OCE-RIG: Novel approaches to better understanding the trophic role of small pelagic fishes and their critical link between the plankton and higher trophic levels

OCE-RIG：更好地了解小型中上层鱼类的营养作用及其浮游生物与更高营养级之间的关键联系的新方法

• 批准号: 1325451
• 负责人: Joel Llopiz
• 金额: $ 9.98万
• 依托单位: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• 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: 2013-09-01 至 2017-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1325451&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: OCE; RIG; Novel; approaches; better

Overview: Small, schooling pelagic fishes often represents a critical link in how planktonic production reaches the upper trophic levels of ocean food webs. Despite their ecological and economic importance, distinct gaps exist in our understanding of the role these fishes play as consumers of zooplankton. This study takes a multifaceted approach, employing four types of analyses in order to better understand the feeding dynamics of six species of small pelagic fishes in the Large Marine Ecosystem of the Northeast U.S. continental shelf. Analytical techniques include detailed visual inspection of gut contents, bulk and compound-specific (amino acid) stable isotope analyses, and DNA barcoding techniques for identifying the otherwise unidentifiable prey. Intellectual Merit: Because of their economic importance, small pelagic fishes have received substantial interest and research attention from fisheries agencies such as NOAA. This work, however, has largely focused on either monitoring population sizes or examining the nature of small pelagic fishes as prey for other important natural resources. But, being consumers themselves, small pelagic fishes play a major role in determining when, where, and how much planktonic production flows either towards fish and upper trophic levels or is available for other processes, including export due to sinking. In this project, the investigator will use novel approaches to study small pelagic fishes not as a fishery resource, but as major consumers within planktonic food webs. By gathering trophic-related data using techniques that will be applied to each specimen, a larger picture of the top-down impact that small pelagic fishes have on all or particular zooplankton taxa should emerge. The use of compound-specific stable isotope analyses is of particular note, as this powerful technique will afford the ability to examine variability at the base of the food web, thereby providing insight into the bottom-up forces that influence these important species. Broader Impacts: This project is heavily geared toward involving many young and future scientists from underrepresented groups in research activities. At least eight undergraduates will participate on research cruises, to assist with sampling efforts. Two undergraduate summer student fellows will assist in laboratory-based data collection efforts, and will spend the summer in Woods Hole gaining research experience and a sense of what a career in oceanography might entail. An early-career lab assistant will gain valuable research experience by leading the sample processing activities in the laboratory. Travel support to a national meeting will allow one of the summer students or lab assistant to share results from this study with the scientific community. In an effort to foster scientific curiosity in local schools, the investigator will host students from East Boston High School as they spend a day in Woods Hole visiting various labs, facilities and attend presentations by the investigator and other scientists on careers in oceanography. The students' teacher will also participate on one of the research cruises, enabling her to share her experience with many other students.

概述：小型、成群的中上层鱼类通常是浮游生产如何到达海洋食物网的上层营养水平的关键环节。尽管它们在生态和经济上具有重要意义，但我们对这些鱼作为浮游动物消费者所扮演的角色的理解存在着明显的差距。为了更好地了解6种小型中上层鱼类在美国东北部大陆架大型海洋生态系统中的摄食动态，本研究采取了多方面的方法，采用了四种类型的分析。分析技术包括详细的肠道内容物肉眼检查，大宗和特定化合物(氨基酸)稳定同位素分析，以及用于识别否则无法识别的猎物的DNA条形码技术。智力价值：由于小型中上层鱼类在经济上的重要性，它们受到了诸如NOAA等渔业机构的极大兴趣和研究关注。然而，这项工作主要集中在监测种群数量或研究小型中上层鱼类作为其他重要自然资源猎物的性质。但是，作为消费者本身，小型中上层鱼类在决定何时、何地和多少浮游产品流向鱼类和上层营养层或可用于其他过程，包括由于下沉而出口方面发挥着重要作用。在这个项目中，调查者将使用新的方法来研究小型中上层鱼类，而不是将其作为渔业资源，而是作为浮游食物网的主要消费者。通过使用将应用于每个标本的技术收集营养相关数据，小型中上层鱼类对所有或特定浮游动物类群的自上而下影响的更大图景应该会浮出水面。使用特定于化合物的稳定同位素分析特别值得注意，因为这项强大的技术将提供在食物网底部检查变异性的能力，从而提供对影响这些重要物种的自下而上的力量的洞察。更广泛的影响：这个项目在很大程度上是为了让许多年轻的和未来的科学家参与研究活动，这些科学家来自代表人数较少的群体。至少有八名本科生将参加研究巡航，以协助抽样工作。两名本科生暑期学生将协助以实验室为基础的数据收集工作，并将在伍兹霍尔度过暑假，获得研究经验和对海洋学职业可能需要的感觉。职业初期的实验室助理将通过领导实验室的样品处理活动获得宝贵的研究经验。对全国会议的旅行支持将允许暑期学生或实验室助理之一与科学界分享这项研究的结果。为了培养当地学校的科学好奇心，调查员将接待东波士顿高中的学生，让他们在伍兹霍尔呆上一天，参观各种实验室和设施，并参加调查员和其他科学家关于海洋学职业生涯的演讲。这位学生的老师还将参加其中一次研究巡航，使她能够与许多其他学生分享她的经验。