Genes to Ecosystems

“基因到生态系统”是一项基于Thomas Whitham博士的NSF资助研究（#0425908“综合生物学研究前沿（FBIR）：生态基因组学和遗传性：扩展表型的后果”）的公共受众交流研究（CRPA）提案。“从基因到生态系统”有两个主要的教育目标：向广大公众介绍看待生态系统的新方法，并展示科学是如何发生的，并产生对公众有意义的实际结果。CRPA的申请将支持为“地球笔记”制作一个一小时的纪录片、播客、独立DVD和广播片段。这些可交付成果针对的是美国西部的非正式学习者和公共电视观众。这部纪录片将跟随1982年开始的一项研究项目，该项目展示了基础物种（在本例中是棉杨树）的遗传变异如何影响从微生物到大型动物的社区成员。基因到生态系统的概念引入了理解生态系统的新方法，对保护生物多样性、生态恢复、应对气候变化和其他公共政策问题具有实际意义。该项目将由北亚利桑那大学的私家侦探托马斯·惠瑟姆博士和联合私家侦探丹尼尔·布恩管理。

"Genes to Ecosystems" is a Communicating Research to Public Audiences (CRPA) proposal based upon the Dr. Thomas Whitham's NSF funded research (#0425908 "Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research (FBIR): Ecological Genomics and Heritability: Consequences of Extended Phenotypes"). "Genes to Ecosystems" has two main educational objectives: to introduce a wide sector of the public to new ways of looking at ecosystems, and to show how science happens, with practical outcomes that are meaningful to the public. The CRPA request will support the production of a one-hour documentary film, podcasts, a stand-alone DVD, and radio segments for "Earth Notes." These deliverables are targeted to informal learners and public television viewers in the western United States. The documentary will follow a research project begun in 1982 which demonstrates how genetic variation within a foundation species--in this case cottonwood trees--impacts community members ranging from microbes to mega-fauna. The concept of genes-to-ecosystems has introduced new ways of understanding ecosystems which have practical implications for conserving biodiversity, ecological restoration, coping with climate change, and other public policy issues. The project will be managed by the PI, Dr. Thomas Whitham, and co-PI, Daniel Boone, both at Northern Arizona University.