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.Apply for F19AS00211
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is the Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance Programs grant opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F19AS00211.
Which federal agency offered this grant?
This was a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
Is this a discretionary grant or a formula grant?
It was described as a discretionary grant.
What general subject area did the funding focus on?
The funding focused on environmental and natural resources research, specifically science and technology work supporting fish and wildlife conservation and management.
Which species was the project focused on?
The project centered on Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus), described as a species of major conservation concern.
What was the overarching research goal of the project described under this opportunity?
The project aimed to better understand what happens at the molecular level when a wild fish population is maintained and bred in captivity over multiple generations.
What is meant by "hatchery adaptation" in this opportunity?
"Hatchery adaptation" refers to genetic and biological changes that can accumulate when animals live and reproduce in a hatchery environment rather than in the wild.
Why does hatchery adaptation matter for conservation?
Hatchery conditions can unintentionally select for traits that help animals do well in captivity but may be harmful for survival and reproduction in natural habitats. For an imperiled species like Delta Smelt, this matters because hatchery programs are used for conservation breeding and potential population supplementation, and unintended domestication could affect long-term recovery success.
How was the project structured?
The project was structured as two complementary studies: one using historical Delta Smelt samples and another examining contemporary Delta Smelt using an integrated multi-omics approach.
What was the focus of the first (historical samples) study?
The first study was designed to analyze historical Delta Smelt samples that differed in their level of domestication, using both genomic and epigenetic approaches.
What is the "domestication index" (DI) as defined in the project?
The domestication index (DI) was defined as the number of hatchery generations represented in an individual's genome.
How was DI intended to be used in the historical samples study?
Historical samples with low DI versus high DI were to be compared to assess how quickly hatchery adaptation has occurred over time and to identify specific regions of the genome showing evidence of selection in captivity.
What practical questions was the first study intended to answer?
It aimed to answer: (1) how quickly hatchery adaptation has happened over time, and (2) which specific regions of the genome show evidence of selection in captivity, including potential biological pathways influenced by hatchery conditions.
What was the focus of the second (contemporary) study?
The second study focused on contemporary Delta Smelt and proposed an integrated analysis across the genome, transcriptome, and epigenome to understand how hatchery adaptation operates in living populations today.
What does "multi-omics" mean in the context of this project?
In this project, "multi-omics" referred to integrating multiple molecular layers: the genome (genetic variation), the transcriptome (gene expression patterns), and the epigenome (chemical modifications that can influence gene activity without changing the DNA sequence).
Why include gene expression and epigenetics rather than looking only at DNA sequence?
The project rationale noted that adaptation to captivity may not be explained only by DNA sequence changes; it can also involve shifts in gene regulation and expression. Epigenetic mechanisms can influence gene activity and may help explain how domestication effects appear in physiology, stress responses, growth, behavior, reproduction, or immune function.
What kinds of domestication effects was the second study intended to detect?
By comparing individuals with different DI levels, it aimed to identify where domestication effects appear (such as which genes change in activity) and how those effects are regulated (including whether epigenetic mechanisms are involved).
What conservation or management value was expected from the project results?
The expected conservation value was practical and program-facing: informing hatchery protocols, supporting decisions around population supplementation, and guiding the design of new Delta Smelt hatchery facilities.
How could the findings influence hatchery operations?
The described intent was that identifying molecular signatures of hatchery-driven selection could help managers adjust breeding strategies and rearing practices to reduce unintended domestication, maintain genetic diversity, and produce fish more likely to perform well under natural conditions if released.
Who was eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Why was eligibility limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education?
The opportunity description linked eligibility to the research-intensive nature of the work.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount listed was $450,342.
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted on July 15, 2019.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was August 12, 2019.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The assistance listing was associated with CFDA number 15.664.
What authorizing legislation was cited for this opportunity?
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.
How do the cited laws relate to the project?
The cited authorities align the opportunity with federal support for conservation, coordination, and recovery-related science for protected species and their habitats.
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