Collaborative Research: Interactions Among Keystone Species: Effects of Termites and Ungulates on Biodiversity in East African Savannas.

合作研究：关键物种之间的相互作用：白蚁和有蹄类动物对东非稀树草原生物多样性的影响。

• 批准号: 0519223
• 负责人: Alison Brody
• 金额: $ 50.5万
• 依托单位: University of Vermont & State Agricultural College
• 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: 2005-09-15 至 2011-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0519223&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Interactions; Among; Keystone

Intellectual Merit: Species do not all function equally in their native habitats: some species have profound effects on ecological communities and their elimination could cause a collapse of the community and a sharp reduction of local and regional biological diversity. Understanding the importance of species' interactions and their impact on communities is thus a central goal of ecologists and conservation biologists, and is the central aim of this work. The overarching goal is to examine the interactions between termites and large vertebrates in supporting the biological diversity of East African savannas, and to understand how these groups affect the distribution, diversity and abundance of other species. Such an understanding is of paramount importance as these habitats are lost, fragmented, and modified through agricultural use. Termites have been identified as key species, crucial to the functioning of entire ecosystems. In East Africa, termite mounds are a common feature of the landscape. Through their mound building activities, termites enhance soil nutrients and thus may be affect the diversity of the plants and insects that live in close proximity to these mounds. Vertebrates have also been implicated as playing a large role in the ecology of savanna habitats. However, the interactions between termites and herbivores and their effects on communities have rarely been examined. This work will provide novel data on the interactions between termites and vertebrates in providing habitat and resources that structure plant and animal communities across much of East Africa. These data are critical to understanding the forces that generate and maintain habitat heterogeneity and species diversity and to managing savanna ecosystems. Broader Impacts: The project will support one full-time Post-doctoral Researcher, one part-time Post-doctoral Researcher, two graduate students (one in Kenya, one in the U.S.), three full-time technicians (two in Kenya, one in the US), and two part-time field assistants each year. The project will also be used for teaching at least 20 students per year through UC Santa Barbara's Kenya Wildlands Program. Yearly meetings will be held with the Laikipia Wildlife Forum, which includes scientists, local ranch managers and traditional Maasai pastoralists, to discuss the results of the project. The results will be disseminated to scientists in Kenya at the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, the National Museums of Kenya and the University of Nairobi. The project represents a significant contribution to human resource development, bridge-building among scientific institutions and among the scientific and lay communities of East Africa, and education in a geographical region where such opportunities are rare. This award is co-funded by the Office of International Science and Engineering.

智力优势：并非所有物种在其原生生境中的功能都是平等的：有些物种对生态群落有着深远的影响，消除这些物种可能导致群落崩溃，并使当地和区域生物多样性急剧减少。 因此，了解物种相互作用的重要性及其对群落的影响是生态学家和保护生物学家的中心目标，也是这项工作的中心目标。总体目标是研究白蚁和大型脊椎动物之间的相互作用，以支持东非稀树草原的生物多样性，并了解这些群体如何影响其他物种的分布，多样性和丰度。这样的理解是至关重要的，因为这些栖息地正在失去，破碎，并通过农业使用修改。白蚁已被确定为关键物种，对整个生态系统的功能至关重要。 在东非，白蚁土丘是景观的常见特征。 通过它们的土丘建筑活动，白蚁提高土壤养分，从而可能影响生活在这些土丘附近的植物和昆虫的多样性。脊椎动物也被认为在稀树草原栖息地的生态中发挥着重要作用。然而，白蚁和食草动物之间的相互作用及其对群落的影响很少被研究。这项工作将提供有关白蚁和脊椎动物之间相互作用的新数据，为东非大部分地区的植物和动物群落提供栖息地和资源。这些数据对于理解产生和维持生境异质性和物种多样性的力量以及管理稀树草原生态系统至关重要。更广泛的影响：该项目将资助一名全职博士后研究员，一名兼职博士后研究员，两名研究生（一名在肯尼亚，一名在美国），三名全职技术人员（两名在肯尼亚，一名在美国），每年两名兼职现场助理。该项目还将用于通过加州大学圣巴巴拉的肯尼亚荒地计划每年至少教学20名学生。将与莱基皮亚野生动物论坛举行年度会议，讨论该项目的成果，该论坛包括科学家、当地牧场经理和传统的马赛牧民。研究结果将分发给肯尼亚国际昆虫生理学和生态学中心、肯尼亚国家博物馆和内罗毕大学的科学家。该项目对人力资源开发、东非科学机构之间以及科学界和非科学界之间的桥梁建设以及在这种机会很少的地理区域的教育作出了重大贡献。 该奖项由国际科学与工程办公室共同资助。