RUI: The Physiological Basis of Grazing Effects on the Primary Productivity of Algal Turfs

RUI：放牧对藻地初级生产力影响的生理基础

• 批准号: 8620308
• 负责人: Robert Carpenter
• 金额: $ 9.69万
• 依托单位: Fairleigh Dickinson University West Indies Laboratory
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1987
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1987-09-01 至 1989-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8620308&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Physiological; Basis; Grazing; Effects

Coral reefs represent one of the world's most diverse ecosystem types in terms of species and also one of the most highly productive. As the waters surrounding most coral reefs are oligotrophic (i.e., extremely depauperate in nutrients), planktonic assemblages of animals and photosynthesizers are very dilute and do not provide much in the way of food for coral reef organisms. Most of the high productivity of reefs is based ultimately on the photosynthesis of seaweeds and algal-containing corals. Thus factors that affect seaweed primary production contribute greatly to the entire organization and functioning of coral reef ecosystems. Dr. Carpenter and collaborator Dr. Susan Williams, of the University of Washington, want to look at possible mechanisms by which this high reef production is maintained in such nutrient poor environs. They hypothesize that the high numbers of reef herbivores are able to rapidly recycle nutrients bach to the seaweeds, and that nitrogen fixation may be an important, in situ nutrient-producing process. Both Drs. Carpenter and Williams are productive young researchers very familiar with the ecology of coral reefs in the Caribbean. Dr. Carpenter's background in reef herbivores and algal productivity will balance nicely with Dr. William's considerable nutrient dynamics experience. Support for this two-year investigation is recommended.

珊瑚礁是世界上最多样化的生态系统之一 在物种方面，也是最高的 多产 因为大多数珊瑚礁周围的沃茨 贫营养的（即，营养极其缺乏的），滋补的 动物和光合作用生物的组合非常稀薄， 并不能为珊瑚礁生物提供太多食物。 最 珊瑚礁的高生产力最终是基于 海藻和含藻珊瑚的光合作用。 因此 影响海藻初级生产的因素， 珊瑚礁生态系统的整个组织和功能。 卡彭特博士和合作者苏珊威廉姆斯博士， 华盛顿大学，想看看可能的机制， 这种高产量的珊瑚礁是在这样一个营养贫乏的环境中维持的， 周围 他们假设大量的珊瑚礁食草动物 能够迅速地将营养物质循环到海藻中， 固氮可能是一个重要的，在原位生产养分， 过程 卡彭特博士和威廉姆斯博士都是多产的年轻人 研究人员非常熟悉珊瑚礁的生态， 加勒比海 卡彭特博士研究珊瑚礁食草动物和藻类的背景 生产力将很好地平衡与威廉博士的可观 营养动力学经验 支持这两年 建议进行调查。