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

就物种而言，珊瑚礁是世界上最多样化的生态系统类型之一，也是生产力最高的生态系统之一。由于大多数珊瑚礁周围的水域营养不足（即营养物质极度缺乏），动物和光合作用生物的浮游生物组合非常稀薄，不能为珊瑚礁生物提供太多食物。大多数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对珊瑚礁外部系统的整个组织和功能有很大的贡献。卡彭特博士和来自华盛顿大学的合作伙伴苏珊·威廉姆斯博士想要研究在这种营养贫乏的环境中维持这种高产量的可能机制。他们假设大量的珊瑚礁食草动物能够快速地将营养物质回收到海藻中，并且固氮可能是一个重要的原位营养生产过程。Drs。卡彭特和威廉姆斯是富有成效的年轻研究人员，他们非常熟悉加勒比海珊瑚礁的生态。卡彭特博士在珊瑚礁食草动物和藻类生产力方面的背景将与威廉博士丰富的营养动态经验相平衡。建议支持这项为期两年的调查。

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 exosystems. 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 nitgrogen 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 nicley with Dr. William's considerable nutrients dynamics experience. Support for this two-year investigation is recommended.