Improving Pollinator Habitat using Mycorrhizal Inoculum | USGS 19 FA 2380

Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS 19 FA 2380

The grant opportunity titled "Improving Pollinator Habitat using Mycorrhizal Inoculum" (Funding Opportunity Number: USGS 19 FA 2380) is a U.S. Geological Survey (Department of the Interior) cooperative agreement focused on improving the success of tallgrass prairie reconstructions in the Upper Midwest, specifically in Minnesota and Iowa. The central idea is that rebuilding prairie plant communities that are diverse enough to support strong pollinator habitat is not just about planting seeds; it also depends on restoring key belowground partnerships. The opportunity targets arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), a group of beneficial soil fungi that form mutualistic relationships with many prairie plants and may strongly influence whether reconstructed prairies develop the richness and stability seen in high-quality remnant prairies.

The project is motivated by a practical gap in restoration science: while prior work suggests AMF can be critical for prairie establishment and long-term plant community performance, there is still limited, decision-ready information about which AMF communities matter, which plant species are most affected, and whether inoculum (adding AMF to soils to speed or improve restoration) needs to be locally sourced or can be applied more broadly. In short, the study aims to clarify when and how AMF inoculation could be used as a tool to improve prairie reconstructions in ways that ultimately support pollinators through higher plant diversity and more resilient habitat.

The work described follows a tiered approach, with the first tier centered on comparing AMF communities associated with prairie plants in two contrasting settings: high-quality remnant prairies (often considered benchmarks for biodiversity and ecological function) and reconstructed prairies (sites that have been replanted or restored but may lag in diversity or stability). Researchers will collect root samples from at least 20 plant species commonly used in tallgrass prairie reconstructions and identify the AMF taxa colonizing those roots. By directly comparing fungi found in the same plant species across remnant versus reconstructed prairies, the study seeks to determine whether reconstructed sites are missing important fungal partners or have different AMF communities that could be limiting plant performance.

A key objective within that first tier is to connect fungal community differences to real restoration outcomes. Specifically, the project will test whether plant species that tend to establish poorly or decline over time in reconstructions consistently host AMF communities that differ from those found in the same species thriving in remnant prairies. If such patterns are found, it would help pinpoint which plant species are most likely to benefit from AMF inoculum, making inoculation efforts more targeted and cost-effective rather than applied as a one-size-fits-all practice.

Another major objective is to determine how geographically specific AMF inoculum needs to be. The study will evaluate how consistent AMF communities are across different locations, comparing patterns for plant species in decline versus those that perform well. This is meant to answer a practical implementation question for land managers: do you need locally sourced inoculum from nearby remnant prairies to get the desired effect, or are AMF communities similar enough across the region that inoculum could be sourced more broadly? The answer has major implications for feasibility, cost, and ecological risk, since local sourcing can be logistically challenging but may better match local plant-fungal relationships.

In terms of administrative details, this was a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.808, with eligibility limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The opportunity was posted on August 14, 2019, with an original closing date of August 28, 2019. The expected award count was one, with an award ceiling of $63,910. Overall, the opportunity is designed to produce applied ecological knowledge that helps restoration practitioners improve prairie reconstruction outcomes by understanding and potentially managing the belowground AMF communities that support diverse, pollinator-friendly plant assemblages.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving Pollinator Habitat using Mycorrhizal Inoculum" 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 Aug 14, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 28, 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 $63,910.00 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 USGS 19 FA 2380

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