Dynamics and stability of freshwater resource-consumer systems: testing mechanisms from structured theory

淡水资源-消耗系统的动力学和稳定性：结构化理论的测试机制

• 批准号: 349691-2007
• 负责人: McCauley, Edward
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Accelerator Supplements
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2007-01-01 至 2008-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=361983
• 关键词: Dynamics; stability; freshwater; resource; consumer

Ecological theory on the dynamics of biological populations is a powerful tool that we can use to explain variation in the abundance of species over time and space in a variety of ecological settings.  Often this understanding can be used to solve important applied problems concerning spread of diseases or pathogens, conservation of species populations, or management of resources. The major goal of my research is to develop this theory and test our ability to explain fundamental properties of the dynamics of biological populations (e.g. presence or absence of cycles, irregular fluctuations, or population stability) in different environments.Freshwater algal-herbivore systems are ideal for this enterprise.  We have extensive quantitative information on the physiology, behaviour, and life-history of individuals that we can use to construct structured population models for their dynamic interactions.  We can perform manipulation experiments in simple communities to test rigorously general mechanisms causing different types of population dynamics.  Finally, we can add ecological complexity by modifying food-web structure or spatial variability and test our ability to capture the dynamics under more realistic conditions.In my proposed research, I evaluate (1) whether general features in the life-history of freshwater consumers determine the type of population dynamics that we observe in many systems, (2) whether recycling of elements that act to couple or decouple algal-herbivore interactions may play a key role in stability of the resource-consumer interaction, and (3) whether our understanding of population processes (growth, dispersal, and advection) can explain how spatial patterns emerge and evolve over time in algal-grazer systems.

生物种群动力学的生态学理论是一个强有力的工具，我们可以用它来解释在不同的生态环境中物种丰度随时间和空间的变化。通常这种理解可以用来解决有关疾病或病原体传播，物种种群保护或资源管理的重要应用问题。我研究的主要目标是发展这一理论，并测试我们解释生物种群动态基本特性的能力（例如是否存在周期、不规则波动或种群稳定性）。淡水藻类-草食动物系统是这项工作的理想选择。我们有大量关于藻类生理、行为、和生活史，我们可以用来构建结构化的人口模型，他们的动态相互作用。我们可以在简单的社区进行操作实验，以严格测试一般机制，导致不同类型的人口动态。最后，我们可以通过改变食物网结构或空间变异性来增加生态复杂性，并在更现实的条件下测试我们捕捉动态的能力。在我提议的研究中，我评估（1）淡水消费者生活史的一般特征是否决定了我们在许多系统中观察到的种群动态类型，（2）藻类-草食动物相互作用耦合或解耦的元素的再循环是否在资源-消费者相互作用的稳定性中起关键作用，以及（3）我们对种群过程（增长、扩散和平流）的理解是否可以解释食藻系统中空间格局如何随时间出现和演变。