Collaborative Research: Elucidating the Factors Mediating Particle-Selection Processes in Suspension-Feeding Molluscs: A Functional and Comparative Approach

合作研究：阐明介导悬浮摄食软体动物颗粒选择过程的因素：功能和比较方法

• 批准号: 1147122
• 负责人: J. Evan Ward
• 金额: $ 44.7万
• 依托单位: University of Connecticut
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-05-15 至 2016-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1147122&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Elucidating; Factors; Mediating

Bivalve molluscs (e.g., clams, oysters, scallops) are among the most important members of bottom-dwelling communities, both for their environmental impacts and commercial value. These animals possess highly efficient and complicated mechanisms for filtering the water around them, and capturing and sorting particles therein. Their feeding processes strongly couple water-column and bottom communities, and can influence the general "health" of near-shore ecosystems. Bivalves are well adapted for selecting between living and non-living particles that they filter from the water, ingesting some and rejecting others back into the environment. Because of their key role in the marine environment, it is important to understand the mechanisms by which bivalves discriminate among particles and the factors that control this process. In this research, scientists from two universities will collaborate to elucidate how bivalves sort food particles obtained from the environment. Based on their recently developed assays, the researchers have developed several lines of research that will allow them to investigate the bases of selection at the cell and organ level. In particular, they will study the interactions between particles and the feeding organs, including: a) non-specific physical and chemical interactions (e.g., charge, wettability, density); b) specific chemical interactions (e.g., sugar-lectin associations); c) behaviorally mediated interactions brought about by chemoreception and changes in the activity of particle-transport cilia. Understanding the factors that control diet selection has provided important information on a range of biological systems including interspecific interactions, marine community structure and bioenergetics. The proposed research represents the first step in defining the underlying mechanisms of diet selection in bivalves and will significantly advance an understanding of this fundamental process. This study will also add to the growing body of knowledge of lectin-based recognition systems in animals. The researchers will train graduate and undergraduate students who will be involved in various aspects of the research and will participate in scientific conferences. Results will be disseminated through scientific literature, conferences, and articles for non-specialists. The research team will partner with Connecticut's COSEE-TEK to provide technology-based educational experiences for formal (e.g., high school teachers) and informal (e.g., aquarium staff) educators. Educators will receive basic training in the operation of instruments used in the proposed research and learn how they can be applied to the study of marine organisms.

双壳类软体动物（例如蛤、牡蛎、扇贝）因其环境影响和商业价值而成为海底群落最重要的成员之一。 这些动物拥有高效且复杂的机制来过滤周围的水，并捕获和分类其中的颗粒。 它们的摄食过程与水柱和底部群落紧密结合，并且可以影响近岸生态系统的总体“健康”。 双壳类动物非常适合在它们从水中过滤的活体和非活体颗粒之间进行选择，摄入一些颗粒并将其他颗粒排出到环境中。 由于双壳类动物在海洋环境中发挥着关键作用，因此了解双壳类动物区分颗粒的机制以及控制这一过程的因素非常重要。 在这项研究中，来自两所大学的科学家将合作阐明双壳类动物如何对从环境中获得的食物颗粒进行分类。 基于他们最近开发的分析方法，研究人员开发了几条研究线，使他们能够研究细胞和器官水平的选择基础。 特别是，他们将研究颗粒和摄食器官之间的相互作用，包括：a）非特异性物理和化学相互作用（例如电荷、润湿性、密度）； b) 特定的化学相互作用（例如糖-凝集素关联）； c) 由化学感受和粒子运输纤毛活性变化引起的行为介导的相互作用。了解控制饮食选择的因素提供了有关一系列生物系统的重要信息，包括种间相互作用、海洋群落结构和生物能量学。 拟议的研究代表了定义双壳类饮食选择的潜在机制的第一步，并将显着增进对这一基本过程的理解。 这项研究还将丰富关于动物基于凝集素的识别系统的不断增长的知识体系。 研究人员将培训研究生和本科生，他们将参与研究的各个方面并参加科学会议。 结果将通过科学文献、会议和非专业文章传播。 该研究团队将与康涅狄格州的 COSEE-TEK 合作，为正式（例如高中教师）和非正式（例如水族馆工作人员）教育工作者提供基于技术的教育体验。 教育工作者将接受有关拟议研究中使用的仪器操作的基本培训，并了解如何将它们应用于海洋生物的研究。