Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00006
The LFS Feeding Habits Study is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary grant (Department of the Interior) focused on improving scientific understanding of Longfin Smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) habitat needs, especially in relation to tidal marsh restoration in the San Francisco Bay estuary. The work centers on fish captured in tidally restored areas of the Napa-Sonoma Marsh (North Bay) and the Alviso Marsh (Lower South Bay). A major goal is to determine whether these restored tidal marsh habitats are functioning as nursery habitat for Longfin Smelt by examining what the fish are eating and whether suitable prey is available where they are found.
A core component of the project is diet analysis of Longfin Smelt collected from the two restored marsh systems. By identifying and comparing prey items in the fish, the study aims to link habitat conditions in restored tidal marshes to feeding success, which is an important driver of early life survival and recruitment. Alongside the diet work, the study also assesses zooplankton prey abundance and taxonomic diversity at the capture locations. This pairing of diet data with on-site zooplankton community measurements is meant to clarify whether restored marshes are providing adequate and appropriate prey fields, not just whether fish are present.
The opportunity also includes controlled or targeted preliminary research on basic physiological requirements of Longfin Smelt, with emphasis on salinity and turbidity. Specifically, the work calls for studies to evaluate salinity tolerance and turbidity requirements, and for more focused investigations into larval buoyancy needs (which are tied to salinity conditions) and larval feeding needs (which can be influenced by turbidity and related visual or behavioral feeding constraints). Together, these studies aim to define environmental thresholds and conditions that support successful early life stages, which is essential for understanding where and when nursery habitat is likely to be effective.
Beyond field and laboratory findings, the grant is framed as supporting long-term capacity to culture and rear Longfin Smelt by developing species-specific culture protocols and improving rearing efforts at the FCCL. In practical terms, the research is intended to generate foundational biological and husbandry knowledge that can be used to refine rearing practices and potentially support conservation, research, or recovery-focused propagation efforts. The agency emphasizes that the results should significantly advance understanding of the habitat requirements that drive Longfin Smelt recruitment, and that the information will be directly useful for recovery planning and for making more informed, science-based management and regulatory decisions that balance conservation needs with broader resource management responsibilities.
Administratively, this opportunity was offered as a cooperative agreement under Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00006 within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 15.678). Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. The funding ceiling was $98,088, with one expected award. The opportunity was created on December 12, 2017, and had an original closing date of December 24, 2017, with applications due by December 24, 2017.Apply for F18AS00006
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "LFS Feeding Habits Study" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.678.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 12, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 24, 2017 Due December 24, 2017. (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 $98,088.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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FAQs: LFS Feeding Habits Study (USFWS Discretionary Grant)
What is the LFS Feeding Habits Study grant opportunity?
The LFS Feeding Habits Study is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) discretionary grant under the Department of the Interior focused on improving scientific understanding of Longfin Smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) habitat needs, particularly in relation to tidal marsh restoration in the San Francisco Bay estuary.
What is the main purpose of the study?
The main purpose is to determine whether tidally restored marsh habitats are functioning as nursery habitat for Longfin Smelt by examining what the fish are eating and whether suitable prey is available where the fish are found.
Which species is the focus of this grant?
The study focuses on Longfin Smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys).
Where will the field work take place?
The work centers on fish captured in tidally restored areas of two systems in the San Francisco Bay estuary: the Napa-Sonoma Marsh (North Bay) and the Alviso Marsh (Lower South Bay).
How does the project evaluate whether restored tidal marshes function as nursery habitat?
A key approach is diet analysis of Longfin Smelt collected from the restored marsh systems, paired with measurements of zooplankton prey abundance and taxonomic diversity at the capture locations. This is intended to link habitat conditions to feeding success and to evaluate whether appropriate prey fields are present, not just whether fish occur in the area.
What is meant by "diet analysis" in this study?
Diet analysis refers to identifying and comparing prey items found in Longfin Smelt collected from the two restored marsh systems, to understand what they are eating and how that relates to habitat conditions and feeding success.
Why is feeding success important in the context of this opportunity?
Feeding success is described as an important driver of early life survival and recruitment, so understanding diet and prey availability can help explain whether restored habitats support the conditions needed for successful early life stages.
What additional field measurements are included besides fish diet?
The study also assesses zooplankton prey abundance and taxonomic diversity at the locations where fish are captured, enabling direct comparison between what prey is available on-site and what prey the fish are consuming.
What is the purpose of measuring zooplankton at capture locations?
Measuring the zooplankton community where fish are captured is meant to clarify whether restored marshes are providing adequate and appropriate prey fields, rather than only confirming fish presence.
Does the opportunity include laboratory or controlled studies?
Yes. The opportunity includes controlled or targeted preliminary research on basic physiological requirements of Longfin Smelt, with emphasis on salinity and turbidity.
Which physiological factors are emphasized in the controlled studies?
The controlled studies emphasize salinity tolerance and turbidity requirements.
What specific early-life topics are called out for more focused investigation?
The opportunity calls for more focused investigations into larval buoyancy needs (tied to salinity conditions) and larval feeding needs (which can be influenced by turbidity and related visual or behavioral feeding constraints).
What is the goal of studying salinity tolerance, turbidity requirements, and larval needs?
These studies are intended to define environmental thresholds and conditions that support successful early life stages, which is essential for understanding where and when nursery habitat is likely to be effective.
How does this grant relate to Longfin Smelt culture and rearing efforts?
Beyond the field and laboratory findings, the grant is framed as supporting long-term capacity to culture and rear Longfin Smelt by developing species-specific culture protocols and improving rearing efforts at the FCCL.
What kinds of outputs are expected related to husbandry or culture?
The opportunity states that the research is intended to generate foundational biological and husbandry knowledge that can be used to refine rearing practices and potentially support conservation, research, or recovery-focused propagation efforts.
How does the agency expect the results to be used?
The agency emphasizes that results should significantly advance understanding of habitat requirements that drive Longfin Smelt recruitment and be directly useful for recovery planning and for making more informed, science-based management and regulatory decisions that balance conservation needs with broader resource management responsibilities.
What type of award mechanism was used for this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered as a cooperative agreement.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F18AS00006.
What activity category is associated with this grant?
The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 15.678.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
What was the maximum funding amount available?
The funding ceiling was $98,088.
How many awards were expected?
One award was expected.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 12, 2017.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was December 24, 2017.
When were applications due?
Applications were due by December 24, 2017.
Which federal agency sponsored this grant?
The sponsor was the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), within the Department of the Interior.
Which restored marsh systems are specifically mentioned?
The opportunity specifically mentions tidally restored areas of the Napa-Sonoma Marsh (North Bay) and the Alviso Marsh (Lower South Bay).
Is the study limited to checking whether Longfin Smelt are present in restored marshes?
No. The study is designed to go beyond presence/absence by pairing diet information with on-site zooplankton measurements to evaluate whether restored marshes provide adequate and appropriate prey fields linked to feeding success.
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