Bull kelp

Principal Investigator: Filipe Alberto, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Will study the genomic architecture related to the temperature response in bull kelp to inform plans to mitigate climate change impacts on kelp forests.

sea otters

Principal Investigator: Terrie Williams, University of California, Santa Cruz

Will sequence samples from sea otters to estimate inbreeding, construct a pedigree for this subpopulation and create a high-quality dataset to inform future translocation efforts for this species.

black abalone

Principal Investigator: Fabiola Lafarga De La Cruz, Ensenada Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education

This project will generate much-needed genomic data on surviving populations of black abalone to help with conservation of this endangered species.

blue mussels

Principal Investigator: Stefan Prost, University of Oulu

Will develop a rapid, relatively inexpensive genomic monitoring strategy based on the genomics of blue mussels to detect kelp forest ecosystems under environmental stress.

brown seaweed

Principal Investigator: Samuel Starko, University of Western Australia

Will collect reproductive individuals for biobanking and support the sequencing and assembly of genomes from two Cystophora species of brown seaweed.

sea dragons

Principal Investigator: Josefin Stiller, University of Copenhagen

Will sequence the genomes of leafy and common sea dragons to better understand current population health status and improve conservation risk assessment of these kelp-dwelling fishes.

pyjama sharks

Principal Investigator: Romina Henriques, University of Pretoria

Will Generate the first detailed reference genome for pyjama sharks.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS

Principal Investigator: Jessie Beck, Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge; Co-PI: Diana Baetscher, NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center – Building genetic markers that reflect where an Albatross was born to inform conservation and create opportunities for targeted fisheries management.

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SEA TURTLES OF THE WORLD

Principal Investigator: Camila Mazzoni, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research – Building high quality reference genomes for five sea turtle species to inform strategies for population recovery and resilience.

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PINTO ABALONE

Principal Investigator: James Dimond, Western Washington University; Co-PI: Josh Bouma and Ryan Crim, Puget Sound Restoration Fund – Studying the population genetic structure of pinto abalone from Alaska to Mexico to inform the selection of new potential broodstock sources for restoration.

JONAH CRABS

Principal Investigator: Andrea Bodnar, Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute – Building a reference genome as a foundation for population genetic assessment throughout the Jonah crab’s range (the Eastern seaboard from Canada to Florida).

NARWHALS

Principal Investigator: Marie Louis, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark – Sequencing genomes from narwhals across fjord systems to assess fine scale genetic structure, management units, local adaptation, and inbreeding for management.

BROWN SEA CUCUMBER

Principal Investigator: Nina Overgaard Therkildsen, Cornell University – Assessing genetic variation among populations to guide re-introductions, support genetic rescue programs, assess the impacts of fishing, and provide practical enforcement tools to combat poaching.

MESOPHOTIC CORALS

Principal Investigator: Daniel Barshis, Old Dominion University; Co-PI: Veronica Radice, Old Dominion University – Building reference genomes for two coral species, both reef specialists of American Sāmoa. The reference genomes will inform a new conservation project with the National Park Service testing thermal thresholds and climate resilience of these two species.