Collaborative Research: Benthic Faunal Feeding Dynamics on the Antarctic Shelf and the Effects of Global Climate Change on Bentho-Pelagic Coupling

合作研究：南极陆架底栖动物摄食动态以及全球气候变化对底栖-远洋耦合的影响

• 批准号: 0636806
• 负责人: Craig Smith
• 金额: $ 44.71万
• 依托单位: University of Hawaii
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-09-15 至 2012-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0636806&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Benthic; Faunal; Feeding

AbstractThe Antarctic Peninsula region exhibits one of the largest warming trends in the world. Climate change in this region will reduce the duration of winter sea-ice cover, altering both the pelagic ecosystem and bentho-pelagic coupling. We postulate that shelf benthic ecosystems are highly suitable for tracking climate change because they act as "low-pass" filters, removing high-frequency seasonal noise and responding to longer-term trends in pelagic ecosystem structure and export production. We propose to conduct a 3-year study of bentho-pelagic coupling along a latitudinal climate gradient on the Antarctic Peninsula to explore the potential impacts of climate change (e.g., reduction in sea-ice duration) on Antarctic shelf ecosystems. We will conduct three cruises during summer and winter regimes along a 5- station transect from Smith Island to Marguerite Bay, evaluating a broad range of benthic ecological and biogeochemical processes. Specifically, we will examine the feeding strategies of benthic deposit feeders along this climatic gradient to elucidate the potential response of this major trophic group to climatic warming. In addition, we will (1) quantify carbon and nitrogen cycling and burial at the seafloor and (2) document changes in megafaunal, macrofaunal, and microbial community structure along this latitudinal gradient. We expect to develop predictive insights into the response of Antarctic shelf ecosystems to some of the effects of climate warming (e.g., a reduction in winter sea-ice duration). The proposed research will considerably broaden the ecological and carbon-flux measurements made as parts of the Palmer Station LTER and GLOBEC programs by providing a complementary benthic component. This project also will promote science education from the 9th grade to graduate-student levels. We will partner with the NSF-sponsored Southeastern Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence to reach students of all races in all areas of NC, SC and GA. The project will also benefit students at the post secondary level by supporting three graduate and two undergraduate students. During each of the three field excursions, NCSU and UH students will travel to Chile and Antarctica to participate in scientific research. Lastly, all three PIs will incorporate material from this project into their undergraduate and graduate courses.

摘要 南极半岛地区是世界上变暖趋势最大的地区之一。该地区的气候变化将减少冬季海冰覆盖的持续时间，从而改变远洋生态系统和底栖-远洋耦合。我们假设陆架底栖生态系统非常适合跟踪气候变化，因为它们充当“低通”滤波器，消除高频季节性噪音并响应远洋生态系统结构和出口生产的长期趋势。我们建议对南极半岛沿纬度气候梯度的底栖-中上层耦合进行为期三年的研究，以探讨气候变化（例如海冰持续时间缩短）对南极陆架生态系统的潜在影响。我们将在夏季和冬季沿着从史密斯岛到玛格丽特湾的 5 个站点横断面进行 3 次巡航，评估广泛的底栖生态和生物地球化学过程。具体来说，我们将研究沿该气候梯度的底栖沉积物捕食者的捕食策略，以阐明该主要营养群体对气候变暖的潜在反应。此外，我们将（1）量化碳氮循环和海底埋藏，（2）记录沿该纬度梯度的巨型动物、大型动物和微生物群落结构的变化。我们期望对南极陆架生态系统对气候变暖的某些影响（例如冬季海冰持续时间的缩短）的反应进行预测性洞察。拟议的研究将通过提供互补的底栖成分，大大拓宽作为帕尔默站 LTER 和 GLOBEC 计划一部分进行的生态和碳通量测量。该项目还将促进从九年级到研究生水平的科学教育。我们将与国家科学基金会资助的东南海洋科学教育卓越中心合作，覆盖北卡罗来纳州、南卡罗来纳州和佐治亚州所有地区的所有种族的学生。该项目还将通过支持三名研究生和两名本科生使中学后学生受益。在这三次实地考察期间，北卡罗来纳州立大学和夏威夷大学的学生将前往智利和南极洲参加科学研究。最后，所有三位 PI 都将把该项目的材料纳入他们的本科生和研究生课程中。