Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU

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The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) of the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity to Recipients that have the ability to conduct research on integrated management systems of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species and biological informatics in the Gulf Coast CESU. The NBII primarily develops applications to support biological informatics and develops broad partnerships to facilitate access to and interpretation of the nation's biological information. Current invasive species informatics research projects include (but are not limited to) GIS modeling of invasive aquatic plant distributions and abundance (based on watershed nutrient loading rates); development of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database with plant information; development of a National Early Detection and Rapid Response Toolbox; early detection and reporting of cactus moth occurrences along the Gulf Coast; mapping distributions of pricklypear cactus in the mid-south region; development of environmental-based habitat models for invasive species; investigation of mechanisms of environmental tolerance in cactus moth and southeastern pricklypear species; development of the Cactus Moth Detection and Monitoring Network; Development of an invasive species habitat modeling handbook; landscape-based genetic habitat modeling for Invasive Species; development of a citizen science-based volunteer network for invasive species in the mid-south; collaboration by taxonomic experts in microlepidoptera with the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS); and the development of computer-assisted visualizations of the three dimensional comparative structures of native and invasive aquatic plant habitats. For a successful cooperative agreement, the partner Recipient must have complementary research interests and be able to address all these and other potential research topics. The NBII specifically is seeking collaborative opportunities with Recipients for a broad range of research and development efforts related to the Invasive Species Information Node, which supports international and federal partners, non-governmental organizations, environmental and research agencies, and Recipients as well as USGS science. GIS expertise, high speed parallel computing abilities, taxonomic expertise in the area of microlepidoptera, and aquatic invasive plant ecological and extension/outreach expertise are critical components of the desired collaboration. The NBII is trying to facilitate working collaborations among federal agencies and Recipients and other partner institutions to accomplish mutual research objectives.

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