Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU | G20AS00109

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU."

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G20AS00109.

What type of award is being offered (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement. This means the work is expected to be carried out in close coordination with USGS staff rather than as a hands-off grant.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on June 30, 2020.

What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline was August 1, 2020.

How many awards did USGS anticipate making?

USGS anticipated making a single award.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The maximum funding level (award ceiling) is $66,368.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808.

What activity category does this opportunity fall under?

It falls under the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" activity category.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to partners within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network, specifically those aligned with the Great Rivers CESU. The competition is not broadly open to the general public and is intended for qualified CESU member institutions and organizations identified by the program as eligible partners, with official eligibility details referenced in the opportunity's additional information section.

Is this opportunity open to the general public or any organization?

No. Based on the description provided, eligibility is restricted to qualified partners within the CESU network aligned with the Great Rivers CESU.

What ecosystem or habitat is the research focused on?

The project focuses on floodplain forest ecology along the Upper Mississippi River.

What is the main scientific question this project is trying to address?

The project emphasizes understanding how large, infrequent flood disturbance events affect tree survival and the longer-term dynamics (including successional pathways) of floodplain forest communities.

Why is predicting floodplain forest succession described as challenging?

USGS notes that predicting succession is difficult because floodplain ecosystems are strongly shaped by disturbance regimes that can be highly variable and difficult to forecast. Flooding, in particular, can drive sharp differences in forest composition across very small elevation gradients.

What disturbance is considered the dominant driver in floodplain forests for this opportunity?

Flooding is identified as the dominant disturbance in floodplains.

Which flood characteristics are highlighted as important to tree survivorship?

The description specifically calls out flood frequency, duration, intensity, and timing as key attributes that may translate into different survivorship outcomes for trees across species and size classes.

When is flooding described as more tolerable for many floodplain tree species?

The opportunity states that many floodplain tree species can tolerate flooding when it is moderate in frequency and intensity, relatively short in duration, and occurs during dormancy, generally from late summer through early spring.

When does flood-related mortality risk increase for trees?

Mortality risks increase as floods become more frequent, more intense, or longer-lasting, and when flooding occurs during the growing season.

Which trees are described as particularly vulnerable during stressful flood conditions?

Smaller trees and younger cohorts are described as particularly vulnerable under stressful flood conditions (for example, when floods are frequent, intense, long-lasting, or occur during the growing season).

Does the opportunity describe large floods as purely negative events?

No. Large, high-intensity floods are framed as a natural part of floodplain systems that can play an important ecological role by shaping species distributions, influencing successional pathways, and enabling recruitment of new cohorts that sustain forest cover over large landscapes.

What event is used as the central motivation or "natural experiment" for this research?

The 2019 flood event in the Upper Mississippi River System is presented as the central motivation and natural experiment for the work.

How is the 2019 flood intended to be used in the research?

Because the 2019 flood was a large-scale disturbance, it provides a timely opportunity to evaluate how variations in flood attributes across locations translate into differences in tree survivorship and subsequent shifts in floodplain forest community structure.

What outcomes is the research expected to improve, according to the description?

The work is intended to improve understanding of flood-driven mortality patterns and the resulting trajectory of floodplain forest communities, with a broader goal of strengthening predictions about succession and long-term forest sustainability in the Upper Mississippi River floodplain.

What is the geographic focus area mentioned?

The geographic focus is the Upper Mississippi River (including the Upper Mississippi River System referenced in relation to the 2019 flood event).

Is the scope limited to a single species or does it consider multiple species and life stages?

The description indicates a focus on differences in survivorship outcomes across species and size classes, including particular vulnerability of smaller trees and younger cohorts.

What does "close coordination with USGS staff" imply for project execution?

Because the award is a cooperative agreement, the project is expected to be conducted with active involvement and coordination with USGS staff rather than being managed entirely independently by the recipient.

Does the description mention where to find the official eligibility details?

Yes. It notes that official eligibility details are referenced in the opportunity's additional information section.