Small Grant for Exploratory Research (SGER)

这笔赠款的重点是使用被称为弹出式档案卫星标签(PSAT)的新一代远程技术设备。这项研究结合了生理学、海洋学和工程学，以开发能够研究公海鱼类迁徙活动的技术。PSAT标签本质上是记录导航信息、体温、深度和环境温度数据的计算机。TAG技术将与现有的分子遗传学技术结合使用，以确定在某些中上层鱼类种群中明显存在的不同遗传单倍型与它们在公海的扩散模式之间的关系。尽管诸如马林鱼、旗鱼、旗鱼和金枪鱼等高度迁徙的中上层鱼类在经济和生态上并不重要，但人们对它们的运动模式和种群结构知之甚少。PSAT标签将提供关于海洋因素如何影响中上层鱼类活动的信息，如温度。尽管利用渔业统计、标记和放生研究以及声学遥测进行了相当大的努力，但这些技术的时间尺度和分辨率不足以描述迁徙的特征和解决有关生活史和基因流动的问题。随着渔业继续对资源造成压力，这种信息的缺乏变得更加严重。NSF奖将支持开发原型和第一代标签，以及在圈养和野生金枪鱼上部署标签。将获得约20-30条大西洋蓝鳍金枪鱼的踪迹，为期一至两年。PSAT标签将立即说明迁徙走廊的潜在存在和相对重要性，以及与海洋条件有关的时间和空间移动模式。到目前为止，这一直是获取数据的挑战。所获得的信息将提高我们对这些物种生物学的理解，并增加我们对种群结构的了解。弹出式档案标签技术的成功实施将为海洋研究人员提供一种研究难以接近的海洋脊椎动物的新工具。

Block This grant is focused on the use of a new generation of remote technology devices, called pop-up archival satellite tags (PSAT). This study combines physiology, oceanography and engineering to develop technology that will permit studying the migratory movements of open ocean fish. The PSAT tags are essentially computers that record navigational information, body temperature, depth and ambient temperature data. The tag technology will be used in combination with established molecular genetics techniques to establish the relationships between distinct genetic haplotypes evident in certain populations oi pelagic fish and their dispersal patterns in the open ocean. Despite the economic and ecological unportance of highly migratory pelagic fish such as bmfishes (e.g. marlins, swordfish, sailfish) and tunas, little is know about their movement patterns and population structure. The PSAT tags will provide information on how the movements of pelagic fish are influenced by oceanographic factors such as temperature. Although considerable effort has been expended using fisheries statistics, tag and release studies, and acoustic telemetry, the time scale and resolution of these techniques are insufficient to characterize migrations and address questions about life histories and gene flow. This lack of information becomes more critical as fisheries continue to pressure resources. The NSF award will support the development of prototype and first c,,eneration tags, and the deployment of tags on captive and wild tunas. Tracks of approximately 20-30 Atlantic bluefm tuna will be obtained for periods of one-two years. The PSAT tags will immediately illustrate the potential existence and relative importance of migratory corridors and temporal and spatial movement patterns in relation to oceanographic conditions. Until now this has been challenging data to obtain. The information gained will improve our understanding of the biology of these species and increas e our knowledge of stock structure. The successful implementation of the pop up archival tag technology will provide marine researchers with a novel tool for studying inaccessible marine vertebrates.