Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU | G18AS00096

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?

This opportunity supports a focused research effort to improve understanding of where alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) still occur at the edge of their range in parts of the central United States. The work is intended to clarify whether peripheral populations have continued to decline, stabilized, or may be showing signs of recovery.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (Rocky Mountain CESU).

What species is the research focused on?

The project focuses on the alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys temminckii.

What geographic areas are included in the study?

The project centers on surveying waterways in western Tennessee, southwestern Kentucky, southern Missouri, and northeastern Arkansas, with emphasis on areas with historical records of alligator snapping turtles.

Why is western Tennessee a major emphasis of the project?

Western Tennessee is a major emphasis because the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency previously released captive-reared alligator snapping turtles at 16 stream sites to try to reestablish local populations. Those sites are already being sampled with traditional trapping methods, but trapping has not detected turtles in most locations so far.

What problem is this project trying to address at the reintroduction sites?

Traditional trapping has not detected alligator snapping turtles in most of the reintroduction locations, raising concerns that the reintroduction effort may not be succeeding or that turtles may be present at densities so low that traps are unlikely to encounter them.

What research method will this opportunity add to existing efforts?

This opportunity aims to complement ongoing trapping work by applying environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches, which involve sampling water for trace genetic material shed by organisms.

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

In this project, eDNA refers to collecting water samples and testing them for trace genetic material that alligator snapping turtles leave behind. This can sometimes detect rare or elusive species even when direct captures fail.

Why use eDNA instead of relying only on trapping?

eDNA may provide evidence of small, hard-to-find populations that are not showing up in trapping data. The opportunity emphasizes modern detection tools that can reveal animals that conventional methods might miss.

How many sampling locations are expected across the full region?

The work would include roughly 70 sampling locations across the four-state region.

What types of sites will be sampled?

The sampling design includes a mix of historical alligator snapping turtle localities and additional randomly selected sites where there are no known records.

Why include sites with no known records of the species?

Including both historical sites and sites without records is intended to provide a more realistic and comparable picture of current distribution. It helps evaluate whether absence from records reflects true absence or simply limited past survey effort.

What kinds of outcomes is the project intended to support?

The resulting dataset is intended to provide a broad snapshot of occupancy patterns across the region. This supports stronger inference about distributional change, including where the species is still present, where it is likely gone, and whether reintroduction sites show any lingering signals of persistence even when traps do not.

How does this project relate to capture-mark-recapture and radio telemetry work?

The opportunity is positioned to leverage and build upon existing research programs using capture-mark-recapture and radio telemetry. Those approaches provide detailed individual-level information but are often limited to fewer sites due to high labor and time demands. eDNA sampling can be deployed across many sites more quickly, and combining tools is meant to strengthen conclusions about distribution.

What kind of funding instrument is being used?

This was offered as a cooperative agreement.

Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding opportunity from the Department of the Interior, USGS.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is G18AS00096.

What is the CFDA number and program category listed?

The opportunity is listed under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, CFDA 15.808.

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated a single award.

What was the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling was $19,682.

When was the opportunity posted?

The posting was created on July 31, 2018.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was August 14, 2018.

Who was eligible to apply based on the summary provided?

Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others," with further clarification expected in the full eligibility text. The description notes this is consistent with CESU opportunities that often involve partnerships with eligible network members and collaborating institutions.

Which organizations are mentioned as conducting related trapping work?

The Tennessee Aquarium and Southeast Missouri State University are mentioned as sampling the reintroduction sites using traditional trapping methods.

What management question does this work help inform?

The work is intended to help determine current distribution at the edge of the species range and assess whether peripheral populations have declined, stabilized, or may be recovering, including whether reintroduced populations show evidence of persistence.

Why are peripheral (edge-of-range) populations important in this opportunity?

The description notes that peripheral populations can be more vulnerable to habitat change, fragmentation, and localized extirpation, which makes understanding their occupancy patterns across the region particularly important.