Shrimp predator defense efficiency under ocean acidification and warming

对虾是世界范围内鱼类、鸟类、海洋哺乳动物和人类的主要食物来源，因此，许多对虾物种面临着强大的捕食和捕鱼压力。可能加剧这些压力的是它们对环境条件变化的敏感性，例如那些发生在季节性或更长时间段的环境条件变化。对虾对海洋pH值下降(海洋酸化)和温度上升(海洋变暖)的耐受性将成为未来种群健康、丰度和分布的因素。然而，对甲壳类动物的有限研究使人们无法了解环境气候变化将对虾等具有重要商业价值的物种产生的潜在影响。该项目对海洋酸化研究采取了一种独特的方法，方法是：(1)检查多种密切相关的对虾物种，以区分特定物种的反应与一般反应，以及(2)研究从胁迫生理到捕食者防御的多尺度反应，以确定对虾的更广泛的影响范围(从生理到生态)。因此，这项研究将及时、全面和现实地评估具有商业和生态重要性的对虾物种对未来海洋条件的敏感性，并明确应用于渔业、水产养殖和食品业。这项研究的成果将通过网站和社交媒体宣传、公共和专业研讨会、课堂活动和动手研讨会等方式传播到所有年龄和广泛背景的人手中。此外，这项研究还将通过既定的研究经验计划，为不同背景的高中生和本科生的科学发展做出贡献。与海洋酸化和变暖相关的环境条件正在发生变化，许多种类的海洋生物正在经历着越来越多的变化。全球气候的这种变化引发了各种生态和生物反应，包括生理应激和钙化改变。增加的压力通常会影响能量的储存和分配，最终会产生级联反应，影响从新陈代谢和生长到生殖和行为的一切。钙化的改变会影响钙化结构的完整性和功能性。对于甲壳类动物来说，这一结果可能尤其严重，因为钙化的外骨骼对它们生物学和生态学的几乎每一个方面都至关重要。因此，要切合实际地了解海洋酸化和变暖对甲壳类动物的潜在影响，就需要采取综合办法。该项目的主要目标是确定预测的海洋变化将如何影响商业上重要的Pandalid虾的压力水平和捕食者防御。具体目标将评估pH和温度对虾的影响(1)生理氧化应激，(2)隐晦的着色，(3)甩尾逃逸行为，(4)外骨骼盔甲。具有不同地理范围的三个密切相关的对虾物种的幼体将长期暴露在一种改变的、短期预测的条件下。氧化应激反应的程度，外骨骼光谱特性，尾部翻转逃逸运动学，外骨骼组成和材料特性将确定这一具有生态和经济重要性的虾组如何对海洋酸化做出反应，以及这种反应对它们的生物学和生态学的潜在影响，以及它们作为支持生态系统的食物来源的用途。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Shrimp are a key food source worldwide for fish, birds, marine mammals, and humans, and consequently, many shrimp species face strong predation and fishing pressures. Potentially aggravating these pressures is their sensitivity to changes in environmental conditions, such as those occurring seasonally or over longer time periods. The tolerance of shrimp to declining ocean pH (ocean acidification) and increasing temperature (ocean warming) will factor into population health, abundance and distributions in the future. However, limited research on crustaceans precludes understanding of the potential impacts that changing environmental climates will have on commercially important species such as shrimp. This project takes a unique approach to ocean acidification research by (1) examining multiple, closely-related shrimp species to disentangle species-specific versus general responses, and (2) studying multi-scale responses, from stress physiology to predator defenses, to establish a broader scope of impacts on shrimp (from physiological to ecological). This study will thus provide a timely, comprehensive and realistic assessment of the susceptibility of commercially and ecologically important shrimp species to future ocean conditions, with clear applications to fisheries, aquaculture and the food industry. Findings from this research will reach people of all ages and broad backgrounds through website and social media promotion, public and professional seminars, classroom activities, and hands-on workshops. In addition, this research will contribute to the scientific development of high school and undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds through established research experience programs.A great diversity of marine organisms are experiencing increased changes in environmental conditions associated with ocean acidification and warming. Such changes in global climate induce a variety of ecological and biological responses, including physiological stress and altered calcification. Increased stress typically affects energy storage and allocation, ultimately cascading in reactions that can impact everything from metabolism and growth to reproduction and behavior. Changes in calcification can affect the integrity and functionality of calcified structures. This outcome may be especially severe for crustaceans, because the calcified exoskeleton is crucial for nearly every aspect of their biology and ecology. A realistic understanding of the potential impacts of ocean acidification and warming on crustaceans thus requires an integrative approach. The primary objective of this project is to determine how forecasted ocean changes will affect stress levels and predator defenses of commercially important Pandalid shrimp. The specific aims will assess the effect of pH and temperature on shrimp (1) physiological oxidative stress, (2) cryptic coloration, (3) tail-flip escape behavior, and (4) exoskeleton armor. Juveniles of three closely related shrimp species with different geographical ranges will undergo long-term exposure to a combination of altered, near-term predicted conditions. The extent of oxidative stress response, exoskeleton spectral properties, tail-flip escape kinematics, and exoskeleton composition and material properties will identify how this ecologically and economically important group of shrimp responds to ocean acidification, and the potential impact of this response on their biology and ecology, but also their use as a food source supporting ecosystems.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.