Collaborative Research: Recovery of Ecosystem Structure and Function Following Exotic Species Eradication

罗兰德克纳普DEB 0075509合作研究：外来物种灭绝后生态系统结构和功能的恢复拟议的研究探讨生态系统如何应对外来物种的灭绝，而不是入侵。 具体而言，本提案审查了高山湖泊系统的恢复，在内华达州，加州，消灭外来鳟鱼。 PI的将询问是否脊椎动物和无脊椎动物物种原产于高山湖泊后，外来鱼类删除返回。将进行一项长期的全湖试验，在该试验中，外来鱼类已成功地从三个试验湖泊中移走，而鱼类放养则继续在三个对照湖泊中进行。在这六湖中的动物群落监测工作是在1996年消灭鱼类之前开始的，将继续进行，以确定恢复速度，并更好地了解促进或阻碍恢复的物种的生活史特征。 PI还将询问物种组合的变化如何影响高山湖泊生态系统的功能。他们将继续对全湖实验进行湖沼学监测，以评估鱼类消失后营养物质和藻类生物量的变化。 这项研究的结果对全球水生生态系统的恢复具有重要意义。

ABSTRACTRoland Knapp DEB 0075448andOrlando Sarnelle DEB 0075509Collaborative Research: Recovery of Ecosystem Structure and FunctionFollowing Exotic Species EradicationThe proposed research examines how ecosystems respond, not to invasion, but to the elimination of an exotic species. Specifically, this proposal examines the recovery of alpine lake systems in the Sierra Nevada, California, after the eradication of exotic trout. The PI's will ask whether vertebrate and invertebrate species native to alpine lakes return after the removal of exotic fish. A long-term whole-lake experiment will be used in which exotic fish have been successfully removed from three experimental lakes, while fish stocking continues in three control lakes. Monitoring of faunal assemblages in these six lakes, monitoring begun in 1996 before fish eradication, will continue in order to determine the rate of recovery and to better understand the life history attributes of species that facilitate or hinder recovery. The PI's will also ask how changes in species assemblages influence the functioning of alpine lake ecosystems. They will continue limnological monitoring of the whole-lake experiment to evaluate changes in nutrients and algal biomass following fish removal. The results of this study have important implications for the restoration of aquatic ecosystems worldwide.