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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is the Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU), Great Lakes Northern Forests grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G14AS00064). It was a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding announcement issued by the USGS Great Lakes Science Center to support targeted research on avian botulism in distressed Great Lakes environments.

Who issued the announcement?

The announcement was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically through the USGS Great Lakes Science Center.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The core purpose was to improve understanding of how botulinum toxin moves through Great Lakes food webs and what environmental and biological conditions are associated with avian botulism outbreaks. The intent was to generate clearer evidence on where and how toxin transfer occurs so that practical management strategies could be informed to reduce future outbreaks and support broader Great Lakes ecosystem restoration efforts.

What research topic did the opportunity focus on?

The opportunity focused on avian botulism in distressed Great Lakes environments, with an emphasis on food-web pathways for botulinum toxin and the environmental/biological conditions linked to outbreaks.

What technical work was emphasized in the proposed research?

The research emphasized characterizing underwater habitat conditions in areas that have experienced avian botulism events. It specifically called for describing benthic (bottom-dwelling) and zooplankton species assemblages and analyzing fish diet items to build stronger food web linkages tied to botulism risk.

What does "benthic and zooplankton species assemblages" mean in this context?

In this opportunity, it refers to identifying and describing the groups of species living on or near the lake bottom (benthic organisms) and those living in the water column as zooplankton. This information was intended to help connect habitat and community composition to food-web relationships relevant to botulism risk.

Why analyze fish diet items for this project?

Analyzing fish diet items helps clarify what fish are eating and how feeding relationships might facilitate the transfer and amplification of botulinum toxin up the food chain to birds. The project aimed to link bottom and water-column communities, fish feeding, and potential bird exposure pathways.

How was the project expected to help management or restoration efforts?

By producing clearer evidence on where and how botulinum toxin transfer occurs in Great Lakes food webs, the work was intended to inform practical management strategies that could reduce the likelihood of future avian botulism outbreaks and support broader Great Lakes ecosystem restoration efforts.

What type of award was planned?

This opportunity was offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this was a cooperative agreement?

It means USGS expected to have substantial involvement during the project rather than issuing an award with minimal agency engagement.

What is the activity area for this opportunity?

The activity area was listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What CFDA program was associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity fell under CFDA 15.808, described as U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.

How many awards were anticipated?

The announcement anticipated making one award.

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $42,000.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement was indicated in the information provided.

What were the award ceiling and floor?

The award ceiling and floor were both listed as $0. This typically indicates the specific funding level would be governed by the total estimated amount and/or project negotiations rather than a strict published minimum or maximum per award.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to organizations that were already participating partners in the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Program.

Are organizations outside the CESU partnership eligible?

No. Because the opportunity was issued under CESU authority, applicants outside that partnership structure were not eligible to apply unless they were already recognized CESU partners for this specific regional unit (Great Lakes Northern Forests).

What is a CESU in general terms?

CESUs are collaborative networks designed to connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and other partners to deliver research, technical assistance, and education aligned with public resource management needs.

When was the opportunity posted and created?

The opportunity was posted and created on April 30, 2014.

What was the application closing date?

The original and current closing date listed was May 9, 2014.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on July 29, 2014.

Where were full announcement details referenced?

The public listing referenced Grants.gov as the source for the full announcement details.

Who can be contacted for access issues related to the announcement?

The listed point of contact for access issues was Faith Graves at 703-648-7356 and fgraves@usgs.gov.

What Great Lakes issue was this project trying to address?

The project targeted avian botulism events in distressed Great Lakes environments, focusing on the ecological conditions and food-web connections that may contribute to outbreaks.

What kind of evidence was the project trying to generate?

The project aimed to generate clearer evidence about where and how botulinum toxin transfer occurs through Great Lakes food webs and which environmental and biological conditions are associated with outbreaks.