Collaborative research on nutria control strategies with usfwsperiod of performance: 10 01 2025 - 09 30 2029ABSTRACT summary: the louisiana state university (LSU) agcenter will collaborate with the…

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Acquisitions and Grants awarded Louisiana State University Agricultural Center a $191,099.06 Cooperative Agreement under the Cooperative Research Units program (CFDA 15.812) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029. LSU AgCenter will collaborate with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to conduct applied research on nutria control strategies at USFWS and private lands throughout Louisiana. The project will deliver field surveys, vegetative sampling, and data analyses to assess nutria damage impacts on emergent marsh ecosystems through evaluation of plot-level vegetative cover, soil characteristics, and short-term accretion rates using feldspar pads, as well as nutria population dynamics monitoring via catch-per-unit-effort and scat surveys.

This collaborative graduate research initiative directly supports USFWS management objectives regarding invasive nutria by generating research findings and practical solutions to optimize control strategies and mitigate ecosystem impacts in sensitive coastal environments. The project fulfills the Cooperative Research Units Program's core mission of providing applied research and graduate education in fish, wildlife, and natural resource sciences to address federal and state agency information needs.

Collaborative research on nutria control strategies with usfwsperiod of performance: 10 01 2025 - 09 30 2029ABSTRACT summary: the louisiana state university (LSU) agcenter will collaborate with the united states fish and wildlife service (USFWS) personnel to align resources and efforts at locations that are already engaged in nutria control efforts and at locations to be identified on USFWS land and private lands. LSU agcenter will assist with field surveys, vegetative sampling, and lead data analyses to inform the impact of nutria damage on emergent marsh. Activities to be performed - evaluate plot-level vegetative cover, composition, and stature before, during, and after the establishment of exclusores.- collect plot-level soil samples for chemical and physical characteristics- install plot-level feldspar pads to evaluate short-term accretion rates- evaluate effects of nutria control on population dynamics, using catch-per unit effort and scat surveys as an indices to abundance deliverables and expected outcomes this collaborative PHD graduate research project will provide crucial insights to support USFWS s management objectives regarding invasive nutria, helping to optimize control strategies and mitigate their impact on sensitive coastal ecosystems. Through this research, the project will contribute not just to academic knowledge but also to practical solutions in managing invasive species effectively. Intended beneficiary(IES) USFWS and the american taxpayer subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award -not applicable.