Opportunity Information: Apply for P19AS00578
The grant opportunity titled "Lagoon trophic ecological connectivity and comparison to other Arctic lagoon systems" (Funding Opportunity Number P19AS00578) is a National Park Service (NPS) project under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on improving scientific understanding of Arctic lagoon ecosystems in northwestern Alaska. The central idea is to take existing baseline information already collected by the NPS Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Program, specifically the data produced through the Lagoon Communities Monitoring Vital Sign, and use it to build a clearer, more complete picture of how lagoon systems function in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve and Cape Krusenstern National Monument. Rather than starting from scratch, the project leverages established monitoring datasets so they can be analyzed in a broader ecological context and connected to emerging research efforts across the Arctic.
A key driver behind the project is the growing ability to compare NPS-managed lagoons with other Arctic lagoon systems, especially as new long-term research infrastructure comes online. The announcement points to the establishment of the Beaufort Lagoon Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, along with other lagoon assessment research being developed outside of NPS lands, as a major opportunity. By tying NPS monitoring data to these wider regional efforts, the NPS aims to evaluate whether the lagoons it manages behave similarly to or differently from other Arctic lagoons in terms of food-web structure (trophic relationships), ecological connectivity (how organisms and nutrients move among habitats), and overall ecosystem functioning. This comparative angle is important because it helps place local observations in a broader Arctic framework, which improves confidence in conclusions about trends, vulnerabilities, and future conditions.
The practical purpose of this work is to help the NPS understand what ongoing environmental change means for lagoon ecosystems, with particular attention to increasing ocean temperatures. The project is intended to clarify how warming and related shifts may affect lagoon flora and fauna, and how those biological changes feed back into lagoon functioning. In Arctic lagoons, changes in temperature can influence the timing and productivity of primary producers, alter fish and invertebrate distributions, change predator-prey relationships, and affect the movement of marine and freshwater species through lagoon corridors. By focusing on trophic connectivity, the work is positioned to identify how energy and nutrients flow through lagoon food webs and how those flows might reorganize as conditions change.
Another stated outcome is better insight into how lagoon changes could affect subsistence opportunities. Lagoons in this region can be important for fish, birds, and other resources that local communities rely on, and shifts in ecological function can translate into real-world impacts such as changes in species availability, seasonal access, and the reliability of harvest opportunities. The project is framed to help the NPS interpret ecological changes not only as scientific signals but also as changes with potential cultural and practical consequences tied to subsistence use.
Administratively, this opportunity was issued as a discretionary funding action using a Cooperative Agreement, with an award ceiling of $269,016 and an expectation of a single award. The eligible applicant category listed is 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations other than institutions of higher education. However, the notice is explicitly a notice of intent to award to the Wildlife Conservation Society, and it states that applications will not be accepted from any other entity. The opportunity was created on August 22, 2019, with an original closing date of August 31, 2019, and it falls under the Environment, Information and Statistics activity category (CFDA 15.945). In short, it is a targeted, single-recipient cooperative project meant to synthesize and extend existing NPS lagoon monitoring data by comparing it against broader Arctic lagoon research, with the goal of improving understanding of ecosystem functioning under climate-driven change and clarifying implications for both biodiversity and subsistence.Apply for P19AS00578
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the environment, information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lagoon trophic ecological connectivity and comparison to other Arctic lagoon systems" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 22, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2019 This is a notice of intent to award to Wildlife Conservation Society. Applications will not be accepted from any other entity.. (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 $269,016.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Lagoon trophic ecological connectivity and comparison to other Arctic lagoon systems."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P19AS00578.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) project under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is intended to improve scientific understanding of Arctic lagoon ecosystems in northwestern Alaska by using existing NPS baseline monitoring information to build a clearer, more complete picture of how lagoon systems function.
Is the project collecting brand-new baseline data, or using existing datasets?
The project is designed to leverage existing baseline information already collected by the NPS Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Program, rather than starting from scratch.
Which NPS dataset is specifically referenced for this work?
The announcement specifically references data produced through the Lagoon Communities Monitoring Vital Sign.
Which locations are the focus of the lagoon analysis?
The work focuses on lagoon systems in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve and Cape Krusenstern National Monument in northwestern Alaska.
What does "trophic ecological connectivity" mean in the context of this project?
In this opportunity, it refers to understanding food-web structure (trophic relationships) and ecological connectivity, including how organisms and nutrients move among habitats, and how those processes support overall ecosystem functioning in Arctic lagoons.
Why is comparing NPS-managed lagoons to other Arctic lagoons important?
The project emphasizes that improved comparison is now possible and valuable, particularly as new long-term research infrastructure comes online. Comparing NPS-managed lagoons with other Arctic lagoon systems helps determine whether NPS lagoons behave similarly to or differently from other Arctic lagoons in food-web structure, connectivity, and overall function, and it places local findings into a broader Arctic framework.
What external research effort is mentioned as enabling broader comparisons?
The announcement points to the establishment of the Beaufort Lagoon Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, along with other lagoon assessment research being developed outside of NPS lands.
What kinds of ecosystem characteristics will be evaluated through the comparisons?
The comparisons are intended to evaluate food-web structure (trophic relationships), ecological connectivity (movement of organisms and nutrients among habitats), and overall ecosystem functioning.
How does climate change factor into the project goals?
The project is framed to help the NPS understand what ongoing environmental change means for lagoon ecosystems, with particular attention to increasing ocean temperatures and related shifts that may affect lagoon flora and fauna and lagoon functioning.
What types of biological changes related to warming are described in the opportunity?
The information provided notes that temperature changes in Arctic lagoons can influence the timing and productivity of primary producers, alter fish and invertebrate distributions, change predator-prey relationships, and affect movement of marine and freshwater species through lagoon corridors.
What is meant by studying "energy and nutrient flow" in lagoon food webs?
Based on the description, the work aims to identify how energy and nutrients move through lagoon food webs (trophic connectivity) and how those flows could reorganize as environmental conditions change.
Does the opportunity mention implications for people and communities?
Yes. A stated outcome is better insight into how lagoon changes could affect subsistence opportunities, since lagoons in the region can be important for fish, birds, and other resources relied upon by local communities.
What kinds of subsistence-related impacts are mentioned?
The description highlights potential impacts such as changes in species availability, seasonal access, and the reliability of harvest opportunities.
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary funding action using a Cooperative Agreement.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $269,016.
How many awards does the opportunity expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of a single award.
Who is listed as eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant category listed is 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations other than institutions of higher education.
Is this opportunity open to all eligible applicants?
No. The notice is explicitly a notice of intent to award to the Wildlife Conservation Society, and it states that applications will not be accepted from any other entity.
Who is the intended recipient named in the notice?
The notice identifies the Wildlife Conservation Society as the intended recipient.
Will applications be accepted from organizations other than the named recipient?
No. The notice states that applications will not be accepted from any other entity.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 22, 2019.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed is August 31, 2019.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.945.
What activity category is this opportunity listed under?
It falls under the Environment, Information and Statistics activity category.
What is the overall takeaway about the scope of this project?
Based on the description provided, this is a targeted, single-recipient cooperative project meant to synthesize and extend existing NPS lagoon monitoring data, compare it against broader Arctic lagoon research, and improve understanding of ecosystem functioning under climate-driven change, including implications for biodiversity and subsistence.
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