Cooperative Agreement with partner of the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

The USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, Florida, is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU Partner to for research and monitoring of selected biological resources with Florida’s Nature Coast. The Nature Coast spans the Big Bend of Florida on the Gulf of Mexico, ranging from Hernando to Wakulla Counties. The region contains one of North America’s most pristine coastlines, with extensive seagrass meadows, coastal wetlands and forests, valuable recreational and commercial fisheries, and healthy wildlife populations including marine mammals (manatee, dolphin), diverse waterbirds, and sea turtles. The region also supports productive shellfish fisheries (shrimp, oyster) and a vibrant hard clam aquaculture industry valued at $40 million annually. Conservation and management of natural resources in the region is critical to continued growth. Recreational and commercial fisheries, aquaculture, and agriculture rely on adequate freshwater flows and clean water resources. The region also has significant acreages protected by state and federal ownership (refuges, wildlife management areas, and state parks). Results of the research will be used by scientists and managers to enhance understanding and further conservation goals within Florida’s Nature Coast. Research objectives: In general, improve the conservation and management of biological resources in the region, through research and monitoring, enhanced partnerships with state and federal agencies, improved public outreach and education, and enhanced teaching opportunities for students in the region. Researchers will identify CESU faculty and students to enhance research. Currently there are 2 ongoing projects specifically investigating the application of decision analysis for oyster reef restoration in the Gulf of Mexico and quantifying variation in coastal wetland structure and function across a winter temperature gradient.