Shrimp predator defense efficiency under ocean acidification and warming

虾是全世界鱼类、鸟类、海洋哺乳动物和人类的主要食物来源，因此，许多虾类面临着强大的捕食和捕捞压力。可能加重这些压力的是它们对环境条件变化的敏感性，例如季节性或较长时间内发生的变化。对虾对海洋pH值下降（海洋酸化）和温度升高（海洋变暖）的耐受性将在未来影响种群健康、丰度和分布。然而，对甲壳类动物的有限研究阻碍了对环境气候变化对虾等重要商业物种的潜在影响的理解。该项目采用了一种独特的方法来研究海洋酸化，通过(1)研究多种密切相关的虾物种，以解开物种特异性与一般反应的关系；(2)研究从应激生理学到捕食者防御的多尺度反应，以建立对虾的更广泛的影响范围（从生理到生态）。因此，这项研究将及时、全面和现实地评估具有重要商业和生态意义的虾类对未来海洋条件的易感性，并明确应用于渔业、水产养殖和食品工业。这项研究的结果将通过网站和社交媒体推广、公众和专业研讨会、课堂活动和实践研讨会，传播给所有年龄和广泛背景的人。此外，本研究将通过建立研究经验计划，为不同背景的高中生和本科生的科学发展做出贡献。多种多样的海洋生物正在经历与海洋酸化和变暖有关的环境条件的日益变化。全球气候的这种变化引起了各种生态和生物反应，包括生理应激和钙化改变。压力的增加通常会影响能量的储存和分配，最终会产生连锁反应，影响从新陈代谢、生长到繁殖和行为的一切。钙化的改变会影响钙化结构的完整性和功能。这种结果对甲壳类动物来说可能尤其严重，因为钙化的外骨骼几乎对它们的生物学和生态学的各个方面都至关重要。因此，对海洋酸化和变暖对甲壳类动物的潜在影响的现实理解需要一种综合的方法。该项目的主要目标是确定预测的海洋变化将如何影响具有重要商业价值的熊猫虾的压力水平和捕食者防御。具体目的是评估pH和温度对虾(1)生理氧化应激的影响，(2)隐色，(3)尾巴翻转逃脱行为，(4)外骨骼盔甲。三种地理范围不同、亲缘关系密切的虾的幼虾将长期暴露于改变的、近期预测的条件组合中。氧化应激反应的程度、外骨骼光谱特性、尾巴翻转逃逸运动学、外骨骼组成和材料特性将确定这一生态和经济上重要的虾群对海洋酸化的反应，以及这种反应对它们的生物学和生态学的潜在影响，以及它们作为支持生态系统的食物来源的作用。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Shrimp are a key food source worldwide for fish, birds, marine mammals, and humans, and consequently, many shrimp species face strong predation and fishing pressures. Potentially aggravating these pressures is their sensitivity to changes in environmental conditions, such as those occurring seasonally or over longer time periods. The tolerance of shrimp to declining ocean pH (ocean acidification) and increasing temperature (ocean warming) will factor into population health, abundance and distributions in the future. However, limited research on crustaceans precludes understanding of the potential impacts that changing environmental climates will have on commercially important species such as shrimp. This project takes a unique approach to ocean acidification research by (1) examining multiple, closely-related shrimp species to disentangle species-specific versus general responses, and (2) studying multi-scale responses, from stress physiology to predator defenses, to establish a broader scope of impacts on shrimp (from physiological to ecological). This study will thus provide a timely, comprehensive and realistic assessment of the susceptibility of commercially and ecologically important shrimp species to future ocean conditions, with clear applications to fisheries, aquaculture and the food industry. Findings from this research will reach people of all ages and broad backgrounds through website and social media promotion, public and professional seminars, classroom activities, and hands-on workshops. In addition, this research will contribute to the scientific development of high school and undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds through established research experience programs.A great diversity of marine organisms are experiencing increased changes in environmental conditions associated with ocean acidification and warming. Such changes in global climate induce a variety of ecological and biological responses, including physiological stress and altered calcification. Increased stress typically affects energy storage and allocation, ultimately cascading in reactions that can impact everything from metabolism and growth to reproduction and behavior. Changes in calcification can affect the integrity and functionality of calcified structures. This outcome may be especially severe for crustaceans, because the calcified exoskeleton is crucial for nearly every aspect of their biology and ecology. A realistic understanding of the potential impacts of ocean acidification and warming on crustaceans thus requires an integrative approach. The primary objective of this project is to determine how forecasted ocean changes will affect stress levels and predator defenses of commercially important Pandalid shrimp. The specific aims will assess the effect of pH and temperature on shrimp (1) physiological oxidative stress, (2) cryptic coloration, (3) tail-flip escape behavior, and (4) exoskeleton armor. Juveniles of three closely related shrimp species with different geographical ranges will undergo long-term exposure to a combination of altered, near-term predicted conditions. The extent of oxidative stress response, exoskeleton spectral properties, tail-flip escape kinematics, and exoskeleton composition and material properties will identify how this ecologically and economically important group of shrimp responds to ocean acidification, and the potential impact of this response on their biology and ecology, but also their use as a food source supporting ecosystems.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.