Retrospective optimisation of multifunctionality on coastal urban infrastructure

沿海城市基础设施多功能回顾性优化

• 批准号: 2738127
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Plymouth University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2738127
• 关键词: Retrospective; optimisation; multifunctionality; coastal; urban

A combination of reduced complexity and spatial scale underpins biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality deficits on artificial compared to natural habitats1. At fine-grain (mm-cm) scales, low physical complexity can inhibit the settlement/recruitment of larvae by environmentally filtering out mal-adapted organisms2. Physically simple environments can select for an over-abundance of mesopredators (e.g. limpets), whose non-selective grazing behaviour can biotically filter2 weaker species, leading to grazer dominance and "limpet barrens"3, akin to urchin barrens in subtidal systems. Here, the goal is to upscale GGI solutions to stimulate a 'multifunctional cascade' using appropriately complex surfaces to provide recruitment-phase refugia from grazing for habitat-forming species (e.g. fucoids, mussels) that, in turn, support greater biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality through facilitation cascades4. At medium- (e.g. cm-m) and large-grains (e.g. >10m), reduced physical complexity homogenises environmental conditions that effectively reduces niche availability, the number of species both within (a-diversity) and between patches (B-diversity)5, and site-scale (g) diversity and multi-functionality. At larger scales, regions characterised by discontinuous shorelines with mosaics of habitats (e.g. seawalls interspersed with natural reef) could support higher B-diversity compared to regions characterised by continuous homogenous vertical seawalls. This studentship will evaluate relationships between complexity, biodiversity, and ecosystem multifunctionality, and then apply this new empirical understanding to inform upscaling GGI solutions at larger scales. We propose a three-pronged state-of-art approach: (1) Field surveys and mesocosm studies to quantify naturally-occurring relationships between physical complexity, biodiversity, and multifunctionality at multiple scales (photogrammetry/biodiversity surveys) in Plymouth Sound, Southampton Water and Milford Haven (selected due to differences in levels of urbanisation). Ecosystem multifunctionality will be estimated using functional traits databases and validated using field mesocosms. [Firth, Griffin, Foggo] (2) Two manipulative field experiments using biomimetic tiles will determine (1) whether structural features deter/encourage key taxa and disentangle the roles of propagule pressure from physical complexity (abiotic filtering) and post-settlement biotic interactions (biotic filtering) on assemblage development; and (2) how area (scale) and spatial heterogeneity (arrangement) influence biodiversity and multifunctionality outcomes at larger spatial scales. Experiments will be deployed in Brixham (permission already granted)[Firth, Hanley, Knights] (3) Modelling will test how the surface type, density and spatial heterogeneity of GGI patches affect accessibility and spatial use by key grazers (e.g. limpets)(see Fig 1 in OneDrive). Methods will involve in-situ surveys (photographs/time-lapse) and modelling (e.g. correlated walk models). [Firth, Knights] The project allows the student to develop highly sought-after technical and academic skills in applied and theoretical ecological modelling, and general research skills. The supervisory team's track-record of high-quality PhD training and mentoring, evidenced by and student-led high-quality research outputs ensures an excellent student experience, including integration into a vibrant community of staff and students at UoP and abroad. UoP and ARIES training courses for continuing professional development will be encouraged, alongside presentation at international conferences (e.g. International Temperate Reefs Symposium) to develop their network and science communication skills.

降低复杂性和空间规模的结合，支持生物多样性和生态系统多功能赤字人工相比，自然栖息地1。在细粒（毫米-厘米）尺度上，低物理复杂性可以通过过滤环境适应不良的生物体2来抑制幼虫的定居/招募。物理简单的环境可以选择过度丰富的中型捕食者（例如帽贝），其非选择性的放牧行为可以生物过滤2较弱的物种，导致食草动物占主导地位和“帽贝贫瘠“3，类似于亚潮带系统中的海胆贫瘠。在这里，目标是升级GGI解决方案，以刺激“多功能级联”，使用适当复杂的表面，为栖息地形成物种（如岩藻，贻贝）提供放牧的补充阶段避难所，反过来，通过促进生态系统4支持更大的生物多样性和生态系统多功能性。在中等粒度（如厘米-米）和大粒度（如> 10米），物理复杂性的降低使环境条件均匀化，有效地减少了生态位的可用性，斑块内（a-多样性）和斑块之间（B-多样性）的物种数量，以及站点规模（g）多样性和多功能性。在更大的尺度上，不连续的海岸线与镶嵌的栖息地（例如，海堤穿插天然珊瑚礁）的区域可以支持更高的B-多样性相比，连续均匀的垂直海堤的区域。该奖学金将评估复杂性，生物多样性和生态系统多功能性之间的关系，然后将这种新的经验理解应用于更大规模的GGI解决方案。我们提出了一个三管齐下的最先进的方法：（1）实地调查和围隔研究，以量化自然发生的物理复杂性，生物多样性和多功能性之间的关系在多个尺度（摄影测量/生物多样性调查）在普利茅斯湾，南安普顿水和米尔福德港（由于城市化水平的差异而选择）。生态系统的多功能性将使用功能特性数据库进行评估，并使用野外中尺度生态系统进行验证。[Firth，Griffin，Foggo]（2）使用仿生瓷砖的两个操纵性田间实验将确定（1）结构特征是否阻止/鼓励关键类群，并将繁殖体压力的作用与物理复杂性分开（非生物过滤）和定居后生物相互作用（生物过滤）组合发育;以及（2）在更大的空间尺度上，面积（尺度）和空间异质性（排列）如何影响生物多样性和多功能性结果。实验将部署在布里克瑟姆（已获得许可）[Firth，汉利，骑士]（3）建模将测试GGI斑块的表面类型，密度和空间异质性如何影响主要食草动物（例如帽贝）的可达性和空间使用（见OneDrive中的图1）。方法将包括实地调查（照片/延时）和建模（例如相关步行模型）。[Firth，Knights]该项目允许学生在应用和理论生态建模以及一般研究技能方面发展备受追捧的技术和学术技能。监督团队的高质量博士培训和指导的跟踪记录，由学生主导的高质量研究成果证明，确保了优秀的学生体验，包括融入UOP和国外充满活力的员工和学生社区。除了在国际会议（如国际温带珊瑚礁专题讨论会）上发言外，还将鼓励太平洋大学和ARIES继续专业发展培训课程，以发展他们的网络和科学交流技能。