Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU | G18AS00045

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Rocky Mountain CESU grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G18AS00045)?

It is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary funding opportunity issued under the U.S. Department of the Interior. The opportunity is offered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the Rocky Mountain CESU, to support applied research related to biological invasions affecting public lands.

Which federal agency is offering this funding?

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

What kind of award is this: a grant or a cooperative agreement?

This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means the project is expected to include substantial involvement or collaboration from USGS staff compared to a standard grant.

What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The central purpose is to fund a CESU partner to conduct applied research on invasive or introduced insects and how they interact with plants and broader ecosystems, with a focus on impacts relevant to the stewardship of U.S. public lands.

What program category does this opportunity fall under?

The announcement is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development activities and is associated with CFDA 15.808.

What types of issues or management needs is the research meant to support?

The opportunity is intended to support applied research that helps land and resource managers understand and respond to biological invasions affecting public lands, especially where invasive or introduced insects influence plants, reproduction, dispersal, and broader ecosystem interactions.

What research topics or themes are emphasized in this announcement?

The work is organized around three connected research themes: (1) improving prediction of novel plant-insect interactions after an insect invasion or introduction, (2) establishing impacts of introduced seed and fruit predators on plant reproduction and dispersal (including knock-on effects for plant-bird relationships), and (3) understanding consequences of established insect invasions on native plant populations on U.S. public lands.

What does "predicting novel plant-insect interactions" mean in this context?

It refers to forecasting which plants may become hosts or targets after an insect invasion or introduction, and identifying the ecological conditions under which those new interactions are likely to occur.

What does the opportunity mean by "introduced seed and fruit predators" and why does it matter?

In this announcement, introduced seed and fruit predators are non-native insects (or introduced insects) that consume seeds or fruits. The research focus is to determine how these predators affect plant reproduction and dispersal, and how those effects may cascade into plant-bird relationships, such as changes in seed availability, altered dispersal pathways, or shifts in mutualisms where birds normally help spread seeds.

What kinds of ecological impacts are of interest regarding established insect invasions?

The opportunity is focused on understanding the consequences of insect invasions that are already established, especially the longer-term ecological outcomes and management implications for native plant populations on U.S. public lands once an invasion is underway.

Is this opportunity focused on public lands specifically?

Yes. A core emphasis is biological invasions affecting U.S. public lands and producing findings relevant to the stewardship and management of those lands.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to entities that qualify as CESU partners. The notice lists eligible applicants broadly as "Others" and directs interested parties to consult the additional eligibility information in the full announcement for the precise requirements.

Does the announcement specify how many awards are expected?

Yes. The opportunity anticipated a single award.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $49,633.

What does the award ceiling suggest about the scale of the project?

The ceiling suggests this is a targeted, project-scale effort rather than a large, multi-year program.

When was this funding opportunity created?

The funding opportunity was created on May 29, 2018.

What was the application deadline?

The original application closing date was June 12, 2018.

How much time was there between the posting date and the deadline?

Based on the provided dates (created May 29, 2018 and closing June 12, 2018), the turnaround window was short, which is described as typical of some CESU competitions or targeted research needs.

What is the overall intent of the Rocky Mountain CESU collaboration in this announcement?

Overall, the announcement is a focused USGS-supported research collaboration within the Rocky Mountain CESU network aimed at producing practical scientific findings and predictive understanding about invasive insect impacts on plants, plant reproduction and dispersal processes, and cascading ecological interactions relevant to managing U.S. public lands.

Is this opportunity described as discretionary funding?

Yes. It is described as a USGS discretionary funding announcement.