DISSERTATION RESEARCH: How do species coexist under spatial variation across scales?

论文研究：物种如何在不同尺度的空间变化下共存？

• 批准号: 1310977
• 负责人: Peter Chesson
• 金额: $ 1.97万
• 依托单位: University of Arizona
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-04-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1310977&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; How; do; species

How does the natural world maintain its astonishing diversity, especially among species that directly compete with each other? Theory predicts that constant changes to the physical environment over time and space and the transition from one scale to another (smaller to larger space, shorter to longer time) can account for species coexistence. To date, this prediction lacks rigorous empirical tests. The proposed project will use multi-scale field experiments and mathematical modeling based on field data to test the hypothesis that smaller scale environmental variation promotes broad-scale coexistence between invasive and native desert winter annual plants in the Sonoran Desert. Researchers will combine stable isotope analysis, aerial photographs, and field experiments to quantify a key mechanism underlying coexistence and the maintenance of biodiversity. The project will provide a powerful model for scientists to conduct rigorous empirical tests on species coexistence across a broad spectrum of natural communities. Together with addressing a fundamental question in ecology, the project will foster an understanding of the dynamic nature of biological invasions, highlighting conditions under which an invasion is likely to cause problem. By informing land managers of those conditions, the project offers practical solutions to managing invasive species. The project is a collaboration between the University of Arizona and the US Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, and results will be shared with military units and government agencies that must manage invasive species. This project will also train four undergraduate students, introducing them to the rigor and excitement of scientific discovery.

自然界是如何保持其惊人的多样性的，尤其是那些直接相互竞争的物种呢？理论预测，物理环境随时间和空间的不断变化以及从一个尺度到另一个尺度（从小到大的空间，从短到长的时间）的过渡可以解释物种共存。迄今为止，这一预测缺乏严格的实证检验。该项目将利用多尺度野外实验和基于野外数据的数学建模来验证小尺度环境变化促进索诺兰沙漠入侵和原生沙漠冬季一年生植物大尺度共存的假设。研究人员将结合稳定同位素分析、航空照片和实地实验来量化生物多样性共存和维持的关键机制。该项目将为科学家提供一个强大的模型，以便在广泛的自然群落中对物种共存进行严格的实证测试。在解决生态学中的一个基本问题的同时，该项目将促进对生物入侵动态性质的理解，突出入侵可能造成问题的条件。通过向土地管理者通报这些情况，该项目为管理入侵物种提供了切实可行的解决方案。该项目是亚利桑那大学和位于尤马的美国海军陆战队航空站之间的合作项目，其结果将与必须管理入侵物种的军事单位和政府机构共享。该项目还将培养四名本科生，向他们介绍科学发现的严谨和兴奋。