Dissertation Enhancement Research: A Functional Trait Approach to Assessing Diversity in Tropical Fish Communities

这个美国-委内瑞拉奖将支持Peter B的论文研究。麦金太尔，康奈尔大学，在博士的指导下，亚历山大S。弗莱克 该项目涉及评估两个热带淡水生态系统中鱼类功能多样性与物种多样性之间的关系。 该项目的目标之一是评估鱼类在营养物循环中的重要性以及物种保护对循环率和比率的影响。 另一个目标是评价热带淡水鱼类物种多样性和营养多样性之间的关系。 该项目为生物多样性与生态系统功能之间的关系提供了宝贵的视角，并对热带渔业和其他自然资源的养护规划和管理战略产生了影响。 该项目的结果可以影响影响到数百万人赖以获取蛋白质的热带淡水鱼类群落的政策。 这项活动将为一名年轻的美国调查员提供国际研究经验，他将与委内瑞拉的其他学生以及自给渔民一起工作。

This U.S.-Venezuela award will support the dissertation research of Peter B. McIntyre, Cornell University, under the direction of Dr. Alexander S. Flecker. This project involves an assessment of how functional diversity of fishes is related to species diversity in two tropical freshwater ecosystems. One objective of this project is an appraisal of the importance of fishes in nutrient recycling and the way in which recycling rates and ratios are affected by species extinctions. Another objective is an evaluation of the relationship between species diversity and trophic diversity of tropical freshwater fishes. This project provides a valuable perspective on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and impacts strategies for conservation planning and management of tropical fisheries and other natural resources. The results from this project can influence policies that affect tropical freshwater fish communities upon which millions of people depend for protein. This activity will give an international research experience to a young U.S. investigator, who will work with other students in Venezuela, as well as with subsistence fishermen.