IRES: US - Jordan, Population Dynamics and Metabolic Interactions Between Giant Sea Anemones and Symbiotic Anemonefish On Red Sea Coral Reefs

该项目是为了支持美国-约旦合作的IRES，研究红海珊瑚礁上巨型海葵和共生海葵鱼之间的种群动态和代谢相互作用。美国PI是阿拉巴马州奥本大学生物科学系的Nanette Chadwick博士。外国合作者是Fouad Al-Horani博士和Maroof Khalaf博士，他们都在约旦亚喀巴的海洋科学站（MSS）。巨大的海葵和海葵鱼在珊瑚礁上形成了最显眼和可识别的共生相互作用之一。在红海的浅海礁上，四色海葵（Entacmaea quadricolor）和crispa海葵（Heteractis crispa）是数量最多的巨型海葵，它们是双带海葵鱼Amphiprion bicinctus的宿主。需要更多关于红海北部宿主海葵和海葵鱼种群动态模式的信息。约旦的珊瑚礁位于红海的北端，供养着大量的巨型海葵和海葵鱼。MSS的设施提供了一个独特的机会，将美国和约旦科学家的专业知识结合在一个协同项目中，以阐明这些生态上重要的珊瑚礁生物的种群动态和相互作用的生理机制。在第一年，学生将提出关于静态种群模型在海葵和海葵鱼种群大小结构中的应用的假设，以及关于宿主海葵的生态生理学的假设。实地工作将包括在靠近海洋安全区域的一个确定的珊瑚礁区域内分别标记海葵和共生鱼类，并收集关于这两个物种的丰度、共生关系模式和种群结构的基线数据。实验室工作将包括测量宿主海葵的呼吸和光合作用，以确定客鱼对宿主代谢的影响。学生将从3种类型的数学模型中选择应用于人口统计数据。在第二年，学生将根据自第一次人口普查以来海葵和海葵鱼种群的变化，以及海葵鱼的生态生理学，对动态信息在种群模型中的应用进行假设。实地工作将包括最近的人口普查和应用动态人口模型。学生们还将研究海葵鱼体内的氧通量模式。在第三年，学生将提出关于多年信息在种群模型中的应用的假设，以及海葵和海葵鱼在一起测试时的生态生理学。知识价值：本项目将增进对具有重要生态意义的巨型海葵和海葵鱼种群动态的了解，以及它们在珊瑚礁受到干扰后恢复的潜力。它还将揭示宿主海葵物种之一作为鱼类苗圃栖息地的程度。阐明刺胞动物和鱼类之间的相互作用如何影响它们的氧通量模式，将增强对珊瑚礁生物相互联系方式的理解，并揭示珊瑚礁共生生态生理机制的复杂性。更广泛的影响：该项目将为这些生物在世界其他地区的可持续收获提供科学基础，这些生物被收集用于观赏水族馆贸易。它还将提高学生参与者的环境意识、文化理解和国际视野，并将使他们接触到中东生物地理和政治上重要地区的阿拉伯穆斯林国家的文化。21名美国学生将接触到用于分析海葵种群动态的实地调查方法和数学建模技术。他们将与该领域的两名约旦专家合作，后者将指导学生学习鱼类学技术和海葵种群动态建模，以及评估受常驻鱼类影响的宿主海葵的呼吸和光合作用。在本课程中，学生将发展科学假设，设计个人研究项目，并以口头和书面形式分析和展示他们的结果。他们将在一个独特的珊瑚礁环境中接触实验室和实地研究技术。该项目由国际科学与工程办公室和综合有机系统司资助。

0733604ChadwickThe project is to support an IRES for US-Jordan Collaboration on population dynamics and metabolic interactions between giant sea anemones and symbiotic anemonefish on Red Sea coral reefs. The US PI is Dr. Nanette Chadwick, Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. The foreign collaborators are Dr. Fouad Al-Horani and Dr. Maroof Khalaf, both at the Marine Science Station (MSS) in Aqaba, Jordan. Giant sea anemones and anemonefish form one of the most conspicuous and recognizable symbiotic interactions on coral reefs. In the Red Sea, individuals of Entacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis crispa are the most abundant giant sea anemones on shallow reefs, where they host the two-banded anemonefish Amphiprion bicinctus. More information is needed on patterns of population dynamics in both host anemones and anemonefish in the northern Red Sea. The coral reefs of Jordan at the northern tip of the Red Sea support large populations of these giant sea anemones and anemonefishes. The facilities of the MSS provide a unique opportunity to combine the expertise of U.S. and Jordanian scientists in a synergistic program to elucidate population dynamics and physiological mechanisms of interaction in these ecologically important reef organisms. In the first year, students will develop hypotheses concerning the application of static population models to the population size structures of sea anemones and anemonefish, and concerning the ecophysiology of host sea anemones. Field work will consist of individually marking sea anemones and symbiotic fish within a defined reef area adjacent to the MSS, and collecting baseline data on abundance, patterns of symbiotic association, and population structure of members of both species. Laboratory work will involve measurements of respiration and photosynthesis of host sea anemones to determine effects of the guest fish on host metabolism. Students will select from 3 types of mathematical models to apply to the demographic data. In the second year, students will develop hypotheses on the application of dynamic information to population models, based on change in the sea anemone and anemonefish populations since the first census, and on the ecophysiology of anemonefishes. Field work will consist of recensusing the populations and applying dynamic demographic models. Students also will examine patterns of oxygen flux in anemonefishes. In the third year, students will develop hypotheses concerning application of multi-year information to population models, and on the ecophysiology of both sea anemones and anemonefish when tested together. Intellectual merit: This project will increase understanding of the population dynamics of ecologically-important giant sea anemones and anemonefish, and their potential for recovery following disturbances on coral reefs. It also will reveal the extent to which one of the host anemone species serves as a nursery habitat for fish. Elucidation of how interaction among cnidarians and fish affects their patterns of oxygen flux will enhance understanding of the ways in which reef organisms are interconnected, and reveal the complexity of ecophysiological mechanisms in a coral reef symbiosis. Broader impacts: This project will contribute to a scientific basis for the sustainable harvest of these organisms in other parts of the world where they are collected for the ornamental aquarium trade. It also will enhance the environmental awareness, cultural understanding, and international outlook of student participants, and will expose them to the culture of an Arabic Muslim country in the biogeographically and politically important region of the Middle East. 21 U.S. students will be exposed to field survey methods and mathematical modeling techniques for analysis of population dynamics in sea anemones. They will work with two Jordanian experts in the field who will mentor the students in ichthyological techniques and modeling of population dynamics in the anemonefish and in assessment of respiration and photosynthesis in host sea anemones as affected by resident fish. In this program, students will develop scientific hypotheses, design individual research projects, and analyze and present their results orally and in written form. They will be exposed to laboratory and field research techniques in a unique coral reef environment. This project is funded by the Office of International Science and Engineering and the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems.