Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Piedmont South Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

The USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Davie, Florida is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in genetic analyses of biological samples from threatened and endangered sea turtles. The sea turtle biological sample dataset is comprised of skin (tissue) and blood samples from sea turtles sampled on projects conducted in the Gulf and Atlantic, on relocation trawling projects conducted under authority of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Sampling of turtles over >30 years of relocation trawling operations has resulted in a bank of samples for processing. Analysis of these samples will allow us to reveal genetic composition of turtles at these sampled sites, across decades. Genetic origin of each turtle will be determined. Protection of biological diversity has been identified at the global, national, state, and local levels as a critical component of protecting native ecosystems. Effective protection of an area's ecological integrity involves having the ability to evaluate and monitor effects of management actions. This project is designed to meet specific science needs and to provide tools necessary for evaluation and assessment of management strategies for protected sea turtle species.