Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Great Lakes – Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G25AS00229

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a US Geological Survey (USGS) Powell Center funding call for a cooperative agreement to support a research project focused on metals in rivers and streams. The study title is "Defining subsidy-stress gradients for metals and relevance for US surface waters."

What is the main scientific idea behind the project?

The project is based on the concept that some metals can have a dual role in aquatic ecosystems: at lower exposures they may act as a subsidy (for example, as essential micronutrients or by supporting biological processes), while at higher exposures they become a stressor that can cause toxicity and ecological harm. The work aims to better define where and how that shift occurs.

What is the main goal of the funded work?

The main goal is to compile and analyze existing information on metal bioavailability in rivers and streams and use those data to evaluate how subsidy-to-stress patterns vary across environmental contexts and biological groups. The intended end product is a unified surface-water model describing metals along a continuum from beneficial or neutral effects at low exposure to harmful effects at elevated exposure.

Is this grant intended for new field sampling or existing data?

The project scope emphasizes data gathering and synthesis rather than only new field sampling. The funded partner is expected to compile and analyze existing information and datasets relevant to metal bioavailability and biological effects in rivers and streams.

What kinds of variability does the project aim to analyze?

The project aims to evaluate subsidy-to-stress patterns across multiple types of variability, including:

• Spatiotemporal variability (variation across space and time)
• Taxonomic variability (variation across different organisms)
• Intra-metal variability (variation within and among different metals)

What does "spatiotemporal variability" mean in this context?

In this opportunity, spatiotemporal variability refers to how metals behave and how their biological effects change across locations and over time, potentially reflecting differences in water chemistry, hydrologic regimes, seasons, and local biological communities.

What does "taxonomic variability" mean in this context?

Taxonomic variability refers to differences in how various organism groups respond to metals, including how the subsidy-to-stress transition may differ among taxa.

What does "intra-metal variability" mean in this context?

Intra-metal variability refers to differences observed within a given metal and also differences among metals in how they transition from subsidy-like effects at low exposure to stressor effects at higher exposure.

What type of research approach is implied by the scope?

The description points toward a meta-analysis or structured synthesis of existing datasets that capture how metals affect living organisms under different water chemistries, hydrologic conditions, seasons, and biological communities.

What is meant by "metal bioavailability" in this opportunity?

Within the scope as described, metal bioavailability refers to the extent to which metals in rivers and streams are available to organisms and can therefore contribute to beneficial biological roles at low levels or harmful effects at higher levels, depending on environmental conditions and exposure.

What is the expected end product or deliverable?

The stated end product is a unified, surface-water model that describes the biological role of metals along a continuum from beneficial or neutral effects at low exposure to harmful effects at elevated exposure.

Who is offering and administering this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by the US Geological Survey (USGS) Powell Center and is administered under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

What is the CESU Program and why does it matter for this opportunity?

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program is designed to support collaborations that deliver research, technical assistance, and education. For this opportunity, it matters because eligibility is limited to a specific CESU network (the Great Lakes - Northern Forest CESU), and the award is made as a cooperative agreement within that program structure.

What type of funding instrument will be used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement indicates that USGS is expected to have substantial involvement in the project. That involvement may include collaboration on the project scope, methods, deliverables, and/or interpretation, rather than serving only as a pass-through funder.

How is this opportunity categorized?

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding in the science and technology/research and development area.

What is the CFDA number associated with this funding call?

The opportunity is tied to CFDA number 15.808.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to partners affiliated with the Great Lakes - Northern Forest CESU. Applicants must already be participating members of that CESU network to apply.

Can organizations outside the Great Lakes - Northern Forest CESU apply?

No. Based on the posting, the opportunity is partner-restricted and limited to existing participants in the Great Lakes - Northern Forest CESU.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is G25AS00229.

When was this opportunity created?

The posting indicates the opportunity was created on January 16, 2025.

What is the original application closing date?

The original application closing date listed is February 17, 2025.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $100,000.

How many awards are expected?

The posting indicates an expected awards field, but it does not specify a number.

What is the project ultimately trying to improve for science and management?

Overall, the project is aimed at improving how scientists and managers understand and predict ecological effects of metals in US surface waters by formalizing the subsidy-stress relationship across conditions, taxa, and metal types.

What waterbodies and environments are the focus of the project?

The focus is on rivers and streams and the relevance of findings for US surface waters.