Collaborative Research: IRES Sites: Freshwater biodiversity research opportunities for students in the imperiled lakes and streams of western Kenya

合作研究：IRES 站点：为肯尼亚西部濒危湖泊和溪流的学生提供淡水生物多样性研究机会

• 批准号: 1854130
• 负责人: Henry Bart
• 金额: $ 14.01万
• 依托单位: Tulane University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2019-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1854130&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; IRES; Sites; Freshwater

This IRES project will provide scientific and cultural research opportunities for 18 undergraduate students, including those from traditionally underrepresented groups, from several US institutions. These students will collaborate with Kenyan researchers and undergraduate students to investigate the freshwater ecosystems of western Kenya. Prior to the research trip students will receive training in biodiversity research methods and the language and culture of Kenya to prepare them for the experience abroad. In Kenya, participants will collect fishes, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and conduct water quality analyses; to better understand the dynamics that shape these biological communities and how contemporary changes to the environment are affecting critical freshwater aquatic habitats. Additionally, using cutting-edge molecular techniques, students will have the opportunity to participate in the discovery and formal description of a vast array of unknown species in the area. Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world and the skills and experiences students will gain during this project will prepare them to contribute to freshwater ecosystem conservation efforts globally. Upon returning from Kenya, students will engage in individual projects and disseminate their results via social media, conferences, and peer-reviewed publications. By providing these students this unique international research experience, this project will train and prepare the next generation of U.S. scientists to engage with and lead the global scientific community in addressing the ongoing biodiversity crisis. Freshwater biodiversity in arid East Africa is beset with many ongoing threats; providing an uncertain future for freshwater ecosystems and people that rely on these resources for survival. This collaborative project will provide 18 undergraduate students a year-long opportunity to engage in research on the unique and imperiled biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems of western Kenya, including six weeks of field work in Kenya. In addition to initiating the training of a new generation of U.S. biodiversity researchers, the project will build the capacity of Kenyans to engage in biodiversity research. Fishes and aquatic macroinvertebrates perform many crucial ecosystem roles in freshwater environments, and are thus ideal targets of study for monitoring ecosystem health. Striking little baseline data on the freshwater biodiversity of western Kenya is available. Using Next-Generation Sequencing techniques (metabarcoding), traditional molecular and morphological approaches, and ecological studies, students will research aquatic biodiversity in the region; understand the biogeographical processes that promoted this diversity; and determine how these environments are responding to ongoing anthropogenic pressures. With exploitation of water resources in Kenya on the rise due to extraction and hydropower projects, the results of this project will be critical for identifying biodiversity hotspots and preventing further loss of biodiversity in the region. The project will recruit traditionally underrepresented students at home institutions and through ongoing collaborations with minority-serving institutions in the community. Research projects in the lab and field will provide a foundation for students to address the looming biodiversity crisis in future endeavors. Student participants will gain valuable insights on the culture and environments of western Kenya by learning from Kenyan mentors and interacting with Kenyan undergraduate students. Students will be provided with opportunities and encouraged to share their experiences and research findings through public outreach and presentations at national and international meetings. We will also build upon prior successes developing the research capacity of host institutions, providing training opportunities to local students and researchers, improving the natural history collections for the region, and developing guides for the region's biodiversity.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.

这个IRES项目将为18名本科生提供科学和文化研究的机会，包括来自美国几个机构的传统代表性不足的群体。这些学生将与肯尼亚研究人员和本科生合作，调查肯尼亚西部的淡水生态系统。在研究之旅之前，学生将接受生物多样性研究方法以及肯尼亚语言和文化的培训，为他们在国外的经历做好准备。在肯尼亚，与会者将收集鱼类、水生大型无脊椎动物，并进行水质分析;以更好地了解塑造这些生物群落的动态，以及当代环境变化如何影响关键的淡水水生生境。此外，利用尖端的分子技术，学生将有机会参与发现和正式描述该地区大量的未知物种。淡水生态系统是世界上最受威胁的生态系统之一，学生在本项目中获得的技能和经验将使他们为全球淡水生态系统保护工作做出贡献。从肯尼亚返回后，学生将参与个人项目，并通过社交媒体，会议和同行评审的出版物传播他们的成果。通过为这些学生提供这种独特的国际研究经验，该项目将培训和准备下一代美国科学家参与并领导全球科学界解决持续的生物多样性危机。干旱的东非淡水生物多样性受到许多持续威胁的困扰，为淡水生态系统和依赖这些资源生存的人们提供了一个不确定的未来。该合作项目将为18名本科生提供为期一年的机会，参与肯尼亚西部淡水生态系统独特和濒危生物多样性的研究，包括在肯尼亚进行为期六周的实地考察。除了启动对新一代美国生物多样性研究人员的培训外，该项目还将培养肯尼亚人从事生物多样性研究的能力。鱼类和大型水生无脊椎动物在淡水生态系统中扮演着重要的角色，是生态系统健康监测的理想研究对象。关于肯尼亚西部淡水生物多样性的基线数据极少。使用下一代测序技术（元条形码），传统的分子和形态学方法，以及生态研究，学生将研究该地区的水生生物多样性;了解促进这种多样性的地理过程;并确定这些环境如何应对持续的人为压力。由于开采和水力发电项目，肯尼亚的水资源开采量不断增加，该项目的结果对于确定生物多样性热点和防止该区域生物多样性进一步丧失至关重要。该项目将通过与社区中为少数群体服务的机构的持续合作，在本国机构招收传统上代表性不足的学生。在实验室和现场的研究项目将为学生提供一个基础，以解决在未来的努力迫在眉睫的生物多样性危机。学生参与者将通过向肯尼亚导师学习并与肯尼亚本科生互动，获得对肯尼亚西部文化和环境的宝贵见解。将为学生提供机会，并鼓励他们通过公共宣传和在国家和国际会议上的演讲分享他们的经验和研究成果。我们还将在先前成功的基础上发展东道国机构的研究能力，为当地学生和研究人员提供培训机会，改善该地区的自然历史收藏，并为该地区的生物多样性制定指南。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。