RUI: Animal-Plant Interactions in Mangrove Communities

这项研究构成了第一个全面的研究， 新热带红红树林、Rhizophora 以及生活在其气生根上的附生生物。 红树林 覆盖了75%的热带海岸线 研究这些 无处不在的社区将扩大我们对 这些沿海系统的结构和维护，并澄清 生物体自身如何改变这种过程。 这项研究还应阐明迄今未得到重视的直接 以及树木和底栖生物之间的间接相互作用 无脊椎动物 该项目旨在促进 本科生培训和参与热带研究。 该研究计划将扩大四年的工作， 产于中美洲伯利兹的广阔的红树林。 外星人会 被选择性地去除并添加到幼苗，树苗， 成熟的树木。 这些治疗对生存率的影响， 茎和根的生长、叶的产生和小根的增殖 将受到监控。 该项目将通过以下方式调查机制： 哪些附着生物会影响树木的生长， 海绵参与红树林的固氮作用。 的 研究将进一步评估，如果epibionts改变率， 在树苗和成熟的树木下沉积物， 影响着红树林的个体发育。 了解流程， 结构和维护mangal将通知明智的使用， 保护这些分布广泛的社区。

This research constitutes the first comprehensive study of interactions between neotropical red mangroves, Rhizophora mangle, and epibionts that live on its aerial roots. Mangroves cover75% of sheltered tropical coastlines. studies of these ubiquitous communities will expand our understanding of the structure and maintenance of these coastal systems, and clarify how such process may be altered by the organisms themselves. This research also should elucidate hitherto unappreciated direct and indirect interactions between trees and benthic invertebrates. This project specially seeks to foster undergraduate training and participation in tropical research. The research program will expand upon four years of work in the extensive mangal of Belize, Central America. Epibionts will be selectivity removed and added to roots of seedlings, sapling, and mature trees. Effects of these treatments on surviorship, stem and root growth, leaf production, and rootlet proliferation will be monitored. The project will investigate mechanisms by which epibionts influence tree growth, and will determine whether sponges are involved in nitrogen fixation for mangroves. The research will further assess if epibionts alter the rate of sediment accretion under saplings and matures trees, thereby influencing mangal ontogeny. Knowledge of processes that structure and maintain mangal will inform the wise use and conservation of these widespread communities.