Dissertation Research: Linking Lakes with the Landscape: The Fate of Terrestrial Organic Matter in Planktonic Food Webs

生态学的一个关键目标是了解生态系统如何处理物质和能量。在本提案中，我们重点关注陆地来源的溶解有机物（DOM）对湖泊生态系统的能量重要性。利用实验室研究，我们将评估陆地DOM的数量和质量如何影响浮游细菌的生产和生长效率。这两个过程最终决定了有多少陆地DOM进入湖泊食物网。然后，我们将把实验室的数据到一个模拟模型，将预测条件下，陆地DOM可能是积极的重要较高的营养水平。我们特别感兴趣的是使用该模型来评估湖泊中陆地碳流与对比食物网和营养状态。最后，我们将通过检查来自一系列新英格兰湖泊的浮游动物中的稳定同位素特征（δ 13 C）来测试模型预测。这项研究的结果将阐明空间上相连的生态系统的能量重要性，并拓宽我们对外来输入如何影响食物网动态的理解。此外，我们的研究将有助于有关土地利用活动的决策，如农业，海岸线开发，林业和湿地划定，改变碳出口到湖泊。

A key goal of ecology is to understand how ecosystems process materials and energy.In this proposal, we focus on the energetic importance of terrestrially-derived dissolvedorganic matter (DOM) for lake ecosystems. Using laboratory-based studies, we willassess how terrestrial DOM quantity and quality influence the production and growthefficiency of pelagic bacteria. These two processes ultimately dictate how muchterrestrial DOM enters lake food webs. We will then incorporate the laboratory data intoa simulation model that will predict conditions under which terrestrial DOM is likely tobe energetically important for higher trophic levels. We are particularly interested inusing the model to assess terrestrial carbon flow in lakes with contrasting food webs andtrophic states. Finally, we will test model predictions by examining the stable isotopicsignatures (delta 13 C) in zooplankton from a wide array of New England lakes. Results fromthis study will clarify the energetic importance of spatially linked ecosystems andbroaden our understanding of how allochthonous inputs influence food web dynamics. Inaddition, our studies will aid in decision-making regarding land use activities that modifycarbon export to lakes such as agriculture, shoreline development, forestry, and wetlanddelineation.