Long Term Studies of Climate Impacts: Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Tropical Stream Ecosystems, Puerto Rico

该项目将研究自然物种组合如何受到气候变化的影响，特别是在温度已经异常温暖和降水量变化很大的生态系统中。在亚热带河流生态系统中，这种气候变化可能导致自然生态群落和过程的重大变化。这些变化可能会影响重要的淡水溪流昆虫的分布，这些昆虫分解有机物并过滤细菌和其他悬浮颗粒。这些昆虫物种在维持娱乐用途和市政供水的清水方面至关重要。在波多黎各的卢基略实验森林中进行了25年的研究，拟议的研究将确定影响关键流物种的时空分布的主要因素，以及它们对大型排水网络内不同海拔溪流中有机物处理的影响。该分析将确定特定物种最可能脆弱的具体网络位置和地貌特征（例如，浅深度、高温、低溶解氧和缺乏流动）。该项目将使公众、决策者和水资源管理者受益，使他们深入了解水流的极端变化对影响水质和脆弱地点的水流动态的影响。该项目还将为学生，特别是波多黎各学生提供跨学科学习经验，他们将参与开发在线学习模块。这些跨学科的学习模块将说明气候驱动的生物多样性变化的概念和关键物种在维持可靠，高质量的清洁水用于多种用途的经济价值。

This project will examine how natural species assemblages are affected by climatic change, especially in those ecosystems where temperatures are already exceptionally warm and where precipitation varies greatly. In sub-tropical stream ecosystems, such climatic change may lead to major shifts in natural ecological communities and processes. These shifts can influence distributions of important freshwater stream insects that break down organic matter and filter out the bacteria and other suspended particulates. These insect species are critically important in maintaining clear water for recreational uses and municipal water supplies. Grounded in 25 years of studies in the Luquillo Experiment Forest in Puerto Rico, the proposed research will identify the main factors that affect spatial and temporal distributions of key stream species and their effects on processing organic matter in streams at different elevations within large drainage networks. The analysis will identify specific network locations and geomorphic features where particular species are most likely to be vulnerable (e.g., shallow depth, high temperatures, low dissolved oxygen, and lack of flow). The project will benefit the public, policy makers, and water managers by providing an in-depth understanding of the effects of extreme variability of water flows on stream dynamics that influence water quality and locations of vulnerability. The project will also provide interdisciplinary learning experiences for students, especially Puerto Ricans, who will participate in developing the online learning modules. These interdisciplinary learning modules will illustrate concepts of climate-driven changes on biodiversity and the economic values of key species in sustaining reliable, high-quality clean water for multiple uses.