Control of a native and introduced foundation species by marine and terrestrial enemies

概述：树木和珊瑚礁等基础物种的形态和结构受到栖息在它们身上的动物的强烈影响。由于基础物种构成了栖息地的整体结构，动物引起的变化可能会对生态系统的其他部分产生连锁效应。红树林是在陆地和海洋交错带繁衍生息的重要基础物种；因此，它们受到一系列海洋和陆地草食动物和结构修改物种的影响。这些物种的破坏影响了红树林的生长和繁殖力，并导致了红树林展示出复杂的建筑。当一个基础物种被引入而没有它们的天敌(如食草动物、结构改良者)时，它们可能会经历更强的生长、繁殖力和存活率。这种来自敌人的释放可能解释了为什么一些入侵者在新的范围内取得了成功。红树林(Rhizophora Manger)是一个多世纪前从它们的原生山脉(加勒比海)引入夏威夷的。在这里，它们生长迅速，繁殖力强，似乎很少有敌人控制它们。这些红树林将原生栖息地(如沙滩、池塘)转变为茂密的灌木丛，导致夏威夷生态系统发生重大变化。在这项研究中，该研究员将(1)量化不同海洋和陆地公会在影响一个重要基础物种的生长、繁殖力和结构方面的相对影响，(2)测试一个被广泛引用的成功入侵的机制(敌人释放假说)。该项目将使用在红树林原生(加勒比海)和引进(夏威夷群岛)的广泛地理范围内复制的操纵和自然实验。拟议的发起人是西莉亚·史密斯(夏威夷马诺阿大学)和马克·托尔钦(史密森)，他们将为该研究员提供补充培训，并提供完成这一项目所需的后勤框架(例如，设在佛罗里达、伯利兹和巴拿马的史密森实地站)。智力价值：这个项目的结果将扩大对栖息地工程和草食如何改变基础物种和群落生态的理解，并揭示天敌在控制引入物种的生长和结构方面的重要性。这个项目将确定不同的多物种组合如何改变原生和引进范围之间的基础物种的结构。这项研究还将回答其他重要问题，如：陆地物种如何调节海洋物种的栖息地质量和数量？在决定交错带基础物种的生长和结构方面，海洋物种和陆地物种的相对重要性是什么？最后，这项研究将测试成功的生物入侵的一个重要机制。更广泛的影响：该项目将通过将学生直接纳入研究计划，扩大来自代表性不足群体的学生的参与。不同背景的学生(夏威夷大学79.2%的非高加索裔学生)将从该研究员教授的研讨会课程中接受研究培训。精选的学生将协助这位研究员进行国际研究旅行，并在夏威夷参与数据收集。该研究员还将在夏威夷大学以前的GK-12框架内为K-6班级开发基于探究的课程。该研究员将通过在线资源(STRI生物信息学网站)、科学会议和学术出版物传播课程和研究成果。该项目的结果将通过揭示管理者可以在哪里致力于虫害控制工作，向管理人员提供引进物种和恢复工作的信息。

Overview: The morphology and structure of foundation species, such as trees and coral reefs, are strongly influenced by the animals that inhabit them. Since foundation species form the integral structure of habitats, changes caused by animals can elicit cascading effects to the rest of the ecosystem. Red mangroves are a critical foundation species that thrives in the ecotone between land and sea; thus, they are affected by a suite of marine and terrestrial herbivores and structure-modifying species. Damage by these species modifies growth and fecundity and is responsible for the complex architecture mangroves exhibit. When a foundation species is introduced without their natural enemies (such as herbivores, structure modifiers) they may experience enhanced growth, fecundity, and survivorship. This release from their enemies may explain why some invaders succeed in a new range. Red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) were introduced to Hawaii from their native range (Caribbean) over a century ago. Here they exhibit rapid growth, high fecundity, and few enemies appear to control them. These mangroves convert native habitats (e.g. sand-flats, ponds) into dense thickets causing substantial changes to Hawaiian ecosystems. In this study, the fellow will (1) quantify the relative effects of different marine and terrestrial guilds in affecting growth, fecundity, and architecture of an important foundation species and (2) test a widely cited mechanism for successful invasions (Enemy Release Hypothesis). This project will use manipulative and natural experiments replicated across broad geographic ranges where mangroves are native (Caribbean) and introduced (Hawaiian Islands). The proposed sponsors, Celia Smith (University of Hawaii Manoa) and Mark Torchin (Smithsonian), will provide complementary training for the fellow and access to the logistical framework necessary to complete this project (e.g. Smithsonian field stations in Florida, Belize, and Panama). Intellectual Merit: Results from this project will broaden understanding of how habitat engineering and herbivory alters foundation species and community ecology and reveal the importance of natural enemies in controlling growth and architecture of introduced species. This project will determine how different multi-species assemblages alter the architecture of a foundation species between native and introduced ranges. This study will also answer other important questions such as: how do terrestrial species mediate habitat quality and quantity for marine species? And what is the relative importance of marine vs. terrestrial species in determining growth and architecture in foundation species in an ecotone? Finally, this study will test an important mechanism underpinning successful biological invasions. Broader Impacts: This project will broaden the participation of students from under-represented groups by integrating students directly in the research plan. Students of diverse backgrounds (79.2% non-Caucasian descent at University of Hawaii) will receive research training from seminar courses taught by the fellow. Select students will assist the fellow on international research trips and in Hawaii to participate in data collections. The fellow will also work within the former GK-12 framework of University of Hawaii to develop inquiry based curriculum for K-6 classes. The fellow will disseminate curriculum and research findings through online resources (STRI Bioinformatics website), scientific conferences, and through academic publications. Results from this project will inform management of introduced species and restoration efforts by revealing where managers could devote pest control efforts.