SGER: Laboratory Studies on the Influence of Small-Scale Turbulance on Encounter and Feeding of Aquatic Predators

托马斯·米勒博士及其同事将开发、建造并测试一种新型装置，这种装置可以产生与沿海海洋中观测到的类似特征的小规模湍流。开发该装置的目的是提供测试关于小尺度湍流在调节浮游捕食者摄食生态中的作用的假设的能力。这种能力将大大提高我们理解影响海洋生物的小规模物理过程的作用的能力。将建造体积不同的两个版本的仪器。为了测试仪器的有效性，将使用声学和激光多普勒测速仪对仪器中的流场进行表征。记录小规模湍流对浮游捕食者觅食的影响的能力取决于量化觅食行为的能力。3d录像将用于量化捕食者和猎物的行为。这项探索性研究的小额赠款将促进计划中的初步研究，重点关注四个问题：a)我们能否仅从视频图像中准确地测量猎物的浓度？b)我们能从录像中估计攻击率和遭遇率吗？c)我们能否从录像中估计进料率？d)我们能用视频系统准确地测量猎物的行为吗？这些问题将在一系列的对照实验中得到解决，这些实验以条纹鲈鱼的幼虫，萨氏Morone saxatilis和栉水母为捕食者，以盐水虾nauplii， Artemia sp.和Eurtemora sp.的桡足动物为猎物。基于行为的遭遇、攻击和摄食率的估计将与通过分析室内捕食者的功能反应得出的独立估计进行比较。

Dr. Thomas Miller and associates will develop, construct and test a novel apparatus that generates small-scale turbulence of similar characteristics to those observed in the coastal ocean. The objective in developing the apparatus is to provide the capability to test hypotheses regarding the role of small-scale turbulence in regulating the feeding ecology of planktonic predators. This capability will vastly improve out abilities to understanding the role of small-scale physical processes as they influence life in the sea. Two versions of the apparatus will be constructed that differ in volume. To test the efficacy of the instrumentation, the flow fields in the apparatus will be characterized using acoustic and laser doppler velocimeters. The ability to document the effects of small-scale turbulence on foraging of planktonic predators depends on the ability to quantify foraging behavior. 3-D videography will be used to quantify predator and prey behaviors. The planned initial research that will be facilitated by this small grant for exploratory research will focus on four questions: a) Can we accurately measure prey concentrations from video images alone?; b) Can we estimate rates of attack and encounter from video recordings?; c) Can we estimate feeding rates from video recordings?; and d) Can we accurately measure prey behavior with our video system? These questions will be addressed in a series of controlled experiments involving striped bass larvae, Morone saxatilis, and the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi as predators, and brine shrimp nauplii, Artemia sp., and copepodites of Eurtemora sp. as prey. Behavior-based estimates of encounter, attack and feeding rates will be compared with independent estimates derived from analyzes of the functional responses of predators within the chamber.