Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Alaska Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
The U.S. Geological Survey seeks a cooperative ecosystem studies partner to develop a population model and Bayesian viability analysis for threatened Atlantic Coast piping plovers.
Funder: U.S. Geological Survey
Due Dates: December 7, 2026 (Applications, 11:59 p.m. ET)
Funding Amounts: $1–$234,460 per award; one anticipated award for a two-year project
Summary: Supports integrated population modeling and Bayesian population viability analysis for Atlantic Coast Piping Plovers.
Key Information: Applicants must be participating partners of the Alaska Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit.
Description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) offers this cooperative agreement to develop an integrated population model and conduct a Bayesian Population Viability Analysis for the Atlantic Coast population of Piping Plovers. Research must synthesize long-term population surveys, nest monitoring, and mark-recapture data across four recovery units: Atlantic Canada, New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern states.
The project will estimate annual demographic rates and evaluate population resilience and redundancy under management and environmental change scenarios. It responds to uneven recovery and threats including habitat loss, predation, human disturbance, sea level rise, and increased storm frequency. The resulting tools will support U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assessments and conservation decisions. Expected products include a final report, reproducible annotated code, and peer-reviewed publications.
