Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

This opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number G15AS00010.

Which federal agency is offering this grant?

The grant is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through the Great Lakes Science Center.

What is the overall purpose of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity supports a Lake Michigan research project focused on understanding how nearshore and offshore parts of the lake are connected through the food web, and on filling a recognized information gap about how nutrients and living communities change from coastal waters into deeper offshore areas.

What management or planning efforts are expected to use the results?

The results are intended to directly inform ongoing management and restoration planning, including the Lake Michigan Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP) and development of a Nearshore Strategy called for under the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

What larger monitoring or science initiative is this work part of?

The project sits within the 2015 Coordinated Science and Monitoring Initiative for the Lake Michigan ecosystem.

What is the main information gap this project is trying to address?

The project is designed to address a gap in understanding how nutrients and biological communities (including plankton, benthic invertebrates, and fish) vary along the nearshore-to-offshore gradient in Lake Michigan, and how those patterns relate to tributary influences such as phosphorus inputs.

What type of award is being used for this funding?

Funding is offered as a cooperative agreement.

What program framework is this cooperative agreement under?

The cooperative agreement is under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to participating partners in the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU network.

How many awards does USGS expect to make?

The opportunity indicates an expected single award.

What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount is $487,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is listed for this opportunity.

How is this opportunity categorized (funding type and activity area)?

It is categorized as discretionary funding, with an activity focus in science and technology and other research and development.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is tied to CFDA number 15.808 (USGS Research and Data Collection).

What are the central scientific questions highlighted in the opportunity?

The opportunity highlights two main research questions: (1) how nutrient availability changes from nearshore to offshore waters and how proximity to tributaries (including phosphorus inputs) shapes those patterns, and (2) how closely productivity at the base of the food web (phytoplankton) aligns with productivity at higher trophic levels, particularly zooplankton and fish, within the same habitat zones.

How is the field sampling design structured?

The project design is structured around field sampling along eight transects that run from nearshore to offshore areas.

What types of ecosystem components are included in the sampling plan?

The USGS sampling plan includes collecting data on water chemistry, plankton communities, benthic organisms, and fish.

How is sampling standardized across locations?

Sampling is standardized by depth. Collections occur at locations corresponding to 18 m, 46 m, and 100 m bottom depths along each transect.

How does tributary influence factor into the study design?

In addition to the nearshore-to-offshore gradient, transects are placed along a tributary-influence gradient tied especially to phosphorus inputs. Some transects are positioned near tributaries with high nutrient loading, while others are in areas with minimal tributary influence.

Which tributary and low-influence area are provided as examples?

The St. Joseph River is given as an example of a tributary with high nutrient loading, and offshore of Arcadia, Michigan is given as an example of an area with minimal tributary influence.

Across what seasons is fieldwork planned?

Fieldwork is planned across multiple seasons, with sampling occurring in spring, summer, and autumn.

Why does the opportunity emphasize multi-season sampling?

Because nutrient dynamics and biological productivity can shift substantially over the year, sampling across spring, summer, and autumn is emphasized as important for capturing seasonal variation.

What is meant by linking nearshore and offshore waters through the food web in this project?

Based on the opportunity description, the project aims to understand connections between habitat zones by examining how nutrient conditions and primary production relate to the distribution, abundance, and performance of organisms higher in the food web, from plankton and benthic invertebrates to fish, across nearshore-to-offshore waters.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on November 5, 2014.

What is the closing date listed for applications?

The original and current closing date listed is November 17, 2014.

Is this opportunity still active?

The listing indicates it was archived on February 5, 2015.

Where should applicants go to access the full announcement?

The listing points applicants to Grants.gov for access to the full announcement.

Who is the USGS contact person for assistance, and how can they be reached?

The contact listed is Faith Graves. Phone: 703-648-7356. Email: fgraves@usgs.gov.