Cooperative Agreement for CESU- affiliated Partner of the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G22AS00192

Opportunity Information: Apply for G22AS00192

This grant opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), offered through the USGS Powell Center, focused on a research effort titled "Status of butterflies in the United States." The central aim is to carry out a systematic, nationwide evaluation of how butterfly populations have been changing over time, with an emphasis on identifying which species appear to be most at risk and investigating the reasons behind those risks. The work is positioned as science and technology research and development and is intended to generate actionable understanding that can inform early conservation planning, especially in areas where extinction risk may be highest.

The funded project is expected to quantify both species-level and population-level trends in butterflies. In practical terms, this means analyzing available monitoring and occurrence data to estimate whether individual species and their populations are increasing, stable, or declining, and at what rates. Beyond simply documenting trends, the project also calls for linking those trends to biological characteristics of butterflies and to external environmental pressures. A key expectation is that researchers will test relationships between observed changes in butterfly status and hypothesized drivers such as climate shifts and land-use change, helping to move from pattern recognition to plausible explanation.

A major component of the scope is the use of life history and ecological traits to interpret vulnerability. The opportunity specifically highlights traits such as body size, overwintering stage (for example, whether a species overwinters as an egg, larva, pupa, or adult), and voltinism (the number of generations produced per year). Applicants are expected to estimate or compile these traits and then evaluate how they correlate with population trends and with changes in climate and land use. The intent is to identify trait-based signals of sensitivity or resilience, which can help prioritize species and regions for further study, monitoring, or conservation attention.

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The funding is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, a partnership-based framework used by federal agencies to support research, technical assistance, and education. Eligibility is limited: only organizations that are participating partners of the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (PNW CESU) may apply. In other words, this is not an open competition for all universities or nonprofits; applicants must already be affiliated with the PNW CESU partnership.

Key administrative details from the source listing include the following. The funding opportunity number is G22AS00192. The agency is the Geological Survey (USGS). The assistance listing (CFDA) number is 15.808. The opportunity was created on February 2, 2022, with an original closing date of March 2, 2022. The award ceiling is $115,000. The opportunity anticipates making an award (the listing shows "ExpectedAwards:" but does not clearly state a number). Overall, the opportunity is designed to support a focused, data-driven assessment of butterfly population trajectories in the United States and to produce early-stage conservation insights by tying those trajectories to species traits and to major environmental changes.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU- affiliated Partner of the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (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 2022-02-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-03-02. (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 $115,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G22AS00192

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