Testing the Effects of Intraspecific Phenotypic Variation on Community Structure and Dynamics in Coastal Lakes: Revisiting Size Selective Predation by Alewives

长期以来，生态学家一直在研究物种之间的生物多样性对生态过程的影响。 例如，物种身份影响生态相互作用，优势种、关键种或生态系统工程师的存在或缺失可以调节群落结构和生态系统功能。 相比之下，我们对物种内部的变异如何影响生态相互作用知之甚少。本项目将测试溯河产卵和内陆产卵的Alosa pseudoharengus种群之间生活史的变化对湖泊群落结构和生态系统功能的影响。 内陆灰蝶是一个关键物种，内陆种群和溯河产卵种群之间的表型差异预计会影响湖泊生态系统。 全湖实验和比较研究以及小规模实验的结果将解决有关物种内生物多样性如何影响群落结构和生态系统功能的基本问题。 这项工作有三大影响。 首先，研究解决的问题，直接管理的影响，保护和管理的溯河产卵alewives，联邦政府列出的物种保护的关注。 其次，研究将使当地利益相关者参与湖泊采样工作，提供推广机会和补充数据收集。第三，研究将提供1996年NRC关于淡水生态系统教育状况的报告中概述的水生生态学方面的跨学科培训。

Ecologists have long studied consequences of biological diversity among species on ecological processes. For example, it is well established that species identity influences ecological interactions and that the presence or absence of dominant species, keystone species, or ecosystem engineers can regulate community structure and ecosystem function. In contrast, much less is known about how variation within a species affects ecological interactions. This project will test the effects of variation in life history among populations of anadromous and landlocked alewives, Alosa pseudoharengus, on community structure and ecosystem function in lakes. Landlocked alewives are a keystone species, and phenotypic differences between landlocked and anadromous populations are expected to affect lake ecosystems. Results from whole-lake experimental and comparative studies, and small-scale experiments will addresses fundamental questions about how biological diversity within a species influences community structure and ecosystem function. There are three broad impacts of this work. First, the research addresses questions with direct management implications for the conservation and management of anadromous alewives, a federally listed species of conservation concern. Second, the research will engage local stakeholders in a lake sampling effort providing both outreach opportunities and supplemental data collection. Third, the research will provide interdisciplinary training in aquatic ecology as outlined in the 1996 NRC report on the status of education in freshwater ecosystems.