Functional traits inform ecosystem processes in marine systems

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Traits are characteristics that influence individuals' fitness via impacts on growth, reproduction and/or survival. Importantly, traits are altered both by eco-evolutionary gradients and anthropogenic impacts, alterations that can change species' functional roles independently of changes in abundance or geographic distribution. These features necessitate trait-based analyses to both derive indicators of population and ecosystem dynamics and to test their underlying mechanisms at scales ranging from local to global. A unique feature of this research program is its application of contemporary empirical trait variation to parameterize and challenge established ecosystem models that have failed to capture the recent dynamics of economically and culturally important Northwest Atlantic ecosystems. The long-range goal of this research program is to develop, parameterize, and test functional, trait-based models to understand and forecast the responses of marine ecosystems to exploitation and climate change. I will achieve this by linking analyses of community size structure, trophic niche, and energy flux, with a focus on four complementary objectives: (1) modeling the implications of low predator-prey mass ratios (PPMR) for the recovery of multispecies marine size spectra; (2) quantifying seasonal variation in ontogenetic niche within recovering ecosystems; (3) testing the importance of coupled benthic and pelagic energy pathways to the recovery of demeral fishes, and; (4) calculating the energy flux consequences of a climate-driven invasive marine species. These analyses will contribute new methodologies and results applicable to fundamental and applied sciences. Fundamentally, this research will test whether observed spatial variation in marine community size structure can be explained by differences in a key trait (PPMR) and its theorized effects on food chain length and maximum body sizes. It will also re-cast a recent hypothesis explaining the trait-based dominance of large-bodied demersal fishes in temperate and sub-Arctic waters to ask whether a lack of benthic-pelagic coupling currently thwarts population recovery. Finally, it will provide solution to the globally relevant energetic impacts of marine fish redistributions driven by climate change. As an applied contribution, all components will contribute results applicable to ecosystem approaches to fisheries ecology and assessment. Such approaches are perennially requested but have been largely absent in the assessment of living marine resources within Canada and globally. One PhD student, three MSc students, and two undergraduate trainees will be recruited to contribute to this research program. Each will receive training in ecological and evolutionary theory, data amalgamation and visualization, statistical analyses, coding, and scientific communications. This program will thereby expand Canada's highly qualified personnel in the field of applied ecosystems ecology.