Dissertation Research: Seabirds to Coral Reefs: Assessing Cross-ecosystem Nutrient Subsidies in Threatened Communities

论文研究：海鸟到珊瑚礁：评估受威胁社区的跨生态系统营养补贴

• 批准号: 1110815
• 负责人: Donald Croll
• 金额: $ 1.5万
• 依托单位: University of California-Santa Cruz
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-06-15 至 2014-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1110815&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Seabirds; Coral; Reefs

This doctoral dissertation improvement project will study the effects of seabird-derived nutrients on coral reef ecosystems across multiple atolls in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Specifically, the study will test the hypothesis that sea bird colonies augment nutrient import to coral reefs, leading to increased coral reef algal cover and abundance of herbivorous fishes. Three approaches will be used: a survey comparing coral reef communities with and without seabird colonies, an analysis of energy pathways from producers to consumers in single reefs, and a transplant experiment between coral reefs with and without seabird colonies.Coral reef ecosystems and seabird colonies are two of the world?s most endangered marine ecosystems. Understanding the potential indirect impact of seabirds on coral reefs is important for the design of coral reef preservation efforts. This study will promote new synergies in international conservation efforts.

该博士论文改进项目将研究海鸟来源的营养物质对夏威夷群岛西北部多个环礁珊瑚礁生态系统的影响。具体来说，该研究将检验以下假设：海鸟群增加了珊瑚礁的营养输入，导致珊瑚礁藻类覆盖面积增加和草食性鱼类丰富。 将使用三种方法：比较有和没有海鸟群落的珊瑚礁群落的调查，对单个珊瑚礁从生产者到消费者的能量途径的分析，以及有和没有海鸟群落的珊瑚礁之间的移植实验。珊瑚礁生态系统和海鸟群落是世界上最濒危的两个海洋生态系统。 了解海鸟对珊瑚礁的潜在间接影响对于珊瑚礁保护工作的设计非常重要。 这项研究将促进国际保护工作的新协同作用。