Predator-prey interactions in aquatic communities

生态系统中最重要的相互作用之一是捕食，因为它是能量和营养物质在生态系统中流动的机制。 一个适应良好的捕食者必须成功地捕获猎物;适应良好的猎物必须成功地逃脱这种命运。 由于这种相互作用是如此重要，捕食者和猎物都进化出了各种各样的战略和战术，以使这些相互作用的结果对他们有利。 我提出的研究计划的目标是确定捕食者-猎物的相互作用如何受到不断变化的环境的影响，以及如何将这些信息应用于恢复受威胁的种群。 我将研究温度变化如何影响捕食者和猎物之间的平衡。 对于加拿大境内的所有淡水水生生态系统，鱼类的能量需求是由其环境决定的。 如果温度升高会发生什么？ 为了回答这个问题，我将首先直接测量生态系统中不同物种之间的关系。 我的期望是，捕食者和猎物都可能需要更多的食物在一个温暖的环境。 对于生态系统来说，这意味着温度升高将需要动物更经常地冒着死亡的风险来获得食物。 我还将探讨信息来源的变化将如何影响捕食者-猎物的相互作用。 两者都使用视觉和化学感官，我想知道如何使用这些不同的感官在动态环境中赋予优势。 了解这一过程可能使人们有可能预测与水的透明度变化相关的水生生态系统变化的后果-这是人为环境变化的常见后果。 最后，我还将探讨是否一致的变化，在一个物种内的鱼类的生长速度是遗传变异的结果，或适应处理不同程度的捕食风险的环境。 如果是后者，那么我希望将这个想法作为保护濒危物种的工具。

One of the most important interactions within an ecosystem is predation, as it is the mechanism by which energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem. A well adapted predator must be successful at capturing its prey; well adapted prey must be successful at escaping this fate. Because such interactions are so important, both predators and prey have evolved a diverse array of strategies and tactics to tilt the outcome of these interactions in their favour. The goal of my proposed research program is determine how predator-prey interactions are affected by a changing environment, and how such information may then be applied to restoring threatened populations. I will investigate how changing temperatures may impact the balance between predator and prey. For all freshwater aquatic ecosystems within Canada, the energetic requirements of fish are determined by their environment. What happens if this temperature increases? To answer this question, I will first directly measure the relation for different species within an ecosystem. My expectation is that both predator and prey will likely need more food in a warmer environment. For the ecosystem, the implication is that warmer temperatures will require animals to more often risk death in order to obtain food. I will also explore how changing sources of information will impact predator-prey interactions. Both are known to use both visual and chemical senses and I want to know how use of these different senses may confer an advantage within a dynamic environment. Understanding this process may make it possible to predict the consequences of changes in the aquatic ecosystem associated with changes in water clarity - a common consequence of man-made changes in the environment. Finally, I will also explore whether consistent variation in the growth rates of fishes within a species is a consequence of genetic variation, or an adaptation to deal with environments that vary in the level of predation risk. If the latter, I then hope to develop this idea as a tool in conserving endangered species.