Effects of salt marsh (Spartina alterniflora) genotypic diversity and the associated community on population and community processes

盐沼（互花米草）基因型多样性和相关群落对种群和群落过程的影响

• 批准号: 0928279
• 负责人: Ralph Grubbs
• 金额: $ 38.07万
• 依托单位: Florida State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-08-01 至 2013-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0928279&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Effects; salt; marsh; Spartina; alterniflora

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Ecological research on biodiversity has typically focused on the effects of species diversity, yet a growing body of evidence points to the importance of diversity within species, i.e., genetic variation, for population, community, and ecosystem level processes. This project examines the relationship between plant genetic diversity and associated species in the ecologically and economically valuable salt marsh ecosystem along the Gulf Coast of the United States. These salt marshes are dominated by a single plant species, Spartina alterniflora, but plants differ genetically in ecologically-important traits such as growth rate, morphology, and competitive ability, and several faunal species closely associated with Spartina can have strong impacts on plant biomass and productivity. This project will quantify the degree of morphological variation among Spartina genotypes grown in a common environment, and investigate the consequences of this diversity to other species at multiple spatial scales in marshes along the Gulf Coast of Florida. Field experiments will be conducted to examine the relationship between individual Spartina genotypes and key associated species, and to experimentally investigate the interactive effects of Spartina genetic diversity and associated species presence on marsh productivity. This project will provide critical information on the ecological role of genetic diversity in an important marine foundation species, and will advance our general understanding of the interaction between genetic diversity in plants and the faunal communities that depend on them. Salt marshes and other coastal ecosystems are increasingly impacted by development, fishing, and other human activities, and have experienced significant declines in some areas. Genetic diversity can be an important component of transplant success of marine vegetation as well as the productivity and diversity of the associated community. Thus, this project will have implications for salt marsh restoration, currently the focus of significant effort along the Gulf Coast. In addition, outreach efforts through public events hosted in partnership with the St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve will educate the public about salt marshes and environmental science in general. This project will also provide research training in ecology and molecular techniques for graduate and undergraduate students.

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。生物多样性的生态研究通常集中在物种多样性的影响上，但越来越多的证据表明物种多样性的重要性，即，遗传变异，种群，社区和生态系统水平的过程。 该项目研究了美国墨西哥湾沿岸沿着具有生态和经济价值的盐沼生态系统中植物遗传多样性与相关物种之间的关系。 这些盐沼主要由一个单一的植物物种，互花米草，但植物不同的遗传生态重要的性状，如生长速度，形态和竞争能力，和几个区系物种密切相关的米草植物生物量和生产力有很大的影响。 该项目将量化米草基因型在共同环境中生长的形态变异程度，并调查这种多样性的后果，其他物种在多个空间尺度的沼泽沿着墨西哥湾沿岸的佛罗里达。 将进行田间试验，以检查个体米草基因型和关键的相关物种之间的关系，并通过实验研究米草遗传多样性和相关物种的存在对沼泽生产力的相互作用。 该项目将提供关于遗传多样性在一个重要的海洋基础物种中的生态作用的重要信息，并将促进我们对植物遗传多样性与依赖它们的动物群落之间的相互作用的全面了解。盐沼和其他沿海生态系统越来越受到开发、捕鱼和其他人类活动的影响，在某些地区已经出现了严重的衰退。 遗传多样性是海洋植被移植成功的重要组成部分，也是相关群落的生产力和多样性的重要组成部分。 因此，该项目将对盐沼恢复产生影响，目前盐沼恢复是墨西哥湾沿岸沿着重要工作的重点。 此外，通过与圣约瑟夫湾水生生物保护区合作举办的公共活动开展的外联工作将教育公众了解盐沼和一般环境科学。 该项目还将为研究生和本科生提供生态学和分子技术方面的研究培训。