Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance Programs | F19AS00211

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00211

The Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance Programs grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00211) was a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It focused on environmental and natural resources research, specifically science and technology work that supports fish and wildlife conservation and management. The project described under this opportunity centered on Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus), a species of major conservation concern, and aimed to better understand what happens at the molecular level when a wild fish population is maintained and bred in captivity over multiple generations.

The main purpose of the proposed work was to identify the molecular basis of “hatchery adaptation,” meaning the genetic and biological changes that can accumulate when animals live and reproduce in a hatchery environment rather than in the wild. This matters because hatchery conditions can unintentionally select for traits that are useful in captivity but harmful for survival and reproduction in natural habitats. For an imperiled species like Delta Smelt, hatchery programs are often used for conservation breeding and potential population supplementation, so understanding whether and how domestication is occurring is directly tied to the long-term success of recovery efforts.

The project was structured as two complementary studies. The first study was designed to analyze historical Delta Smelt samples that differed in their level of domestication, using both genomic and epigenetic approaches. A key concept in the project was the “domestication index” (DI), which was defined as the number of hatchery generations represented in an individual’s genome. By comparing historical samples with low DI versus high DI, the study aimed to answer two practical questions: how quickly hatchery adaptation has happened over time, and which specific regions of the genome show evidence of selection in captivity. In other words, it was not just asking whether domestication exists, but also trying to pinpoint the genetic locations and potential biological pathways being shaped by hatchery conditions.

The second study shifted to contemporary Delta Smelt and aimed to look across multiple layers of molecular biology to see how hatchery adaptation operates in living populations today. Instead of relying only on DNA-level variation, it proposed an integrated analysis of the genome (genetic variation), transcriptome (gene expression patterns), and epigenome (chemical modifications that can influence gene activity without changing DNA sequence). By examining individuals with different DI levels, the study sought to identify where in the biology of the fish domestication effects appear (for example, which genes change in activity) and how those effects are regulated (for example, whether epigenetic mechanisms are involved). This kind of multi-omics approach is useful because adaptation to captivity may not be explained only by DNA sequence changes; it can also involve shifts in gene regulation and expression that affect physiology, stress responses, growth, behavior, reproduction, or immune function.

The expected conservation value of this work was practical and program-facing. Results were intended to inform current hatchery protocols, support decisions around population supplementation, and guide the ongoing design of new Delta Smelt hatchery facilities. In plain terms, if managers can identify the molecular signatures of hatchery-driven selection, they can adjust breeding strategies and rearing practices to reduce unintended domestication, maintain genetic diversity, and produce fish that are more likely to perform well under natural conditions if released.

Eligibility for the grant was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reflecting the research-intensive nature of the work. The opportunity listed a maximum award amount (award ceiling) of $450,342. It was posted on July 15, 2019, with an original closing date of August 12, 2019. The assistance listing was associated with CFDA number 15.664. The authorizing legislation cited included the Fish and Wildlife Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act, and the Endangered Species Act, aligning the project with federal authorities that support conservation, coordination, and recovery-related science for protected species and their habitats.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.664.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 15, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 12, 2019. (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 $450,342.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

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