MRI: Acquisition of Instrumentation for Research and Training in Functional Ecology

功能生态学是一个综合的跨学科领域，它考虑了生物的生态过程、相互作用和潜在适应的生化、形态和生理基础。功能生态学的研究跨越了从个体部分到生态系统的组织层次。虽然功能生态学的本质是综合和跨学科的，但许多研究传统上是沿着单独的分类路线进行的。动物和植物的研究遵循不同的轨迹，由于训练和研究的传统，很少有研究人员同时研究动物和植物系统。在陆地系统和水生系统之间，淡水系统和海洋系统之间也发生了类似的划分。此外，对生理功能领域的研究传统上与形态学和行为功能的研究是分开的。功能生态学的研究依赖于设备和技术，就像分子生物学一样。事实证明，共享昂贵的设备、不同专业领域的科学家之间的研究合作以及在一个设施中对学生进行相互培训对学生和研究人员来说是非常成功的。该奖项将用于开发一个多用户设施，致力于功能生态学的研究、培训和教育。该设施将通过提供可供各种研究人员和学生使用的设备来满足功能生态学领域培训方面的关键需求，这些研究人员和学生的分析需求重叠，其研究领域是互补的。石溪分校的生态和进化系在这一领域拥有一支强大的研究团队。在一个共同的实验室空间内建立一个核心设施将大大提高研究能力，促进研究合作，并将提高培养本科生和研究生的能力，使他们掌握功能生态学所必需的现代分析方法。

Award Abstract - 9977377Functional Ecology is an integrative and interdisciplinary field that considers the biochemical, morphological and physiological bases of ecological processes, interactions and potential adaptations of organisms. Studies of Functional Ecology span levels of organization from parts of individuals through ecosystems. Although the field of Functional Ecology by its nature is integrative and interdisciplinary, much of the research traditionally progressed along separate taxonomic lines. Animal and plant studies have followed different trajectories, and, because of tradition in both training and research, few researchers work on both animal and plant systems. Similar divisions have occurred between terrestrial and aquatic systems, for both freshwater and marine systems. In addition, research into areas of physiological function is traditionally separate from studies of morphological and behavioral function.Functional Ecology research is equipment and technology dependent, much like Molecular Biology. Share use of expensive equipment, research collaborations among scientists with different areas of expertise, and mutual training of students in a single facility has proven to be very successful for students and researchers. This award will be used to develop a multi-user facility dedicated to research, training, and education in Functional Ecology. This facility will fill a crucial need in training in the area of Functional Ecology by providing equipment that can be used by a variety of researchers and students whose analytical needs overlap and whose research areas are complementary. The Ecology and Evolution Department at Stony Brook has a strong group of researchers in this field. A core facility housed in a common lab space will significantly enhance research capabilities, facilitate research collaboration, and will improve capacity to train both undergraduate and graduate students in the modern analytical methods are essential for Functional Ecology.