The confusing, the cryptic, and the unseen: phenotypic adaptation and functional diversity of morphologically challenging macroalgae

令人困惑的、神秘的和看不见的：形态具有挑战性的大型藻类的表型适应和功能多样性

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-06240
• 负责人: Martone, Patrick
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=714845
• 关键词: confusing; cryptic; unseen; phenotypic; adaptation

Ecosystem function and resilience are generally correlated with species richness and diversity. However, the positive correlation between taxonomic and functional diversity largely depends upon our ability to differentiate species. Studies that avoid species distinctions and instead generalize with functional groups to make predictions about ecological processes are over-simplified and assumption-laden, as exceptions to species generalities are common. Our understanding of ecosystem function and the consequences of biodiversity loss therefore depends upon our ability to discriminate species and characterize their function. My research proposal focuses specifically on the problems caused by the misidentification of macroalgal species and the revolutionary ecological insight that can be had by species clarification. I categorize morphologically challenging macroalgae into three categories: single species exhibiting many phenotypes (i.e., “confusing”), many species exhibiting a single phenotype (i.e., “cryptic”), and species that have microscopic, often overlooked, life stages (i.e., “unseen”). These categories represent three distinct but related research directions that my lab will follow in the next five years: -- Morphologically “confusing” species may artificially inflate estimates of biodiversity. We will use a combination of field transplants and controlled growth experiments in the lab to characterize the interactive effects of environmental factors on morphological plasticity. We will investigate the underlying mechanism of plasticity in kelps, which appear to share developmental similarities with land plants despite wide differences in evolutionary history. -- Morphologically “cryptic” species may yield underestimates of taxonomic and functional diversity. We will use DNA sequencing to identify crustose coralline algal species in kelp forests and urchin barrens, and then conduct a series of experiments to differentiate the physiological and functional diversity of these cryptic species. We will document the ability of each species to stimulate invertebrate and kelp recruitment and to resist environmental stress. Understanding these cryptic species will lend insight into kelp forest functioning and recovery from disturbance. -- Some species have microscopic “unseen” life stages that may be critical to the persistence and stability of economically valuable macroalgal populations, but these stages are difficult to locate in the field and rarely studied in the lab. We will quantify the distribution of microscopic stages across marine landscapes by DNA sequencing. In the lab, we will culture microscopic stages and characterize their resistance to environmental stress and herbivory. These data will inform population models to make predictions about the persistence of macroalgal populations and harvestable yields in the future.

生态系统的功能和恢复力通常与物种丰富度和多样性相关。然而，分类多样性和功能多样性之间的正相关性在很大程度上取决于我们区分物种的能力。避免物种区分而代之以功能群来概括生态过程的研究过于简化和简化，因为物种概括的例外是常见的。因此，我们对生态系统功能和生物多样性丧失后果的理解取决于我们区分物种和描述其功能的能力。 我的研究计划特别关注大型藻类物种的错误识别所造成的问题，以及物种澄清所带来的革命性生态洞察力。我将形态学上具有挑战性的大型藻类分为三类：表现出许多表型的单一物种（即，“混淆”），许多物种表现出单一表型（即，“神秘的”），以及具有微观的、经常被忽视的生命阶段的物种（即，“看不见的”）。这些类别代表了我的实验室在未来五年内将遵循的三个不同但相关的研究方向： --在形态上“令人困惑”的物种可能会人为地夸大对生物多样性的估计。我们将结合田间移植和实验室控制生长实验来表征环境因素对形态可塑性的相互作用。我们将研究海带可塑性的潜在机制，尽管在进化历史上存在很大差异，但海带似乎与陆地植物有着发育上的相似性。 --形态学上的“隐蔽”物种可能低估了分类和功能多样性。我们将使用DNA测序来识别海带森林和海胆荒地中的甲壳珊瑚藻物种，然后进行一系列实验来区分这些神秘物种的生理和功能多样性。我们将记录每个物种的能力，以刺激无脊椎动物和海带招聘和抵御环境压力。了解这些神秘的物种将有助于深入了解海带森林的功能和恢复的干扰。 有些物种具有微观的“看不见的”生命阶段，这可能对具有经济价值的大型藻类种群的持久性和稳定性至关重要，但这些阶段很难在野外定位，也很少在实验室中进行研究。我们将通过DNA测序来量化海洋景观中微观阶段的分布。在实验室中，我们将培养微观阶段，并表征它们对环境压力和草食动物的抵抗力。这些数据将为种群模型提供信息，以预测大型藻类种群的持续性和未来的可收获产量。