International Research Fellowship Program: Algal Biodiversity and Landscape Patterns in Tropical Streams

[01:26 . 73]国际研究奖学金计划使美国科学家和工程师能够在国外进行三到二十四个月的研究。该计划的奖励为联合研究提供了机会，并利用独特或互补的设施、专业知识和国外的实验条件。该奖项将支持Rebecca J. Bixby博士在两年多的时间里与Dr. Bixby博士一起进行为期八个月的研究。Jose Vargas， Pedro Leon和Ursula Wydrzycka博士分别来自哥斯达黎加国立大学和哥斯达黎加大学。本项目由国际科学与工程办公室美洲项目提供支持。该项目的目的是在位于哥斯达黎加北部加勒比海斜坡低地的La Selva生物站调查热带溪流中附着藻类（附生藻类）的生物多样性和群落结构。La Selva没有对藻类进行详细的分类研究。这项工作将建立在该地点（及邻近地区）正在进行的溪流生态研究的基础上，由美国国家科学基金会的ltreb计划资助。季节性定性调查将侧重于微生境，取样底物，如植物、沉积物和岩石。收集的分类研究将产生包括新物种在内的详细分类群列表。将从沿磷梯度在溪流中培养一个月的定植瓷砖中提取定量样品。这些集合将分析群落结构和与溶质浓度的相关性。这项比较研究的结果有望显示出随着磷含量的变化，群落结构和多样性会发生变化。巴尔加斯是一名水生生物学家。Leon博士是热带研究组织董事会主席，曾在La Selva工作。Wydrzycka博士是一名从事哥斯达黎加藻类研究的植物学教员。

0202673BixbyThe International Research Fellowship Program enables U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct three to twenty-four months of research abroad. The program's awards provide opportunities for joint research, and the use of unique or complementary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions abroad.This award will support an eight-month research fellowship to be done over two years by Dr. Rebecca J. Bixby working with Drs. Jose Vargas and Pedro Leon and Dr. Ursula Wydrzycka at Universidad de Costa Rica and Universidad Nacional respectively, in Costa Rica. Support for this project is provided by the Americas Program of the Office of International Science and Engineering.The objectives of this project are to investigate biodiversity and community structure of attached algae (periphyton) in tropical streams at La Selva Biological Station, located in lowlands on Costa Rica's northern Caribbean slope. No detailed taxonomic studies of algae have been conducted at La Selva. This work will build upon ongoing ecological studies of streams at this site (and adjacent environs), funded through NSF's LTREBProgram. Seasonal, qualitative surveys will focus on microhabitats, sampling substrates such as plants, sediment, and rocks. Taxonomic studies from collections will result in detailed taxa lists including new species. Quantitative samples will be taken from colonized tiles incubated for a month in streams along a phosphorus gradient. These collections will be analyzed for community structure and correlated with solute concentrations. Results from this comparative study are expected to show shifts in community structure and diversity with varying phosphorus levels.Dr. Vargas is an aquatic biologist. Dr. Leon is chair of the Organization of Tropical Studies' Board of Directors and has worked at La Selva. Dr. Wydrzycka is a botany faculty member working on Costa Rican algae.