Research in Modeling Metabolism of Attached Stream Algae

9602572 Dodds堪萨斯州立大学生物系的Walter Dodds博士和新西兰克赖斯特彻奇国家水与大气研究所（NIWA）的Barry Biggs博士将在新西兰就溪流藻类的代谢进行合作研究。微生物的混合组合（生物膜或周围植物）覆盖在溪流和河流的表面。这些组合通常是温带地区无遮蔽河流中较高营养水平的主要能量来源。在水流稳定、水流丰富的溪流中，浮游植物会大量繁殖，造成水资源管理问题。巴里·比格斯博士和他的同事们广泛地描述了新西兰大量高度多样化的溪流和河流中的周边植物群落和相关的土地利用实践，并建立了世界上任何地区控制周边植物生物量和组成因素的最佳经验模型。新西兰提供了一个杰出的自然实验室，因为地质、气候和人类使用的异质性是极端的，相对于典型的大陆地区，发生在非常小的空间尺度上（几100公里）。多兹博士将把他的同行的独特数据与用流量、光和氧微探针进行的小规模代谢测量联系起来，并利用这些信息为不同的群落类型创建一个流生物膜代谢的预测机制模型。该模型将为更一般的河流生态系统功能模型提供基础。需要这样的模型来评估河流水质和生态系统功能对人为干扰的响应。

9602572 Dodds Dr. Walter Dodds, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, and Dr. Barry Biggs, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Christchurch, New Zealand will conduct collaborative research in New Zealand on the metabolism of stream algae. Mixed assemblages of microorganisms (biofilms or periphyton) coat surfaces in streams and rivers. These assemblages are generally the main energy source for higher trophic levels in unshaded temperate region streams. In stable-flowing, enriched streams periphyton can proliferate causing water management problems. Dr. Barry Biggs and his co-workers have characterized extensively the periphyton communities and associated land use practices in a large number of the highly diverse streams and rivers in New Zealand and have established the best empirical model of factors controlling periphyton biomass and composition from any area in the world. New Zealand provides an outstanding natural laboratory because heterogeneity of geological, climatic and human use is extreme and occurs over very small spatial scales (a few 100 km) relative to typical continental areas. Dr. Dodds will link the unique data of his counterpart to small scale metabolic measurements made with flow, light and O2 microprobes and use this information to create a predictive mechanistic model of stream biofilm metabolism for the different community types. This model will provide a basis for more general models of stream ecosystem function. Such models are needed to assess responses of stream water quality and ecosystem function to human disturbance.