Biocomplexity: The Evolution and Radiation of Eucaryotic Phytoplankton Taxa (EREUPT)

这个多学科研究计划的重点是了解导致主要真核浮游植物分类群的选择和辐射的历史起源和环境条件，以及有助于它们在当代海洋中持续成功的生态过程。该研究利用地质学，分子生物学，生态学和建模方法的组合来解决地球系统科学中重要而复杂的难题。主要目标是在古生态学和进化推理的基础上，建立当代海洋真核浮游植物群落结构的第一个定量模型。该项目提出的核心问题是：为什么三个系统发育不同的真核单细胞藻类群体在生态上如此成功，它们的进化历史告诉我们关于地球历史和真核浮游植物适应能力的信息未来的变化？该研究旨在测试一组三个相关的假设，从其中的概念模型的进化和生态成功（优势）的关键浮游植物类群在当代海洋将被开发。因此，该研究计划包括三个基本要素：（1）一支以重建中生代关键时期古生态为重点的地质/地球化学队伍;（11）一个分子生物学/生物化学小组，致力于阐明古生态过程如何选择特定的表型特征，从而导致主要群体的起源和随后的进化克里思，和（111）一个实验生态生理学/建模组，定量评估表型性状与历史和当代海洋中特定类群的生态成功之间的关系。这三个要素将在传统的学科线整合，并将包括协调的现场，实验室和建模工作。建模工作将针对使用观测和实验信息的关键浮游植物群体的成功后报和预测。该研究计划还结合了强有力的教育工作，旨在为本科生和研究生提供广泛的接触和机会，以及旨在将地球系统科学纳入中小学课程的K-12和教师培训计划。

The focus of this multidisciplinary research program is to understand the historical origins and environmental conditions that led to selection and radiation of the major eucaryotic phytoplankton taxa, and the ecological processes that contribute to their continued success in the contemporary ocean. The research utilizes a combination of geological, molecular biological, ecological, and modeling approaches to address an important and complex puzzle in Earth system science. The primary goal is to develop the first quantitative models of eucaryotic phytoplankton community structure in the contemporary oceans based on paleoecological and evolutionary inference. The central question raised in this project is: Why have three phylogenetically diverse groups of eucaryotic, unicellular algae been so ecologically successful and what does their evolutionary history tell us about the history of Earth and the ability of eucaryotic phytoplankton to accommodate to change in the future?The study seeks to test a set of three related hypotheses, from which a conceptual model for evolution and ecological success (dominance) of key phytoplankton taxa in the contemporary ocean will be developed. Thus the research program contains three basic elements: (1) A geological/geochemical team focussing on reconstructing the paleoecology at key periods in the Mesozoic; (11) A molecular biology/biochemical team engaged in elucidating how paleoecological processes have selected specific phenotypic traits that led to the origin and subsequent tempo of evolution of the major groups, and (111) An experimental ecophysiology/modeling group that quantitatively evaluates how phenotypic traits relate to the ecological success of specific taxa in the historical and contemporary ocean. These three elements will be integrated across traditional disciplinary lines and will include coordinated field, laboratory and modeling efforts. Modeling efforts will be directed towards hindcasting and forecasting the success of key phytoplankton groups using observational and experimental information.The research program is also coupled to a strong educational effort, designed to provide a broad exposure and opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as a K-12 and teacher training program designed to integrate Earth system science in primary and secondary school curricula.