Cross-scale drivers of diversity in relation to global change in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

生态学家长期以来一直试图解开物种多样性格局的谜团，以了解随着时间的推移影响多样性的生态和进化过程，以及某些条件是如何驱动如此多不同类型的生态系统的模式和分化的。我的研究旨在了解普遍的过程，这些过程导致一个地点的陆地和水生生物多样性高，而另一个地点的多样性低，无论这些地点相距几米、几公里甚至数千公里。传统上，多样性(物种数量)与不同的环境条件有关，例如资源和温度，或者与有限的扩散有关，这可能会阻止物种进入有可用资源的地点。我的研究将解决这些假设以及关于采样结构和数据聚合在淘汰随机和非随机过程(例如，竞争、局部促进)的影响方面所起的作用的其他想法，这些过程至少部分地在更精细的空间尺度上运行。更具体地说，我的研究包括开发和使用预测不同过程如何导致多样性的模型。然后对这些模型(例如，水生生态系统分类模型)进行实地评估，以验证或检查有关物种多样性和生态系统服务的预测。这项研究将进一步加深我们对陆地和水生环境中多样性的基本驱动因素的理解。更充分地了解影响物种多样性的条件和过程将有助于解决实际问题，例如：我们如何更好地管理易受特定人为干扰的个别生态系统类型，以及是否有任何可能针对特定生态系统类型的新的补救行动(如设置障碍、限制鱼类消费)以控制多种压力因素(如气候变暖、入侵物种、土地利用的变化和发展)。将通过这项研究计划开发的管理工具，即经过验证的生态系统分类模型，将是加拿大规划进程的基本辅助，因为建议开发可能对干扰更敏感的北部陆地-水生态系统的资源。拟议的研究将在本学年内聘用和培训2名博士生、2名硕士学生、5名本科生研究助理、1名博士后研究员和多名本科生论文。这些学生将在土地-水系统科学研究的所有方面接受广泛的培训，为他们提供在学术、政府和私营部门成功职业生涯所需的沟通、领导和技术技能。

Ecologists have long sought to unravel the mystery of species diversity patterns in order to understand the ecological and evolutionary processes that affect diversity over time and to understand how certain conditions drive the patterning and differentiation of so many different types of ecosystems. My research aims to understand universal processes that lead to high terrestrial and aquatic diversity in one location and low diversity in another, be they meters, kilometres or even thousands of kilometres apart. Traditionally diversity (number of species) is associated with varying environmental conditions such as resources and temperature, or with limited dispersal, which could prevent species from accessing sites with available resources. My research will address these hypotheses as well as other ideas about the role that sampling structure and data aggregation play in washing out effects of both random and non-random processes (e.g., competition, local facilitation) that operate - at least in part - at finer spatial scales. More specifically, my research consists of developing and using models that predict how different processes lead to diversity. These models (e.g., aquatic ecosystem classification models) are then evaluated in the field to validate or check predictions about species diversity and ecosystem services. This research will further our understanding of the basic drivers of diversity in terrestrial and aquatic settings. A fuller understanding of the conditions and processes affecting species diversity will lead to solutions to applied questions, such as: how can we better manage individual ecosystems types that are susceptible to specific human-caused perturbations, and are there any novel remedial actions (e.g., the creation of barriers, fish consumption limits) that may be targeted at specific ecosystem types to control multiple stressors (such as climate warming, invasive species, land-use change and development). Management tools to be developed through this research program, i.e., verified ecosystem classification models, will be essential aids to planning processes in Canada given proposals to develop resources in northern land-water ecosystems that may be more highly sensitive to disturbance. The proposed research will engage and train 2 PhD students, 2 MSc students, 5 undergraduate research assistants during the school year, 1 postdoctoral researcher, and multiple undergraduate thesis students. These students will receive extensive training in all aspects of research within land-water systems science providing them with communication, leadership and technical skills for successful careers in academic, government and private sectors.**