Structuring mechanisms and transformative potential of cold marine benthic ecosystems

未来几十年，北纬寒冷海洋底栖生物生态系统（CMBE）将发生重大变化。了解海洋生物群落变化的驱动因素及其对海洋栖息地和资源保护和管理的影响对加拿大等许多北方国家至关重要，因为这些国家的经济和社会结构很大程度上依赖于海洋生物群落的稳定性和生产力。我的下一个5年NSERC计划将生成关于纽芬兰和拉布拉多寒冷海洋系统中两种普遍存在的cmbe——海带床和rhodolith床——以及一种主要的海洋食草动物——绿海胆的核心/关键生态信息。其目的是建立一个健全的、以科学为基础的基础，以参与可持续的绿色海胆性腺产业。这项研究的一部分将建立在我之前的NSERC项目的发现之上，这个过程将再次涉及一个高度包容和团队导向的学生群体，并开发新的方法/技术，以最好地满足我的项目和更广泛的研究社区的需求。我们将结合实验室和实地实验和调查，并使用多种传统到最先进的技术（例如，潜水，潜水毫米精度的3d激光相机，高精度测绘无人机，人工智能），来确定海带床和rhodolith床的生态重要性，稳定性和脆弱性，以应对自然和人为压力。我们将在各种生物（细胞到生态系统），空间（米到公里）和时间（周到月）尺度上这样做，以获得全面的理解。我们将描述海带床、rhodolith床、绿海胆和其他主要海洋生物之间的相互依存关系，以了解所提供的生态系统服务的范围、它们对环境变化的适应能力和以人类为中心的绿海胆资源利用。我的项目将聘请13名新的高素质人才（HQP）参与9个不同但相互关联且发人深省的研究模块，这些模块将涉及与学术、政府和行业合作伙伴的合作，提供丰富而刺激的HQP培训环境。它提出了创新的技术变革，重点关注北大西洋资源开发的有效方法，这些方法是可持续的、具有全球竞争力的、社会可接受的和适应变化的。它将包括招收、参与、支持和毕业各种研究人员和学生的活动，重点是增加历史上代表性不足的群体的机会和成功。这种类型的计划对加拿大和国外发展和维持海洋经济活动非常重要，同时在国际范围内保持竞争力。

Cold marine benthic ecosystems (CMBE) in northern latitudes are expected to undergo significant changes over the next few decades. Understanding the drivers of alterations to CMBEs and their implication for conservation and management of marine habitats and resources is crucial to many northern countries like Canada because a large portion of their economy and social fabric depends heavily on the stability and productivity of CMBEs. My next 5-year NSERC program will generate core/critical ecological information about two pervasive CMBEs - kelp beds and rhodolith beds - and a dominant marine grazer - green sea urchin - in the cold marine systems of Newfoundland and Labrador. The aim is to establish a sound, science-based foundation to engage into a sustainable green sea urchin gonad industry. A part of this research will build upon findings in my previous NSERC program, a process that will again involve a highly inclusive and team-oriented cohort of students and development of new methods/techniques that best serve the needs of my program and the broader research community. Together we will combine laboratory and field experiments and surveys, and use multiple conventional to state-of-the-art technologies (e.g. scuba diving, submersible millimeter-accuracy 3-D laser camera, high accuracy mapping drone, artificial intelligence), to determine the ecological importance, stability, and vulnerability of kelp beds and rhodolith beds to natural and anthropogenic stressors. We will do this across a variety of biological (cells to ecosystems), spatial (meters to kilometers) and temporal (weeks to months) scales to gain a comprehensive understanding. We will characterize the interdependence between kelp beds, rhodolith beds, green sea urchin, and other dominant marine organisms to understand the range of ecosystem services provided, their resilience to environmental variability and anthropocentric utilization of green sea urchin resources. My program will engage 13 new highly qualified personnel (HQP) into 9 different, yet interrelated and thought-provoking research modules that will involve collaborations with academic, government, and industry partners, providing a rich and stimulating HQP training environment. It proposes innovative technological changes focusing on effective approaches to North Atlantic resource development that are sustainable, globally competitive, societally acceptable, and resilient to change. It will include activities to admit, engage, support, and graduate a diverse body of researchers and students, with attention to enhancing access and success of historically underrepresented groups. This type of program is very important for Canada and abroad to develop and maintain marine economic activities while remaining competitive at an international scale.