Deadline: 16-Dec-22

The Morris Animal Foundation is pleased to partner with the Wild Genomes - Kelp Forest Ecosystems programme: a new funding opportunity for conservationists interested in applying genetic knowledge to the protection and management of kelp ecosystems.

Wild Genomes is designed to accelerate the genome sequencing and biobanking of species in clear need of conservation. Potential projects will be assessed according to timeliness and urgency (e.g. species at risk), the ecological role of the target species (e.g. keystone species), the potential role of the species in providing ecosystem services and the potential impact of the project. Through this programme, they aim to put the fundamental tools of genetic rescue into the hands of people who manage wildlife to achieve positive conservation results.

Wild Genomes funding calls are topic-specific. From fish to invertebrates, seabirds, marine mammals and kelp, all species belonging to kelp ecosystems qualify. Proposals should describe a conservation-orientated effort that will benefit substantially from genome sequencing and biobanking.

Key personnel:

• Wild Genomes teams must include a field scientist(s) with knowledge of and access to tissue samples that have been or can be collected from wild populations of the target species.
• Wild Genomes teams can include an expert in molecular biology, especially those with experience in preparing DNA and RNA libraries from tissue samples of the target species.
• Wild Genomes teams can include a genomics expert, especially those with experience in comparative genomics, to derive relevant information from the genomic resources provided by the project.
• Teams of field biologists who lack molecular or genomic expertise can sign up to Revive & Restore for assistance in identifying suitable collaborators.
• Teams of molecular and/or genomic specialists who lack field experience or the ability to access tissue samples from wild populations are not eligible. If these teams are interested in joining a Wild Genomes project, please inform Revive & Restore by email.
• Revive & Restore/Morris Animal Foundation will provide reference genome assembly services through its established commercial partners. However, proposing teams may request the use of alternative genome assembly services that meet the same quality standards at an equal or lower cost.

Criteria

• Target Species and Conservation Needs:
  • Wild Genomes - Kelp Forest Ecosystems projects should aim to create genomic resources for Kelp forest species of conservation relevance.
  • The ideal target taxon will have ecological significance, strategic conservation value and/or evolutionary significance. Examples of poor candidates are species that can be recovered by traditional means without genetic rescue; that play a minor role in their habitat; or whose extinction would not represent a major loss to evolutionary biodiversity.
  • For the Kelp Forest Ecosystems topic, proposals should focus on collecting data that will help conservationists make more informed decisions about the conservation, management and/or restoration of a relevant taxon. They are especially interested in proposals that address genomic information on the health of kelp forest species, ecological imbalances such as overgrazing by hedgehogs, and climate resilience. Other topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the impacts/mitigation of commercial harvesting, coastal development and pollution.
  • Proposals that focus on the genomics of pathogens or parasites, including fungi, protists, bacteria or viruses are specifically excluded from this programme.
  • Proposals that make use of captive populations of a target species will be considered, particularly when the results are used to inform release into the wild. However, preference will be given to proposals that directly address wild populations.
  • The target species can be from any kelp forest, as long as high-quality samples can be obtained for nucleic acid preparation and tissue biobanking.
  • The target species can be from any area of the world; however, the necessary import and export licences must be obtained by the research teams before funding begins. For example, Revive & Restore/Morris Animal Foundation will not be able to support the acquisition of CITES permits or compliance with Nagoya protocol procedures in the country of origin or in the United States. Similarly, researchers working with endangered species protected in the United States at the federal or state level must ensure that they obtain appropriate permits for sample collection.

For more information, visit  https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/apply