Genetic characterization of introduced European frogbit and water soldier (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae and Stratiotes aloides) to support management and biological control development | W81EWF 23 SOI 0017

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 23 SOI 0017

This funding opportunity supports research aimed at improving long-term management options for two invasive aquatic plants in North America: European frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) and water soldier (Stratiotes aloides). The core idea is that aquatic invasive plants drive major, recurring costs in the United States due to the need for ongoing control and mitigation, and that current tools such as herbicides and mechanical removal can be expensive at large scales while also risking harm to native plant communities. The opportunity positions classical biological control as a potentially more sustainable and cost-effective approach, but emphasizes that successful biocontrol programs depend heavily on understanding the genetics and origins of the invasive populations before agents are selected and pursued.

European frogbit is highlighted as a particularly damaging species because it forms dense, free-floating mats that interfere with boating and other water traffic, slow water movement, crowd out native vegetation, and can contribute to low-oxygen (hypoxic) conditions that degrade aquatic habitat. It also reduces recreational value for activities like swimming and fishing. The notice describes its invasion history as starting with an escape from a botanical garden in Ottawa in the 1930s, followed by spread across parts of the Great Lakes region and into states such as Vermont and Washington. Prior biocontrol attempts have mainly involved generalist herbivores (for example, native snails and grass carp), but these have produced limited control, which is one reason the opportunity points toward classical biocontrol using specialized natural enemies from the plant’s native range. Several candidate natural enemies have already been identified in Europe and adjacent regions, suggesting a foundation exists but needs to be better targeted.

Water soldier is presented as an emerging invader with a much smaller confirmed North American footprint so far, reported primarily from the Trent River in Ontario after detection in 2008. Even with that limited distribution, it is treated as a high-concern species because its impacts are expected to resemble those of European frogbit, and it introduces an additional public safety and nuisance issue: sharp, serrated leaves that can cut people who come into contact with it. The opportunity notes that relatively little is known about water soldier biocontrol specifically, but it often occurs in the same native-range habitats as European frogbit and the two species are closely related (both in the Hydrocharitaceae). Because of that relationship, the announcement suggests that surveys for natural enemies and biocontrol planning should consider both species together, since overlapping enemy communities or similar approaches may be relevant.

A central justification for the project is that USDA-APHIS weed risk assessments indicate both plants have a high likelihood of becoming serious invaders, with predicted potential distributions spanning much of the eastern half of the contiguous United States. Given that risk, the opportunity stresses that early-stage biocontrol development should begin with two genetic questions: how much genetic diversity exists within the introduced populations, and which regions in the native range those introduced populations came from. These points matter because biocontrol agents can be locally adapted to particular plant genotypes, and if the introduced plants came from a specific source region, natural enemies collected from that same region are more likely to match and perform well on the invasive genotypes present in North America.

The proposed work is framed as a stepping-stone that makes later biocontrol exploration more efficient and more likely to succeed. The announcement describes using molecular matching to identify source areas, while also mapping genetic structure across the invaded range. Once source populations are known, field exploration for candidate agents (damaging insects and pathogens) can be focused on the most relevant regions and plant genotypes. It also signals that this is not a one-time visit approach: effective exploration requires repeated surveys throughout the year to capture phenology and seasonal dynamics and to find the most impactful natural enemies. After candidates are identified, they would be prioritized and imported into quarantine for research on basic biology and, critically, host-specificity testing to ensure safety for non-target species before any further steps toward release.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the Department of Defense through the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, with an anticipated single award and an award ceiling of $100,000. The opportunity number is W81EWF 23 SOI 0017, it falls under CFDA 12.630, and it was originally posted June 2, 2023 with an original closing date of August 2, 2023. Eligible applicants are listed broadly as “Others,” with additional eligibility details referenced in the full opportunity materials. Overall, the grant is aimed at generating the genetic and origin data needed to guide biocontrol discovery and development in a more targeted, evidence-based way for two high-risk aquatic invaders.

• The Department of Defense, Engineer Research and Development Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Genetic characterization of introduced European frogbit and water soldier (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae and Stratiotes aloides) to support management and biological control development" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 02, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 02, 2023. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for W81EWF 23 SOI 0017

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