Dissertation Research: Linking coexistence at local and regional scales by assessing a dormancy-dispersal tradeoff

了解物种如何以及是否可以在碎片化的栖息地中稳定共存，其中斑块通过分散连接，这是理解生物多样性维持的关键。相似物种的共存？那些在食物链中处于同一水平的动物，有着相似的生活史，并且有着共同的捕食者？需要某种形式的权衡，使得每一方要么受到不同资源或敌人的限制，要么在空间、时间或两者的某些点上都是另一方的上级竞争对手。本研究将探讨美国缅因州一个淡水岩池中两种食草浮游动物--多刺裸腹蚤和蚤状蚤的生活史策略的差异。每个物种的休眠和扩散将进行检查，以确定这些差异是否促进共存单独或结合空间和时间的变化。本研究将实验测试是否一个物种是上级在保持休眠，而一个物种是上级在分散，并将模型是否允许这两个物种共存。本项目将培养一名博士生。学生和多个本科生通过现场助学金和指导独立项目。这项研究将在附近的生物野外站向公众、K-12学生和来自许多机构的本科生进行宣传。研究本身促进了科学的进步，并通过应用于分散生境的生物多样性管理而对国家福利产生影响;该项目还支持教育和多样性，了解物种如何以及是否能够在分散生境中稳定共存是了解生物多样性维持的关键。相似物种的共存？在相同的营养水平上进食，有着相似的生活史，并分享捕食者的动物？需要某种形式的权衡，使得每一方要么受到不同资源或敌人的限制，要么在空间、时间或两者的某些点上都是另一方的上级竞争对手。两个放牧浮游动物，裸腹刺和蚤状/pulicaria，生活史策略的差异，将被阐明的淡水岩池metacropathy在美国缅因州海岸外的一个岛屿。生活史策略有关的休眠和传播的每一个物种将被检查，并用于确定这些差异是否促进共存单独或结合空间和时间的变化。本研究将实验测试（1）是否一个物种是上级在保持休眠，而一个物种是上级在分散，以及（2）这是否允许这两个物种共存于此metacompatibility通过测量必要的关系，以参数化的数学休眠-分散模型，以测试共存的条件。滞育卵的空间和时间扩散率及其建立成功率将通过放养由其他池包围的焦点池来测量，其中该物种最初不存在。这些数据将与人工围隔生态系统和人工岩石池的竞争结果数据相结合。除了加深我们对生物多样性维护的理解外，该项目还将培养一名博士生。学生和多个本科生通过现场助学金和指导独立项目。此外，有关该项目的信息将传播给参观肖尔斯海洋实验室的游客，其中包括公众，K-12学生和来自许多机构的本科生。

Understanding how and if species can coexist stably in a fragmented habitat where patches are connected by dispersal is key to understanding the maintenance of biodiversity. The coexistence of similar species?ones that feed at the same level in a food chain, have similar life histories, and share predators?requires some form of tradeoff such that each is either limited by different resources or enemies, or each is a superior competitor to the other at some points in either space, time, or both. This project will elucidate the differences in life-history strategies of two grazing zooplankton, Moina macrocopa and Daphnia pulex/pulicaria, in a freshwater rock-pools on an island off the coast of Maine, USA. The dormancy and dispersal of each species will be examined to determine if these differences promote coexistence either alone or in combination with spatial and temporal variation. This study will experimentally test whether one species is superior at remaining dormant while one species is superior at dispersing, and will model whether or not this allows these two species to coexist. This project will train one Ph.D. student and multiple undergraduate students through field-assistantships and mentored independent projects. The research will be communicated to the public, K-12 students, and undergraduates from many institutions at a nearby biological field station. The research itself promotes the progress of science and has implications for national welfare through application to the management of biodiversity of fragmented habitats; the project also supports education and diversity.Understanding how and if species can coexist stably in a fragmented habitat is key to understanding the maintenance of biodiversity. The coexistence of similar species?ones that feed at the same trophic level, have similar life histories, and share predators?requires some form of tradeoff such that each is either limited by different resources or enemies, or each is a superior competitor to the other at some points in either space, time, or both. The differences in life-history strategies of two grazing zooplankton, Moina macrocopa and Daphnia pulex/pulicaria, will be elucidated for a freshwater rock-pool metacommunity on an island off the coast of Maine, USA. Life history strategies relating to dormancy and dispersal of each species will be examined and used to determine if these differences promote coexistence either alone or in combination with spatial and temporal variation. This study will experimentally test (1) whether one species is superior at remaining dormant while one species is superior at dispersing, and (2) whether or not this allows these two species to coexist in this metacommunity by measuring the necessary relationships to parameterize a mathematical dormancy-dispersal model to test the conditions for coexistence. The spatial and temporal dispersal rates of diapausing eggs and their establishment success will be measured by stocking focal pools surrounded by other pools in which the species are initially absent. These data will be combined with data on competition outcomes in both artificial mesocosms and manipulated rock pools. In addition to furthering our understanding of the maintenance of biodiversity, which can be applied to the management of naturally and anthropogenically fragmented habitats, this project will train one Ph.D. student and multiple undergraduate students through field-assistantships and mentored independent projects. Furthermore, the information about this project will be disseminated to visitors to Shoals Marine Laboratory, which includes the public, K-12 students, and undergraduates from many institutions.