Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU funding opportunity (Opportunity Number G16AS00111)?

This is a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary research funding opportunity offered through the Department of the Interior. It is associated with the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network and is identified by Opportunity Number G16AS00111.

What type of award is this?

The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means the funded project is expected to involve substantial collaboration between the awardee and USGS federal scientists or program staff, rather than operating as a low-involvement, pass-through style grant.

Which agency is offering and administering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the US Geological Survey (USGS) under the US Department of the Interior.

What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The purpose is to improve understanding of how climate change is influencing migratory bird populations and to translate that understanding into information that managers can use for conservation and decision-making. A key emphasis is clarifying and synthesizing climate-related effects on migratory birds in a way that directly supports practical management.

What problem or knowledge gap is USGS trying to address through this work?

USGS describes climate change as a major stressor for many migratory bird species, but notes that for many species the links between climate variables and key demographic rates are not well resolved. This lack of clarity limits how confidently wildlife agencies can plan interventions or anticipate future population declines.

What scientific or technical focus is specifically requested?

A central technical goal is development of a climate-informed integrated population model (IPM) for migratory birds using MAPS data (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship). The intent is to quantify relationships between climate conditions and demographic parameters (such as survival and productivity), then incorporate those relationships into an IPM framework to improve inference about population trajectories under changing climate conditions.

What is MAPS and why is it important to this opportunity?

MAPS stands for Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship. It is a long-running bird monitoring program that generates demographic information relevant to population dynamics, including measures tied to productivity and survivorship. USGS is aiming to leverage MAPS as the key dataset for linking climate conditions to demographic mechanisms that drive population change.

What demographic "building blocks" of population change are emphasized in the opportunity?

The opportunity specifically highlights demographic components such as survival and productivity. These demographic rates are framed as the underlying mechanisms that determine whether populations grow, shrink, or remain stable, and the work is intended to clarify how climate stressors influence these rates.

Is the requested work mainly about correlating bird abundance with climate variables?

No. The description emphasizes that the goal is not simply to correlate bird numbers with climate, but to link climate conditions to the demographic mechanisms (like survival and productivity) that drive population trajectories, and embed those relationships into an integrated population modeling framework.

What does "climate-informed integrated population model (IPM)" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this context, it refers to an integrated population model that uses demographic data (from MAPS) and explicitly incorporates relationships between climate conditions and demographic parameters. The goal is a modeling framework that can provide clearer inference about how populations may change as climate conditions change.

What is meant by a "full annual cycle" modeling approach?

A full annual cycle approach considers that migratory birds experience different conditions across breeding, migration, and non-breeding periods, and that population outcomes can be shaped by conditions or losses in any season. USGS emphasizes that effective management should be informed by models that consider how events across the entire year combine to determine overall population change.

Why is USGS emphasizing full annual cycle modeling for migratory birds?

Because migratory birds move through multiple life-cycle stages and geographic areas, and constraints in any season (breeding, migration, or non-breeding) can influence overall population dynamics. The opportunity is intended to support a modeling approach that is more integrated and management-relevant than single-season or purely descriptive assessments.

What activity category is this opportunity listed under?

The opportunity is listed within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The associated CFDA number is 15.808.

What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling) for this opportunity?

The award ceiling listed is $28,000.

How many awards does USGS expect to make under this opportunity?

The opportunity indicates an expectation of making one award.

When was this opportunity posted and what was the application deadline?

The posting was created on June 23, 2016, with an original closing date of July 8, 2016, which suggests a relatively short application window.

Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." The opportunity notes that additional clarification would typically be provided in the full eligibility text of the announcement. For CESU opportunities, eligibility details may depend on CESU network membership, institutional type, or partnership structures described in the official notice.

Does the description indicate that this is a CESU-specific opportunity?

Yes. It is described as a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (Californian CESU) funding opportunity, which commonly implies CESU-related eligibility or partnership expectations as defined in the official announcement.

What kinds of outputs or deliverables are implied by the description?

The description implies more than a narrative report. It points toward a synthesized, climate-aware integrated population modeling approach using MAPS data, designed to strengthen the evidence base for how climate change affects survival and productivity and to support management-relevant inference about long-term population viability and levels.

How is management relevance defined in this opportunity?

Management relevance is framed as producing information that managers can actually use in conservation and decision-making. The modeling effort is intended to translate climate-demography understanding into tools or insights that can inform interventions, planning, and anticipating future declines.

What role does USGS collaboration play in the funded project?

Because this is a cooperative agreement, substantial involvement from USGS federal scientists or program staff is expected. The project is intended to be collaborative rather than independently executed with minimal federal participation.