Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Piedmont South Atlantic Coast CESU | G20AS00040

Opportunity Information: Apply for G20AS00040

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), under the Department of the Interior, released a discretionary cooperative agreement funding opportunity through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the Piedmont South Atlantic Coast CESU. The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G20AS00040; CFDA 15.808) is designed to support research and rapid-response actions focused on the invasive Argentine tegu lizard (Salvator merianae) in southern Georgia. The USGS is seeking to fund a single CESU partner to help assess the presence, distribution, and management options for this species, which is known for being large, highly mobile, and capable of spreading quickly once established.

The scientific and management rationale for the award is tied to the tegu's invasive potential and documented ecological impacts. Argentine tegus are omnivorous habitat generalists, meaning they can exploit many food sources and occupy a wide range of environments, traits that often make invasive species particularly difficult to control. The species has already become established in south Florida and is associated with negative effects on native wildlife, including predation on eggs and young of native species and competition for resources. USGS Fort Collins Science Center (FORT) researchers have also produced environmental niche modeling indicating that climate conditions across much of the southern United States could be suitable for tegu establishment. That modeling increases the urgency for early detection and swift management action in areas like southern Georgia, where populations may still be localized and more feasible to contain or eradicate.

The work to be funded is organized into two related projects. Project 1 focuses on evaluating camera-based detection methods to determine whether camera trap arrays can reliably detect tegus at low population densities. This is an important early-invasion challenge: when animals are rare and spread out, traditional survey methods can miss them, allowing populations to grow unnoticed. By testing and refining camera trap strategies, the project aims to produce actionable information on where tegus are present and how far the population extends. The anticipated product is a set of spatially explicit tegu detections or locations that can be used directly to guide targeted removal efforts in southern Georgia, improving efficiency by concentrating control where it is most needed.

Project 2 addresses direct management response through removal trapping. This component supports trapping at locations where tegus have been confirmed or where available evidence suggests that trapping is justified. The intent is to translate detection and situational awareness into on-the-ground population reduction, consistent with a rapid-response approach. Together, the two projects form a practical sequence: improve detection and delineation of the invasion footprint, then apply removal tools at priority sites to limit spread and reduce impacts on native species.

Administratively, this opportunity was structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which typically indicates substantial involvement or collaboration by the federal agency during project execution (for example, coordination on methods, data sharing, or implementation decisions). Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with clarification to be found in the additional eligibility text, but the description makes clear the intended applicant pool is CESU partners. The opportunity was posted March 5, 2020, with an original application deadline of March 20, 2020. The expected award count was one, with an award ceiling of $45,000, reflecting a targeted, time-sensitive project meant to generate near-term field results and management value rather than a large multi-year research program.

In practical terms, the deliverables from this award would likely include field-ready camera survey guidance (how to deploy arrays for best detection), mapped detections or estimated occupied areas in southern Georgia, and documented outcomes from trapping efforts (such as capture numbers and site results). The broader goal is to support early intervention before the Argentine tegu becomes more widely established in Georgia and potentially expands through other climatically suitable areas of the southern U.S.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Piedmont South Atlantic Coast CESU" 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 Mar 05, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 20, 2020. (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 $45,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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