RUI: Inducible Defenses and Community Ecology: An Integrated Approach.

RUI：诱导防御和群落生态学：一种综合方法。

• 批准号: 0444939
• 负责人: Andrew Turner
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Clarion University of Pennsylvania
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-04-01 至 2011-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0444939&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Inducible; Defenses; Community; Ecology

RUI: Inducible Defenses and Community Ecology: An Integrated ApproachAndrew M. TurnerClarion University Predators play a key role in maintaining the structure and function of ecological communities, but the mechanism by which they do so is not clear. Predation has traditionally been studied in terms of how predators alter prey population size, but predators also induce shifts in prey behavior, morphology, and life-history. The non-lethal effects of predators may cascade through ecological systems, altering populations and communities. If true, a full understanding of community structure would depend on a detailed knowledge of not just predator diets, but also how predators alter prey traits. The work outlined in this proposal is aimed at integrating an understanding of prey trait shifts into the larger realm of community ecology. The studies employ freshwater snails and their predators in laboratory experiments, field experiments, and field surveys in order to determine if predator-induced trait shifts alter community organization. Freshwater snails are an ideal model system with which to address the role of trait shifts in ecological systems because their traits are quite plastic, their short generation times facilitate study of the population level effects of trait shifts, they are readily reared in captivity, and they are key players in many aquatic ecosystems. The results of these studies will further our understanding of how natural communities function, thereby enhancing our ability to manage natural resources and conserve biological diversity. The research program places a large emphasis on undergraduate training and integration with teaching and teacher training.

RUI：诱导防御和群落生态学：综合方法安德鲁·M·特纳克拉里昂大学捕食者在维持生态群落的结构和功能方面发挥着关键作用，但其作用机制尚不清楚。 捕食传统上是根据捕食者如何改变猎物种群规模来研究的，但捕食者也会引起猎物行为、形态和生活史的变化。 捕食者的非致命影响可能会级联到整个生态系统，改变种群和社区。 如果属实，对群落结构的全面了解不仅取决于对捕食者饮食的详细了解，还取决于对捕食者如何改变猎物特征的详细了解。 该提案中概述的工作旨在将对猎物性状转变的理解整合到更大的群落生态领域中。 这些研究利用淡水蜗牛及其捕食者进行实验室实验、野外实验和实地调查，以确定捕食者引起的性状变化是否会改变群落组织。 淡水蜗牛是解决性状转变在生态系统中的作用的理想模型系统，因为它们的性状具有相当大的可塑性，其较短的世代时间有利于研究性状转变对种群水平的影响，它们很容易在圈养中饲养，并且它们是许多水生生态系统的关键参与者。 这些研究的结果将进一步加深我们对自然群落如何运作的理解，从而提高我们管理自然资源和保护生物多样性的能力。 该研究项目非常重视本科生培训以及与教学和教师培训的结合。