RCN: Integrating Macroecological Pattern and Processes Across Scales (IMPPS)

RCN：跨尺度整合宏观生态模式和过程（IMPPS）

• 批准号: 0541625
• 负责人: Felisa Smith
• 金额: $ 49万
• 依托单位: University of New Mexico
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-07-15 至 2013-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0541625&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RCN; Integrating; Macroecological; Pattern; Processes

The body size of an organism reflects complex tradeoffs among numerous processes. Nevertheless, certain size-dependent relationships are repeatedly observed for mammals and other taxa. For example, the distribution of mammalian body sizes (i.e., minimum, maximum, and modal size) is remarkably similar across continents, despite little speices overlap. Moreover, distributions appear to have been similar for the past 50 million years. Do patterns arise because of common ancestry, because organisms exist in similar environments, or because they face similar design or life history constraints? The broad goal of this project is to assess the generality of body size patterns and investigate general underlying processes. The project assembles an international and distinguished team of scientists with expertise spanning the full spectrum of time, space, and various disciplines (e.g., paleontology, marine and terrestrial ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics). Anticipated results include the development of a comprehensive global database on life history, body size, geography, and phylogenetic relatedness for mammals as well as the development of novel analytical and statistical tools.The intellectual merit of the project stems from investigation of the influence of various intrinsic and extrinsic factors in generating 'invariant' body size patterns across vastly different scales of space and time. Since the largest mammals are often critically endangered (e.g., African elephant, blue whale) and small mammals are comparatively understudied, results will provide important insights into conservation challenges posed by species at extremes of size. Broader impacts include: 1) development of much needed analytic tools and methodologies of use to scientists working in many emerging fields, 2) a macroecological database freely available to the public and other scientists, 3) development of an integrated network of scientists including international collaborators and both minority and female scientists, 4) training and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students, and 5) outreach efforts targeted especially to underrepresented students including development of a course on macroecology.

生物体的大小反映了众多过程之间的复杂权衡。然而，某些大小依赖关系反复观察哺乳动物和其他类群。例如，哺乳动物体型的分布（即，最小值、最大值和模态大小）在各大洲之间非常相似，尽管物种几乎没有重叠。此外，在过去的5000万年里，分布似乎是相似的。 模式的出现是因为共同的祖先，是因为生物体存在于相似的环境中，还是因为它们面临相似的设计或生活史限制？这个项目的主要目标是评估身体大小模式的一般性，并调查一般的基本过程。该项目汇集了一个国际和杰出的科学家团队，他们的专业知识涵盖了时间，空间和各种学科（例如，古生物学、海洋和陆地生态学、进化生物学、遗传学）。 预期的成果包括一个全面的全球数据库的发展，生活史，身体大小，地理和哺乳动物的系统发育相关性，以及新的分析和统计工具的发展。该项目的智力价值源于调查的影响，各种内在和外在因素在产生“不变”的身体大小的模式，跨越巨大的不同尺度的空间和时间。由于最大的哺乳动物往往是极度濒危的（例如，非洲象，蓝鲸）和小型哺乳动物的研究相对不足，结果将提供重要的见解物种在极端的大小所带来的保护挑战。更广泛的影响包括：1）开发急需的分析工具和方法，供在许多新兴领域工作的科学家使用，2）公众和其他科学家免费使用的宏观生态数据库，3）发展包括国际合作者和少数民族及女性科学家在内的科学家综合网络，4）培训和指导研究生和本科生，以及5）特别针对代表性不足的学生开展外联工作，包括开设宏观生态学课程。