Opportunity Information: Apply for G17AS00013
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G17AS00013) is a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary research award offered through a cooperative agreement mechanism. It sits within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 15.808) and is intended specifically for an eligible CESU partner rather than the general public. The program is administered by the Department of the Interior, USGS, and was posted on November 2, 2016, with an original application closing date of November 17, 2016. The opportunity anticipates making a single award, with a maximum (award ceiling) of $48,750.
The project focus is on aquatic toxicology and water quality science, specifically testing and validating Biotic Ligand Models (BLMs) for two common metals of regulatory and ecological concern: nickel and zinc. BLMs are tools used to predict how water chemistry influences the bioavailability and toxicity of metals to aquatic organisms. Because the same dissolved metal concentration can be more or less harmful depending on conditions like pH, hardness, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), these models are often used to translate chemistry into expected biological effects and to support water quality criteria and site-specific assessments. The core idea of the grant is to check whether BLM predictions line up with real biological responses when organisms are exposed in actual natural waters rather than only in standardized laboratory water.
The first main objective is to document the chronic sensitivity of a specific freshwater mayfly species, Neocloeon triangulifer, to nickel and zinc. This would be done using chronic toxicity tests conducted in four different natural waters that represent extreme or boundary conditions for key water chemistry parameters known to strongly affect metal toxicity. The parameters highlighted are pH (which influences metal speciation and biological uptake), hardness (often linked to calcium and magnesium levels that can reduce metal toxicity through competitive interactions at biological binding sites), and DOC (which can bind metals and reduce the freely available fraction that can interact with organisms). By intentionally selecting waters with extreme values of these parameters, the study aims to capture a wide chemistry range and generate effect data that show how sensitivity shifts as water chemistry changes.
The second main objective is to evaluate how reliably existing Biotic Ligand Models predict the observed variation in effect concentrations for nickel and zinc toxicity to N. triangulifer across those differing natural-water chemistries. In practical terms, the study would compare measured toxicity outcomes from the chronic tests (for example, concentrations associated with adverse effects on survival, growth, development, or reproduction, depending on the test design) with the concentrations the BLMs would predict should cause comparable effects under the same chemical conditions. The emphasis on "variation in effect concentrations" signals that the research is not just about whether nickel or zinc are toxic, but whether the model correctly captures the direction and magnitude of toxicity changes from one water type to another.
Overall, this opportunity is a targeted, relatively small, single-award research project meant to strengthen confidence in predictive modeling used in environmental decision-making. If the models perform well, the results can support broader application of BLM-based approaches for nickel and zinc assessments across diverse river and stream settings. If they do not, the work can identify where the models may need recalibration or where additional biological or chemical complexity in natural waters is not being captured, which is valuable for improving future criteria development and risk evaluations.Apply for G17AS00013
- 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 Rivers 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 Nov 02, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 17, 2016. (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 $48,750.00 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).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
This is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), Great Rivers CESU funding opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is G17AS00013.
Which federal agency is offering this award?
The award is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which is part of the Department of the Interior.
What type of funding mechanism is used?
The opportunity is a USGS discretionary research award offered through a cooperative agreement mechanism.
What activity category and CFDA number does this fall under?
It is within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is listed under CFDA 15.808.
Who is eligible to apply?
This opportunity is intended specifically for an eligible CESU partner, not the general public.
Is this opportunity open to the general public?
No. The information provided states it is intended specifically for an eligible CESU partner rather than the general public.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on November 2, 2016.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date for applications was November 17, 2016.
How many awards does the opportunity anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipates making a single award.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $48,750.
What research area does the project focus on?
The project focuses on aquatic toxicology and water quality science, with an emphasis on testing and validating Biotic Ligand Models (BLMs) in natural waters.
Which metals are the focus of the research?
The study focuses on two common metals of regulatory and ecological concern: nickel and zinc.
What are Biotic Ligand Models (BLMs) in the context of this opportunity?
BLMs are tools used to predict how water chemistry influences the bioavailability and toxicity of metals to aquatic organisms. They help translate water chemistry conditions into expected biological effects and can support water quality criteria and site-specific assessments.
Why does water chemistry matter for metal toxicity?
The same dissolved metal concentration can be more or less harmful depending on water chemistry. The opportunity highlights pH, hardness, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as key factors that influence metal speciation, binding, bioavailability, and biological uptake.
What is the main idea behind the project?
The project is designed to check whether BLM predictions align with actual biological responses when organisms are exposed in real natural waters, rather than only in standardized laboratory water.
What is the first main objective of the project?
The first objective is to document the chronic sensitivity of the freshwater mayfly species Neocloeon triangulifer to nickel and zinc using chronic toxicity tests conducted in four different natural waters.
Which organism is being tested?
The organism specified is a freshwater mayfly species: Neocloeon triangulifer.
What type of toxicity testing is planned?
The opportunity describes chronic toxicity tests (as opposed to acute-only testing) in natural waters.
How many natural waters will be used in the testing?
The chronic tests are to be conducted in four different natural waters.
How will the natural waters be selected?
The waters are intended to represent extreme or boundary conditions for key chemistry parameters known to strongly affect metal toxicity, specifically pH, hardness, and DOC.
Which water chemistry parameters are emphasized as most important?
The parameters highlighted are pH, hardness, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC).
Why is pH important in this project?
pH influences metal speciation and biological uptake, which can change how toxic a given metal concentration is to aquatic organisms.
Why is hardness important in this project?
Hardness is often linked to calcium and magnesium levels, which can reduce metal toxicity through competitive interactions at biological binding sites.
Why is dissolved organic carbon (DOC) important in this project?
DOC can bind metals and reduce the freely available fraction that can interact with organisms, potentially lowering toxicity.
What is the second main objective of the project?
The second objective is to evaluate how reliably existing BLMs predict the observed variation in effect concentrations for nickel and zinc toxicity to Neocloeon triangulifer across different natural-water chemistries.
What does "variation in effect concentrations" mean here?
It refers to how the concentration associated with adverse effects changes from one water type to another as chemistry conditions (such as pH, hardness, and DOC) differ.
How will model performance be evaluated?
The project would compare measured toxicity outcomes from the chronic tests with the concentrations that BLMs predict should cause comparable effects under the same chemical conditions.
What kinds of biological effects might be considered in the chronic tests?
The information mentions adverse effects on survival, growth, development, or reproduction as examples, depending on the test design.
Why test BLMs in natural waters instead of only laboratory water?
The stated intent is to determine whether BLM predictions hold under real-world chemistry conditions found in natural waters, where biological and chemical complexity can differ from standardized lab conditions.
What is the practical value of this research for environmental decision-making?
The work is meant to strengthen confidence in predictive modeling used in environmental decision-making, including water quality criteria development and site-specific assessments for nickel and zinc.
What happens if the BLMs perform well in this study?
If the models perform well, the results can support broader application of BLM-based approaches for nickel and zinc assessments across diverse river and stream settings.
What happens if the BLMs do not match observed toxicity well?
If the models do not perform well, the study can identify where models may need recalibration or where natural-water complexity is not being captured, which can help improve future criteria development and risk evaluations.
Is this opportunity primarily a large multi-institution program?
No. Based on the information provided, it is a targeted, relatively small, single-award research project with a $48,750 award ceiling.
What is the overall goal of the project in plain terms?
To test whether Biotic Ligand Models for nickel and zinc accurately predict chronic toxicity outcomes for a freshwater mayfly when exposures occur in natural waters spanning a wide range of pH, hardness, and DOC conditions.
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