Cooperative Ecoystem Studies Unit, South Florida/Caribbean CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), South Florida/Caribbean CESU grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through the Southeast Ecological Science Center (SESC).

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G14AS00025.

3) Which agency and center issued the funding call?

The funding call was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through the Southeast Ecological Science Center (SESC).

4) What is the main purpose of the funding opportunity?

The purpose is to support research on how global climate change and sea level rise are reshaping coastal vegetation in South Florida and the Caribbean region, especially the transition from freshwater-dominated plant communities to vegetation that can tolerate more saline, marine, or brackish conditions.

5) What ecological problem does the announcement emphasize?

The announcement emphasizes ongoing and expected shifts in plant communities, where areas currently dominated by freshwater vegetation may transition toward salt-tolerant communities as salinity increases due to sea level rise and storm-driven saltwater intrusion.

6) Why are storm surge events highlighted in addition to sea level rise?

The opportunity highlights that episodic storm surge events can push saltwater far inland over a short time period. These rare but intense saltwater intrusions may trigger rapid and lasting ecological regime shifts toward salt-tolerant vegetation, beyond what would be expected from gradual sea level rise alone.

7) What is meant by an ecological "regime shift" in this context?

In this context, a regime shift refers to a relatively rapid and persistent change in ecosystem composition, such as conversion from hardwood hammock dominance to mangrove dominance, driven by sudden salinity increases and resulting plant stress and mortality.

8) What model is central to the scientific motivation of the opportunity?

The opportunity centers on improving and expanding an existing vegetation dynamics model known as the MANHAM model (referenced to Sternberg et al. 2007 and Teh et al. 2008).

9) What has the MANHAM model been used to project?

The MANHAM model has been used to project ecotone movement (shifts in boundaries between habitat types) and associated changes in salinity, particularly at the mangrove-hardwood hammock interface.

10) What specific mechanism does USGS indicate may drive rapid vegetation change?

USGS emphasizes that storm-surge overwash can cause acute increases in salinity in the vadose zone (the unsaturated soil layer above the groundwater table). Those sudden salinity spikes may suppress growth in salinity-intolerant hardwood hammock trees, potentially favoring conversion to mangrove dominance even in inland areas not continuously influenced by tides.

11) What is the vadose zone, as described in the announcement?

The vadose zone is described as the unsaturated soil layer above the groundwater table. The announcement notes that storm-surge overwash can increase salinity in this zone.

12) What vegetation transition is a focal point of the opportunity?

A key focal transition is at the mangrove-hardwood hammock interface, where saltwater intrusions and rising salinity may facilitate mangrove expansion into areas previously dominated by hardwood hammock communities.

13) Is the goal to simply run the existing MANHAM model?

No. The announcement indicates the existing model is incomplete and the intended work is to improve it and broaden its realism so it better represents coupled hydrology-salinity-vegetation interactions that control coastal regime shifts.

14) What key environmental process does the announcement say the existing model does not incorporate?

The announcement specifically calls out groundwater dynamics as a key process not incorporated in the existing model.

15) What kinds of improvements does the opportunity imply for the model?

Based on the description, improvements could include better representation of groundwater movement, water table position, and salinity transport, and linking those processes to soil conditions, plant stress, vegetation growth, mortality, and community replacement over time.

16) What practical output is implied by the call?

The call implies development of a stronger predictive tool to help resource managers understand where and when hardwood hammock forests may be vulnerable and where mangrove expansion is likely under future climate and storm patterns.

17) What type of award mechanism was used?

The opportunity was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement.

18) What is the CFDA number and program name listed?

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

19) What activity category is associated with this opportunity?

The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

20) How many awards were anticipated?

The program anticipated a single award.

21) What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $12,000.

22) Was an award ceiling or floor specified?

No. The notice did not specify an award ceiling or an award floor.

23) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

24) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to organizations that are participating partners of the South Florida/Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

25) Why is eligibility limited to CESU partners?

The announcement reflects the CESU structure as a formal partnership network that supports research, technical assistance, and education tied to federal natural resource priorities. As described, only participating partners in the relevant CESU were eligible for this opportunity.

26) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on January 22, 2014.

27) What was the application closing date?

The original and current closing date listed was January 31, 2014.

28) When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on April 22, 2014.

29) Where was the announcement made available?

The general announcement was available through Grants.gov.

30) Who is the point of contact for access issues with the full announcement?

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