RII Track-1: Rhode Island Consortium for Coastal Ecology Assessment, Innovation, and Modeling

罗德岛大学（URI）将建立海岸生态评估、创新和建模联盟（C-AIM），以协调罗德岛州（RI）沿海海洋科学和生态学的研究、教育和劳动力发展。C-AIM通过观测、计算方法和应用于纳拉甘塞特湾（NB）的技术开发来解决基础研究问题。纳拉甘塞特湾是新英格兰最大的河口，也是渔业、娱乐和旅游业等重要生态系统服务的所在地。该研究将提高对NB微生物的了解，开发新的模型来预测NB的污染和有害藻华事件，建立新的营养物质和污染物传感器，并为该州的利益相关者提供数据和工具。观测能力将在一个面向国际扶轮研究人员的开放平台上进行协调；它将提供实时的物理、化学和生物观测。包括移动设备的直播。C-AIM还将建立RI STEAM （STEM + Art）成像联盟，以促进艺术家、设计师、工程师和科学家之间的合作。研究实习将提供给全州的本科生，研究项目的种子基金将竞争性地授予主要本科院校的合作伙伴。C-AIM将采用观察和建模来评估NB生物与生态系统功能之间的相互作用，并研究生态对缺氧和藻华等环境事件的反应。将利用现有和新的仪器平台对环流、生物地球化学和生态系统进行观测。湾天文台？NB -周围的观测平台网络将联网，以在特定环境事件（如缺氧条件或浮游植物大量繁殖）期间触发增强的水采样和传感。生物地球化学、生态和海岸环流模式将被整合和耦合，重点关注富营养化和污染物负荷。数据和模型将在多个尺度上整合，从个体生物和营养相互作用到食物网反应，从湍流到区域海洋环流。新的营养物质和污染物传感技术将得到开发，包括经济实惠的具有防污能力的微流体（芯片上的实验室）设备。结果将被综合并传达给利益相关者。

Non-technical DescriptionThe University of Rhode Island (URI) will establish the Consortium for Coastal Ecology Assessment, Innovation, and Modeling (C-AIM) to coordinate research, education, and workforce development across Rhode Island (RI) in coastal marine science and ecology. C-AIM addresses fundamental research questions using observations, computational methods, and technology development applied to Narraganset Bay (NB), the largest estuary in New England and home to important ecosystem services including fisheries, recreation, and tourism. The research will improve understanding of the microorganisms in NB, develop new models to predict pollution and harmful algal bloom events in NB, build new sensors for nutrients and pollutants, and provide data and tools for stakeholders in the state. Observational capabilities will be coordinated in an open platform for researchers across RI; it will provide real-time physical, chemical, and biological observations ? including live streaming to mobile devices. C-AIM will also establish the RI STEAM (STEM + Art) Imaging Consortium to foster collaboration between artists, designers, engineers, and scientists. Research internships will be offered to undergraduate students throughout the state and seed funding for research projects will be competitively awarded to Primarily Undergraduate Institution partners.Technical Description C-AIM will employ observations and modeling to assess interactions between organisms and ecosystem function in NB and investigate ecological responses to environmental events, such as hypoxia and algal blooms. Observations of the circulation, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem will be made using existing and new instrument platforms. The Bay Observatory ? a network of observational platforms around NB - will be networked to trigger enhanced water sampling and sensing during specific environmental events, such as hypoxic conditions or phytoplankton blooms. Biogeochemical, ecological, and coastal circulation models will be integrated and coupled to focus on eutrophication and pollutant loading. Data and models will be integrated on multiple scales, from individual organisms and trophic interactions to food-web responses, and from turbulence to the regional ocean circulation. New sensing technologies for nutrients and pollutants will be developed, including affordable, micro-fluidic (Lab-on-a-Chip) devices with antifouling capabilities. The results will be synthesized and communicated to stakeholders.