RUI: A Geomorphic-Tropic Hypothesis for Benthic-Pelagic Coupling in Arctic Lakes

芮：北极湖泊底栖-远洋耦合的地貌-营养假说湖泊研究传统上侧重于通过营养物质或食物网控制浮游植物或远洋生物的生产。然而，越来越多的人认识到，湖底或底栖生物栖息地的藻类和无脊椎动物生产以及底栖-中上层耦合对湖泊食物网和全湖生产力也很重要。此外，来自周围陆地植物群落的有机物质在为湖泊食物网提供燃料方面的作用一直被低估。在北极湖泊中，最近的研究表明，与陆地景观的耦合和底栖-远洋耦合对湖泊的食物网和生产力可能特别重要。该项目将研究湖泊食物网的景观控制、浮游生境和底栖生境之间藻类生产力的分布，以及这些生境通过食物网以及化学和物理过程的耦合。方法包括使用稳定的氮同位素15N进行全湖示踪实验，在受限的景观环境中比较湖泊与不同鱼类群落的差异，对有机物质来源和食物网的微观操纵，以及建模。这项研究将有助于更好地理解景观控制和底栖-远洋耦合对湖泊食物网和生产力的影响。这项工作将培养本科生和研究生，并将用于阿拉斯加和其他北部地区的自然资源经理，这些地区的原始湖泊目前正受到全球变暖、富营养化和其他干扰的威胁。

RUI: A GEOMORPHIC-TROPHIC HYPOTHESIS FOR BENTHIC-PELAGIC COUPLING IN ARCTIC LAKES Studies of lakes have traditionally focused on control of phytoplankton, or pelagic, production by nutrients or food webs. However, there is growing recognition that algal and invertebrate production on the lake bottom, or benthic habitat, and benthic-pelagic coupling are also important to lake food webs and whole-lake productivity. Furthermore, the role organic matter from the surrounding terrestrial plant community in fueling lake food webs has been underemphasized. In arctic lakes, recent research has shown that coupling to the terrestrial landscape and benthic-pelagic coupling may be especially important to lake food webs and productivity. The project will examine landscape control of lake food webs, the distribution of algal productivity between pelagic and benthic habitats, and coupling of those habitats through food web and chemical and physical processes. Approaches include whole-lake tracer experiments using 15N, a stable nitrogen isotope, comparison of lakes with contrasting fish communities in constrasting landscape settings, microcosms manipulations of organic matter sources and food webs, and modeling. This research will result in improved understanding of landscape control and benthic-pelagic coupling to lake food webs and productivity. The work will train undergraduate and graduate students, and will be used by natural resource managers in Alaska and other northern regions where pristine lakes are currently being threatened by global warming, eutrophication, and other disturbances.