Collaborative Research: Benthic Faunal Feeding Dynamics on the Antarctic Shelf and the Effects of Global Climate Change on Bentho-Pelagic Coupling

摘要南极半岛地区呈现出世界上最大的变暖趋势之一。该区域的气候变化将缩短冬季海冰覆盖的持续时间，改变远洋生态系统和海底-远洋耦合。我们推测，大陆架底栖生态系统非常适合跟踪气候变化，因为它们充当“低通”过滤器，消除高频季节性噪声，并对远洋生态系统结构和出口生产的长期趋势作出反应。我们建议在南极半岛沿纬度气候梯度进行为期3年的海底-中上层耦合研究，以探索气候变化(如海冰持续时间缩短)对南极大陆架生态系统的潜在影响。我们将在夏季和冬季进行三次巡航，沿着从史密斯岛到玛格丽特湾的5个站的横断面，评估广泛的底栖生态和生物地球化学过程。具体地说，我们将研究沿这一气候梯度的底栖摄食者的摄食策略，以阐明这一主要营养类群对气候变暖的潜在反应。此外，我们将(1)量化碳和氮的循环和海底埋藏，(2)记录沿纬度梯度的大型动物、大型动物和微生物群落结构的变化。我们期望对南极大陆架生态系统对气候变暖的一些影响(例如，冬季海冰持续时间的缩短)的反应提出预测性的见解。这项拟议的研究将通过提供补充的底栖生物成分，极大地扩大作为Palmer Station LTER和GLOBEC计划一部分进行的生态和碳通量测量。该项目还将促进从九年级到研究生的科学教育。我们将与NSF赞助的东南海洋科学教育卓越中心合作，接触到北卡罗来纳州、南卡罗来纳州和佐治亚州所有地区的所有种族的学生。该项目还将通过支持三名研究生和两名本科生，使大专学生受益。在三次实地考察期间，NCSU和UH的学生都将前往智利和南极洲参加科学研究。最后，所有三个私人投资项目都将把这个项目的材料纳入他们的本科生和研究生课程。

AbstractThe Antarctic Peninsula region exhibits one of the largest warming trends in the world. Climate change in this region will reduce the duration of winter sea-ice cover, altering both the pelagic ecosystem and bentho-pelagic coupling. We postulate that shelf benthic ecosystems are highly suitable for tracking climate change because they act as "low-pass" filters, removing high-frequency seasonal noise and responding to longer-term trends in pelagic ecosystem structure and export production. We propose to conduct a 3-year study of bentho-pelagic coupling along a latitudinal climate gradient on the Antarctic Peninsula to explore the potential impacts of climate change (e.g., reduction in sea-ice duration) on Antarctic shelf ecosystems. We will conduct three cruises during summer and winter regimes along a 5- station transect from Smith Island to Marguerite Bay, evaluating a broad range of benthic ecological and biogeochemical processes. Specifically, we will examine the feeding strategies of benthic deposit feeders along this climatic gradient to elucidate the potential response of this major trophic group to climatic warming. In addition, we will (1) quantify carbon and nitrogen cycling and burial at the seafloor and (2) document changes in megafaunal, macrofaunal, and microbial community structure along this latitudinal gradient. We expect to develop predictive insights into the response of Antarctic shelf ecosystems to some of the effects of climate warming (e.g., a reduction in winter sea-ice duration). The proposed research will considerably broaden the ecological and carbon-flux measurements made as parts of the Palmer Station LTER and GLOBEC programs by providing a complementary benthic component. This project also will promote science education from the 9th grade to graduate-student levels. We will partner with the NSF-sponsored Southeastern Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence to reach students of all races in all areas of NC, SC and GA. The project will also benefit students at the post secondary level by supporting three graduate and two undergraduate students. During each of the three field excursions, NCSU and UH students will travel to Chile and Antarctica to participate in scientific research. Lastly, all three PIs will incorporate material from this project into their undergraduate and graduate courses.