Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU | G17AS00098

Opportunity Information: Apply for G17AS00098

This grant opportunity, titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU" (Funding Opportunity Number G17AS00098), is a discretionary research funding call from the US Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior. The award is planned as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the agency expects to have substantial involvement during the project rather than simply issuing funds with minimal interaction. The work falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 15.808) and is structured as a multi-year effort focused on applied ecological research relevant to Great Lakes management.

The project described is a four-year study centered on Grass Carp reproduction and associated habitats in Lake Erie. Grass Carp are a non-native species in the region and are characterized as an obligate herbivore, feeding mainly on rooted and attached aquatic vegetation. The description also notes that they can, under some conditions, consume algae, some terrestrial vegetation, and occasionally invertebrates. The core concern driving the research is that if Grass Carp reach high abundance, they can remove large portions of aquatic vegetation. Because they preferentially feed on certain plant species over others, they can also shift which plant species dominate, changing species distributions and relative abundances. Those changes can cascade through the ecosystem by altering habitat structure for fish and invertebrates, changing water clarity and nutrient dynamics, and generally reducing the stability and diversity of nearshore aquatic plant communities.

The opportunity frames the broader management problem clearly: the ecological risk to the Great Lakes is considered high if Grass Carp become established and begin producing large populations. Lake Erie is highlighted as the study area, reflecting the importance of understanding where reproduction may occur, what habitat conditions support successful spawning and early life stages, and how those conditions might be monitored or managed to prevent establishment. While the summary text does not list specific tasks or methods, it makes clear that the intent is to generate scientific information about reproduction and habitat use that can support prevention, risk assessment, and control strategies before large-scale impacts occur.

In terms of funding details, the posting lists an award ceiling of $80,000 and anticipates making one award. The original posting date was June 22, 2017, with an original closing date of July 7, 2017. Eligibility is listed as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement, which commonly indicates eligibility may be limited to participants in the relevant Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network or otherwise defined partner categories. Overall, the grant is positioned as a targeted, management-relevant research effort intended to improve understanding of Grass Carp reproductive ecology and habitat requirements in Lake Erie to reduce the likelihood of establishment and the associated ecological damage in the Great Lakes.

• The Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 22, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 07, 2017. (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 $80,000.00 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).

Apply for G17AS00098

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