TAXONOMIC STUDIES

In an effort to advance taxonomic research and expertise in the ocean science community, the Biological Oceanography Program, encourages taxonomic focused proposals that are conducted in close collaboration with interdisciplinary ocean process studies. 
The objectives of this opportunity are:

• To retain and enhance taxonomic expertise in support of ocean ecological and biogeochemical research.
• To provide for training in systematics and taxonomy for marine scientists.
• To develop modern (electronic) monographs for the identification of the ocean biota and to develop biogeographic databases of the ocean biota.
• To foster new and productive interactions between researchers focused on systematic and taxonomy and those involved in ocean process studies.
• To facilitate the major ocean studies including robust studies of the biota.

The special guidelines and restrictions for submitting a funding request for this opportunity are:

• Proposals must be highly integrated with medium-large sized ocean process studies.

• Proposals must provide the rigorous scientific justification based on “value added” to the larger interdisciplinary, and need to show plans for a tight integration with overall program (building new partnerships is critical to this effort).
• Proposals must focus on classic (morphological) approaches, although well-justified projects combining both classic and molecular approaches will be considered. We anticipate that the focus of proposals submitted for support will be on organisms ranging from nanoplankton to larger forms because these are the forms that are amenable to studies by classical methodology. (Moreover, there are presently other venues for supporting studies of microbial forms in other NSF Programs).
• In addition to demonstrating an integration with ocean process studies (above), proposals considered must: 1) provide formal training in taxonomy for at least two advanced students, 2) incorporate modern computerization of various taxonomic tasks and products (such as automation-assisted identifications and production of monographs and data bases), and 3) the project must result in monographs and data bases of the ecologically significant ocean biota that are the focus of the studies.

Proposals will be accepted once a year on our 15 February target date. Alternatively, for proposals that seek to form collaborations with special focus programs such as ocean carbon cycling, RIDGE, etc., we may request that proposals are submitted and reviewed on the target dates for those programs.
PIs interested in submitting proposals are strongly encouraged to contact the Program in advance verify that the project is consistent with Program objectives. The Program will continue to accept and consider other unsolicited proposals with a taxonomic focus, without change in policy, at regular Program target dates.

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