Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Chesapeak Watershed CESU | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

Funding Opportunity Number G14AS00032, titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Chesapeak Watershed CESU," is a US Geological Survey (USGS) funding opportunity administered through the Fort Collins Science Center. It was posted on February 3, 2014, and had an original and final closing date of February 14, 2014, with the announcement later archived on May 3, 2014. The opportunity falls under the discretionary category and is issued as a cooperative agreement, meaning recipients should expect active involvement and collaboration with USGS during project implementation rather than a hands-off grant relationship.

The scientific focus of the award is on understanding broad-scale drivers of amphibian declines, with a particular emphasis on climate-related changes in surface water habitats. The core idea is that shifts in the timing, duration, and availability of surface water (for example, earlier drying of breeding pools, altered hydroperiods, or changes in seasonal precipitation patterns) can act as first-order controls on key stages of amphibian life cycles. The project is designed to connect these climate-driven habitat changes to outcomes such as the likelihood of breeding occurring, the probability that larvae successfully reach metamorphosis, and the rates at which individuals return to breeding sites in subsequent seasons. In practice, this frames amphibian persistence as tightly linked to hydrology and phenology, where mismatches between breeding timing and water availability can cascade into reduced recruitment and local population losses.

A major component of the work involves assembling and synthesizing datasets spanning Canada, the United States, and Mexico. By drawing on information across a wide geographic range, the project aims to capture variability in climate patterns, hydrologic regimes, and amphibian responses, which strengthens the ability to detect broad drivers rather than purely local effects. Because these datasets are expected to be structured in a nested way (for example, repeated surveys within sites, sites within regions, and regions within countries, often with differences in survey methods or sampling intensity), the opportunity calls for analysis using a hierarchical approach. Hierarchical modeling is intended to properly account for that nesting and the uneven nature of ecological data, improving inference while separating true biological signals from observation and sampling noise.

The anticipated analytical endpoint is the use of dynamic occupancy models to evaluate changes in amphibian occupancy through time. Dynamic occupancy modeling is well suited for situations where species presence is not always detected even when it occurs, and where the main interest is in how occupancy changes year-to-year through local extinction and colonization processes. In this project, the results from the hierarchical evaluation are expected to guide the selection of climate-related mechanisms that can be represented as covariates in those dynamic occupancy models. In other words, the research is not just describing trends; it is explicitly testing which climate-linked variables related to surface water timing and availability best explain observed shifts in occupancy, and whether those variables are associated with higher extinction rates, lower colonization rates, or both.

Financially, the opportunity lists an estimated total funding amount of $50,000 and anticipates making one award. The announcement specifies no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants would not be expected to contribute a defined non-federal match. The listing shows award ceiling and floor as $0, which typically indicates that specific limits were not entered into the public listing, not that funding is unavailable; the estimated total funding amount provides the clearest indication of scale.

Eligibility is restricted due to the CESU framework. This award is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, a network of partnerships designed to provide research, technical assistance, and education support to federal land and resource management agencies. To apply, an organization must be a participating partner of the Chesapeake Watershed CESU Program. The eligible applicant category is listed broadly as "Others," but the controlling requirement is CESU partnership status, meaning non-member institutions would generally need to join or collaborate through an eligible CESU partner rather than apply independently.

The awarding agency is the Geological Survey, and the funding activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The CFDA number provided is 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection), which is the federal program identifier associated with this type of research support. For full announcement details, the notice points to Grants.gov, and the contact person listed for access issues is Faith Graves (703-648-7356, fgraves@usgs.gov).

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Geological Survey

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Next opportunity: Cooperative Ecoysystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU

Previous opportunity: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Southern Appalachian Mountians CESU

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for G14AS00032

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (G14AS00032) also looked into and applied for these:

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "G14AS00032", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.