Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)
The U.S. Geological Survey seeks a Great Lakes-Northern Forest cooperative ecosystem studies partner to improve national aquatic species distribution models, habitat assessments, and ecological data synthesis.
Funder: U.S. Geological Survey
Due Dates: November 14, 2026 (Applications, 11:59 p.m. ET)
Funding Amounts: $1–$150,000 for one year; $150,000 total funding, one anticipated award
Summary: Supports national-scale research on aquatic species distributions, habitat models, and synthesis of species traits and conservation information.
Key Information: Applicants must be participating partners of the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU Program.
Description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) offers this cooperative agreement for research developing, evaluating, and synthesizing national-scale biogeographic information for fish and other aquatic organisms. The work will improve how species distributions, habitat conditions, and conservation needs are mapped and analyzed across the United States, supporting operational modeling and mapping by USGS Biogeographic Science.
The program prioritizes statistical methods integrating multiple lines of evidence, evaluation of habitat-model accuracy and uncertainty, and modern synthesis tools—including artificial intelligence—to maintain information on species traits, conservation status, and habitat preferences. It seeks actionable science for species management and freshwater conservation, including cooperation with local communities and Tribes. Relevant expertise includes aquatic ecology, species distribution modeling, geospatial analysis, and ecological data synthesis.
