Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU | G17AS00033

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary research funding opportunity released by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis. It is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the Colorado Plateau CESU, as Funding Opportunity Number G17AS00033.

Which agency is offering the award?

The opportunity is offered by the Department of the Interior via the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with the Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis playing a central role in the effort.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is G17AS00033.

What funding instrument is being used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. In practical terms, this typically means there is substantial involvement from USGS scientists or staff during the project, such as collaboration on study design, synthesis activities, and/or jointly produced deliverables.

What does "substantial involvement" by USGS mean in this context?

Based on the opportunity description, substantial involvement can include USGS collaboration on study design, participation in synthesis and analysis activities, and co-development of project outputs or deliverables, rather than the awardee working entirely independently.

What is the program area or activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.808.

What is the overall scientific focus of the project?

The project focuses on biological soil crusts (biocrusts) and aims to build a predictive framework that explains and forecasts biocrust function and how that function is likely to change under climate change.

What are biological soil crusts (biocrusts)?

Biocrusts are communities of organisms that live on the soil surface in many dryland environments. The description highlights organisms such as cyanobacteria, lichens, and mosses as common components of biocrust communities.

What is the main goal of the funded work?

The main goal is to move beyond describing biocrusts and instead develop an organized, predictive set of relationships that link climate variables and other drivers to biocrust performance and ecosystem outcomes.

What is meant by a "predictive framework" for biocrust function?

In this opportunity, a predictive framework refers to a structured set of relationships that can explain and forecast how biocrusts function and how their function may shift as conditions change (for example, under climate change and land use change). The intent is to produce something usable for anticipating outcomes under different future scenarios.

What kinds of changes are considered under "climate change" for this project?

The description highlights that even small shifts in temperature, precipitation timing, drought frequency, and disturbance regimes can have large impacts in drylands. These climate-related factors are part of what the predictive framework is expected to account for.

Why are dryland ecosystems emphasized in this opportunity?

The broader purpose described is to improve understanding of the functional consequences of global change in drylands, where relatively small environmental shifts can strongly affect soil stability, nutrient cycling, hydrology, and vegetation dynamics. Biocrusts are described as having a foundational ecological role in these settings.

What ecosystem outcomes are connected to biocrust function in the opportunity description?

The opportunity specifically connects biocrust function to soil stability, nutrient cycling, hydrology, and vegetation dynamics, and frames the project as improving the ability to forecast how these outcomes may change under shifting climate and land use conditions.

How does land use change factor into the project?

A central theme is synthesizing knowledge to improve conceptualization of biocrust responses to both climate change and land use change. The description notes that land use change in drylands often includes surface disturbances that can damage crust structure, alter recovery trajectories, and interact with climate stressors.

What types of land use disturbances are mentioned?

The description mentions disturbances such as grazing pressure, off-highway vehicle use, energy development, recreation, and other surface disruptions as examples of land use factors that can affect biocrusts.

What kinds of management-relevant questions is this framework intended to clarify?

The description indicates the framework should help clarify when biocrusts are resilient versus vulnerable, whether thresholds or tipping points exist, and what outcomes managers should expect under different future scenarios that combine climate and land use drivers.

Is this opportunity primarily for new fieldwork, or does it emphasize synthesis?

The opportunity is described in a way that aligns with a Powell Center project emphasis on analysis and synthesis. It notes that the work may draw heavily on existing datasets, literature-based evidence, expert elicitation, and integrative modeling, rather than exclusively funding new field campaigns.

How many awards are expected under this opportunity?

The anticipated number of awards is one.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $50,000.

When was the opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on February 6, 2017, and the original closing date was February 21, 2017, indicating a short application window.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as "Others," with a note that the clarification is provided in an additional eligibility text field that is not included in the provided excerpt. The description also notes this is common for CESU opportunities, where eligibility may be limited to participating CESU member institutions or otherwise specified partners.

What is the CESU network and which CESU is relevant here?

This opportunity is offered under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the Colorado Plateau CESU.

What is the practical purpose of the project beyond science for science's sake?

The description frames the work as improving scientific understanding while also informing land management decisions in regions where biocrusts are foundational. The predictive framework is intended to help anticipate outcomes under future climate and land use scenarios.

Is this described as a large program or a targeted effort?

It is described as a modest, targeted award intended to support a single collaborative project, consistent with a focused synthesis effort.