RUI: ARE THE EFFECTS OF SIZE-STRUCTURE ON TROPHIC CASCADES MEDIATED BY DEMOGRAPHIC FEEDBACKS?

RUI：规模结构对营养级联的影响是通过人口反馈来调节的吗？

• 批准号: 1354787
• 负责人: Howard Whiteman
• 金额: $ 46万
• 依托单位: Murray State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-06-01 至 2020-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1354787&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; EFFECTS; SIZE; STRUCTURE; TROPHIC

In this project, the investigators will address how size-structure (i.e., variance in the body size distribution) of predators alters effects of the predators on prey assemblages and prey resources. They will further explore how interactions among size classes (e.g., cannibalism and competition) influence the development of size structure. Salamanders are the predators in the study. This project will provide exceptional opportunities for undergraduate students to learn the scientific method through the development and execution of independent research projects. It will significantly build research capacity among three undergraduate institutions in Kentucky, one of which is a minority-serving institution. Students will gain first-hand experience in designing and implementing experiments, in analyzing and managing data, and in communicating science to diverse public audiences. Each of these institutions lacks independent resources and programs to engage students in research. This project serves the Nation's interests by providing resources needed to train students in complex problem solving through rigorous experimental design.Previous research suggests that size structure of top predators can significantly influence trophic interactions, and may explain observed variation in the strength of trophic cascades, yet few empirical studies have focused on these questions. This project will combine experiments and field studies to test hypotheses regarding the interaction of predator size structure, density, and cannibalism, the resulting community dynamics, and the demographic feedback mechanisms thought to generate variation in size structure. Predators that vary in size can exhibit both consumptive effects, through cannibalism, and non-consumptive effects on the survival of their offspring. They also influence the abundance of other predators and competitors. When taken together, these diverse effects could modify entire food webs, ultimately altering the size structure of future predator populations and thus future trophic cascades. Undergraduate students will work in teams to test the diverse mechanisms proposed to generate variation in size structure using a series of mesocosm experiments and field studies. Experiments and field observations will quantify the impact of predator size structure on trophic cascades and determine how demographic feedbacks affect annual variation in predator size structure. Results will provide new insight into how the loss or recovery of top predators can affect ecosystems, with implications for conservation and management. Students will participate in science education activities to engage undergraduate non-science majors and K-12 students and contribute to an interactive learning module to extend the impacts of this project to students and citizens throughout the nation and globe.This project is supported by NSF's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.

在这个项目中，研究人员将研究捕食者的体型结构（即体型分布的差异）如何改变捕食者对猎物组合和猎物资源的影响。他们将进一步探索体型类别之间的相互作用（例如同类相食和竞争）如何影响体型结构的发展。蝾螈是该研究中的掠食者。该项目将为本科生提供绝佳的机会，通过开发和执行独立研究项目来学习科学方法。它将显着增强肯塔基州三所本科院校的研究能力，其中一所是为少数族裔服务的机构。学生将获得设计和实施实验、分析和管理数据以及向不同公众传播科学的第一手经验。这些机构都缺乏独立的资源和项目来吸引学生参与研究。该项目通过严格的实验设计提供训练学生解决复杂问题所需的资源，从而服务于国家利益。先前的研究表明，顶级捕食者的体型结构可以显着影响营养级相互作用，并可以解释观察到的营养级联强度的变化，但很少有实证研究关注这些问题。该项目将结合实验和实地研究来测试有关捕食者体型结构、密度和同类相食之间相互作用的假设，由此产生的群落动态，以及被认为会产生体型结构变化的人口反馈机制。不同体型的捕食者可以通过同类相食而表现出消耗性影响，也可以对其后代的生存产生非消耗性影响。它们还影响其他掠食者和竞争者的数量。当综合起来时，这些不同的影响可能会改变整个食物网，最终改变未来捕食者种群的规模结构，从而改变未来的营养级联。本科生将分组合作，通过一系列介观实验和实地研究来测试产生尺寸结构变化的各种机制。实验和实地观察将量化捕食者体型结构对营养级联的影响，并确定人口反馈如何影响捕食者体型结构的年度变化。研究结果将为顶级捕食者的消失或恢复如何影响生态系统提供新的见解，并对保护和管理产生影响。学生将参加科学教育活动，吸引非科学专业的本科生和 K-12 学生，并为互动学习模块做出贡献，以将该项目的影响扩大到全国和全球的学生和公民。该项目得到了 NSF 刺激竞争性研究实验计划的支持。

项目成果

The role of environmental variation in mediating fitness trade‐offs for an amphibian polyphenism

环境变化在调节两栖动物多态性适应性权衡中的作用

• DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13974
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: Journal of Animal Ecology
• 影响因子: 4.8
• 作者: Kirk, Mark A.;Reider, Kelsey E.;Lackey, Alycia C. R.;Thomas, Scott A.;Whiteman, Howard H.
• 通讯作者: Whiteman, Howard H.