This BOEM grant aims to fund continued research into zooplankton ecology in the western Gulf of Maine, a critical feeding habitat for the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW). With ongoing offshore renewable energy development, understanding cumulative effects on marine species, especially NARW and their primary food source, Calanus finmarchicus, is crucial. This study seeks to understand long-term variability in C. finmarchicus populations through sustained data collection at strategic sites like Wilkinson Basin and the Maine Coastal Current. Previous observations indicated a decline, followed by a recent rebound in C. finmarchicus abundance. Continued funding is imperative to monitor these trends, detect climatological effects on NARW food availability, and assess changes in zooplankton community composition through various analyses including DNA metabarcoding.
Opportunity ID: 349102
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | M23AS00425 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | NT-23-X13: Zooplankton Ecology of the western Gulf of Maine: trends in abundance and diversity |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Cooperative Agreement |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Environment |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | – |
| Assistance Listings: | 15.423 — Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Environmental Studies (ES) |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Jul 05, 2023 |
| Last Updated Date: | Jul 05, 2023 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Aug 07, 2023 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date. |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Aug 07, 2023 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date. |
| Archive Date: | – |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $200,000 |
| Award Ceiling: | $200,000 |
| Award Floor: | $150,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | The only eligible applicant is the University of Maine. Cost-sharing/match is not required but is strongly encouraged. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management |
| Description: | Offshore renewable energy development currently is underway in the north Atlantic and is in the planning stages in the Gulf of Maine (GoMe). BOEM must evaluate the cumulative effects of offshore wind on marine species, including the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW). The GoMe currently is designated as critical feeding habitat for NARW, which feed primarily on copepods, specifically Calanus finmarchicus. The objective of this study is to understand the long-term variability of C. finmarchicus and impacts to their populations in the GoMe and north Atlantic.This proposed study will collect and analyze plankton data at Wilkinson Basin and in the Maine Coastal Current. The Wilkinson Basin Time Series (WBTS) and Coastal Maine Time Series (CMTS) stations are strategically located in the western Gulf of Maine to monitor planktonic ecosystem characteristics in the Maine Coastal Current, a regional production driver, and in Wilkinson Basin, the primary overwintering habitat for C. finmarchicus. Observations of summer abundance of C. finmarchicus at the CMTS station show approximately a 30 percent decline from 2008 to 2021, consistent with the WBTS. Data collected in 2022 at both the CMTS and WBTS stations indicate a rebound in C. finmarchicus abundance. Whether this is a singular event or the start of a longer-term increase in C. finmarchicus abundance awaits future observations. Funding for 2023 sampling was provided through the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network, but this funding ends in January 2024. Moving forward, BOEM considers additional funding imperative to continue this long-term data collection to detect climatological or other effects on NARW food availability in this critical habitat area.The study will measure total zooplankton dry weight; abundance of C. finmarchicus life stages (the Calanus Index) and other zooplankton taxa; and changes in biomass, C. finmarchicus abundance, and zooplankton community composition. The study also will conduct DNA metabarcoding analysis and microscopy (for phytoplankton species composition). |
| Link to Additional Information: | – |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Deja Bracey
Deja.Bracey@bsee.gov Email:Deja.Bracey@bsee.gov |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
Related Documents
Folder 349102 Full Announcement-M23AS00425 Full Announcement -> Foa_Content_of_M23AS00425.pdf
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | Deja Bracey Deja.Bracey@bsee.gov Email: Deja.Bracey@bsee.gov |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.423 | PKG00282431 | Jul 05, 2023 | Aug 07, 2023 | View | ||
| 15.423 | M23AS00425 | NT-23-X13: Zooplankton Ecology of the western Gulf of Maine: trends in abundance and diversity | PKG00282430 | Jul 05, 2023 | Aug 07, 2023 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
349102 SF424_4_0-4.0.pdf
349102 SF424A-1.0.pdf
349102 SF424B-1.1.pdf
349102 BudgetNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
349102 ProjectNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
349102 GG_LobbyingForm-1.1.pdf
Optional forms
349102 SFLLL_2_0-2.0.pdf
Package 2
Mandatory forms
349102 SF424_4_0-4.0.pdf
349102 SF424A-1.0.pdf
349102 SF424B-1.1.pdf
349102 BudgetNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
349102 ProjectNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
349102 GG_LobbyingForm-1.1.pdf
Optional forms
349102 SFLLL_2_0-2.0.pdf
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