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

摘要南极半岛地区是全球变暖趋势最大的地区之一。该地区的气候变化将缩短冬季海冰覆盖的持续时间，改变上层生态系统和底-上层耦合。我们假设陆架底栖生态系统非常适合追踪气候变化，因为它们充当“低通”过滤器，去除高频季节性噪音，并响应远洋生态系统结构和出口生产的长期趋势。我们建议在南极半岛沿纬度气候梯度进行为期3年的底-上层耦合研究，以探讨气候变化（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沿着史密斯岛到玛格丽特湾的5个站点的样带进行三次巡航，评估广泛的底栖生物生态和生物地球化学过程。具体来说，我们将研究底栖沉积物捕食者沿着这一气候梯度的摄食策略，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)量化碳氮循环和海底埋藏；(2)记录巨型动物、大型动物和微生物群落结构在这一纬度梯度上的变化。我们期望对南极大陆架生态系统对气候变暖的某些影响（例如，冬季海冰持续时间的减少）的反应产生预测性的见解。作为帕尔默站LTER和GLOBEC项目的一部分，拟议的研究将通过提供一个互补的底栖生物组成部分，大大拓宽生态和碳通量测量。该项目还将促进从九年级到研究生阶段的科学教育。我们将与nsf赞助的东南海洋科学教育卓越中心合作，以达到北卡罗来纳州，南卡罗来纳州和佐治亚州所有地区的所有种族的学生。该计划亦会资助三名研究生及两名本科生，令专上程度的学生受惠。在三次实地考察中，NCSU和UH的学生将前往智利和南极洲参与科学研究。最后，所有三个pi都将把这个项目的材料纳入他们的本科和研究生课程。

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.