$1.16 Million to Survey Marine Biodiversity in Rota
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization chartered by Congress, has announced a pending grant of $1.16 million to the University of Guam to survey and document marine biodiversity in Rota and Guam. This project will update the previous 2003 survey and improve detection, identification, and assessment of non-indigenous species while expanding understanding of the area’s rich biodiversity. The project will conduct underwater field surveys, document species occurrence and distribution, and collect specimens for submission to global DNA reference libraries to provide resource managers with a critical tool for rapid response and early intervention of invasive marine species outbreaks. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation combines federal and non-federal funds for conservation and encourages locally supported, voluntary stewardship of fish, wildlife, and plants on private and public lands.