basic community membership, the analyses are expected to assess microbiome function by examining metabolic pathways and gene activity patterns, including gene ontology terms that summarize biological functions. The scope also explicitly includes evaluating signatures associated with antibiotic resistance and virulence, which helps connect agricultural exposure to microbial traits that can matter for wildlife health and, potentially, ecosystem and public health considerations.
The second major component emphasizes field-based work. This includes comparative studies and sample collection designed to capture real-world variation in stressor factors associated with cotton production and link those stressors to observed differences in avian microbiome composition. The description indicates that birds from different trophic levels should be considered, such as primary consumers and insectivores, reflecting the idea that feeding ecology can influence exposure routes (for example, through diet) and may interact with pesticide impacts in different ways. Overall, the field component is meant to provide ecological context and ensure the molecular findings are grounded in actual conditions birds experience in landscapes influenced by cotton agriculture.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, which is structured as a partnership framework that supports research, technical assistance, and education collaborations. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, meaning USGS is expected to have substantial involvement in the project compared to a more hands-off grant. Eligibility is limited: applicants must be an active participating partner of the Gulf Coast CESU. The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 15.808 and falls within the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" activity category.
Key opportunity details include the funding opportunity number G24AS00163, an original closing date of December 8, 2023, and an award ceiling of $24,950. The posting shows a creation date of November 8, 2023. The solicitation anticipates making awards, though the exact number of expected awards is not specified in the provided listing.Apply for G24AS00163
- 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 Gulf Coast 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 2023-11-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-12-08. (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 $24,950.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FAQs: USGS Cooperative Agreement (Gulf Coast CESU) - Cotton Farming Practices and Bird Gut Microbiomes
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary funding opportunity issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. It supports a CESU-affiliated partner within the Gulf Coast CESU network to conduct research on how cotton farming practices may influence bird gut microbiomes.
What is the primary purpose of the project?
The project is focused on understanding biological and ecological connections between cotton production stressors (especially pesticide exposure and related dietary shifts) and changes in the composition and function of avian gut microbiota. The overall goal is to clarify how agricultural conditions associated with cotton fields can shape microbial communities in birds and what those shifts could imply for bird health, ecology, and broader environmental health indicators.
Which organization is offering the award?
The offering agency is the US Geological Survey (USGS).
What is the award mechanism?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement. This indicates USGS is expected to have substantial involvement in the project, as compared to a more hands-off grant.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to applicants that are active participating partners of the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).
Which CESU network does this opportunity relate to?
This opportunity is specific to the Gulf Coast CESU network.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is G24AS00163.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 15.808.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity falls within the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" activity category.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $24,950.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting shows a creation date of November 8, 2023.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed is December 8, 2023.
How many awards does USGS expect to make?
The solicitation anticipates making awards, but the exact number of expected awards is not specified in the provided listing.
What research topics are emphasized?
The research is tightly centered on how cotton production stressors, particularly pesticide exposure and associated diet shifts, relate to changes in avian gut microbiota. It targets both the makeup of microbial communities and what those microbes are doing biologically (functional activity).
What kinds of stressors from cotton production are highlighted?
The description highlights pesticide exposure as a key stressor, along with related dietary shifts that may occur under cotton production conditions.
What biological system is being studied?
The focus is on the avian gut microbiome, including how its composition and functional characteristics may change under agricultural conditions linked to cotton fields.
Which organisms within the gut microbiome are included in the scope?
The scope includes microbial communities across multiple biological domains: bacteria and other prokaryotes, microbial eukaryotes, and viruses.
What molecular methods are called for?
A major component involves advanced molecular profiling, specifically shotgun metatranscriptomics, alongside other "omics" approaches. The intent is to capture not only which microorganisms are present but also what they are doing (their gene activity and functional output).
What is the role of shotgun metatranscriptomics in this project?
Shotgun metatranscriptomics is expected to help measure microbiome function by examining gene activity patterns. This supports functional interpretation beyond community membership, including analyses of metabolic pathways and gene ontology terms that summarize biological functions.
What types of functional analyses are expected?
Functional analyses are expected to include examination of metabolic pathways and gene activity patterns, including gene ontology terms used to summarize biological functions.
Does the scope include antibiotic resistance or virulence indicators?
Yes. The scope explicitly includes evaluating signatures associated with antibiotic resistance and virulence to connect agricultural exposure to microbial traits that can matter for wildlife health and potentially ecosystem and public health considerations.
Is fieldwork required or emphasized?
Yes. A second major component emphasizes field-based work, including comparative studies and sample collection designed to capture real-world variation in stressor factors associated with cotton production and link those stressors to observed differences in avian microbiome composition.
What is the purpose of the field component?
The field component is intended to provide ecological context and ensure molecular findings are grounded in actual conditions birds experience in landscapes influenced by cotton agriculture.
What kinds of bird groups should be considered in sampling?
The description indicates that birds from different trophic levels should be considered, such as primary consumers and insectivores. This reflects the idea that feeding ecology can influence exposure routes (for example, through diet) and may interact with pesticide impacts in different ways.
What are the intended outcomes or implications of the research?
The work is meant to clarify how cotton-field-associated agricultural conditions can shape bird gut microbial communities, and what those shifts could imply for bird health, ecology, and broader environmental health indicators.
Is this opportunity described as competitive or discretionary?
Administratively, it is described as a discretionary funding opportunity issued under the CESU Program framework.
What does CESU mean in this context?
CESU refers to the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Program, a partnership framework that supports research, technical assistance, and education collaborations. This opportunity is positioned within that partnership structure and is limited to active partners in the Gulf Coast CESU.
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