Cooperative Agreement for CESU-Affiliated Partner of the Southern Appalachian Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G24AS00263

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a US Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement opportunity to support research through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically via partners affiliated with the Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The project is focused on understanding how environmental contaminants affect insect-eating wildlife through their diets and on improving how those diet-related pathways are represented in formal environmental damage evaluations, especially in Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) cases.

What core science problem is the opportunity trying to address?

The opportunity is aiming to strengthen the evidence and methods that connect contamination to changes in prey availability and prey quality, and then connect those prey changes to measurable impacts on insectivores. Bats are highlighted as a key example group.

What are the two main research questions the opportunity is organized around?

The work is organized around two main questions: (1) clarifying the dietary effects of contaminants on insectivores (including direct and indirect pathways), and (2) improving how those dietary effect pathways are incorporated into assessment methods used in NRDAR cases in the United States.

What does "dietary effects of contaminants" mean in this context?

In this context, dietary effects include both direct exposure (contaminants move from polluted environments into insects or other prey and then into predators) and indirect effects (contaminants reduce insect populations or alter insect communities, lowering food quantity, food quality, or both for insectivores).

What is meant by "direct exposure" through diet?

Direct exposure refers to contaminants entering prey (such as insects) from contaminated environments, and then being transferred to insectivores when they consume that prey.

What is meant by "indirect effects" on insectivores?

Indirect effects refer to contaminants causing changes in prey populations or prey communities (for example, fewer insects or different insect types), which can result in reduced prey availability, reduced prey nutritional value, or both, even if contaminant transfer to the predator is not the only driver of harm.

Why does the opportunity emphasize bats?

Bats are emphasized because they are widespread insectivores in North America, many species are already facing multiple stressors, and diet-mediated contaminant exposure and prey loss are important mechanisms that can be underrepresented in assessments.

Which prey pathways are highlighted as especially important for bats?

The description highlights emerging adult aquatic insects as an especially important food source for many bats, and also notes riparian spiders, which can "super-accumulate" certain contaminants and may be eaten by some bat species.

Why are emerging adult aquatic insects important in this opportunity?

Emerging adult aquatic insects can be strongly affected by contaminants, and declines in their emergence can translate into less available and potentially less nutritious prey for predators in riparian areas and nearby terrestrial systems.

What role do riparian spiders play in the contaminant-diet pathway described here?

Riparian spiders are noted because they can act as "super-accumulators" of certain contaminants and can be consumed by some bats, representing another diet-based pathway for exposure and effects.

What kinds of impacts on insectivores are the opportunity trying to connect to contamination?

The description points to a chain of effects where contamination can lead to resource limitation, altered foraging, reduced body condition, and potentially downstream impacts on survival and reproduction.

What is NRDAR?

Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) is the process used in the United States to evaluate injuries to natural resources caused by pollution events and to determine restoration actions and compensation.

How does this research relate to NRDAR?

The opportunity signals a need for stronger, more defensible methods and evidence for recognizing diet-mediated injury in NRDAR assessments, particularly for species that depend heavily on insect prey.

What does the opportunity mean by making outputs "assessment-ready"?

Based on the description, "assessment-ready" outputs are research results, methods, or evidence that can be used in formal NRDAR contexts to evaluate injury and support restoration or compensation decisions when contamination affects insect-driven food webs.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to participating partners in the Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU Program.

What is the funding instrument?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.

What does a cooperative agreement imply for how the project will be run?

A cooperative agreement typically implies substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project. The description gives examples such as coordination on study design, alignment with data needs for assessment frameworks, and integration with ongoing USGS efforts.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is G24AS00263.

What is the maximum award amount?

The posted maximum award amount (ceiling) is $191,220.

What is the CFDA number and category listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808 and falls within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

When was the notice created?

The notice was created on February 12, 2024.

What was the original application closing date?

The original closing date for applications was March 12, 2024.

What is the geographic or network focus for applicants?

The opportunity is routed through the CESU network and is specifically tied to the Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU, with eligibility limited to participating partners in that program.

What types of wildlife are in scope besides bats?

The description broadly refers to insect-eating wildlife (insectivores), using bats as a key example group. It also notes that the methods and evidence may be relevant for other insectivores, including federally threatened and endangered species that rely on insect prey.

What is the broader value expected from the funded work?

The opportunity is aimed at producing ecological insight plus improved methods and defensible evidence that can be used to evaluate injury and support restoration or compensation decisions in cases where contamination affects insect-based food webs.