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: 8846622
• 负责人: Robert Carpenter
• 金额: $ 7.2万
• 依托单位: California State University-Northridge
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1988
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1988-09-15 至 1990-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8846622&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 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.

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类型之一。 由于大多数珊瑚礁围绕的水是贫营养的（即，营养中极为浓度），动物和光合作用剂的浮游生物组合非常稀释，并且在珊瑚礁生物体的食物方面并不提供太多。 珊瑚礁的大多数高生产率最终基于海藻和含藻类的珊瑚的光合作用。 因此，影响海藻初级生产的因素对整个组织和珊瑚礁外部系统的功能产生了巨大贡献。 华盛顿大学的Carpenter博士和合作者Susan Williams博士希望研究这种可能的机制，使这种高礁石生产在如此营养贫穷的环境中保持。他们假设，大量的珊瑚礁食草动物能够快速回收养分为海藻，并且硝基固定可能是一项重要的原位营养产生的过程。 两个博士。木匠和威廉姆斯是加勒比海珊瑚礁的生态非常熟悉的富有成效的年轻研究人员。 Carpenter博士在珊瑚礁草食动物和藻类生产力方面的背景将与威廉博士的大量营养动态经验之间的平衡。 建议对这项为期两年的调查进行支持。