Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU | G19AS00100

FAQs: Great Basin CESU (G19AS00100) - USGS Drought and Dryland Forest Regeneration Research

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding opportunity under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), Great Basin CESU. It is identified as Funding Opportunity Number G19AS00100 and supports science and technology research.

Which federal department and agency are offering the funding?

The opportunity is from the Department of the Interior, administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Which USGS office is administering the announcement?

It is administered through the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC).

What is the main purpose of the project being funded?

The project is intended to support targeted research on how drought is affecting the regeneration of dryland forests across the U.S. Southwest, with a central emphasis on ponderosa pine forests in the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SW CASC) region.

What problem is USGS trying to address with this research?

The announcement highlights that ponderosa pine forests are already showing decline and that their long-term persistence is increasingly uncertain under a warming and drying climate. A key concern is that forests may fail to regenerate successfully, meaning seedlings and saplings may not establish and survive through repeated drought stress even if some mature trees persist.

Why is regeneration (seedlings and saplings) such a big focus?

USGS points to evidence that the risk is not only adult tree mortality. If regeneration fails, the ecosystem may transition away from ponderosa pine dominance over time because new trees are not replacing older ones.

What forest type is most emphasized in the opportunity?

The central emphasis is on ponderosa pine forests within the SW CASC region.

What geographic area does the project focus on?

The work focuses on dryland forests across the U.S. Southwest, specifically within the SW CASC region for the ponderosa pine emphasis.

How is this research relevant to land management decisions?

The opportunity is framed as strongly management-relevant. Land managers are attempting to maintain or improve forest resilience using actions such as thinning tree stands and thinning the understory, often to reduce competition for water and lower stress on remaining trees. The research is meant to reduce uncertainty about when, where, and how these actions support regeneration, including under more intense or frequent droughts.

What management actions are mentioned in the announcement?

The announcement specifically references thinning tree stands and thinning the understory as approaches managers are using to reduce competition for scarce water and potentially create conditions that help seedlings establish.

What kinds of drivers of regeneration does USGS want investigated?

The research need is described as investigating multiple biotic and abiotic drivers that support or limit ponderosa pine regeneration.

What abiotic factors are implied as important to regeneration in this opportunity?

Based on the description, relevant abiotic factors include drought severity, temperature, soil moisture availability, and broader climatic suitability.

What biotic factors are mentioned or implied?

Biotic factors can include competition with other vegetation, interactions with understory plants, and other living influences that affect seedling survival and growth.

What does the opportunity mean by "population-level stress tolerance"?

The announcement places emphasis on understanding population-level stress tolerance, meaning the project is expected to consider how different populations of ponderosa pine may vary in their ability to withstand drought and establish successfully, rather than assuming a single uniform response across the region.

Is predictive modeling part of what USGS is looking for?

Yes. USGS indicates interest in enhancing predictive modeling related to ponderosa pine regeneration. The modeling focus is intended to help translate findings into improved forecasts of where regeneration is likely to succeed or fail under different climate scenarios and management treatments.

What kinds of deliverables are implied by the announcement?

While specific deliverables are not enumerated in the provided summary, the description implies deliverables such as improved understanding of regeneration drivers and improved predictive modeling capability that supports forecasts of regeneration outcomes under changing climate conditions and management treatments.

Who helped identify or shape the research topics?

The topics were identified through discussions with land management cooperators, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and The Nature Conservancy.

Does the opportunity emphasize collaboration with partners?

Yes. The announcement signals that the work is expected to be applied, collaborative, and aligned with real management questions identified with partners such as USFWS, USFS, and The Nature Conservancy.

What type of award instrument is used for this opportunity?

Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this will be a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement or collaboration with the federal agency during the project period, rather than a more hands-off relationship.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $95,000.

How many awards does USGS expect to make?

The opportunity indicates one expected award.

When was this opportunity created?

The announcement was created on July 9, 2019.

What was the original closing date for applications?

The original closing date listed is July 26, 2019.

What is the CFDA number for this funding opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 15.808.

What is the eligibility category?

Eligibility is broadly categorized as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement text.

Where are the detailed eligibility requirements described?

The summary states that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full announcement text.

Is this opportunity described as discretionary funding?

Yes. It is described as a discretionary USGS funding announcement.

What major uncertainty is this project meant to reduce?

It is meant to reduce uncertainty around the factors controlling ponderosa pine regeneration and around whether management actions like thinning effectively support regeneration now and under future drought intensification.

How does climate change relate to the research need described here?

The announcement ties the need to a warming and drying climate and emphasizes concern about repeated drought stress and increasingly unfavorable conditions for ponderosa pine persistence and regeneration.