Research in Modeling Metabolism of Attached Stream Algae

小行星9602572 堪萨斯州立大学生物系的Walter Dodds博士和新西兰基督城国家水和大气研究所的巴里比格斯博士将在新西兰就溪流藻类的代谢进行合作研究。 在溪流和河流中，微生物（生物膜或附着生物）的混合组合覆盖在表面。 这些组合通常是主要的能源较高的营养级在无阴影的温带地区流。 在稳定流动，丰富的溪流附着生物可以增殖造成水管理问题。 巴里比格斯博士和他的同事们在新西兰大量高度多样化的溪流和河流中广泛地描述了附着生物群落和相关的土地利用实践，并建立了世界上任何地区控制附着生物生物量和组成的因素的最佳经验模型。 新西兰提供了一个出色的自然实验室，因为地质、气候和人类使用的异质性非常大，而且相对于典型的大陆地区而言，这种异质性发生在非常小的空间尺度上（几百公里）。 Dodds博士将把他的对手的独特数据与流量，光和O2微探针进行的小规模代谢测量相联系，并使用这些信息为不同的社区类型创建一个溪流生物膜代谢的预测机制模型。 该模型将为河流生态系统功能的更一般模型提供基础。 这些模型需要评估河流水质和生态系统功能对人类干扰的响应。

9602572 Dodds Dr. Walter Dodds, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, and Dr. Barry Biggs, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Christchurch, New Zealand will conduct collaborative research in New Zealand on the metabolism of stream algae. Mixed assemblages of microorganisms (biofilms or periphyton) coat surfaces in streams and rivers. These assemblages are generally the main energy source for higher trophic levels in unshaded temperate region streams. In stable-flowing, enriched streams periphyton can proliferate causing water management problems. Dr. Barry Biggs and his co-workers have characterized extensively the periphyton communities and associated land use practices in a large number of the highly diverse streams and rivers in New Zealand and have established the best empirical model of factors controlling periphyton biomass and composition from any area in the world. New Zealand provides an outstanding natural laboratory because heterogeneity of geological, climatic and human use is extreme and occurs over very small spatial scales (a few 100 km) relative to typical continental areas. Dr. Dodds will link the unique data of his counterpart to small scale metabolic measurements made with flow, light and O2 microprobes and use this information to create a predictive mechanistic model of stream biofilm metabolism for the different community types. This model will provide a basis for more general models of stream ecosystem function. Such models are needed to assess responses of stream water quality and ecosystem function to human disturbance.