The structuring role of macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems

淡水生态系统中大型植物的结构作用

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-04379
• 负责人: Jackson, Leland
• 金额: $ 1.53万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=654395
• 关键词: structuring; role; macrophytes; freshwater; ecosystems

Some ecosystems can exist in more than one state or regime. Discovering why some ecosystems remain in one state or another, and what perturbations can cause a shift between regimes, might allow prediction of how ecosystems will respond to invasion by new species or changing climate. The long-term goal of my research program is to understand relations between lake and river ecosystem structure and how those ecosystems function. My major hypothesis is that macrophytes are key structuring elements in both systems. In rivers, macrophytes affect dissolved oxygen through photosynthesis and respiration. Macrophytes provide cover for young fish, yet may also generate hypoxic zones if sufficiently metabolically active. In shallow prairie lakes, macrophytes affect water clarity by reducing sediment resuspension, trapping particles, providing refuge for large-bodied zooplankton and releasing chemicals that reduce phytoplankton growth.***My proposed research focuses on confronting resuspension predictions based on physical models with empirical data, determining whether macrophytes selectively affect particle trapping, determining the role of minnows in controlling water clarity and determining nutrient-macrophyte growth relations and oxygen dynamics in the Bow River following major flooding in 2013.  This research benefits Canada by providing knowledge of the role of submerged macrophytes in rivers and lakes so that the ecosystem services we derive from our aquatic systems (clean water for drinking, irrigation, watering livestock, recreation, etc.) can be protected and maintained.  **

有些生态系统可以存在于不止一个状态或制度中。发现为什么一些生态系统保持在一种或另一种状态，以及哪些扰动会导致制度之间的转变，可能有助于预测生态系统将如何应对新物种或不断变化的气候的入侵。我研究计划的长期目标是了解湖泊和河流生态系统结构之间的关系，并了解这些生态系统是如何发挥作用的。我的主要假设是，大型植物是这两个系统中的关键结构元素。在河流中，大型植物通过光合作用和呼吸作用影响溶解氧。大型植物为幼鱼提供了掩护，但如果代谢足够活跃，也可能会产生缺氧区。在浅草原湖泊中，大型植物通过减少沉积物和再悬浮，捕获颗粒，为大型浮游动物提供避难所，并释放减少浮游植物生长的化学物质来影响水体透明度。*我拟议的研究重点是用经验数据对抗基于物理模型的再悬浮预测，确定大型植物是否选择性地影响颗粒捕获，确定小型鱼类在控制水质透明度方面的作用，以及确定2013年大洪水后弓河的营养-大型植物生长关系和氧气动力学。这项研究使加拿大受益，因为它提供了关于沉水植物在河流和湖泊中的作用的知识，以便我们从我们的水生系统(饮用水、灌溉、给牲畜浇水、娱乐等)获得的生态系统服务。可以得到保护和维护。**