Collaborative Research: Consequences of consumer adaptation for ecosystem responses to fertilization and food-web perturbations

合作研究：消费者适应生态系统对施肥和食物网扰动反应的后果

• 批准号: 0841864
• 负责人: Orlando Sarnelle
• 金额: $ 20.56万
• 依托单位: Michigan State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-03-15 至 2014-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0841864&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Consequences; consumer; adaptation

Increased nutrient input, from fertilizer and other sources, to aquatic systems (eutrophication) leads to degradation of water quality as a result of increases in algae (phytoplankton), and in particular, phytoplankton species that produce toxins. These toxins are a serious threat to human and livestock uses of surface waters in both freshwater and marine environments. One strategy for improving water quality is to manage the food web by increasing the abundance of small animals (zooplankton) that eat phytoplankton. Laboratory studies have suggested, however, that food-web manipulation may fail because of the strong negative effects of phytoplankton toxins on zooplankton growth and reproduction. Previous research has demonstrated that individuals of a common species of zooplankton (Daphnia pulicaria) vary greatly in their ability to grow on a diet of toxic phytoplankton. This project examines the consequences of adaptation to toxins for water quality in lakes in Michigan. In addition to the obvious potential impact of this research on the management of surface waters, the project focuses on two little-studied general phenomena in community ecology: how predator adaptation and trait variation within species affect species interactions. Consequently, the field experiments to be conducted will advance both basic and applied ecology. The project will also provide hands-on training in experimental ecology to graduate and undergraduate students at Michigan State University and Auburn University and provide related outreach activities to middle and high school students.

从化肥和其他来源向水生系统输入的养分增加（富营养化），由于藻类（浮游植物），特别是产生毒素的浮游植物种类的增加，导致水质恶化。 这些毒素对人类和牲畜在淡水和海洋环境中使用地表水造成严重威胁。 改善水质的策略之一是通过增加以浮游植物为食的小动物（浮游动物）的数量来管理食物网。 然而，实验室研究表明，由于浮游植物毒素对浮游动物生长和繁殖的强烈负面影响，食物网操纵可能会失败。 先前的研究表明，常见浮游动物（Daphnia pulicaria）物种的个体以有毒浮游植物为食的生长能力差异很大。 该项目研究了密歇根州湖泊适应毒素对水质的影响。 除了这项研究对地表水管理的明显潜在影响外，该项目还重点关注群落生态学中两个很少研究的普遍现象：捕食者适应和物种内性状变异如何影响物种相互作用。 因此，即将进行的实地实验将推动基础生态学和应用生态学的发展。 该项目还将为密歇根州立大学和奥本大学的研究生和本科生提供实验生态学的实践培训，并为初中生和高中生提供相关的外展活动。