Niche and Neutral Processes Structuring A Damselfly Functional Group

构建豆娘功能组的利基和中性过程

基本信息

批准号：
0714782
负责人：
Mark McPeek
金额：
$ 62.29万
依托单位：
Dartmouth College
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Continuing Grant
财政年份：
2008
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2008-01-01 至 2013-12-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0714782&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Niche Neutral Processes Structuring Damselfly

项目摘要

Ecological theory is generally built on the assumption that different species occupy different niches in the environment. This means that for species to live together they must do different things, and what is beneficial to one species is detrimental to another. However, a tremendous amount of empirical evidence suggests that many closely related species are also nearly identical to one another. This means that features of the ecological world may not be maintaining species in a system at all. More importantly, some species may be slowly being driven extinct at imperceptible rates by interactions with other species in the system. This alternative is known as 'ecological drift', a process whereby species' relative abundances change according to a random walk that is akin to random genetic drift. This proposal describes research to evaluate these alternatives in damselfly assemblages found in lakes with fish across eastern North America. This work combines regional investigations of 80 lakes to search for broad-scale patterns with critical field experiments that test the fundamental predictions that can discriminate niche from neutral processes. Our ability to construct sound biodiversity management and preservation strategies will critically depend on our understanding of the mechanisms promoting high diversity. The broader impacts of the proposed activity are to engage undergraduates in all components of the scientific research enterprise, and to foster science curriculum for our local K-5 elementary schools.

生态理论通常建立在以下假设的基础上，即不同的物种在环境中占据不同的生态位。这意味着要使物种共同生活，它们必须做不同的事情，对一种物种有益的东西对另一种物种有害。但是，大量的经验证据表明，许多密切相关的物种也几乎相同。这意味着生态世界的特征可能根本无法维持系统。更重要的是，通过与系统中其他物种的相互作用，某些物种可能会在无法察觉的速率下缓慢驱动。该替代方案称为“生态漂移”，该过程根据随机步行而变化，类似于随机遗传漂移。该提案描述了在北美东部的鱼类中发现的湖泊中，评估这些替代方案的研究。这项工作结合了对80个湖泊的区域调查，以寻找广泛的模式与关键现场实验，这些实验测试了可以区分利基与中性过程的基本预测。我们构建合理的生物多样性管理和保存策略的能力将在很大程度上取决于我们对促进高度多样性的机制的理解。拟议活动的更广泛的影响是在科学研究企业的所有组成部分中吸引本科生，并为我们当地的K-5小学培养科学课程。