Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests (CESU) | G17AS00071

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests (CESU) funding opportunity.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is G17AS00071.

Which federal agency offered this grant?

The grant was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Which USGS office posted the opportunity?

The opportunity was posted by the USGS Great Lakes Science Center.

What type of award mechanism was used?

The funding was offered through a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial agency involvement during the project period, such as collaboration on study design, coordination of data collection, input on analytical approaches, and/or involvement in interpreting results and applying them to management needs.

What CFDA program number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was under CFDA 15.808.

Is this a competitive or discretionary grant?

It was described as a discretionary USGS grant.

What was the main research focus of the project?

The project focused on analyzing the diets of piscivores in Lake Huron, meaning fish that primarily prey on other fish.

What does "piscivores" mean in this context?

Piscivores are fish that primarily consume other fish as prey.

Why was a diet study needed for Lake Huron?

The opportunity cited an ongoing decline in most forage species in the years leading up to the announcement. That decline created uncertainty for fisheries managers trying to maintain healthy predator populations and sustainable sportfishing, making up-to-date, field-based diet evidence especially valuable.

What management problem was the research intended to address?

The research was intended to reduce uncertainty about what forage species top predators are actually consuming, and whether predator feeding behavior is shifting as prey availability changes. This information can help managers anticipate predator-prey imbalances and related risks to sportfish performance.

What kinds of changes in predator behavior were highlighted as concerns?

The opportunity noted that when prey becomes limited, predators may switch to alternative prey, concentrate feeding in certain areas or seasons, or experience reduced growth and survival.

What specific lake or geographic area was targeted?

The targeted research need was in Lake Huron.

What was the core purpose of the work?

The core purpose was to generate up-to-date, field-based evidence on what forage species top predators are consuming in Lake Huron and how feeding behavior may be shifting as prey availability changes.

Were the expected results intended to be academic, management-focused, or both?

The expected outcome emphasized management-relevant insight rather than purely academic results.

How did USGS indicate the findings would be used?

USGS indicated the findings would be used to guide sportfish management within the specific Lake Huron study areas and more broadly across the Great Lakes.

What types of management decisions could this research inform?

The opportunity suggested the results could inform decisions such as stocking, harvest regulations, predator abundance targets, or habitat and forage restoration priorities.

How can predator diet information help fisheries management?

Predator diet is a direct link between forage availability and sportfish performance. Documenting what predators are eating can reveal vulnerabilities in the food web, highlight emerging dependencies on certain prey species or size classes, and support adaptive management when prey communities are changing.

How many awards were anticipated?

The competition anticipated a single award, and the expected number of awards was listed as one.

What was the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling was $47,000.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on May 30, 2017.

What was the original closing date for applications?

The original closing date was June 16, 2017.

How long was the application window based on the dates provided?

Based on the creation date of May 30, 2017 and the closing date of June 16, 2017, the application window was relatively short.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was summarized as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full notice under an eligibility details section. This is common for CESU opportunities, which may be limited to participating CESU network institutions or specific partner categories.

Was this opportunity part of a CESU network?

Yes. It was issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), Great Lakes Northern Forests.

What was the broader context driving this opportunity?

The opportunity was positioned as a small, focused research award meant to fill an immediate information gap about predator diets in Lake Huron during a period of forage decline, strengthening the scientific foundation for sportfish management decisions.

What broader impact across the Great Lakes was mentioned?

USGS noted that the findings could guide management not only in Lake Huron study areas but also more broadly across the Great Lakes, implying the results could be compared or applied in other Great Lakes systems.