The role of species interactions on community response to climate change.

了解物种相互作用的机制，无论是缓冲或加剧社区对气候变化的反应是一个至关重要的问题，土地管理者和保护主义者寻求减轻全球变暖对物种保护的影响。研究，整合时间和空间变化的环境条件下，人口统计和物种的相互作用是迫切需要提供保护从业人员的知识工具，他们将需要作为一个气候变化的角度越来越多地纳入管理计划。拟议的研究将开始，以解决这一关键的知识差距，通过研究如何物理强迫气候与狼（犬）自上而下的控制相互作用，以影响黄石国家公园的麋鹿（马鹿）介导的食物网。 这项工作将通过强调对一般机制和原则的理解来推进对气候变化的生态响应的研究，这些机制和原则将成为有价值的教学和政策制定工具。拟议的工作将为研究生和本科生提供大量的科研培训机会。将特别强调从黄石公园附属部落招募美洲原住民研究助理。研究结果将与黄石公园、皇家岛和格陵兰岛的土地和野生动物管理人员分享。更广泛地说，还将通过各种媒体渠道向公众传达结果。 真实的世界物种对气候变化反应的科学例子，特别是狼和麋鹿等大型魅力和经济重要物种，对于教育公众和政策制定者有关全球变暖的现实至关重要。

Understanding the mechanisms by which species interactions either buffer or exacerbate community response to climate change is a question of critical importance to land managers and conservationists seeking to mitigate the impact of global warming on species extinctions. Research that integrates temporal and spatial variation in environmental conditions, population demography and species interactions is critically needed to provide conservation practitioners with the knowledge tools they will need as a climate-change perspective is increasingly incorporated into management plans. The proposed research will begin to address this critical knowledge gap through a study of how physical forcing by climate interacts with top-down control by wolves (Canis lupus) to influence the elk (Cervus elaphus) mediated food web in Yellowstone National Park. This work will advance the study of ecological response to climate change by emphasizing the understanding of general mechanisms and principles which will make valuable teaching and policy making tools. The proposed work will provide numerous opportunities for graduate and undergraduate training in scientific research. A special emphasis will be placed on recruiting Native American research assistants from Yellowstone affiliated tribes. Results from the study will be shared with land and wildlife managers in Yellowstone, Isle Royale and Greenland. More generally, results also will be conveyed to the public through various media outlets. Real world scientific examples of species response to climate change, particularly large charismatic and economically important species such as wolves and elk, are crucial to educating the public and policy makers regarding the realities of global warming.