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

The US Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center in 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 and rare Diamondback terrapins. The sea turtle biological sample dataset is comprised of skin (tissue) and blood samples from sea turtles sampled on projects conducted in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, and Caribbean and terrapin blood samples from throughout the US Atlantic and Gulf coastal range of the species. Previous studies including nest monitoring and mark-recapture provide preliminary information on population abundance, reproductive parameters and connectivity. Intensive sampling of multiple species and populations has resulted in a large number of biological samples. Analysis of these samples will allow to reveal effective population sizes for these assemblages and connectivity among groups.