The ecology of vulnerability in fishes

为什么有些动物物种比其他物种更容易灭绝？我们正在使用海洋和淡水鱼物种作为模型系统，以了解为什么一些种群灭绝，而另一些种群对人类的影响具有高度的弹性。一项分为两部分的研究计划旨在回答这些问题。首先，将对各种各样的鱼类进行大规模比较，以了解生命周期的基本方面，如成熟年龄和繁殖产出率，如何影响一些鱼类维持渔业的能力，而另一些鱼类则会崩溃。这将与淡水鱼和陆生动物对栖息地丧失的种群反应的比较相结合，以改进我们优先保护物种的方式。研究计划的第二部分将使用太平洋鲑鱼作为模型系统，以了解对渔业重要的关键种群如何影响其他物种。在不列颠哥伦比亚省一个偏远的沿海地区进行的实地研究将测试鲑鱼产卵和死亡后从鲑鱼中提取的营养物质的重要性。鲑鱼流中鲑鱼密度的自然变化将与溪流和森林沿线的植物、昆虫和脊椎动物对鲑鱼来源的营养物质的吸收有关。为了研究对生物多样性各方面的短期和长期影响，一项补充性的大型实验将涉及在部分溪流中添加尸体。这些信息将用于帮助进行更全面的管理，不仅包括鲑鱼，而且还考虑到对更广泛环境的间接影响。

Why are some species of animals more vulnerable to extinction than others? We are using marine and freshwater fish species as model systems to understand why some populations become extinct while others are highly resilient to human impacts. A two-part research program has been designed to answer these questions. First, large-scale comparisons will be made between a diverse array of fish species to understand how fundamental aspects of life cycles, such as age at maturity and rate of reproductive output, affect the ability of some fish species to be able to sustain fisheries, while others collapse. This will be combined with comparisons of population responses to habitat loss in freshwater fishes and terrestrial animals, to improve the way in which we prioritize species for conservation. The second part of the reserch program will use Pacific salmon as a model system for understanding how key populations that are important to fisheries affect other species. Field studies in a remote coastal region of British Columbia will test for the importance of nutrients derived from salmon after the fish have spawned and died. Natural variation among salmon streams in salmon densities will be related to uptake of salmon-derived nutrients in plants, insects and vertebrates along streams and forests. A complementary large-sclae experiment will involve additions of carcasses to parts of streams, in order to study the short- and long-term impacts on various aspects of biodiversity. This information will be used to help inform more holistic management that includes not only salmon, but also takes account of indirect impacts on the wider environment.