Linking Variation in Coastal Oceanographic Conditions with Local Variation in Rocky Intertidal Community Structure

俄勒冈州海岸低岩石潮间带的群落结构截然不同。该项目将研究为什么潮间带具有高固着补充量和浮游植物可获得性，从而支持最高水平的猎物生产，这反过来又支持高丰度的食肉和草食动物。消费者丰富度高的假设结果是，对固着生物的捕食更强，而它们之间的竞争更弱。作为对比，还将考察营养物质和大型藻类丰度高、浮游植物利用率低的潮间带。蒙格博士假设，更丰富的大型藻类对营养物质的较高吸收和/或营养物质和浮游植物在近岸较短的停留时间是由于较强的离岸洋流。为了验证这些假设，研究科学家将量化：(1)营养物质、叶绿素和近海生产力，(2)洋流/上升流制度，(3)补充率和幼虫丰度，(4)猎物和大型藻类生长速度，以及(5)两个地点的捕食、放牧和竞争强度。该项目还将通过对俄勒冈海岸其他地点的群落结构和动态以及海洋条件的定量调查，评估近岸水柱过程对潮间带群落过程影响的一般性。该项目的结果将对近岸海洋条件对低岩石潮间带生境群落结构的影响提供相当大的洞察力。

Community structure of low rocky intertidal zones is strikingly different on the Oregon coast. This project will examine why an intertidal zone with high sessile recruitment and phytoplankton availability supports the highest levels of prey production, which in turn supports high abundance of carnivores and herbivores. The postulated result of high consumer abundance is stronger predation on, and weaker competition among, sessile organisms. For contrast, an intertidal zone with high nutrients and macroalgal abundance, and low phytoplankton availability will also be examined. Dr. Menge hypothesizes that higher nutrient uptake by the more abundant macroalgae and/or shorter residence time of nutrients and phytoplankton in nearshore is due to stronger offshore currents. To tests these hypotheses, research scientists will quantify: (1) nutrients, chlorophyll and productivity on- and offshore, (2) current/upwelling regimes, (3) recruitment rates and larval abundance, (4) prey and macroalgal growth rates, and (5) intensities of predation, grazing, and competition at both sites. The project will also evaluate the generality of the influence of nearshore water column processes on intertidal community processes by quantitative surveys of community structure and dynamics, and oceanographic conditions at other locations along the Oregon coast. The results from the project will provide considerable insight into the influence of nearshore oceanographic conditions on community structure in low rocky intertidal habitats.