Collaborative Research: Predicting Effects of Climate Warming on Stream Ecosystems Using Metabolic Theory and Iceland's Unique Geothermal Environment

气候变暖已被确定为全球淡水生态系统面临的最重要威胁之一。由于温度是几乎所有生物过程的基本驱动力，气候变暖可能会对淡水生态系统及其为人类提供的生态系统服务产生强烈影响。尽管最近的理论进展，提供了明确的预测生物应该如何应对变暖，我们目前的理解是阻碍（a）短期和小规模的性质，大多数以前的研究和（B）不平凡的实际挑战与实验变暖的淡水在生态系统规模。这项研究将利用一个独特的地热活跃的流域在冰岛，包含一个陡峭的梯度流温度和溶质化学差异很小。使用景观梯度研究？温度适应这项研究将通过河流、河边操作和生态系统规模的实验，量化变暖对关键生态系统过程（生态系统代谢和营养循环）以及能量和元素通过河流食物网流动的影响。 拟议的多尺度设计将产生关于河流生态系统对即将发生的温度变化的反应的急需数据，通过增加对气候变暖将如何影响淡水生态系统及其为人类提供的关键服务的理解，造福社会。该项目将通过对本科生、研究生和博士后助理的培训和指导，将研究和教育结合起来。除了通过传统渠道（出版物，国家/国际会议）传达我们的研究结果外，研究结果将通过演示文稿，互动研究博客以及与冰岛同事的半年度会议向当地小学，高中和整个社区展示。

Climate warming has been identified as one of the most important threats to freshwater ecosystems globally. Because temperature is the fundamental driver of nearly all biological processes, climate warming will likely have strong effects on freshwater ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide for humans. Despite recent theoretical advances that provide clear predictions about how organisms should respond to warming, our current understanding is hindered by (a) the short-term and small-scale nature of most previous studies and (b) the non-trivial practical challenges associated with experimental warming of freshwaters at the ecosystem scale. This study will take advantage of a unique geothermally-active watershed in Iceland that contains a steep gradient of stream temperatures and very little difference in solute chemistry. Using a landscape gradient study of ?temperature-acclimated? streams, streamside manipulations, and an ecosystem-scale experiment, this study will quantify the effects of warming on critical ecosystem processes (ecosystem metabolism and nutrient cycling) and the flow of energy and elements through stream food webs. The proposed multi-scale design will produce much-needed data concerning the response of stream ecosystems to impending changes in temperature regime, benefitting society through increased understanding of how climate warming will influence freshwater ecosystems and the critical services they provide to humanity. The project will integrate research and education through training and mentoring of undergraduates, graduate students and a post-doctoral associate. In addition to communicating our results through traditional outlets (publications, national/international meetings), findings will be presented to local grade schools, high schools, and the community at large with presentations, an interactive research blog, and semi-annual meetings with Icelandic colleagues.