Influence of organism-scale turbulence on the predatory impacts of a suite of cnidarian medusae

生物尺度湍流对刺胞动物水母的捕食影响的影响

• 批准号: 1155084
• 负责人: Kelly Sutherland
• 金额: $ 30.4万
• 依托单位: University of Oregon Eugene
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-03-01 至 2016-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1155084&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Influence; organism; scale; turbulence; predatory

Bloom-forming jellyfish are increasing in number, frequency and magnitude, in part due to anthropogenic impacts, underscoring a need for enhanced understanding of trophic exchanges in jellyfish-dominated ecosystems. Interactions between jellyfish and their prey are driven by morphology, behavior, and unique fluid signatures that result in species-specific prey selection patterns. Fluid signatures generated by predators entrain prey, and motile prey organisms have evolved to sense and respond to these stereotyped fluid signatures. The shape and coherence of these unique fluid signatures are strongly mediated by turbulence, which is ubiquitous in the ocean. Yet, the effects of turbulence are almost always neglected in feeding studies. This three-year project will investigate the influence of turbulence on predator-prey interactions using a suite of cnidarian hydromedusae with unique morphologies, fluid signatures and prey selection patterns collected in the region of Friday Harbor Laboratory, WA. Intellectual Merit: This project seeks to establish a detailed, mechanistic understanding of the effects of turbulence on organism-scale predator-prey interactions using gelatinous zooplankton predators with contrasting predation modes. The PI will investigate prey selection under varying levels of turbulence by studying swimming behavior, wake structure, and predator-prey interactions in a laboratory turbulence generator designed for fragile plankton. The PI will also make in situ measurements of turbulence and observations of organism behavior using a Self-contained Underwater Velocimetry Apparatus (SCUVA). This is a fully submersible instrument for flow visualization, and its use will provide a cross-calibration of field and laboratory rates and behaviors. The influence of turbulence on trophic position among the different species of hydromedusae will be quantified through field studies of prey selection patterns. The proposed comparative approach using species with distinct predation modes will provide insights applicable to other planktonic predators that can be similarly grouped.Broader impacts: Two undergraduate students will receive mentoring and training, and will be recruited through a COSEE program aimed at under-represented groups in community colleges. Students will learn advanced flow visualization techniques and strategies for working with fragile plankton but will more generally gain an increased understanding of the marine environment and an increased awareness of career opportunities in marine sciences. The PI will reach out to the public through the COSEE Oregon Coast Master Naturalist Program by teaching local volunteers current knowledge about the biology and ecology of gelatinous zooplankton. Plans are also underway to include images and research findings in a book about jellyfish authored by a science writer and geared to a general audience.

形成水华的水母在数量、频率和规模上都在增加，部分原因是人为影响，这突出表明需要加强对以水母为主的生态系统中营养交换的了解。水母和它们的猎物之间的相互作用是由形态、行为和独特的流体特征驱动的，这些特征导致了物种特异性的猎物选择模式。 捕食者产生的流体特征会吸引猎物，而活动的猎物生物已经进化到能够感知这些刻板的流体特征并做出反应。这些独特的流体特征的形状和连贯性受到湍流的强烈影响，而湍流在海洋中无处不在。然而，湍流的影响几乎总是被忽视的喂养研究。这个为期三年的项目将调查湍流对捕食者-猎物相互作用的影响，使用一套具有独特形态，流体特征和猎物选择模式的刺胞水螅水母在华盛顿州星期五港实验室地区收集。智力优势：该项目旨在建立一个详细的，机械的理解湍流对生物体规模的捕食者-猎物的相互作用，使用凝胶状浮游动物捕食者对比捕食模式的影响。 PI将通过研究游泳行为、尾流结构和为脆弱浮游生物设计的实验室湍流发生器中的捕食者-猎物相互作用，研究不同湍流水平下的猎物选择。 PI还将使用自给式水下流速仪（SCUVA）对湍流进行现场测量并观察生物体行为。 这是一种用于流动可视化的全潜式仪器，其使用将提供现场和实验室速率和特性的交叉校准。 湍流对不同水螅水母类物种之间营养位置的影响将通过对猎物选择模式的实地研究来量化。 建议的比较方法，使用不同的捕食模式的物种将提供适用于其他的捕食者，可以类似grouped.Broader影响：两名本科生将接受指导和培训，并将通过COSEE计划，旨在代表性不足的群体在社区学院招募。学生将学习先进的流动可视化技术和与脆弱的浮游生物合作的策略，但更普遍地将获得对海洋环境的更多了解，并提高对海洋科学职业机会的认识。PI将通过COSEE俄勒冈州海岸博物学家硕士项目向公众宣传，向当地志愿者传授有关凝胶状浮游动物生物学和生态学的最新知识。此外，还计划将图片和研究成果纳入一本由科学作家撰写的关于水母的书中，面向普通读者。