Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Desert Southwest CESU | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

This funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G14AS00084) is a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary grant issued as a cooperative agreement through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically the Desert Southwest CESU. It was posted on June 12, 2014, and closed on June 23, 2014 (with an archive date of September 12, 2014). USGS anticipated making one award, with an estimated total funding amount of $45,404. No cost sharing or matching was required. The assistance is tied to CFDA 15.808, USGS Research and Data Collection, and it falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

The project focus is an evaluation of riparian ecosystems in the Sonoran Desert, driven by concerns about declines in native amphibians in Arizona. The opportunity is sponsored by the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), which is seeking a qualified CESU partner to study how and why amphibian populations are changing in desert riparian habitats. The background problem described in the announcement is that amphibian declines have been linked to several interacting stressors: habitat degradation and fragmentation, reduced surface water availability, disease, and the spread of nonnative species. The study is positioned as applied research meant to directly support conservation and management decisions in these water-limited systems.

The core scientific objective is to understand how key demographic rates survival, reproduction, and growth shape patterns of occupancy and abundance for two focal species: lowland leopard frogs and canyon treefrogs. Rather than only documenting where frogs occur, the project emphasizes the underlying demographic processes that determine whether populations persist, expand, or disappear across a landscape. A central element is testing hypotheses about the relationships among these demographic rates, the availability of surface water (a critical limiting factor in desert riparian environments), and infection by Bd (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), the chytrid fungus associated with amphibian disease and population declines worldwide. In practical terms, the work aims to link on-the-ground ecological conditions and disease pressure to measurable population outcomes.

A major expected product is the identification of threshold values or ranges of demographic rates that can distinguish stable metapopulations from those likely to be vulnerable to extinction under foreseeable future conditions. The term "metapopulation" here reflects that these amphibians often exist as sets of local populations connected by dispersal among riparian patches, so persistence depends not just on any single site but on the balance of local extinctions and recolonizations across the network. By determining what combinations of survival, recruitment, and growth correspond to stability versus decline, the project seeks to create quantitative benchmarks that managers can use to interpret monitoring data and assess risk.

The announcement also makes clear that the research is intended to feed into structured decision making, meaning the results should be usable in a formal management-planning framework where objectives, uncertainties, and tradeoffs are explicitly considered. The idea is that demographic modeling can help target management strategies toward the life stages and rates that most strongly drive changes in occupancy and abundance. It can also help match management actions to the appropriate spatial scale (for example, site-level habitat work versus broader watershed or connectivity actions) and establish triggers for timely intervention before changes become irreversible. Overall, the intent is to strengthen understanding of amphibian population dynamics in desert riparian systems and provide actionable information and tools to improve conservation and management outcomes.

Eligibility was restricted to partners of the Desert Southwest CESU, since the opportunity was issued under the CESU partnership mechanism that supports research, technical assistance, and education collaborations. The public listing referenced Grants.gov for full details, and the contact provided for access issues was 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 Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU

Previous opportunity: Cooperative Ecoystem Studies Unit, North Atlantic Coast 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 G14AS00084

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (G14AS00084) 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 "G14AS00084", 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.