Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding notice issued through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network for the Rocky Mountain CESU. It is identified as Funding Opportunity Number 08HQPA0039 and is described as a small, targeted research opportunity.

Which USGS unit is issuing the opportunity?

The notice is issued through the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NoRock).

What is the main purpose of the project being funded?

The project is intended to support research on how wildfire and logging affect amphibians in western U.S. forests, with a strong emphasis on sublethal effects that may not be obvious in simple presence-absence monitoring.

Why does the opportunity emphasize “sublethal effects” rather than just whether amphibians are present?

The focus is on impacts that can quietly reduce survival and long-term population viability even when animals are still detected on the landscape. The opportunity frames these sublethal changes as a way to better predict population risk under real-world disturbance conditions.

What management context is driving this research need?

The notice highlights that large wildfires in the western U.S. have become more frequent and longer lasting, and that climate conditions are expected to increase fire severity over time. As wildfire and forest management policies evolve, the agency is seeking science that helps managers anticipate amphibian population risk in landscapes shaped by fire and logging.

Why does the opportunity mention that past amphibian research may not represent managed landscapes?

The notice explains that much amphibian research in western forests has historically occurred in wilderness and other protected areas. Those settings may not reflect conditions across the broader, actively managed landscape where logging and other management actions may alter habitat and stress populations.

How does logging factor into the wildfire-amphibian question in this opportunity?

The opportunity emphasizes that wildfire impacts may be stronger in logged or otherwise managed forests, where amphibian populations could already be stressed or reduced due to habitat alteration from timber harvest.

What kinds of measurements or indicators does the opportunity encourage?

The proposed approach is to evaluate multiple connected biological and health metrics that can indicate amphibian “vigor” and translate disturbance effects into population-level risk. The notice specifically mentions body size and growth, overall body condition, egg size, physiological stress indicators, and prevalence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd).

What is Bd and why is it included in the research approach?

Bd refers to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, the fungal pathogen responsible for chytridiomycosis. The opportunity includes Bd because disturbance-related changes such as heightened stress and reduced condition can weaken immune function and increase vulnerability to disease, potentially affecting long-term persistence.

How are these “vigor” traits connected to population outcomes?

The notice links these traits to survival, reproduction, dispersal, and gene flow. Because those processes influence whether populations can persist and recover after disturbance, measuring sublethal endpoints is presented as a more sensitive way to estimate future risk than presence-absence alone.

What is the intended deliverable or outcome for managers?

The intended outcome is to develop responsive, broadly applicable indices that land managers can use to anticipate amphibian population risk in forests influenced by wildfire and logging.

Which amphibian species are specifically targeted?

The opportunity targets two species described as particularly vulnerable in the region: the long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) and the Rocky Mountain tailed frog (Ascaphus montanus).

What geographic area is implied for management relevance?

The notice describes NoRock’s mission as supporting natural resource decision making across Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho, and frames the work as applicable to forest and fire management decisions across the northern Rocky Mountain region.

What type of award is being offered?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement.

How many awards are expected?

Only one award is expected.

What is the total estimated funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount is $4,456.

Is the award amount fixed?

Yes. The award floor and ceiling are both listed as $4,456, indicating a fixed-size award.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What is the CFDA program and category associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development and is listed under CFDA 15.808, U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are participating partners in the Rocky Mountain CESU Program, consistent with CESU goals of leveraging partnerships for research, technical assistance, and education.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on June 24, 2008.

What are the closing dates for submission?

The original and current closing date listed is July 7, 2008.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date is August 6, 2008.

Who can be contacted for access issues?

The listed contact for access issues is Faith Graves, Contract Specialist, at 703-648-7356.

How does this opportunity fit within NoRock’s broader mission?

NoRock frames the award as part of its mission to produce and disseminate unbiased scientific information that supports natural resource management decision making, working collaboratively with federal and state agencies, Native American tribes, academic institutions, and other organizations.