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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

The funding opportunity number is 10HQPA0053.

Which federal agency is offering this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically through the Western Ecological Research Center (WERC).

What type of funding instrument is being used?

The award instrument is a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

The announcement indicates USGS will play an active supporting role typical of a cooperative agreement, including providing experienced field support and logistical resources (such as GPS coordinates and other assistance) to help locate focal mammal species and support model development.

What program is this opportunity offered through?

This cooperative agreement is offered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

What is the project title?

The project is titled "Models of Climatically Induced Vegetation Transitions in the Alpine Ecosystems of the Western United States."

What is the main purpose of the project?

The project is designed to strengthen collaboration between USGS and an eligible CESU partner to study how climate-driven changes in alpine vegetation may affect alpine mammals in the Sierra Nevada, including species of conservation concern such as bighorn sheep and pikas.

What geographic area is the focus of the research?

The work focuses on alpine ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada (Western United States).

Which wildlife species are specifically mentioned?

The opportunity mentions alpine mammals in the Sierra Nevada and specifically references bighorn sheep and pikas as species of conservation concern.

What is the scientific emphasis of the project?

The emphasis is on understanding and forecasting species-specific ecological and physiological responses to climate-related ecosystem shifts.

Does the project assume all species will respond the same way to climate change?

No. The description explicitly recognizes that responses will differ by species and by mechanism, and it notes some species could be relatively unaffected or could even benefit under certain climate scenarios depending on how vegetation and resource conditions change.

What types of climate-related impacts on mammals are considered?

The project considers multiple mechanisms, including direct physiological stress (such as heat stress or other climate-related constraints) and indirect effects through habitat restructuring, changes in forage availability, and shifts in forage quality.

How does the project treat the relationship between climate, vegetation, and mammals?

A major theme is coupling between abiotic drivers and biotic interactions. The work is not limited to one-way climate-to-vegetation-to-wildlife effects; it also considers feedback loops where mammals influence vegetation through herbivory and granivory, potentially altering vegetation patterns as climate changes.

Why are feedback loops and biotic interactions important in this project?

The announcement notes that these interactions can produce multiple ecological pathways and may lead to alternative future states for both wildlife and plant communities, meaning outcomes may differ depending on trophic interactions and other biotic processes.

Is the project a single-year effort or multi-year?

The project is described as multi-year.

What kind of fieldwork does the project expect?

The opportunity states the work is reliant on continued, repeated field sampling of both animals and environmental conditions across the Sierra Nevada.

What modeling approaches are mentioned?

The description calls for developing and testing environmental niche models for multiple alpine mammal species, developing transition models that represent how alpine meadows and associated vegetation communities may shift under climatic change, and using resource selection functions for certain species to adjust, validate, and compare different modeling approaches.

What GIS or spatial data work is included?

Work elements include building or refining GIS-based layers such as topography, land cover, land cover classification, and related spatial datasets.

Are all research components expected to happen at the same time?

Not necessarily. The announcement notes that components of the research may be sequential rather than fully parallel, and later work may depend on methods, findings, or resources developed during earlier phases.

What is the CFDA number and program name associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808, U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.

Is this considered discretionary funding?

Yes. The announcement states it is a discretionary funding opportunity.

How many awards does USGS expect to make?

The expected number of awards is one.

What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount is $930,174.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

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

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to participating partners of the Californian CESU Program (with details referenced as being in the eligibility clarification field).

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on June 2, 2010.

What is the application closing date?

The original and current closing date is June 16, 2010.

What is the archive date listed for this opportunity?

The archive date is July 16, 2010.

Who should be contacted for access issues?

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