Control of a native and introduced foundation species by marine and terrestrial enemies

海洋和陆地敌人对本地和引进基础物种的控制

• 批准号: 1323429
• 金额: $ 17万
• 依托单位: Davidson Timothy M
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Fellowship Award
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-02-01 至 2016-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1323429&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Control; native; introduced; foundation; species

Overview: The morphology and structure of foundation species, such as trees and coral reefs, are strongly influenced by the animals that inhabit them. Since foundation species form the integral structure of habitats, changes caused by animals can elicit cascading effects to the rest of the ecosystem. Red mangroves are a critical foundation species that thrives in the ecotone between land and sea; thus, they are affected by a suite of marine and terrestrial herbivores and structure-modifying species. Damage by these species modifies growth and fecundity and is responsible for the complex architecture mangroves exhibit. When a foundation species is introduced without their natural enemies (such as herbivores, structure modifiers) they may experience enhanced growth, fecundity, and survivorship. This release from their enemies may explain why some invaders succeed in a new range. Red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) were introduced to Hawaii from their native range (Caribbean) over a century ago. Here they exhibit rapid growth, high fecundity, and few enemies appear to control them. These mangroves convert native habitats (e.g. sand-flats, ponds) into dense thickets causing substantial changes to Hawaiian ecosystems. In this study, the fellow will (1) quantify the relative effects of different marine and terrestrial guilds in affecting growth, fecundity, and architecture of an important foundation species and (2) test a widely cited mechanism for successful invasions (Enemy Release Hypothesis). This project will use manipulative and natural experiments replicated across broad geographic ranges where mangroves are native (Caribbean) and introduced (Hawaiian Islands). The proposed sponsors, Celia Smith (University of Hawaii Manoa) and Mark Torchin (Smithsonian), will provide complementary training for the fellow and access to the logistical framework necessary to complete this project (e.g. Smithsonian field stations in Florida, Belize, and Panama). Intellectual Merit: Results from this project will broaden understanding of how habitat engineering and herbivory alters foundation species and community ecology and reveal the importance of natural enemies in controlling growth and architecture of introduced species. This project will determine how different multi-species assemblages alter the architecture of a foundation species between native and introduced ranges. This study will also answer other important questions such as: how do terrestrial species mediate habitat quality and quantity for marine species? And what is the relative importance of marine vs. terrestrial species in determining growth and architecture in foundation species in an ecotone? Finally, this study will test an important mechanism underpinning successful biological invasions. Broader Impacts: This project will broaden the participation of students from under-represented groups by integrating students directly in the research plan. Students of diverse backgrounds (79.2% non-Caucasian descent at University of Hawaii) will receive research training from seminar courses taught by the fellow. Select students will assist the fellow on international research trips and in Hawaii to participate in data collections. The fellow will also work within the former GK-12 framework of University of Hawaii to develop inquiry based curriculum for K-6 classes. The fellow will disseminate curriculum and research findings through online resources (STRI Bioinformatics website), scientific conferences, and through academic publications. Results from this project will inform management of introduced species and restoration efforts by revealing where managers could devote pest control efforts.

基础物种的形态和结构，如树木和珊瑚礁，受到栖息在它们身上的动物的强烈影响。由于基础物种构成了生境的整体结构，动物引起的变化可能对生态系统的其他部分产生级联效应。红红树林是一个重要的基础物种，在陆地和海洋之间的生态交错区茁壮成长;因此，它们受到一系列海洋和陆地食草动物和结构修改物种的影响。这些物种的破坏改变了生长和繁殖力，是红树林复杂结构的原因。当一个基础物种在没有天敌（如食草动物，结构改良剂）的情况下引入时，它们可能会经历更高的生长，繁殖力和生存能力。这种从敌人那里得到的释放可能解释了为什么一些入侵者在一个新的范围内取得成功。红红树（Rhizophora mangle）是在世纪前从其原产地（加勒比海）引入夏威夷的。在这里，它们表现出快速的生长，高繁殖力，很少有敌人控制它们。这些红树林将原生栖息地（如沙滩，池塘）转化为茂密的灌木丛，使夏威夷的生态系统发生重大变化。在这项研究中，该研究员将（1）量化不同海洋和陆地公会在影响重要基础物种的生长，繁殖力和结构方面的相对影响，（2）测试一种被广泛引用的成功入侵机制（敌人释放假说）。该项目将在红树林原产地（加勒比）和引进地（夏威夷群岛）的广泛地理范围内进行人工和自然实验。拟议赞助人Celia Smith（夏威夷马诺阿大学）和Mark Torchin（史密森学会）将为研究员提供补充培训，并提供完成该项目所需的后勤框架（例如史密森学会在佛罗里达、伯利兹和巴拿马的实地站）。智力优势：该项目的结果将拓宽对生境工程和草食动物如何改变基础物种和群落生态的理解，并揭示天敌在控制引进物种的生长和结构中的重要性。这个项目将确定不同的多物种组合如何改变本地和引进范围之间的基础物种的架构。这项研究还将回答其他重要的问题，如：陆地物种如何介导栖息地的质量和数量的海洋物种？海洋物种与陆地物种在决定生态交错带中基础物种的生长和结构方面的相对重要性是什么？最后，这项研究将测试支撑成功生物入侵的重要机制。更广泛的影响：该项目将通过将学生直接纳入研究计划，扩大代表性不足群体的学生的参与。不同背景的学生（夏威夷大学79.2%的非高加索血统）将接受研究员教授的研讨会课程的研究培训。选择学生将协助国际研究旅行和在夏威夷参加数据收集的研究员。该研究员还将在夏威夷大学的前GK-12框架内工作，为K-6课程开发基于探究的课程。该研究员将通过在线资源（STRI生物信息学网站），科学会议和学术出版物传播课程和研究成果。该项目的结果将通过揭示管理人员可以在何处投入害虫控制工作，为引进物种和恢复工作的管理提供信息。