Characterizing the effects of evolution on nutrient cycling

表征进化对营养循环的影响

• 批准号: RGPIN-2014-06677
• 负责人: ElSabaawi, Rana
• 金额: $ 2.11万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=612364
• 关键词: Characterizing; effects; evolution; nutrient; cycling

The overall goal of my research program is to characterize the ecological consequences of evolutionary processes. In particular, my students and I characterize how animal evolution alters the flows of energy and nutrients in aquatic ecosystems. We work on the three-spined stickleback species complex from coastal British Columbia because it is one of the most important models for studying speciation, an evolutionary process that generates species. Stickleback evolution has led to a tremendous diversity in their defensive bony structures (i.e. armour), which protect them from predators. Because it is highly rich in phosphorus, variability in bone content has been invoked to explain differences in nutrient storage and recycling among fish species. However, hypotheses linking the evolution of bony traits with nutrient recycling have not been tested. Sticklebacks provide us with a unique opportunity to test these hypotheses, thereby gaining a better understanding of how animal traits influence their roles in ecosystem processes. We will characterize how armour traits affect the ability of sticklebacks to store and recycle nitrogen and phosphorus - two elements that limit primary production in aquatic ecosystem. Using a combination of field surveys and experiments, we will assess the effects of armour on stickleback elemental composition (the concentrations and proportions of elements in their bodies), their dietary demands for nitrogen and phosphorus, their capacity to recycle these elements, and the effects of these recycled elements on primary production. We will sample a number of stickleback populations from marine and freshwater environments, which encompass large differences in armour traits. My research will significantly advance our understanding of how evolution affects ecosystems. This understanding is important for a range of evolutionary and ecological processes, and is also required for effective conservation management. This research also addresses key mechanistic questions about nutrient recycling, a regulating ecosystem service which is important for ecosystem stability. Findings from this program will therefore benefit evolutionary biologists, ecosystem scientists, and conservation managers.

我的研究计划的总体目标是描述进化过程的生态后果。特别是，我和我的学生描述了动物进化如何改变水生生态系统中能量和营养物质的流动。 我们研究来自不列颠哥伦比亚省沿海的三刺刺鱼物种复合体，因为它是研究物种形成（产生物种的进化过程）最重要的模型之一。刺鱼的进化导致了它们的防御性骨骼结构（即盔甲）的巨大多样性，从而保护它们免受捕食者的侵害。由于磷含量很高，骨骼含量的变化被用来解释鱼类营养物质储存和循环利用的差异。然而，将骨性状进化与养分循环联系起来的假设尚未得到检验。刺鱼为我们提供了一个独特的机会来检验这些假设，从而更好地了解动物特征如何影响其在生态系统过程中的作用。 我们将描述盔甲特征如何影响刺鱼储存和回收氮和磷的能力——这两种元素限制了水生生态系统的初级生产。通过实地调查和实验相结合，我们将评估盔甲对刺鱼元素组成（体内元素的浓度和比例）的影响、它们对氮和磷的饮食需求、它们回收这些元素的能力，以及这些回收元素对初级生产的影响。我们将从海洋和淡水环境中采集大量棘鱼种群样本，它们的装甲特征存在巨大差异。 我的研究将极大地增进我们对进化如何影响生态系统的理解。这种理解对于一系列进化和生态过程非常重要，也是有效的保护管理所必需的。这项研究还解决了有关养分循环的关键机制问题，养分循环是一种调节生态系统服务，对生态系统的稳定非常重要。因此，该计划的研究结果将使进化生物学家、生态系统科学家和保护管理者受益。