U.S.-Australia Cooperative Research: The Effects of Water Movement on Zooplankton Capture by Corals

该奖项将支持东北大学的Kenneth Sebens博士和澳大利亚海洋科学研究所(AIMS)的J.E.N.Veron博士之间的合作研究。珊瑚礁是世界上最多样化和最具科学吸引力的海洋栖息地之一。它们还受到海岸改造、污染、过度捕捞和全球变暖等人类活动的威胁。在世界生物史上的这个关键时刻，对珊瑚礁生态和珊瑚礁现状的研究是极其重要的。该项目将正在进行的关于水流对珊瑚影响的研究扩展到澳大利亚大堡礁沿线的野外地点。该地区拥有世界上面积最大的珊瑚礁系统，各种水流条件，以及珊瑚生长形式和物种的广泛多样性。需要检验的假设是，水的运动对珊瑚捕获的颗粒(猎物)有积极的影响，从而对生长速度有积极的影响，这些过程强烈地受到珊瑚生长形式和息肉大小的影响。了解水流对珊瑚的影响很重要，因为这是珊瑚生物学的基本信息，也可能有助于解释为什么珊瑚礁在海岸线改变时会发生变化，以及什么样的水流条件对珊瑚礁的生长是最佳的。该项目代表了美国和澳大利亚的良好合作。AIMS是世界珊瑚研究中心，因为它靠近大堡礁，其一流的船舶和实验室设施，以及其在珊瑚生物学方面的专业知识。贝隆博士是世界珊瑚分类学、生物学和生态学领域的权威人士之一。塞本斯博士为该项目带来了他对加勒比海珊瑚礁的研究产生的结果和假说，这些假说是关于水运动对珊瑚捕获浮游动物的影响。该项目代表了一种协调和费用分担的研究方法，有可能大大促进对珊瑚生态的了解。

This award will support collaborative research between Dr. Kenneth Sebens of Northeastern University and Dr.J.E.N. Veron of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). Coral reefs are among the world's most diverse and scientifically intriguing marine habitats. They are also endangered by human activities such as coastal modification, pollution, overfishing and global warming. Research on coral reef ecology and the current status of coral reefs is extremely importantant at this crucial time in the world's biotic history. This project extends ongoing research on water flow effects on corals to field sites along the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The region offers the world's most extensive reef system, a great variety of waterflow conditions, and extensive diversity of coral growth forms and species. The hypothesis to be tested is that water motion has a positive effect on particle (prey) capture by corals, and thus on growth rates, and that these processes are strongly affected by coral growth form and polyp size. Knowledge of water flow effects on corals is important as basic information on coral biology, and may also help explain why coral reefs change when shorelines are modified, and what flow conditions are optimal for reef growth. The project represents excellent U.S. and Australian collaboration. AIMS is the world center for research on corals because of its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef,its excellent ship and laboratory facilities, and its expertise in coral biology. Dr. Veron is one of the world's leading authorities on coral taxonomy, biology, and ecology. Dr. Sebens brings to the project results and hypotheses generated by his studies on Caribbean coral reefs of the effects of water movement on zooplankton capture by corals. The project represents a coordinated and cost-sharing research approach with the potential to significantly advance understanding of coral ecology.