RUI Collaborative Research: Spatial Realism in the Mussel Bed Disturbance Paradigm

RUI 合作研究：贻贝床扰动范式中的空间现实主义

• 批准号: 1131201
• 负责人: Corey Garza
• 金额: $ 4.83万
• 依托单位: University Corporation at Monterey Bay
• 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: 2011-08-15 至 2016-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1131201&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Collaborative; Research; Spatial; Realism

Our understanding of how physical disturbance shapes the structure of populations and communities owes much to field studies of wave-generated gap formation in mussel beds. Prior studies depict mussel beds as a non-equilibrium system, in which disturbance is spatially unpredictable, generating a random patchwork of mussel cover and gaps. This project will test assumptions and predictions of an alternative view -- that disturbance shows predictable landscape patterns that depend not merely on spatial distribution of external forcing (wave stress) but also on biological processes determining the structure of the aggregation. Specifically, spatially varying mussel productivity (recruitment and growth), physiological stress, and predation interact to produce landscape patterns in the structure of the mussel cover. Certain regions of the mussel bed develop as mono-layers attached directly to the rock, resisting disturbance. Other regions develop in multi-layered configurations that when very deep force superficial mussels to attach solely to adjacent mussels instead of the rock surface, and cause interior mussels to only weakly attach to either rock or one another, favoring propagating disturbances. Therefore, spatial patterns of gap formation and recovery emerge from a unified landscape process.Field work for this project emphasizes construction of a detailed GIS database using some innovative sampling methods applied to 10 mussel bed sites in Barkley Sound, British Columbia. GIS data layers for each site include wave force, topography (tidal height, slope, and aspect), mussel size structure, mussel bed thickness, differentiation of layering, and size-specific attachment strengths stratified by layer. GIS interpolations and regression analyses will be used to first examine assumptions of the hypothetical landscape process and then test specific predictions regarding spatial patterns in the occurrence of disturbance and recovery. Finally, controlled field experiments will test the key proposition that different mussel bed structures cause different resistance to-, extent of-, and recovery from disturbance.Intellectual Merit: The landscape disturbance hypothesis includes several processes that differ from previous conceptualizations of disturbance in this system: steady state (equilibrium) structures influence the likelihood that hydrodynamic stresses initiate a disturbance and whether once initiated the disturbance will propagate. Thus, equilibrium processes condition essential features of the disturbance process. Disturbance is predictable within probabilistic limits, and the landscape patterns of disturbance reflect in considerable measure the biological characteristics of a foundation species. This reframing of the disturbance paradigm may apply to a diverse array of layered ecosystems subject to perturbations (e.g. biofilms, coral reefs, forests).Broader Impacts: The project forms an alliance among a Minority Serving Institution (Cal State LA), a comprehensive university with a unique center for marine spatial analysis (Cal State Monterey Bay) and a Tier 1 Research Institution (UCLA). The partners have considerable mentoring and outreach support systems to draw upon. The project creates a co- mentoring program for Cal State LA students, providing an intensive introduction to spatial analysis of marine ecosystems, an unmatched field research experience, and exposure to research labs of a PhD granting institution, including potential PhD advisors. Numerous educational enrichment and training activities are planned for the three campuses and the field venue, Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. The project will broaden participation of underrepresented minorities in biological oceanography on the West Coast, and provide a unique resource in that regard. Additional outreach to the public and K-12 teachers will be done through COSEE-West.

我们对物理扰动如何塑造种群和群落结构的理解，在很大程度上要归功于对贻贝床中波浪产生的间隙形成的实地研究。先前的研究描绘贻贝床作为一个非平衡系统，在空间上的干扰是不可预测的，产生一个随机拼凑的贻贝盖和间隙。该项目将检验另一种观点的假设和预测，即扰动显示出可预测的景观格局，这种格局不仅取决于外部强迫（波浪应力）的空间分布，而且还取决于决定聚集结构的生物过程。具体而言，空间上不同的贻贝生产力（招聘和增长），生理压力和捕食相互作用，以产生景观格局的贻贝盖的结构。贻贝层的某些区域发展为直接附着在岩石上的单层，抵抗干扰。其他地区的发展在多层配置，当非常深的部队表面贻贝只附着在相邻的贻贝，而不是岩石表面，并导致内部贻贝只有微弱的附着在岩石或另一个，有利于传播干扰。因此，空间格局的差距形成和恢复出现从一个统一的landscape process.Field工作，这个项目强调了一个详细的GIS数据库的建设，采用一些创新的采样方法，适用于10贻贝床网站在巴克利湾，不列颠哥伦比亚省。每个站点的GIS数据层包括波浪力、地形（潮高、坡度和方面）、贻贝大小结构、贻贝床厚度、分层差异和按层分层的特定大小附着强度。地理信息系统插值和回归分析将被用来首先检查假设的景观过程的假设，然后测试在发生干扰和恢复的空间格局的具体预测。最后，控制领域的实验将测试的关键命题，不同的贻贝床结构造成不同的阻力，程度-，并从disruption.Intellectual优点恢复：景观干扰假说包括几个过程，不同于以前的概念化的干扰在这个系统中：稳态（平衡）结构影响流体动力应力引发扰动的可能性以及扰动一旦引发是否会传播。因此，平衡过程决定了扰动过程的基本特征。干扰是可预测的概率范围内，干扰的景观格局在相当大的程度上反映了基础物种的生物特征。这种干扰范式的重构可能适用于各种各样的分层生态系统受到扰动（例如生物膜，珊瑚礁，森林）。更广泛的影响：该项目形成了一个联盟之间的少数服务机构（加州州立大学洛杉矶分校），一个综合性大学与一个独特的海洋空间分析中心（加州州立大学蒙特雷湾分校）和一级研究机构（加州大学洛杉矶分校）。合作伙伴有相当多的辅导和外联支助系统可供利用。该项目为加州州立大学洛杉矶分校的学生创建了一个共同指导计划，为海洋生态系统的空间分析提供了深入的介绍，无与伦比的实地研究经验，并接触到博士学位授予机构的研究实验室，包括潜在的博士顾问。计划在三个校区和实地场地班菲尔德海洋科学中心开展许多教育充实和培训活动。该项目将扩大代表性不足的少数群体对西海岸生物海洋学的参与，并在这方面提供独特的资源。将通过COSEE-West向公众和K-12教师进行更多的宣传。