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

Opportunity Information: Apply for G17AS00071

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests (CESU) funding opportunity (Opportunity Number G17AS00071) was a discretionary U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) grant offered through a cooperative agreement mechanism under CFDA 15.808. Posted by the USGS Great Lakes Science Center, it focused on a targeted research need in Lake Huron: analyzing the diets of piscivores, meaning fish that primarily prey on other fish. The core purpose of the work was to generate up-to-date, field-based evidence on what forage species top predators are actually consuming in the lake, and how predator feeding behavior may be shifting as prey availability changes.

The scientific rationale behind the project was tied directly to recent ecosystem conditions in Lake Huron. The opportunity statement notes an ongoing decline in most forage species in the years leading up to the announcement, which creates uncertainty for fisheries managers trying to maintain healthy predator populations and sustainable sportfishing. When the prey base becomes limited, predators may switch to alternative prey, concentrate feeding in certain areas or seasons, or experience reduced growth and survival. A contemporary diet analysis helps clarify these dynamics by identifying which forage fishes are being used, potentially revealing emerging dependencies on particular prey species, size classes, or habitats. In practical terms, that kind of information can highlight vulnerabilities in the food web and signal where management actions may be needed to prevent predator-prey imbalances.

The expected outcome of the research was management-relevant insight rather than purely academic results. USGS indicated that findings would be used to guide sportfish management both within the specific Lake Huron study areas and more broadly across the Great Lakes. That implies an emphasis on producing results that can inform decisions such as stocking, harvest regulations, predator abundance targets, or habitat and forage restoration priorities. Because predator diet is a direct link between forage availability and sportfish performance, the project’s outputs were positioned to support adaptive management in response to changing prey communities.

From an administrative standpoint, the competition anticipated a single award with an award ceiling of $47,000 and an expected number of awards listed as one. The funding instrument was a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates that the agency expected to have substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaboration on study design, data collection coordination, analytical approaches, or interpretation and application of results. The opportunity was created on May 30, 2017, with an original closing date of June 16, 2017, reflecting a relatively short application window. Eligibility was summarized as “Others,” with additional clarification referenced in the full notice under an eligibility details section, which is common for CESU opportunities that may be limited to participating CESU network institutions or specific partner categories.

Overall, this grant opportunity was a small, focused research award intended to fill an immediate information gap about predator diets in Lake Huron at a time of forage decline. By documenting what top predators are eating and how they are using a constrained prey base, the project aimed to strengthen the scientific foundation for sportfish management decisions in Lake Huron and potentially provide insights that can be compared or applied across other Great Lakes systems.

• The Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests (CESU)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 30, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 16, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $47,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G17AS00071

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