This grant will be subawarded to oklahoma state university

This federal Formula Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605) provides $273,106.27 to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) for a project at Oklahoma State University (OSU). The project will use genetic markers (genome-wide SNPs and microsatellites) to track gene flow and admixture between populations of American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) that are undergoing translocations to increase genetic variation within and between management units. Paddlefish are a commercially valuable sportfish that have experienced population declines due to habitat fragmentation and overfishing. This research will generate genetic data to track admixture of isolated paddlefish populations and evaluate different marker types to establish an informative set for future monitoring. The project will be carried out in collaboration with ODWC fish biologists, who will provide all samples for the genetic analyses at OSU. The award period runs from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027.

This project will use a combination of genetic markers genome wide snps and microsatellites to track gene flow and admixture between populations of american paddlefish polyodon spathula undergoing translocations to increase genetic variation within and between management units. Paddlefish are a commercially valuable sportfish and have experienced population declines due to habitat fragmentation and overfishing. In oklahoma translocation of fish is an ongoing management practice to alleviate population isolation due to dams and impoundments. This project will generate genetic data to track admixture of isolated paddlefish populations and will evaluate two different marker types to establish an informative marker set that is able to track admixture in the future. The research in this proposal will be carried out in collaboration with odwc fish biologists that are managing these populations and they will provide all samples for genetic analyses.