Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU" (Funding Opportunity Number G16AS00096).

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

It is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), within the Department of the Interior.

What type of award is this?

This is a discretionary award made through a cooperative agreement.

What is the CFDA number and program category?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808 and categorized as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on June 22, 2016, and the original closing date was July 8, 2016.

How many awards did USGS expect to make?

USGS anticipated making one award.

What is the maximum award amount (ceiling)?

The estimated maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $9,100.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full opportunity materials.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The purpose is to strengthen the empirical foundation behind conservation decisions for Yellowstone cutthroat trout, particularly as climate change alters aquatic habitats and increases uncertainty about future population persistence.

Why does USGS say this work is needed?

USGS emphasizes that, despite ongoing conservation efforts, there is still a lack of rigorous, data-driven evaluation showing which management actions are most effective, which threats are most consequential, and where conservation resources should be targeted.

Does the project consider both management action and inaction?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly frames the need to evaluate conservation actions as well as the consequences of inaction.

What species is the project focused on?

The work is focused on Yellowstone cutthroat trout, with emphasis on currently existing (extant) populations.

What is the overall approach described in the opportunity?

The approach is to use long-term datasets from two distinct regions within the historical range of Yellowstone cutthroat trout, integrating long-running biological monitoring information with climatic data to evaluate how climate-related changes interact with other stressors to shape trout abundance and distribution.

How many study regions are involved, and where are they located?

Two distinct regions are involved, both within the historical range of Yellowstone cutthroat trout (the specific regions are not named in the information provided).

What are the main project steps?

The project is structured in two main steps: (1) assembling and analyzing fish distribution data alongside climatic attributes, and (2) scientific synthesis and communication, including preparing a peer-reviewed manuscript.

What happens in Step 1 of the project?

Step 1 focuses on assembling and analyzing fish distribution data alongside climatic attributes to quantify how changing climatic conditions, together with other drivers, influence where Yellowstone cutthroat trout occur, how abundant they are, and how they overlap or compete with non-native species.

What types of threats or drivers are expected to be evaluated?

The opportunity calls for a comparative assessment of threat importance, explicitly including habitat fragmentation (such as barriers that isolate populations and limit movement), habitat degradation and loss (including reduced habitat quality or shrinking suitable areas), the presence and impacts of non-native species, and changing climatic conditions (including temperature and flow-related shifts).

How does climate change fit into the analysis described?

Climate change is framed as altering aquatic habitats and increasing uncertainty about future persistence. The work is intended to show how observed and projected climate-related changes may interact with other stressors and potentially alter suitability for native trout while favoring competitors or predators.

What does the opportunity say about non-native species?

Non-native species are highlighted as a key driver to evaluate, including how trout overlap or compete with non-native species and the presence and impacts of those species.

What does Step 2 of the project involve?

Step 2 centers on scientific synthesis and communication. The recipient is expected to help translate the analytical results into a peer-reviewed manuscript suitable for submission to a scientific journal.

Is a peer-reviewed publication an expected deliverable?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly calls for translating results into a peer-reviewed manuscript suitable for journal submission.

Is the project more focused on new fieldwork or on analyzing existing information?

Based on the modest funding ceiling and the stated emphasis on long-term datasets, the opportunity is geared toward leveraging existing data through integration, analysis, and synthesis rather than initiating extensive new field campaigns.

What kinds of data are expected to be used?

The project is expected to use long-term biological monitoring data (including fish distribution and abundance information) integrated with climatic data (including attributes related to temperature and flow-related conditions).

What is meant by prioritization in this opportunity?

The analyses are intended to translate into practical prioritization by separating actual, evidence-supported threats from perceived ones, clarifying the relative importance of different threats, and weighing benefits and risks of different management responses in a changing climate.

What capabilities should a prospective partner have, according to the opportunity description?

The opportunity is geared toward a partner capable of working with existing long-term datasets, integrating biological and climate information, applying appropriate analytical methods to evaluate drivers of change, and communicating findings clearly for management decision-making and scientific publication.

What is the intended management relevance of the work?

The work is intended to support conservation decision-making for Yellowstone cutthroat trout by identifying which threats matter most, which actions are likely to be most effective, and where conservation resources should be targeted under changing climatic conditions.