Molecular Tracers of Trophic Links in Pelagic Food Webs

一些食肉动物的进食习惯使传统的 肠道内容物分析的显微应用几乎 不可能的 本项目将探讨利用 生化标记电泳来检查猎物的遗骸。 电泳技术提供了一种快速简单的方法， 追踪食物网的关系，特别是与捕食者的关系， 仅对显微镜下无法识别的软组织进行比较 study. 目前，标准染色方法已经有了 经修饰以识别代表猎物的生化标记 食肉动物肠道中的微生物 直接从大自然中提取。 该方法可以应用于 到新的环境和新的生物组合， 提前准备。 该项目将制定方法， 进一步通过使用可以在辅助设备上收集的样本， 1992年夏天，NSF赞助的研究。

The feeding habits of some planktonic predators make conventional microscopic application of the gut content analysis almost impossible. This project will explore the feasibility of using electrophoresis of biochemical markers to examine prey remains. Electrophorectic techniques offers a rapid and simple means of tracing food web relationships, particularly with predators that comsume only soft tissues which cannot be identified by microscopic study. At present, standard staining methods have already been modified to identify biochemical markers representative of prey organisms which are present in the intestinal tracts of predators drawn directly from nature. The method can potentially be applied to novel environments and to novel biotic assemblages with minimal advance preparation. This project will develop the methodology further by using specimens that can be collected on a ancillary basis with NSF sponsored research during summer 1992.