NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2019: Temporal Dynamics of Pacific Kelp Forest Ecosystems

本行动资助NSF 2019年度生物学博士后研究奖学金，利用生物馆藏进行研究。该奖学金支持研究和培训将以创新的方式利用生物收集的研究员。由于气候变化和人类的影响，许多物种受到威胁。通过研究物种在人类环境影响之前的生活方式，我们可以帮助缓解未来的环境变化。这个项目研究太平洋海带森林。今天，这些近岸栖息地因为靠近大城市而变得脆弱。这名研究员将利用从考古遗址收集的骨头，利用化学技术量化海带对古代鱼类和海洋哺乳动物的重要性。遗址范围从阿拉斯加到南加州，时间从12000年前一直到现在。此外，他还将描述海带森林和附近开阔海洋栖息地之间的营养流动。总的来说，这个项目提供了一幅在欧洲人接触之前北美太平洋沿岸栖息地的图片。这项工作不仅对生活在海带森林中的物种很重要，对依赖它们的人类社区也很重要。该研究员将向史密森国家自然历史博物馆（NMNH）的参观者展示这项研究，并为高中和科学研究人员开发学习模块。本研究将研究太平洋海带森林生态系统在全新世和人类世的动态。结合考古背景的数据，通过提供工业化前的基线，增加了我们对这些生态系统的理解。该研究员将对考古遗址的动物遗骸进行必需氨基酸（EAA）的δ 13- c分析，以重建海带来源的能量对古代食物网的重要性。这些遗址横跨东北太平洋边缘，距今已有12000年。在每个地点，研究员将分析三种不同功能组的动物：底栖动物、远洋动物或混合栖息地觅食动物，以量化海带与远洋来源的能量。他将把这些动物与类似的现代动物进行比较，以表征生态系统的变化。该研究员将在史密森尼国家博物馆（Smithsonian NMNH）工作，这是一家一流的研究和教育机构，也是一个受欢迎的文化景点。研究员将：1)学习重要的管理和动物识别技能，2)与公众直接互动，了解海带森林生态系统的重要性。该研究员还将开发以历史保护生态学为基础的课程，供高中使用。这项研究有助于了解海带森林的动态，并使科学家和公众参与保护海带森林。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2019, Research Using Biological Collections. The fellowship supports research and training of the fellow that will utilize biological collections in innovative ways. Many species are threatened because of climate change and human impacts. By examining how species lived before human environmental influences, we can help mitigate future environmental change. This project studies Pacific kelp forests. Today, these nearshore habitats are vulnerable because of their proximity to large cities. The fellow will use chemical techniques to quantify the importance of kelp to ancient fish and marine mammals using bones collected from archaeological sites. Sites range from Alaska to southern California, and date from 12,000 years ago to modern day. Additionally, the fellow will characterize nutrient flow between kelp forests and nearby open ocean habitats. Overall, this project provides a picture of what habitats along the Pacific coast of North America looked like prior to European contact. The work is important not just for species living in kelp forests, but for human communities relying on them. The fellow will present this research to visitors at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), and develop learning modules for high schools and scientific researchers. This research will examine the dynamics of Pacific kelp forest ecosystems over the Holocene and Anthropocene. Incorporating data from archaeological contexts adds to our understanding of these ecosystems by providing a pre-industrial baseline. The fellow will conduct delta13-C analysis of essential amino acids (EAA) on faunal remains from archaeological sites to reconstruct the importance of kelp-derived energy to ancient food webs. Sites span the northeast Pacific margin and past 12,000 years. At each location, the fellow will analyze fauna from three distinct functional groupings benthic, pelagic or mixed-habitat foragers to quantify kelp versus pelagically-derived energy. The fellow will compare these to analogous modern fauna to characterize ecosystem change. The fellow will work at the Smithsonian NMNH, a premier research and educational institute and popular cultural attraction. The fellow will: 1) learn important curatorial and faunal identification skills, and 2) interact directly with the general public about the importance of kelp forest ecosystems. The fellow will also develop curriculum based around historical conservation ecology for use in high schools. This research aids in understanding kelp forests dynamics, and engages scientists and the public in their protection.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.