Spatial patterns of coral-vermetid interactions: short-term effects and long-term consequences

智力上的功绩。生态上的惊喜最有可能出现在不同的社区，那里的许多相互作用仍未得到调查。珊瑚礁蕴藏着世界上大部分的生物多样性，研究人员最近的研究表明，一个被忽视但潜在重要的生物相互作用涉及Vermetid腹足类。Vermetid腹足类是一种不能移动、建造管道的蜗牛，通过广泛的粘液网进食。蠕虫使珊瑚的生长减少了80%，珊瑚的存活率减少了60%。由于不同珊瑚类群的影响不同，蠕虫可能会极大地改变珊瑚群落的结构以及栖息在珊瑚礁上的鱼类和无脊椎动物的群落。研究人员将进行一系列实验和观察研究：1)量化四种蠕虫对珊瑚物种的影响，以评估物种的影响和反应是一致的还是独特的；2)使用荟萃分析来比较蠕虫相对于其他珊瑚应激源的影响，并确定影响珊瑚反应变化的因素；3)确定栖息于分枝珊瑚Pocillopora的珊瑚共生体的作用，并评估共生群落的发展如何改变蠕虫的有害影响；4)确定蠕虫粘液网如何影响珊瑚的当地环境，并评估关于拟议机制的几种假说；以及5)评估蠕虫对珊瑚群落以及依赖珊瑚的鱼类和无脊椎动物的长期影响。这一合作研究计划将有助于更广泛地了解珊瑚礁生态以及影响这些高度重视但处于危险之中的生态系统健康的因素。调查人员将继续参与L的海洋空间计划，这是一个管理计划和莫雷亚岛周围的海洋保护区网络。例如，通过将对蠕虫的研究纳入对Moorea MPA网络的评估，这项工作还将提供关于通过减少蠕虫收获量来调节MPAs可能的有害影响的知识。项目人员将与当地波利尼西亚社区团体(如Te Pu‘Atiti’a)互动，从他们的传统知识中受益，并向他们通报研究计划。一名受资助的学生将带头与地区学校建立联系(将与‘Atiti’a小组的参与者合作设计)。团队成员包括来自三个国家的研究人员和学生：美国、新西兰和法国。每年将有两名美国研究生和大约四名本科生参与，他们将从与这些国家的科学家以及当地教师和长辈的合作中受益。参与的学术机构之间的定期交流(例如，与“远洋大桥”计划对接)将促进跨学科研究和文化体验。这项研究将在莫雷亚珊瑚礁LTER现场进行，并将有助于以过程为导向的研究，以补充MCR-LTER进行的采样，以及在附近的法国实验室--L环境研究和观察中心进行的研究。

Intellectual Merit. Ecological surprises are most likely to be manifest in diverse communities where many interactions remain uninvestigated. Coral reefs harbor much of the world's biodiversity, and recent studies by the investigators suggest that one overlooked, but potentially important, biological interaction involves vermetid gastropods. Vermetid gastropods are nonmobile, tube-building snails that feed via an extensive mucus net. Vermetids reduce coral growth by up to 80%, and coral survival by as much as 60%. Because effects vary among coral taxa, vermetids may substantially alter the structure of coral communities as well as the community of fishes and invertebrates that inhabit the coral reef.The investigators will conduct a suite of experimental and observational studies that: 1) quantify the effects of four species of vermetids across coral species to assess if species effects and responses are concordant or idiosyncratic; 2) use meta-analysis to compare effects of vermetids relative to other coral stressors and determine the factors that influence variation in coral responses; 3) determine the role of coral commensals that inhabit the branching coral, Pocillopora, and evaluate how the development of the commensal assemblage modifies the deleterious effects of vermetids; 4) determine how vermetid mucus nets affect the local environment of corals and evaluate several hypotheses about proposed mechanisms; and 5) assess the long-term implications of vermetids on coral communities and the fishes and invertebrates that depend on the coral.Broader impacts. This collaborative research program will facilitate a broader understanding of coral reef ecology and the factors that impinge on the health of these highly valued, but imperiled, ecosystems. The investigators will continue our involvement in the Plan de Gestion de l'Espace Maritime, a management plan and network of marine protected areas around the island of Moorea. For example, by incorporating studies of vermetids into the assessment of the Moorea MPA network the work also will provide knowledge about possible deleterious effects of MPAs mediated through the reduction in harvest of vermetids. Project personnel will interact with local Polynesian community groups (e.g., Te Pu 'Atiti'a) to benefit from their traditional knowledge and to inform them of the research program. One supported student will lead up an effort to link with area schools (to be designed in collaboration with participants in the 'Atiti'a group). Team members include researchers and students from three countries: USA, New Zealand, and France. Two US-based graduate students and approximately four undergraduate students will be involved each year, and will benefit from working with scientists from these countries as well as with local teachers and elders. Regular exchanges between participating academic institutions (e.g., interfacing with the "Ocean Bridges" program) will enhance the interdisciplinary research and cultural experiences. This research will be conducted at the Moorea Coral Reef LTER site and will contribute to process-oriented studies that complement sampling conducted by MCR-LTER, as well as research conducted at the nearby French laboratory, Le Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement (CRIOBE).