Patterns of Disturbance, Reproductive Effort, and SuccessionAcross a Depth Gradient in a Southern California Kelp ForestCommunity

代顿和泰格纳是海带系统生态学研究的领军人物；代顿同样因对自然群落的发展和组织的生态学理论做出了重大贡献而被公认。这些研究人员一直在研究广阔的PT中海藻种群的动态。洛马海带床长达十年半。最后一个奖项及其长期监测使人们得以对厄尔尼诺-南方涛动异常对海藻森林动态的影响进行了一些非常有趣的观察。在恢复到“正常”的海洋/大气条件后，二阶效应造成了铂的剧烈扰动。洛马床。根据我们对海带系统的早期理解，海带群落内的生态演替以一种不可预测的方式进行着，这是先验的。代顿和泰格纳认为，我们的预测能力现在受到了阻碍，因为我们缺乏对海藻的身体干扰和生理条件(如环境压力和变化的影响)如何影响繁殖条件、能力和新个体招募的了解。这项工作将研究种间和种内竞争，以及营养可获得性对海藻森林内繁殖和演替的影响。

Dayton and Tegner are leaders in the study of kelp system ecology; Dayton is likewise recognized for substantial contributions to ecological theory on the development and organization of natural communities. These investigators have been studying the dynamics of kelp populations in the extensive Pt. Loma kelp beds for a decade and a half. The last award and their long-term monitoring allowed some very interesting observations on the effect of El Nino - Southern Oscillation anomalies on the kelp forest dynamics. Second order effects, after the return to "normal" oceanographic/atmospheric conditions, have caused dramatic perturbation of the Pt. Loma beds. Ecological succession within the kelp community has proceeded in ways that were not predictable, a priori, from our earlier understanding of kelp systems. Dayton and Tegner feel that our predictive capabilities are now hampered by our lack of understanding of how physical disturbances and physiological conditions of kelps (as affected by environmental stresses and variation) influence reproductive condition, capacity and the recrutiment of new individuals. This work will examine inter- and intra-specific competition, and nutrient availability effects on reproduction and succession within kelp forests.