U.S.-New Zealand DDEP: Using a Chronosequence to Investigate Ecosystem Recovery Following Invasive Rat Eradication

题目：美国-新西兰博士论文加强项目：使用时序研究入侵鼠根除后的生态系统恢复该奖项支持由耶鲁大学Oswald Schmitz教授和他的研究生Holly Jones，新西兰惠灵顿维多利亚大学Nicola Nelson教授和新西兰奥克兰保护部David Towns博士共同完成的博士论文加强项目。恢复生态学的一个关键预测是系统可以在受到干扰后恢复到以前的状态。然而，系统在受到干扰后进入不可恢复交替状态的可能性常常被忽视。受替代状态测试的激励，本研究将科学实验与新西兰近海岛屿正在进行的对话管理行动相结合，以了解岛屿生态系统是否可以从老鼠入侵和消灭中恢复。老鼠入侵和捕食岛屿食物网的所有成员，特别是海鸟，可能会产生生态系统层面的后果，通常是通过减少海鸟来源的营养物质来调节的。海鸟是岛屿上不可或缺的食物网成员，为岛屿食物网的所有成员提供营养，并影响生态系统的特性。因此，从非本地生态系统中根除入侵老鼠是一种常用的工具，用于将系统恢复到入侵前的状态。然而，目前尚不清楚的是，在大鼠入侵后，生态系统是否能恢复其自然功能，或者在没有海鸟积极恢复的情况下，大鼠的移除是否会导致生态系统跳到交替的低营养状态。研究人员将对新西兰群岛进行的测量将作为相对于目前入侵和从未入侵控制的恢复指标。独特的研究设计将提供一个罕见的生态系统规模的理论测试，并将有效地告知岛屿管理者，由于其现实的规模。这项研究能否准确评估新西兰的成功？这将有助于推进科学理论，并帮助管理者为岛屿生态系统设定现实的基线和恢复预期。当地的森族社区将派代表到岛上旅行，以了解更多与保护有关的研究。新西兰的科学家？英国的土地保护研究中心和新西兰自然历史博物馆也将参与该项目。该项目还将为美国研究生提供全球研究经验。预计该学生将在项目完成后与她的新西兰合作者保持多年的科学联系。

0853846SchmitzTitle: U.S.-New Zealand Doctoral Dissertation Enhancement Project: Using a Chronosequence to Investigate Ecosystem Recovery Following Invasive Rat EradicationThis award supports a doctoral dissertation enhancement project between Professor Oswald Schmitz and his graduate student Holly Jones from Yale University, Professor Nicola Nelson at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand and Dr. David Towns at the Department of Conservation in Auckland, New Zealand. A key predication of restoration ecology is that systems can be restored to a previous state following a disturbance. However, the potential for systems to entrain into an unrestorable alternate state following a disturbance is often overlooked. Motivated by a test for alternate states, this study combines scientific experimentation with ongoing conversation management actions on offshore islands in New Zealand to learn whether island ecosystems can recover from rat invasion and eradication. Rat invasion and predation on all members of island food webs, and seabirds in particular, can have ecosystem-level consequences, usually mediated by a reduction in seabird-derived nutrients. Seabirds are integral food web members on islands providing nutrients to all members of island food webs and affecting ecosystem properties. As a result, eradication of invasive rats from nonnative ecosystems is a common tool used to restore systems to their preinvasion states. However, it remains unclear whether ecosystems can recover their natural function following invasive rat removal, or whether, without active seabird restoration, rat removal causes ecosystems to jump to alternate, low nutrient states. The measurements the researchers will take on the New Zealand Islands will serve as indicators of recovery relative to currently invaded and never invaded controls.The unique study design will provide a rare ecosystem-scale test of theory and will be effective at informing island managers, due to its realistic scale. The study can accurately assess the success of New Zealand?s island restoration efforts, and this will help in advancing scientific theory and in helping managers to set realistic baselines and recovery expectations for island ecosystems. Local Mori communities will send representatives on island trips to learn more about conservation related research. Scientists at New Zealand?s Landcare Research and at the New Zealand Museum of Natural History will also be involved in the project. The project will also provide the U.S. graduate student with a global research experience. It is anticipated that the student will maintain scientific connections with her New Zealand collaborators for many years after the project is completed.