Effects of Turbulence on Feeding and Reproduction in Zooplankton

拟议中的研究将测试一个模型，该模型预测浮游动物与其猎物在湍流中的相遇率高于静水。如果这个模型是正确的，桡足类的摄食率和产卵率应该随着湍流的增加而增加，只要食物是有限的。实验将在100-1的微观世界中进行，使用三种桡足类动物和三个级别的湍流，这些湍流是使用一对振动网格建立的，网格将桡足类动物与网格分开。将进行初步测量，以确定湍流的范围和空间分布。食物的浓度会受到限制，除了在高食物的容器中，这将控制湍流对桡足类的直接物理影响。在限制食物浓度的处理中，随着湍流的增加，产蛋量或摄食量显著增加，这将支持该模型。这一结果将对物理环境对桡足类的影响以及它们如何在海洋中获得食物产生影响。此外，它可能会对许多关于瓶内桡足类摄食和生长的实验的适用性提出质疑。

The proposed research will test a model that predicts higher rates of encounter between zooplankton and their prey in turbulent than still water. If this model is correct, feeding and egg production rates od copepods should increase as turbulence increases, provided food in limiting. Experiments will be run in 100-1 microcosms using three species of copepod and three levels of turbulence established using a pair of vibrating grids, with mesh separating the copepods from the grids. Preliminary measurements will be made to establish the range and spatial distribution of turbulence. Food concentration will be limiting, except in high- food containers that will control for direct, physical effects of the turbulence on the copepods. The model will be supported by significant increases of egg production or feeding with increasing turbulence in treatments with limiting food concentrations. This result would have implications for the effect of the physical environment on copepods and how they obtain their food in the sea. In addition, it may call into question the applicability of many experiments on the feeding and growth of copepods in bottles.