Federal Project Grant Summary

The University of New Mexico received a $370,309 Project Grant awarded May 1, 2026, by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Environmental Biology under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074). This collaborative long-term research and education (LTREB) renewal grant supports a multi-year experimental study extending through April 30, 2031, investigating trophic dynamics and energy flows in semiarid ecosystems. The project builds on over 37 years of continuous field research to examine how small mammal populations and their foraging behaviors respond to rainfall pulses and resource variability in arid habitats. Primary research deliverables include quantitative data on food web structure and energy channel utilization generated through integrated field observations, stable isotope analysis, and dietary DNA metabarcoding techniques, with findings applicable to understanding ecosystem responses to desertification and environmental variability across arid regions worldwide.

In addition to research outputs, the award supports substantial education and workforce development products through international collaborations between U.S. and Chilean institutions. Deliverables include hands-on training programs for students and early-career researchers featuring advanced data analysis using machine learning, metabarcoding methodologies, and high-throughput analytical techniques. The project also produces educational outreach materials and engagement programs targeting audiences across multiple career stages, contributing to NSF's priorities in biotechnology and artificial intelligence while preparing a skilled STEM workforce equipped for careers in ecosystem management and scientific research.