Collaborative Research: An integrated theoretical and empirical approach to across-shelf mixing and connectivity of mussel populations

合作研究：跨大陆架混合和贻贝种群连通性的综合理论和实证方法

• 批准号: 1334022
• 负责人: Ron Etter
• 金额: $ 35.34万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Boston
• 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 2018-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1334022&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; integrated; theoretical; empirical

Existing larval transport models focus mainly on along-shelf transport and have done little to explicitly incorporate the effects of cross-shelf mixing and transport processes. Yet cross-shelf transits (both outgoing and incoming legs) are critical components of the dispersal paths of coastal invertebrates. This project will explore the role of cross-shelf mixing in the connectivity of blue mussel populations in eastern Maine. Previous work has shown that the Eastern Maine Coastal Current (EMCC) begins to diverge from shore southwest of the Grand Manan Channel and creates a gradient in cross-shelf mixing and larval transport, with cross-shelf mixing being more common on the northeastern end, episodic in the transitional middle area, and then becoming rare in the southwestern half of the region of the Gulf of Maine. As a result, the investigators predict that northeastern populations of mussels are seeded mostly from up-stream sources, while a significant component of self-seeding (local retention) exists in southwestern populations. Larvae settling in the intervening bays are expected to be derived from a mixture of local and up-stream sources. Using a combined empirical and theoretical approach hydrographic, current profile, and larval vertical migration data will be collected and used to develop and validate a high-resolution coastal circulation model coupled to a model of larval behavior. The investigators will model simulations in different years using the empirical data from mussel reproductive output and spawning times. Connectivity predicted from this model will be then tested against independent empirical estimates of connectivity based on trace element fingerprinting for larvae which can be connected to specific natal habitats. Regions of agreement and discrepancy in the model will be identified to guide additional data collection and model refinement. This iterative process will ensure an understanding of both larval transport patterns and processes, and provide estimates of inter-annual variability in connectivity for blue mussel populations in the Gulf of Maine.The project will provide interdisciplinary training for a number of undergraduate and graduate students. All three investigators have established track records of training students at either the undergraduate or graduate level, or both. Inter-institutional and interdisciplinary exchange will be fostered by a twice per year mini-symposium/retreat at which all project participants from the three laboratories will present and discuss results from their portions of the project. This project also has important implications for the commercial mussel aquaculture industry in Maine, which relies heavily on natural settlement and desires a better understanding of larval supply patterns to facilitate site selection for collecting newly settled spat.

现有的幼体运输模型主要关注沿货架运输，几乎没有明确纳入跨货架混合和运输过程的影响。然而，跨陆架运输（包括流出和流入路径）是沿海无脊椎动物扩散路径的关键组成部分。该项目将探讨跨陆架混合在缅因州东部蓝贻贝种群连通性中的作用。先前的研究表明，缅因州东部沿岸流（EMCC）开始从大马南海峡西南岸分流，并在跨陆架混合和幼虫运输方面产生梯度，跨陆架混合在东北端更为常见，在过渡中部区域呈间歇性，然后在缅因湾地区的西南半部变得罕见。因此，研究人员预测，东北部的贻贝种群主要是从上游来源播种的，而西南种群中存在自播（本地保留）的重要组成部分。预计在中间海湾定居的幼虫将来自当地和上游的混合来源。使用经验和理论相结合的方法，将收集水文、海流剖面和幼虫垂直迁移数据，并用于开发和验证与幼虫行为模型相结合的高分辨率沿海环流模型。研究人员将利用贻贝繁殖产量和产卵时间的经验数据对不同年份进行模拟。然后，根据该模型预测的连通性将根据基于幼虫微量元素指纹的独立经验估计进行测试，这些幼虫可以连接到特定的出生栖息地。将确定模型中一致和差异的区域，以指导额外的数据收集和模型细化。这一迭代过程将确保了解幼体运输模式和过程，并提供缅因湾蓝贻贝种群连通性的年际变化估计。该项目将为许多本科生和研究生提供跨学科培训。所有三位研究人员都建立了本科生或研究生或两者兼而有之的学生培训记录。每年两次的小型研讨会/务虚会将促进机构间和跨学科的交流，来自三个实验室的所有项目参与者将在会上介绍和讨论其项目部分的结果。该项目对缅因州的商业贻贝水产养殖业也具有重要影响，该行业严重依赖自然定居，并希望更好地了解幼体供应模式，以方便选择收集新定居的卵的地点。