Particle counter for ecophysiological studies of benthic filter-feeders

在这项提案中，我请求资金购买一台仪器，以计算海水中悬浮颗粒的数量和大小。该设备将用于研究生活在海底的生物的摄食行为，如贻贝、牡蛎和被囊动物(海鞘)。这些所谓的滤食器通过将微小的食物颗粒从水中过滤出来进行喂养，通常是通过将水通过专门的过滤结构。滤食器在沿海生态系统中发挥着关键作用，可以提供关键的生态系统服务。例如，贻贝和牡蛎可以作为食物种植，人们普遍认为它们的过滤功能改善了水质。其他滤食性动物，如一些海鞘，是入侵物种，可以迅速繁殖并超过滤食性动物的自然种群，从而损害本地物种继续支持沿海生态系统的能力。这是贻贝和牡蛎养殖业的一个众所周知的问题，入侵的海鞘可以迅速进入并主宰系统，并对水产养殖部门的经济生存能力产生负面影响。尽管滤食者在沿海生态系统中很重要，但它们摄食行为的一些关键方面仍然不清楚。我建议购买的颗粒计数仪器将有助于我们更好地了解贻贝、牡蛎和两种入侵海鞘的取食行为。我的研究将确定(1)这些物种可以有效地保留在其过滤结构中的颗粒的大小和类型，(2)它们在不同环境条件下的摄食率和行为，以及最终(3)它们对生态系统的潜在影响。这将通过在野外和实验室受控条件下使用该仪器进行实验来实现，例如，探索温度对进食率的影响。我们收集的信息将用于多种科学和管理目的。例如，通过比较海水通过滤料前后的颗粒数量和大小，我们将能够确定它们可以有效保留的颗粒大小，这是一个仍在讨论的问题。我的研究团队将利用这一仪器产生的知识将提高我们管理加拿大沿海地区的能力。例如，我们将能够(1)探索贻贝和牡蛎水产养殖对环境的影响，从而为保证这一重要经济活动的可持续性提供建议；(2)在实验室模拟预测的气候变化，并探索入侵海鞘的潜力。最终，这项工作将有助于提高加拿大大西洋沿岸地区管理的有效性，并有助于促进全球范围内改进的水产养殖做法。

In this proposal, I request funds to purchase an instrument to count the number and size of particles that are suspended in seawater. This equipment will be used to study the feeding behaviour of organisms that live on the seafloor such as mussels, oysters and tunicates (sea squirts). These so-called filter-feeders feed by straining small food particles from water, typically by passing the water over a specialized filtering structure. Filter feeders play a critical role in coastal ecosystems, and can provide key ecosystem services. For example, mussels and oysters may be grown for food, and it is widely recognized that their filtration activity improves water quality. Other filter-feeders, such as some sea squirts, are invasive species that can rapidly proliferate and out-compete natural populations of filter-feeders, thus compromising the ability of native species to continue supporting coastal ecosystems. This is a well-known problem in mussel and oyster farming, where invasive sea squirts can rapidly enter and dominate the system, and negatively impact the economic viability of the aquaculture sector. Despite the importance of filter-feeders in coastal ecosystems, some critical aspects of their feeding behaviour are still not clear. The particle counting instrument that I propose to purchase will improve our understanding of the feeding behaviour of mussels, oysters and two species of invasive sea squirts. My research will determine (1) the size and type of particles that these species can effectively retain in their filtering structures, (2) their feeding rates and behaviour under different environmental conditions, and ultimately (3) their potential impact on the ecosystem. This will be achieved by performing experiments with the instrument in the field and under controlled conditions in the laboratory, for example, to explore the effect of the temperature on feeding rates. The information we collect will be used for multiple scientific and management purposes. For example, by comparing the number and size of particles in seawater directly before and after it passes through filter feeders, we will be able to determine what size of particles that they can effectively retain, a question that is still under discussion. The knowledge that my research team will generate with this instrument will improve our ability to manage Canadian coastal zones. For example, we will be able to (1) explore the impact of mussel and oyster aquaculture on the environment and consequently provide recommendations to guarantee the sustainability of this important economic activity; (2) simulate predicted climate change in the laboratory and explore the potential of invasive sea squirts. Ultimately, this work will contribute to improving effectiveness of coastal zone management in Atlantic Canada, and help to promote improved aquaculture practices worldwide.