Integrating field methods and numerical models to quantify the links between larval transport, connectivity, and population dynamics

这个耦合场和建模研究项目的目的是解决基本的，前沿的问题，这将大大提高我们的物理生物相互作用的理解在浮游生物和量化如何远洋生命阶段影响人口动态。现场方法和数值模拟的技术进步将被集成和应用，以调查和比较如何流通模式，幼虫运输，亚种群连接，和人口动态的东部牡蛎，Crassostrea virginica，响应环境的变化和栖息地的改变。该项目将提供信息，大大加强牡蛎的恢复和管理。 物理-生物相互作用是理解鱼类、双壳类和甲壳类动物早期生命史的一个组成部分，也是影响其繁殖种群招募年际变化的过程。结合建模和现场的方法建立在现有的国家的最先进的模型，它采用了一种新的技术，将显着提高我们的能力，调查原位双壳类幼虫动态，它将产生关键信息的早期生活牡蛎（产卵时间，幼虫行为），这是必要的，以提高我们的理解和预测招聘过程。 这项研究还将通过在幼虫运输和完整的生命周期模型之间建立定量联系，促进我们对具有远洋生命阶段的生物种群动态的理解。这样做，它将提供更好的了解之间的相互关系和相对重要性，幼虫运输，不同的珊瑚礁系统的连接，成年人的成长，死亡率和配子生产，以及这些关系是如何受到影响的物理条件和生境的变化。 虽然集中在牡蛎，Crassostrea virginica，生态研究和比较将导致我们的理解之间的相互作用的物理条件和一套双壳类物种的显着增强。该计划将通过提供新的见解和理解，提高渔业管理能力，造福社会。开发的数值工具将具有适当的分辨率，有助于指导牡蛎恢复计划，定位最佳保护区（即，海洋保护区），并告知牡蛎收获的空间管理。虽然产生的定量工具和信息将直接支持牡蛎的管理和恢复活动的国家和联邦合作伙伴在切萨皮克湾，在这个项目中开发的研究结果和工具将适用于许多其他系统的双壳类包括商业和休闲渔业的重要组成部分。一个博士研究生将在现场和数值模拟研究在这个耦合场和建模程序的培训。除了在前沿领域获得坚实的基础，学生将有机会发展科学沟通技能，并与管理机构代表互动。

This coupled field-and-modeling research project is designed to address fundamental, cutting-edge questions that will significantly enhance our understanding of physical-biological interactions in planktonic organisms and quantify how pelagic life stages influence population dynamics. Technological advances in field methodology and numerical modeling will be integrated and applied to investigate and compare how circulation patterns, larval transport, sub-population connectivity, and population dynamics of the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, respond to environmental variability and habitat alteration. This project will provide information that will significantly enhance the restoration and management of oysters. Physical-biological interactions are an integral part of understanding fish, bivalve, and crustacean early-life history and the processes that affect inter-annual variability in their recruitment to reproducing populations. The combined modeling and field approach builds on existing state-of-the-art models, it applies a new technology that will significantly advance our ability to investigate in-situ bivalve larvae dynamics, and it will generate critical information about the early life of oysters (timing of spawning, larval behavior) that is necessary for enhancing our understanding and prediction of recruitment processes. This research will also advance our understanding of population dynamics of organisms with a pelagic life stages by making quantitative links between larval transport and a full life-cycle model. In doing so, it will provide improved understanding of the inter-relationships between, and relative importance of, larval transport, the connectivity of different reef systems, and adult growth, mortality, and gamete production, and how these relationships are influenced by changes in physical conditions and habitat. Although focused on the oyster, Crassostrea virginica, the ecological studies and comparisons will result in a significant enhancement in our understanding of the interactions between physical conditions and a suite of bivalve species. This program will benefit society by providing new insights and understanding that will enhance fisheries management capabilities. The numerical tools developed will have the resolution appropriate for helping to guide oyster restoration programs, locate optimal sanctuaries (i.e., marine protected areas), and inform spatial management of oyster harvest. Although the quantitative tools and information generated will directly support oyster management and restoration activities of state and federal partners in Chesapeake Bay, the findings and tools developed in this project will be applicable to many other systems where bivalves comprise an important component of commercial and recreational fisheries. A PhD graduate student will be trained in field and numerical modeling research in this coupled field-and-modeling program. In addition to gaining a solid foundation in a cutting-edge field, the student will have the opportunity to develop science communication skills and interact with management agency representatives.