Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring (P15AS00198)

1) What is the Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring opportunity (P15AS00198)?

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00198) was a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary grant offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs and Resources of the National Park System). The work focused on continuing an existing effort to process and identify benthic macroinvertebrates collected from multiple NPS units across different ecoregions and to use those biological data to provide guidance on ecological trends.

2) Which agency offered this grant, and what type of award was it?

The opportunity was offered by the National Park Service and was issued as a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial collaboration between NPS and the recipient during the project (for example, coordination on protocols, data standards, reporting, and interpretation of results alongside NPS scientists or staff).

3) What does CFDA 15.945 mean in the context of this opportunity?

CFDA 15.945 refers to the program area described as Cooperative Research and Training Programs and Resources of the National Park System. In this opportunity, that aligns with the research, training, taxonomy, quality assurance, and ecological analysis components needed to support long-term aquatic monitoring.

4) What was the main purpose or focus of the project?

The project focus was to continue an ongoing effort to process and identify benthic macroinvertebrate samples collected from multiple NPS units located in different ecoregions, and then use those data to provide guidance on ecological trends. The expected outcome emphasized interpretation of patterns over time (for example, whether conditions appear stable, improving, or degrading), not just lists of taxa or counts.

5) What kinds of activities or tasks were included in the work?

The work centered on lab and analytical support for long-term aquatic monitoring, including sorting samples, identifying organisms to the appropriate taxonomic level, managing and validating datasets, and interpreting what changes in the macroinvertebrate community may indicate about stream or aquatic ecosystem condition over time.

6) What are benthic macroinvertebrates, and why are they used for monitoring?

Benthic macroinvertebrates are organisms that live on or near the bottom of aquatic environments and are commonly used in freshwater monitoring because they are common, relatively sedentary, and sensitive to changes in water quality, habitat, and flow regimes. Their community composition can reflect environmental conditions and changes through time.

7) Which parks or locations were involved?

The opportunity described work supporting multiple National Park Service units located in different ecoregions, but it did not name specific parks in the information provided here.

8) What does it mean that this work supports monitoring across different ecoregions?

The project aimed to continue standardized identification and processing across parks and ecoregions. Using consistent processing and identification approaches helps make biological results comparable across diverse environmental settings, which supports broader trend assessment rather than isolated, site-specific findings.

9) What kinds of results or deliverables were expected from this project?

The expected outcome went beyond producing species lists or counts. The intent was to interpret patterns in the macroinvertebrate community to help park managers understand ecological trends over time, such as whether aquatic resources appear stable, improving, or degrading, and what stressors may be consistent with observed shifts in the community.

10) Did this opportunity require collaboration with NPS?

Yes. Because it was structured as a cooperative agreement, NPS anticipated substantial collaboration. The information provided indicates this typically involves coordination on protocols, data standards, reporting expectations, and interpretation of results alongside NPS scientists or program staff.

11) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. This eligibility limitation aligns with the research and training orientation of the work and the academic capacity often needed for taxonomy, quality assurance, and ecological analysis.

12) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity specified that there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

13) When was the opportunity posted, and what was the deadline?

The announcement was posted on July 8, 2015, and the application closing date was July 18, 2015.

14) Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The listing was archived on August 8, 2015, indicating the opportunity is no longer active based on the information provided.

15) How much funding was available, and were there minimum/maximum award amounts?

The funding listing did not specify a total funding amount or an award ceiling/floor in the provided fields. The information noted that this can occur when an opportunity is tied to a specific ongoing collaboration, a continuation action, or when final amounts depend on program needs and availability of funds.

16) Where could applicants find the original announcement details?

The listing pointed to Grants.gov for the full posting and original announcement details.

17) Who was the contact person for access issues related to the posting?

The designated contact for access issues was Rita Mihalik, Financial Assistance Officer at the National Park Service. Phone: (301) 663-1481 x5. Email: ritamihalik@nps.gov.

18) What is meant by "continuing an existing effort" in this context?

The opportunity described the project as continuing an existing effort to process and identify benthic macroinvertebrate samples and use the resulting data to guide ecological trend interpretation. The information provided suggests this work was part of an ongoing long-term monitoring program rather than a brand-new sampling initiative.

19) What does "lab and analytical support" imply for this project?

In the context provided, lab and analytical support refers to sample processing and identification (sorting and taxonomy), plus data handling (management and validation) and ecological interpretation (assessing what community changes may indicate about aquatic ecosystem condition over time).

20) Why is standardized identification and processing important for this opportunity?

Standardization helps ensure results are comparable across multiple parks and ecoregions. When methods and identification practices are consistent, observed differences and trends are more likely to reflect real ecological patterns rather than differences caused by inconsistent processing or taxonomic approaches.