Reproduction and dispersal strategies in extreme environments: insights into persistence and shifts in marine biodiversity

我的研究计划的长期目标是澄清在不断变化的海洋背景下，冷水和深海底栖动物繁殖和扩散策略的驱动因素和适应意义。从时间生物学（生物活动与时间的关系）、物候学（周期性事件与气候条件的关系）和进化生物学（生活史策略的适应性益处）的角度探讨生活史事件。 我们最近展示了属于6门的24个北方物种的月球大规模产卵事件，以及暴露于弱环境变化的深海物种的季节性和月球繁殖周期。我们还评估了lecithotrophy/卵生（母系提供的繁殖体）之间的连续体的营养（外部喂养的繁殖体）和营养/胎生（活轴承）的基础和意义。目前提出的有节奏的生殖事件的优点不能完全解释为什么这么多物种释放后代同步，无论生殖策略，深度或区域。此外，历史上关于非中上层发展和中上层石化营养向深海和两极发展的梯度的预测（如Thorson规则）既得到支持，也受到质疑，要求进一步研究起作用的选择压力。 将我的研究计划扩展到北极的这个资金周期遵循双重前提。(1)它补充了我们的研究沿着亚北极海岸和深海（分别代表显着和弱季节性环境），并允许我们测试假设相关的光周期（高纬度，季节性冰盖）和食物供应（独特的初级生产）使用相同或密切相关的类群。(2)由于气候变化，海洋物种的分布预计将向北极转移，而对这一环境的压力（海洋变暖、航运和采矿活动）将增加，这突出表明需要了解当地的生命史战略，以预测对生物多样性的影响。短期目标是确定（一）与生殖战略有关的种内和种间空间动态;（二）能量储存和生殖投资的来源和周期;（三）北极底栖生物分类群（棘皮动物、刺胞动物、软体动物）繁殖周期的驱动因素。 确定北极海洋生物群繁殖和扩散战略的驱动因素将有助于深入了解不断变化的生物多样性和分布模式，并有助于支持加拿大最北部社区粮食安全的管理战略。拟议计划的跨学科背景为重大发现和培训HQP（包括土著科学家）提供了合作环境中各种工具和技术的机会。

The long-term objective of my research program is to clarify the drivers and adaptive significance of breeding and dispersal strategies in cold-water and deep-sea benthic animals, in the context of a changing ocean. Life-history events are explored from the perspectives of chronobiology (relation between biological activity and time), phenology (relation between periodic events and climatic conditions) and evolutionary biology (adaptive benefits of life-history strategies). We recently demonstrated lunar mass-spawning events in 24 boreal species belonging to 6 phyla, as well as seasonal and lunar breeding cycles in deep-sea species exposed to weak environmental variability. We also assessed the underpinnings and significance of lecithotrophy/oviparity (maternally provisioned propagules) on the continuum between planktotrophy (externally feeding propagules) and matrotrophy/viviparity (live bearing). Currently proposed advantages of rhythmic reproductive events cannot fully explain why so many species release progeny in sync, irrespective of reproductive strategies, depth or region. Moreover, historical predictions made about gradients of non-pelagic development and pelagic lecithotrophy towards the deep sea and the poles (e.g. Thorson's rule) have been both supported and challenged, calling for further study of the selective pressures at play. Extending my research program into the Arctic for this funding cycle follows a twofold premise. (1) It complements our studies along subarctic coasts and in the deep sea (representing marked and weakly seasonal environments, respectively), and allows us to test hypotheses related to photoperiod (high latitude, seasonal ice cover) and food availability (unique primary production) using the same or closely related taxa. (2) Marine species are expected to shift their distributions towards the Arctic in the face of climate change, while pressures on this environment (ocean warming, shipping and mining activities) increase, stressing the need to understand local life-history strategies to predict impacts on biodiversity. The short-term objectives are to identify (i) intra and interspecific spatial dynamics related to reproductive strategies; (ii) sources and cycles of energy storage and reproductive investment; and (iii) drivers of breeding periodicities in Arctic benthic taxa (echinoderms, cnidarians, mollusks). Identifying drivers of breeding and dispersal strategies in Arctic marine taxa will provide insight into shifting biodiversity and distribution patterns, and assist management strategies supporting food security in Canada's northernmost communities. The interdisciplinary context of the proposed program provides opportunities for significant discoveries and for training HQPs (including Indigenous scientists) in a variety of tools and techniques inside a collaborative environment.