RIG: Testing the Effect of Context on a Nest Association Mutualism of Stream Fishes in a Comparative-Advantage Biological Market Framework

大多数关于物种相互作用的生态学研究都集中在竞争、捕食和寄生等负面影响上。然而，不同的物种在自然界中也可以相互作用，从而相互促进。繁殖、生长或生存的能力。据推测，这些相互作用的强度和后果取决于环境条件。本项目将通过研究北美河流和溪流中鱼类物种之间的共同相互作用来解决这一假设。巢联是一种现象，即一个或多个物种将卵存放在宿主物种的巢中，并将巢留给宿主照顾。虽然大多数情况下被认为对所涉及的物种是互利的，但目前对巢穴关联的理解严重落后于自然界中已知的其他互利相互作用。该研究项目将重点关注蓝头鱼和山红腹鱼，这是一种常见于弗吉尼亚州新河流域的鱼类。物种如何在产蛋和维护巢穴方面交换服务以使彼此受益？S的繁殖和后代的生存将通过溪流实验来检验。特别是，这项研究将确定当筑巢材料稀缺时，当其他鱼类可能会吃掉巢穴上的卵时，这种贸易对每个物种的重要性。先前的研究表明，巢关联可能是许多河流鱼类在城市和农业发展导致的河流质量退化中继续生存的关键机制之一。该项目的研究结果将有助于资源管理者努力维持因各种土地用途和入侵物种而受到破坏的溪流栖息地的鱼类多样性。该项目将为来自生物学和生态学中代表性不足的群体的本科生提供研究经验，包括来自阿肯色大学派恩布拉夫分校的学生，这是一所资源不足的大学，其中90%以上的学生是非洲裔美国人。

Most ecological studies of species interactions have focused on negative consequences such as competition, predation, and parasitism. However, different species also can interact in nature so as to enhance each other?s ability to reproduce, grow, or survive. The intensity and consequence of these mutualisms is hypothesized to be dependent on environmental conditions. This project will address that hypothesis through a study of a common interaction among fish species in North American rivers and streams. Nest association is a phenomenon whereby one or more species deposit their eggs in the nest of a host species and leave the care of the nest to the host. Although mostly considered mutually beneficial to the species involved, current understanding of nest association lags critically behind other mutually beneficial interactions known in nature. This research project will focus on Bluehead Chub and Mountain Redbelly Dace, a pair of fish species commonly found in the New River basin in Virginia. How species trade services in terms of egg production and nest maintenance to benefit each other?s reproduction and survival of offspring will be examined through in-stream experiments. In particular, this research will determine how important this trade is to each species when nesting material is scarce and when there is high threat from other fish that may eat eggs on the nest. Previous research suggests that nest association may be one of the key mechanisms by which many stream fishes continue to survive degradation to stream quality caused by urban and agricultural development. The results of this project will help resource managers working to maintain fish species diversity in stream habitats subject to disruption through various land uses and invasive species. This project will provide research experiences for undergraduate students from groups underrepresented in biology and ecology, including students from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, an under-resourced university with over 90% African American student enrollment.