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

珊瑚礁是世界上最多样化的 生态系统的种类也是最多的 高生产力。 因为大多数珊瑚礁周围的沃茨 是贫营养的（即，营养极其缺乏）， 动物和光合作用器的共生组合是 非常稀，不能提供太多的食物， 珊瑚礁生物 大部分珊瑚礁的高生产力 是基于海藻的光合作用， 含藻珊瑚 因此影响海藻的因素 初级生产对整个 珊瑚礁外系统的组织和功能。 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 使珊瑚礁的高产量得以维持 营养不良的环境。他们假设， 的珊瑚礁食草动物能够迅速回收养分， 这是一个很大的问题，也是一个很大的问题。 重要的，就地生产营养的过程。 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的背景 藻类的生产力将与威廉博士的 相当丰富的养分动态经验。 支持这一 建议进行为期两年的调查。

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.