Collaborative Research: Linking predator functional diversity to prey dynamics through the functional response

合作研究：通过功能反应将捕食者功能多样性与猎物动态联系起来

• 批准号: 2151253
• 负责人: Michael McCoy
• 金额: $ 50.01万
• 依托单位: Florida Atlantic University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-08-01 至 2022-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2151253&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Linking; predator; functional

Human activities such as habitat modification, harvesting and species introductions are rapidly changing the type and number of predators in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. These changes in predator communities can have significant ecological and socio-economic impacts. However, our ability to predict and manage the effect of predator loss or introduction on prey populations on ecosystems remains limited. This study will integrate experimental and mathematical approaches to improve existing tools for predicting the consequences of predator loss or introduction in aquatic ecosystems. The investigators will conduct a series of observations and experiments in rock pools in streams to document the responses of prey to changes to multiple predator populations. The responses include patterns of prey mortality, and alterations in prey behavior or morphology. The data generated from this phase of the study will be used to test the ability of existing and improved models to predict the long- term consequences of predators on prey populations and overall ecosystem function. Collectively, the results of this research will significantly advance our ability to predict the consequences of predator loss or invasion. The project will also integrate education with outreach activities in two ways: 1) The investigators will partner with high school teachers to create teaching modules and field labs focusing on predator-prey interactions. 2) The investigators will participate as mentors in a faculty-mentoring network (NSF-Quantitative Undergraduate Biology Education and Synthesis project). This network provides support to K-12 teachers and college faculty around the country seeking to implement more rigorous quantitative components in their courses. Additionally, the study will provide research training for post-doctoral, graduate and undergraduate students. This project will support an early career investigator, and two investigators at primarily undergraduate institutions.This research will advance our ability to predict how predator loss or introduction affect prey populations and influence other ecosystem functions by focusing on the overall effect of multiple predators. The study will combine theoretical, statistical and empirical approaches and will include the following activities: 1) Field surveys to measure density, size and species composition of predator and prey communities in rocky pools. 2) Experiments to measure prey survival, fecundity and growth as functions of prey density and size, predator identity and food resources. 3) Use of the data and patterns observed in the field and experiments to develop new models for predicting prevalence and magnitude of emergent multiple predator effects. 4) Experimentally test predictions of the existing and improved models to quantify the importance of predator species and functional diversity on prey population dynamics in rock pool food webs.

生境改造、捕捞和物种引进等人类活动正在迅速改变水生和陆地生态系统中捕食者的类型和数量。捕食者群落的这些变化会产生重大的生态和社会经济影响。然而，我们预测和管理捕食者减少或引入对生态系统猎物种群的影响的能力仍然有限。本研究将结合实验和数学方法来改进现有的预测水生生态系统中捕食者减少或引入后果的工具。研究人员将在溪流中的岩石池中进行一系列观察和实验，以记录猎物对多种捕食者种群变化的反应。这些反应包括猎物死亡的模式，以及猎物行为或形态的改变。这一研究阶段产生的数据将用于测试现有和改进的模型的能力，以预测捕食者对猎物种群和整体生态系统功能的长期影响。总的来说，这项研究的结果将显著提高我们预测捕食者消失或入侵后果的能力。该项目还将以两种方式将教育与外展活动结合起来：1)调查人员将与高中教师合作，创建教学模块和专注于捕食者-猎物互动的实地实验室。2)研究者将作为导师参与教师-导师网络（nsf -定量本科生物学教育与综合项目）。该网络为全国各地的K-12教师和大学教师提供支持，以寻求在他们的课程中实施更严格的定量成分。此外，该研究还将为博士后、研究生和本科生提供研究培训。该项目将支持一名早期职业研究者和两名主要本科院校的研究者。这项研究将通过关注多种捕食者的整体影响，提高我们预测捕食者的减少或引入如何影响猎物种群和其他生态系统功能的能力。该研究将结合理论、统计和经验方法，包括以下活动：1)实地调查，测量岩石池中捕食者和猎物群落的密度、大小和物种组成。2)测量猎物的生存、繁殖力和生长与猎物密度和大小、捕食者身份和食物资源的关系的实验。3)利用野外观测的数据和模式以及实验，建立新的模型来预测突发性多重捕食者效应的流行程度和程度。4)通过实验验证现有模型和改进模型的预测，以量化岩石池食物网中捕食者物种和功能多样性对猎物种群动态的重要性。