Collaborative Research: Fern Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Stoichiometry

合作研究：蕨类生物地球化学和生态系统化学计量

• 批准号: 0516491
• 负责人: Peter Vitousek
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Stanford University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-09-01 至 2009-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0516491&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Fern; Biogeochemistry; Ecosystem

Ferns are abundant components of many ecosystems, and they differ substantially in chemistry from the plants with which they occur. These contrasts are particularly strong in the climbing ferns and tree ferns; these ancient lineages contain remarkably low concentrations of Ca and may support a different set of organic compounds. Many Hawaiian rainforests are co-dominated by a tree and a basal fern, and the fern in these systems can contribute 50% of aboveground net primary production and N and P cycling. The proposed research will apply a combination of observations, experiments, and modeling to understand the dynamics of Ca and other elements, and of recalcitrant organic compounds, in these relatively simple systems. Single-cell x-ray microanalysis will be used to determine differences in chemistry between trees and ferns on the one hand, and fungi and bacteria on the other, and organic compounds will be analyzed via pyrolysis GC-MS and synchrotron FTIR, along the decay continuum from litter to soil organic matter. This proposed research will integrate information and approaches from phylogeny, biochemistry, ecology, and organic geochemistry to determine how differences between ferns and trees affect the decomposer community and the decomposition process. The understanding of fundamental processes gained in this model system will broaden our understanding of terrestrial ecosystems. It will also link education to basic research by incorporating students at levels from high school to Ph.D. into the research. Some of these students will be Native Hawaiians, through our interactions with Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawaii - Hilo Hawaiian Internship Program. In addition, the research will build scientific capacity by applying several modern analytical techniques to ecological questions.

蕨类植物是许多生态系统的丰富组成部分，它们的化学成分与它们周围的植物有很大不同。这些对比在攀缘蕨类植物和树蕨类植物中尤为强烈。这些古老的谱系含有非常低浓度的钙，可能支持一组不同的有机化合物。许多夏威夷雨林由树木和基底蕨类植物共同主导，这些系统中的蕨类植物可贡献 50% 的地上净初级生产力和氮磷循环。拟议的研究将结合观察、实验和建模来了解这些相对简单的系统中钙和其他元素以及顽固有机化合物的动态。单细胞 X 射线微量分析将一方面用于确定树木和蕨类植物之间的化学差异，另一方面用于确定真菌和细菌之间的化学差异，并且将通过热解 GC-MS 和同步加速器 FTIR 沿着衰变过程分析有机化合物从凋落物到土壤有机质的连续体。这项拟议的研究将整合系统发育、生物化学、生态学和有机地球化学的信息和方法，以确定蕨类植物和树木之间的差异如何影响分解者群落和分解过程。对这个模型系统中基本过程的理解将拓宽我们对陆地生态系统的理解。它还将通过吸收从高中到博士级别的学生，将教育与基础研究联系起来。进入研究。通过我们与卡美哈美哈学校和夏威夷大学 - 希洛夏威夷实习计划的互动，其中一些学生将成为夏威夷原住民。此外，该研究还将通过将多种现代分析技术应用于生态问题来建立科学能力。