A PIT-tag system for tracking benthic invertebrates

基于被动集成应答器（PIT）标签的生物遥测系统将支持我同时申请NSERC发现资助的研究：物种入侵和岩石潮下带群落的生态学。该研究考察了新斯科舍省外浅海底群落结构的大规模转变，这是由本地食草动物（海胆）和引进的海藻物种丰度的重大变化所驱动的。主要研究目标是：1）调查生物相互作用和环境因素，这些生态系统的“相移”，2）评估本地和入侵物种对生态系统结构和动态的影响，3）开发预测模型，以帮助保护自然资源和本地生物多样性。PIT标签系统将用于跟踪海胆和其他底栖无脊椎动物的移动。这将使我们能够通过测量进入实验性捕捞区的移民率来监测捕捞的海胆种群的恢复率，并确定移民的潜在来源。标记还将使我们能够跟踪海胆、掠食性鱼类和无脊椎动物的生存、生长和繁殖，并与它们相关联，以探索该生态系统中动物摄食聚集的原因和后果。

A biotelemetry system based on Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags will support research proposed in my concurrent application for an NSERC Discovery Grant: Species Invasions and the Ecology of Rocky Subtidal Communities. The research examines large-scale transitions in the structure of shallow seabed communities off Nova Scotia, which are driven by major changes in the abundance of a native herbivore (the sea urchin) and an introduced seaweed species. The primary research goals are to 1) investigate biological interactions and environmental factors that govern these ecosystem "phase shifts", 2) assess effects of native and invasive species on ecosystem structure and dynamics, and 3) develop predictive models to aid in conserving natural resources and native biodiversity. The PIT tag system will be used to track the movements of sea urchins and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates. This will allow us to monitor the rate of recovery of harvested urchin populations by measuring the rate of immigration into experimentally fished areas, and to identify potential sources of immigrants. Tagging also will enable us to track the survival, growth and reproduction of urchins, and the predatory fish and invertebrates and that associate with them, to explore the causes and consequences of animal feeding aggregations in this ecosystem.