Opportunity Information: Apply for F16AS00181
Apply for F16AS00181
- The DOI-FWS in the information and statistics, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Phenology Monitoring - Nature's Notebook Citizen Science for Management and Engagement: Technical Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.678.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 22, 2016 and posted on Apr 22, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 29, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $332,559.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity, titled "Phenology Monitoring - Nature's Notebook Citizen Science for Management and Engagement: Technical Assistance" (Funding Opportunity Number F16AS00181), is a U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI-FWS) discretionary cooperative agreement aimed at strengthening phenology monitoring across the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) using Nature's Notebook, a citizen science program associated with the USA National Phenology Network (NPN). The core idea is to help refuges and partners collect, access, and use seasonal timing data (for example, leaf-out, flowering, insect emergence, and animal movements) in ways that directly support management decisions, public engagement, and climate change impact assessment at meaningful spatial scales.
A major focus of the opportunity is expanding or adapting existing regional phenology projects in three priority areas where the Service sees strong value in connecting on-the-ground refuge monitoring with broader off-station observations. The first priority area is the Middle Rio Grande (Bosque) ecosystem, where phenology tracking can help managers understand how riparian habitats and associated species respond to shifting temperature and water regimes. The second is the Mississippi River corridor with an emphasis on mayflies, which are important indicators of aquatic ecosystem condition and are sensitive to environmental change; tracking their timing and abundance-related signals across a large river system can reveal trends that single-site monitoring might miss. The third is the Monarch Butterfly central flyway, where consistent, distributed observations can improve understanding of migration timing, host plant availability, and the alignment (or mismatch) between monarch movements and seasonal resource peaks. Across all three, the goal is to combine refuge-based data with observations gathered beyond refuge boundaries to produce a clearer, landscape-level picture of climate-driven shifts rather than treating each refuge as an isolated case.
Another key deliverable is improving the Fish and Wildlife Service to National Phenology Network (FWS-NPN) portal by revising both its content and organizational structure. The intent is practical: make it easier for refuge staff and partners to find, retrieve, and analyze phenology data, and to understand how to translate observations into management-relevant information. The portal updates are also meant to showcase clear, real-world examples demonstrating how phenology monitoring already conducted on Service stations has improved baseline understanding of local conditions. In turn, those stronger baselines can support conservation planning and decision making, such as anticipating seasonal windows for habitat management actions, interpreting unusual wildlife patterns, or planning visitor and volunteer engagement around observable seasonal events.
The third major component is a systemwide assessment of biological responses to climate change across refuges, specifically by analyzing changes in the onset of spring at the scale of each NWRS unit. Following an approach developed for the National Park Service (referenced as Monahan et al., Ecosphere, in preparation), the project would calculate the historical range of variability and trends in spring onset. In practice, this means using long-term data to define what "normal" spring timing has looked like in the past for each unit, how variable it has been, and whether there is evidence of directional change over time. This kind of analysis can help managers place current conditions in context (for example, whether an early spring is within historical bounds or represents an unusually extreme shift), support climate adaptation planning, and improve communication about observed changes to stakeholders and the public.
Administratively, this opportunity was posted on April 22, 2016 with a closing date of April 29, 2016. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement and collaboration with the agency rather than a hands-off grant. The program is categorized under Information and Statistics and Natural Resources (CFDA 15.678). The anticipated funding level includes an award ceiling of $332,559 with one expected award. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with further clarification intended in the full announcement's eligibility details. Overall, the opportunity is designed to blend technical assistance, improved data infrastructure, and applied climate-response analysis to make phenology monitoring more useful for refuge management while also leveraging citizen science participation to broaden coverage and increase engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Phenology Monitoring - Nature's Notebook Citizen Science for Management and Engagement: Technical Assistance" and has Funding Opportunity Number F16AS00181.
Which federal agency is offering this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI-FWS) discretionary funding opportunity.
What type of award is this (grant or cooperative agreement)?
It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which indicates substantial involvement and collaboration with the agency rather than a hands-off grant.
What is the main purpose of the opportunity?
The purpose is to strengthen phenology monitoring across the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) using Nature's Notebook, a citizen science program associated with the USA National Phenology Network (NPN), so that refuges and partners can collect, access, and use seasonal timing data in ways that support management decisions, public engagement, and climate change impact assessment.
