DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Mechanisms Of Coral Adaptation In The Florida Keys

论文研究：佛罗里达群岛的珊瑚适应机制

• 批准号: 1311220
• 负责人: Mikhail Matz
• 金额: $ 1.88万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at Austin
• 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: 2013-06-01 至 2014-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1311220&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Mechanisms; Coral; Adaptation

Coral reefs in the Florida Keys have experienced unprecedented declines over the last 30 years. Hard corals, the backbone of the reef ecosystem, have seen their populations reduced by 44% since 1995. However, the loss of coral is not uniform and it is unclear why some reefs in this system are more resilient to stress than others. For example, reefs closer to shore that are exposed to temperature extremes and pollutants also exhibit higher coral growth and cover than offshore reefs that experience more stable temperatures and better water quality. This project will measure gene activity in corals that were experimentally transplanted between inshore and offshore reef environments. This will help identify the stressors acting at each reef and the mechanisms used by corals to adapt to them. Understanding the physiological mechanisms used by reef-building corals to adapt to local conditions can help refine predictions about how they will respond in time to the effects of global climate change. Reef-related activities in the Florida Keys generate $3.4 billion in sales and income annually and support 36,000 jobs. Loss of this ecosystem would be devastating both ecologically and economically. The results of this project will advance understanding of the relationship between the environment and the state of the coral reefs. It will also identify mechanisms of coral adaptation, and provide molecular tools to assess coral condition in natural environments which will better inform management practices aimed at conserving this valuable ecosystem. Training of students would occur.

在过去的30年里，佛罗里达群岛的珊瑚礁经历了前所未有的衰退。硬珊瑚是珊瑚礁生态系统的支柱，自1995年以来，它们的数量减少了44%。然而，珊瑚的损失并不均匀，目前还不清楚为什么这个系统中的一些珊瑚礁比其他珊瑚礁更能承受压力。例如，暴露于极端温度和污染物的靠近海岸的珊瑚礁也比经历更稳定温度和更好水质的近海珊瑚礁表现出更高的珊瑚生长和覆盖率。该项目将测量在近岸和近海珊瑚礁环境之间实验性移植的珊瑚的基因活性。这将有助于确定作用于每个珊瑚礁的压力源以及珊瑚用于适应它们的机制。了解造礁珊瑚适应当地条件的生理机制可以帮助精确预测它们将如何及时应对全球气候变化的影响。佛罗里达群岛的珊瑚礁相关活动每年产生34亿美元的销售额和收入，并支持36 000个就业机会。这种生态系统的丧失将在生态和经济上造成毁灭性的后果。该项目的成果将促进对环境与珊瑚礁状况之间关系的了解。它还将确定珊瑚的适应机制，并提供分子工具来评估自然环境中的珊瑚状况，这将更好地为旨在保护这一宝贵生态系统的管理做法提供信息。学生的培训将会发生。