Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
The U.S. Geological Survey seeks a Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit partner to study how climate and land management affect invasive plants and wildfire risks in Oklahoma.
Funder: Geological Survey
Due Dates: November 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET (Applications)
Funding Amounts: $1–$370,000 per award; $370,000 total anticipated funding for one two-year cooperative agreement
Summary: Supports research on environmental and management drivers of invasive plant distribution, biodiversity impacts, and wildfire risks in Oklahoma.
Key Information: Applicants must be participating partners of the Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit.
Description
The U.S. Geological Survey’s National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center offers a competitive cooperative agreement to a Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) partner. The project examines how drought, temperature, rainfall, wildfire, and land management practices, including hay harvesting, influence King Ranch bluestem and eastern red cedar in Oklahoma. Both species have been linked to rapid wildfire spread.
The research will combine existing long-term field experiments, regional plant distribution data, and environmental scenarios to predict where these invasive species may become most problematic. Its objectives include understanding local and regional drivers of invasion, projecting changes in invasive species and native biodiversity, and building an online dashboard. The work aims to provide actionable science, data, and tools for resource managers and state and local practitioners addressing invasive species hazards and ecosystem conservation.
