POWRE: Applications of Stable Isotopes to Conservation in Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico

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Marks, Jane CDEB 0074876The PI proposes a study of how introductions of exotic species and water extraction affect food webs of desert springs. She will use stable isotopes of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen to compare food web structure and energy flow in pristine vs. altered pools to test the predictions that 1) invading species have changed energy flow through food webs by forcing native species to shift their diets, and 2) water extraction has reduced the littoral margins of select pools thereby reducing habitat for insects and other soft invertebrates causing native fish species to feed more on algae and lower quality detritus. This is the first time stable isotopes have been applied directly to a conservation issue in Cuatro Cienegas (Mexico) which is the site for the research. The POWRE award will allow the PI to develop a long term research program with integrates ecology, conservation, and management. This will enhance her research career as she returns to academia after a 3 year leave as AAAS fellow.