Created by an act of Congress in 1879, the USGS provides science for a changing world, which reflects and responds to society’s continuously evolving needs. As the science arm of the Department of the Interior, the USGS brings an array of earth, water, biological, and mapping data and expertise to bear in support of decision-making on environmental, resource, and public safety issues.
This grant aims to support the development of innovative marine monitoring tools by leveraging advances in transcriptomics, focusing on enhancing the understanding of razor clams' genomic responses to environmental stimuli. The project seeks to build upon preliminary research to create an improved gene expression panel capable of identifying various stressors affecting population and ecosystem health. Ultimately, this research is intended to result in a novel diagnostic tool that could influence management and conservation strategies, aiding in the mitigation of both environmental and anthropogenic impacts on coastal ecosystems. It is intended for a CESU Partner within the Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) Program, with eligibility restricted to those in the Californian CESU network.