POWRE: Applications of Stable Isotopes to Conservation in Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico

Marks，Jane CDEB 0074876 PI提出了一项关于外来物种的引入和水提取如何影响沙漠泉水食物网的研究。 她将使用碳、硫和氮的稳定同位素来比较原始与改变后的食物网结构和能量流，以测试以下预测：1）入侵物种通过迫使本地物种改变饮食，改变了食物网的能量流，和2）水的抽取减少了选择水池的沿岸的边缘，从而减少了昆虫和其他柔软的无脊椎动物的栖息地，更多的物种以藻类和低质量的碎屑为食。 这是第一次将稳定同位素直接应用于Cuatro Cienegas（墨西哥）的保护问题，这是研究的地点。 POWRE奖将允许PI开发一个长期的研究计划，整合生态，保护和管理。 这将提高她的研究生涯，因为她回到学术界后，3年休假的AAAS研究员。

Marks, Jane CDEB 0074876The PI proposes a study of how introductions of exotic species and water extraction affect food webs of desert springs. She will use stable isotopes of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen to compare food web structure and energy flow in pristine vs. altered pools to test the predictions that 1) invading species have changed energy flow through food webs by forcing native species to shift their diets, and 2) water extraction has reduced the littoral margins of select pools thereby reducing habitat for insects and other soft invertebrates causing native fish species to feed more on algae and lower quality detritus. This is the first time stable isotopes have been applied directly to a conservation issue in Cuatro Cienegas (Mexico) which is the site for the research. The POWRE award will allow the PI to develop a long term research program with integrates ecology, conservation, and management. This will enhance her research career as she returns to academia after a 3 year leave as AAAS fellow.