Postdoctoral Fellowship: OCE-PRF: Scaling up herbivore holobiont physiology from genes to populations across a temperate upwelling gradient

该项目调查了食草动物在形成温带近岸潮下礁石和海藻森林方面的关键作用，以及气候变化对食草动物的消费和初级生产者的生长之间的平衡的潜在影响。通过利用横跨加州沿海的上升流梯度作为自然实验室和对照实验，该研究旨在加深我们对温度和氧气可获得性对食草动物生理和性能的复杂交互影响的理解。这项研究对推进海洋科学领域，促进科学进步，解决国家利益具有重要意义。食草动物在维持海洋生态系统的动态和生产力方面发挥着基础性作用，如选定的模式生物--弗朗西斯卡努斯中球藻。Franciscanus的生态、经济和文化重要性使其成为本次调查的理想重点物种。通过现场观察、实验室实验和功能组学分析，该项目试图阐明Franciscanus对温度和氧气变化的生理反应。通过量化个体水平的食草动物能量学、人口统计学和群落结构，这项研究将揭示温带生态系统中气候变化和食草动物之间关系的复杂机制。这些发现不仅将促进我们的科学知识，还将对生态系统保护和管理战略产生更广泛的影响。此外，该项目通过处理与气候变化对海洋生态系统的影响有关的基本问题，与海洋科学司的任务相一致。它通过与初中和高中的伙伴关系、本科生研究机会和公众参与倡议来支持教育和多样性。通过在STEM领域吸引代表性不足的少数群体并扩大对科学研究的参与，该项目旨在激励下一代科学家，并增强STEM劳动力的多样性。最终，这项研究通过促进科学进步，促进沿海社区的福利，并促进可持续的海洋生态系统管理方法，服务于国家利益。该项目包括全面调查温度和氧气可获得性对食草动物的影响及其对温带近岸潮下礁和海藻森林的影响。这项研究将沿着加利福尼亚州沿海的温带上升坡度进行，涵盖了该地区具有代表性的各种环境条件。这项研究将结合现场观察、实验室实验和功能组学分析，以提供对温度和氧气可获得性对海带森林中食草动物生理、放牧率和紧急种群动态的影响的多维理解。该项目的目标包括量化个体水平的食草动物能量学、种群人口统计和群落结构，以应对不同的温度和氧气条件。通过整合生理测量、种群模型和群落水平的分析，该项目旨在揭示在温带潮下生态系统中形成弗朗西斯卡努斯分枝杆菌性能的潜在过程及其生态后果。功能“组学”分析将提供对整个生物体“Holobion”和海胆微生物组的基因表达模式的机械性洞察，揭示驱动食草动物对不断变化的环境条件反应的分子机制。这项研究的结果将为该领域提供新的知识，全面了解温带近岸生态系统中草食的生理制约因素。该项目将加强我们对气候变化对海洋生态系统影响的了解，有助于生态建模工作，并为沿海地区的保护战略提供信息。此外，该项目将通过展览和推广计划与中学生、本科生研究人员和普通公众接触，促进科学教育，扩大对STEM的参与，并提高对海洋生态系统保护重要性的认识。该项目的好处不仅限于学术界，还通过支持沿海资源的可持续管理和激励后代追求科学事业而造福社会。该奖项反映了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。

This project investigates the crucial role of herbivores in shaping temperate nearshore subtidal reefs and kelp forests, and the potential impacts of climate change on the balance between consumption by herbivores and growth by primary producers. By utilizing an upwelling gradient spanning coastal California as a natural laboratory, and controlled experiments, the study aims to deepen our understanding of the complex interacting effects of temperature and oxygen availability on herbivore physiology and performance. This research holds significant implications for advancing the field of ocean sciences, promoting the progress of science, and addressing the national interest. Herbivores, such as the chosen model organism Mesocentrotus franciscanus, play a fundamental role in maintaining the dynamics and productivity of marine ecosystems. The ecological, economic, and cultural importance of M. franciscanus makes it an ideal focal species for this investigation. Through in-situ observations, laboratory experiments, and functional 'omics' analyses, the project seeks to elucidate the physiological responses of M. franciscanus to temperature and oxygen variations. By quantifying individual-level herbivore energetics, population demographics, and community structure, the study will shed light on the intricate mechanisms underlying the relationship between climate change and herbivory in temperate ecosystems. These findings will not only advance our scientific knowledge but also have broader implications for ecosystem conservation and management strategies. Moreover, the project aligns with the Division of Ocean Sciences mission by addressing fundamental issues related to the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. It supports education and diversity through partnerships with middle and high schools, undergraduate research opportunities, and public engagement initiatives. By engaging underrepresented minorities in STEM fields and broadening participation in scientific research, this project aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and enhance the diversity of the STEM workforce. Ultimately, this research serves the national interest by contributing to the progress of science, promoting the welfare of coastal communities, and fostering a sustainable approach to marine ecosystem management.This project encompasses a comprehensive investigation into the effects of temperature and oxygen availability on herbivory and its implications for temperate nearshore subtidal reefs and kelp forests. The research will be conducted along a temperate upwelling gradient in coastal California, encompassing diverse environmental conditions representative of this region. The study will combine in-situ observations, laboratory experiments, and functional 'omics' analyses to provide a multi-dimensional understanding of the effects of temperature and oxygen availability on herbivore physiology, grazing rates, and emergent population dynamics in kelp forests. The goals of the project include quantifying individual-level herbivore energetics, population demographics, and community structure in response to varying temperature and oxygen conditions. By integrating physiological measurements, population modeling, and community-level analyses, the project aims to unravel the underlying processes shaping the performance of M. franciscanus and its ecological consequences within temperate subtidal ecosystems. The functional 'omics' analyses will provide mechanistic insight into the gene expression patterns of the whole organism "holobiont" and the sea urchin microbiome, revealing the molecular mechanisms that drive herbivore responses to changing environmental conditions. The outcomes of this research will contribute new knowledge to the field by providing a comprehensive understanding of the physiological constraints on herbivory in temperate nearshore ecosystems. The project will enhance our understanding of the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, contribute to ecological modeling efforts, and inform conservation strategies for coastal regions. Furthermore, by engaging with middle and high school students, undergraduate researchers, and the general public through exhibits and outreach programs, this project will foster science education, broaden participation in STEM, and raise awareness about the importance of marine ecosystem conservation. The benefits of this project extend beyond academia, benefiting society by supporting the sustainable management of coastal resources and inspiring future generations to pursue scientific careers.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.