PECASE: Chemical Communication in Marine Ecosystems: Interactions Involving Harmful Algae and Zooplankton

PECASE：海洋生态系统中的化学通讯：有害藻类和浮游动物的相互作用

• 批准号: 0134843
• 负责人: Julia Kubanek
• 金额: $ 45万
• 依托单位: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-04-01 至 2008-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0134843&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: PECASE; Chemical; Communication; Marine; Ecosystems

Proposal Title: PECASE: Chemical communication in marine ecosystems: Interactions involving harmful algae and zooplanktonInstitution: Georgia Tech Research Corporation - GA Institute of TechnologyMost organisms use chemical signals to assess their environment and to communicate with other organisms. Chemical cues for the purposes of defense, mate attraction, habitat selection, and food tracking are known to be crucial, widespread, and diverse. As our understanding of receptor-ligand interactions, biosynthetic pathways, sensory biology, hydrodynamics, and ecosystem function has improved dramatically in the last decade, the opportunity to address the chemistry of marine biological processes has become more promising than ever before. This project will focus on the ecological effects of chemical communication in marine systems, demanding significant integration of biology and chemistry, involving active participation of young scientists in hypothesis building and testing, and training students in research methods and communication.In this study, the Florida red tide dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (= Gymnodinium breve) will be used as a model system for understanding how phytoplankton natural products directly mediate critical interactions such as predation, which affects population and community structure. Phytoplankton chemistry may also induce food-web cascades affecting multiple ecosystems, amplified by the movement of blooms over vast distances. Indirect evidence suggests that some harmful algae use natural toxins to deter grazing by zooplankters, shellfish, and planktivorous fish, or as allelopathic agents against competing microalgae, perhaps contributing to bloom proliferation. This study will test the hypothesis that chemical compounds produced by Karenia brevis defend it against grazing by the co-occurring copepod Acartia tonsa. Chemical fractionation guided by copepod behavioral and physiological feeding assays will be used to isolate antifeedant compounds from K. brevis extracts. Ecologically active compounds will be identified by spectroscopic techniques such NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (including LC-MS). This research will provide adaptable methods for studying food-web and competitive relationships between unicellular organisms and their enemies, effectively decoupling chemical from morphological and nutritional factors. Students involved in interdisciplinary science need to develop strong communication skills for bridging fields and to acquire a breadth of experience without sacrificing scientific rigor and depth in their specialty. Towards these ends, two new educational opportunities have been designed. First, a new seminar series is planned for graduate and upper-undergraduate students, researchers, and faculty on the intersection of research, policy, and communication with non-scientists, using harmful algal blooms as an example of science that holds public interest. Second, a new interdisciplinary course will be developed for graduate and upper-undergraduate students on methodologies for the discovery of novel bioactive molecules that function as cues among aquatic organisms.This project was originally funded as a CAREER award, and was converted to a Presidential Early Career Award for Engineers and Scientists (PECASE) award in May 2004.

提案标题：PECASE：海洋生态系统中的化学通讯：涉及有害藻类和动物的相互作用机构：格鲁吉亚技术研究公司-佐治亚理工学院大多数生物使用化学信号来评估其环境和与其他生物交流。化学线索的目的，防御，配偶吸引力，栖息地选择和食物跟踪是众所周知的是至关重要的，广泛的，和多样的。随着我们对受体-配体相互作用、生物合成途径、感觉生物学、流体动力学和生态系统功能的理解在过去十年中有了显著提高，解决海洋生物过程化学的机会比以往任何时候都更有希望。该项目将侧重于海洋系统中化学通讯的生态影响，需要生物学和化学的重大整合，涉及青年科学家积极参与假设的建立和检验，并对学生进行研究方法和通讯方面的培训。佛罗里达赤潮甲藻Karenia brevis（= Gymnocyaninium breve）将被用作了解浮游植物天然产物如何直接介导关键相互作用（如捕食）的模型系统，这会影响种群和群落结构。浮游植物的化学性质还可能引起影响多个生态系统的食物网级联，并因水华的远距离移动而扩大。间接证据表明，一些有害的藻类使用天然毒素来阻止动物园动物，贝类和食虫鱼类的放牧，或作为对抗竞争微藻的化感作用剂，可能有助于水华的扩散。这项研究将测试的假设，即化学化合物产生的Karenia brevis保卫它对放牧的共同发生的桡足类Acartia tonsa。通过桡足类行为和生理摄食试验指导的化学分离，将用于从K.灯盏花素提取物将通过光谱技术如NMR光谱法和质谱法（包括LC-MS）鉴定药物活性化合物。这项研究将为研究单细胞生物与其天敌之间的食物网和竞争关系提供适应性强的方法，有效地将化学与形态和营养因素脱钩。参与跨学科科学的学生需要培养强大的沟通能力，以弥合领域，并获得广泛的经验，而不会牺牲科学的严谨性和专业的深度。为此，设计了两种新的教育机会。首先，计划为研究生和高年级本科生，研究人员和教师举办一系列新的研讨会，讨论研究，政策和与非科学家沟通的交叉点，使用有害藻华作为公众感兴趣的科学的一个例子。第二，将为研究生和高年级本科生开发一门新的跨学科课程，介绍发现在水生生物中起线索作用的新型生物活性分子的方法。该项目最初是作为CAREER奖资助的，并于2004年5月转换为总统工程师和科学家早期职业奖（PECASE）奖。