GRRI CESU:Pilot Algal Assessment and Invasive Algae Detection at OZAR | NPS NOIP19AC00266

Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP19AC00266

This grant opportunity, titled "GRRI CESU: Pilot Algal Assessment and Invasive Algae Detection at OZAR" (Funding Opportunity Number NPS NOIP19AC00266), is a National Park Service cooperative agreement focused on surveying algae in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) in southeastern Missouri. The project is designed as a practical, field-and-lab effort that supports park management needs while also building scientific understanding of aquatic ecosystem health, especially how invasive species may be linked to changes in river conditions. A stated emphasis of the work is also student development, meaning the project is meant to strengthen training and workforce experience alongside the research outcomes.

At its core, the project asks a straightforward management and science question: can environmental DNA (eDNA) methods reliably describe algal communities in Ozark flowing waters and serve as an effective screening tool for harmful or invasive algal species? Instead of relying only on traditional visual identification or microscope-based taxonomy, the approach uses DNA traces present in the environment to detect what organisms are present. The pilot nature of the study is important because it is testing whether these molecular methods are accurate and useful enough to inform ongoing monitoring and early detection efforts in the park.

The work plan involves sampling up to 20 sites across both main river stems and tributaries within ONSR during the summer 2019 field season. The sampling locations are not random; they are intended to be co-located with existing National Park Service monitoring stations used by the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network. This alignment matters because it allows the eDNA results to be interpreted alongside established habitat and biological datasets, making the findings more directly comparable and potentially more useful for long-term trend analysis.

Field methods are described in a quality-focused way, reflecting the sensitivity of eDNA studies to contamination and handling differences. The recipient is expected to follow DNA field protocols that had recently been tested in Ozark streams, including use of replicates, field blanks, filtration procedures, quality control steps, and proper storage methods. These details signal that the project is not just about collecting samples, but about producing defensible data that can stand up to scientific review and be trusted for management decisions such as invasive species alerts.

After field sampling, the laboratory phase is scheduled for fall 2019 through winter 2020. The lab workflow includes DNA extraction, PCR-based library preparation, and next-generation sequencing (NGS). The sequencing output is then processed through metabarcoding analysis, which includes data cleaning and quality filtering followed by taxonomy-supervised classification, essentially converting raw DNA reads into identified algal taxa. The analysis phase also includes multivariate statistical techniques to compare algal community composition among sites and to relate observed community patterns to abiotic habitat conditions. In practical terms, that means the project is not only producing a list of species, but also examining how algae assemblages vary across the river system and what environmental factors may be associated with those differences.

Deliverables are clearly defined. The recipient must provide eDNA-derived species lists for each monitoring site and submit a report summarizing all field activities and analytical results within 90 days after the project termination date. The opportunity also notes the possibility of producing a scientific manuscript for journal publication after the project, suggesting that the National Park Service is interested in outcomes that can contribute to peer-reviewed literature, not just internal reporting.

In terms of administrative details, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, using a cooperative agreement instrument. Eligible applicants are limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reflecting the CESU partnership model and the student development component. The program is listed under CFDA 15.945. The opportunity was created on May 21, 2019, with an original closing date of May 31, 2019. Funding is relatively small and clearly pilot-scale, with an award ceiling of $25,000 and an expectation of a single award, indicating the agency was seeking one institution to carry out a focused, time-bounded study rather than funding multiple parallel projects.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education, employment, labor and training, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "GRRI CESU:Pilot Algal Assessment and Invasive Algae Detection at OZAR" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 21, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2019. (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 $25,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for NPS NOIP19AC00266

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