Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00190

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What agency and program offered this funding opportunity?

This opportunity was offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through its Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC).

What was the main purpose of the award?

The core purpose was to support scientific research and program-building focused on dryland biogeochemistry on the Colorado Plateau, with an emphasis on strengthening a research program that combines global manipulation experiments with foundational biogeochemistry tools and concepts.

What type of funding mechanism was used?

The award was offered under a Cooperative Agreement, which typically involves collaboration and substantial federal involvement compared to other award types.

What partnership framework did the award fall under?

The opportunity was issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) framework, specifically tied to the Great Basin CESU (identified in the notice as CESU #160).

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to organizations that are active, participating partners in the Great Basin CESU network. The notice indicates applicants needed to already be part of that CESU partnership rather than applying through a general open competition.

Is this an open-competition grant for any organization?

No. Based on the notice description, it was not a general open-competition opportunity. It was restricted to active partners within the Great Basin CESU.

What scientific topic areas did the opportunity focus on?

The focus was dryland biogeochemistry on the Colorado Plateau, particularly how carbon and nutrient cycling operate in arid and semi-arid ecosystems and how those processes respond to anthropogenic (human-driven) change.

What are "global manipulation experiments" in the context of this opportunity?

In this notice, global manipulation experiments refer to field or experimental approaches that simulate or impose environmental changes, such as warming, altered precipitation, nutrient inputs, or other stressors, to understand ecosystem responses.

Which ecosystems and landscapes were emphasized?

The opportunity emphasized dryland ecosystems of the Colorado Plateau, particularly arid and semi-arid landscapes where water limitation, soil properties, and biological soil crusts can strongly influence carbon and nutrient cycling.

Why were biological soil crusts mentioned?

The notice highlighted biological soil crusts because they can strongly shape carbon and nutrient cycling in drylands, affecting how these ecosystems store and move carbon and nutrients under changing conditions.

How did the opportunity connect to climate change and human impacts?

A major emphasis was understanding how Colorado Plateau dryland systems respond to anthropogenic change, including climate-related pressures and land use impacts, and identifying what factors control those responses.

What management-related theme was highlighted?

A key theme was improving practical understanding and management options for carbon sequestration on public lands, with the goal of informing decisions about carbon storage, stability, and potential management actions in drylands.

What did the notice say about carbon sequestration on public lands?

The research was intended to inform how carbon is stored and cycled in dryland soils and vegetation, how stable that storage is under changing climate and land use pressures, and what actions might increase or protect carbon storage.

Were potential tradeoffs from land management actions part of the scope?

Yes. The notice explicitly referenced avoiding unintended tradeoffs, giving examples such as impacts to biodiversity, soil stability, or water resources.

Why did the notice emphasize drylands in the western United States?

The notice stated that drylands cover large areas of the western United States and can store substantial amounts of carbon in soils. It also noted that modest per-acre changes in carbon balance can matter at regional scales.

What kinds of outcomes were expected beyond basic research?

The opportunity targeted work that could translate into improved decision support for land managers dealing with climate change, disturbance, and restoration challenges on the Colorado Plateau.

What was the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed in the notice was G23AS00190.

What was the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The notice listed CFDA number 15.808.

What category was the opportunity listed under?

It was listed in the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" category.

When was the announcement created?

The announcement was created on January 25, 2023.

What was the application closing date?

The original closing date was February 27, 2023.

What was the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling (maximum award amount) stated in the notice was $94,000.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The notice indicated that awards were expected to be made, but the specific number of awards was not clearly provided in the source text.

What geographic area did the research target?

The research focus was on the Colorado Plateau, specifically dryland ecosystems within that region.

Does the notice specify particular experimental drivers to test?

It provided examples of environmental changes that could be simulated or imposed, including warming, altered precipitation, nutrient inputs, or other stressors, but it did not limit the scope to only those examples.

What is the overall intent of the opportunity in plain terms?

Overall, the opportunity was a targeted, collaborative research investment intended to advance understanding of carbon and nutrient cycling in Colorado Plateau drylands and to improve management-relevant knowledge about how these ecosystems behave under increasing human and climate pressures.