What is phenology in the context of this funding opportunity?
Phenology refers to the seasonal timing of biological events. The opportunity highlights examples such as leaf-out, flowering, insect emergence, and animal movements, and focuses on using these timing signals to understand and manage ecological change.
How does Nature's Notebook fit into this project?
Nature's Notebook is the citizen science monitoring program to be used for collecting phenology observations. It is associated with the USA National Phenology Network (NPN), and the funding is intended to help expand the use of this program across refuges and partners.
What is the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) role in this work?
The work is intended to support phenology monitoring across the NWRS, with an emphasis on generating management-relevant information for individual refuge units while also supporting broader, landscape-scale understanding.
What are the priority focus areas mentioned in the opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes expanding or adapting existing regional phenology projects in three priority areas: (1) the Middle Rio Grande (Bosque) ecosystem, (2) the Mississippi River corridor with an emphasis on mayflies, and (3) the Monarch Butterfly central flyway.
Why is the Middle Rio Grande (Bosque) ecosystem a priority area?
Phenology tracking in the Middle Rio Grande (Bosque) ecosystem can help managers understand how riparian habitats and associated species respond to shifting temperature and water regimes.
Why does the opportunity emphasize mayflies in the Mississippi River corridor?
Mayflies are described as important indicators of aquatic ecosystem condition and sensitive to environmental change. Tracking their timing and abundance-related signals across a large river system can reveal trends that single-site monitoring might miss.
Why is the Monarch Butterfly central flyway included as a priority area?
Distributed and consistent observations can improve understanding of monarch migration timing, host plant availability, and whether monarch movements align (or mismatch) with seasonal peaks in resources.
Does the opportunity encourage observations beyond refuge boundaries?
Yes. A central goal across the priority areas is to combine refuge-based monitoring with observations gathered beyond refuge boundaries to develop a clearer, landscape-level picture of climate-driven shifts rather than treating each refuge as an isolated case.
What is the FWS-NPN portal and what improvements are expected?
The FWS-NPN portal is a portal connecting Fish and Wildlife Service needs with National Phenology Network resources and data access. The opportunity calls for revising both the portal content and organizational structure to make it easier for refuge staff and partners to find, retrieve, and analyze phenology data and to understand how to translate observations into management-relevant information.
What kinds of examples should the updated portal showcase?
The portal updates are intended to showcase clear, real-world examples of how phenology monitoring already conducted on Service stations has improved baseline understanding of local conditions.
How can phenology baselines support refuge management decisions?
Stronger baselines can support conservation planning and decision making, such as anticipating seasonal windows for habitat management actions, interpreting unusual wildlife patterns, and planning visitor and volunteer engagement around observable seasonal events.
What is the climate-change analysis component described in the opportunity?
The opportunity includes a systemwide assessment of biological responses to climate change across refuges by analyzing changes in the onset of spring at the scale of each National Wildlife Refuge System unit.
What does "onset of spring" analysis mean in this project?
It means calculating the historical range of variability and trends in spring onset using long-term data for each unit, including what has been considered "normal" spring timing, how variable it has been, and whether there is evidence of directional change over time.
How can the onset-of-spring results be used by managers?
According to the opportunity, the analysis can help managers place current conditions in context (for example, whether an early spring falls within historical bounds or represents an unusually extreme shift), support climate adaptation planning, and improve communication about observed changes to stakeholders and the public.
Is there a referenced methodology for the spring onset assessment?
Yes. The opportunity references an approach developed for the National Park Service, cited as Monahan et al., Ecosphere, in preparation.
When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on April 22, 2016 and had a closing date of April 29, 2016.
What is the CFDA/program category associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Information and Statistics and Natural Resources, CFDA 15.678.
What is the anticipated funding amount and maximum award size?
The anticipated funding level includes an award ceiling of $332,559.
How many awards were expected?
The opportunity indicates that one award was expected.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification intended to be provided in the full announcement's eligibility details.
What kinds of project activities are emphasized overall?
The opportunity emphasizes a blend of technical assistance, improved data infrastructure (including portal improvements), and applied climate-response analysis (particularly spring onset trends) to make phenology monitoring more useful for refuge management while leveraging citizen science participation for broader coverage and engagement.
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