Connecting genetic diversity to ecosystem functioning: links between genetic diversity, relatedness and trait variation in a seagrass community

将遗传多样性与生态系统功能联系起来：海草群落遗传多样性、相关性和性状变异之间的联系

• 批准号: 1234345
• 负责人: John Stachowicz
• 金额: $ 91.96万
• 依托单位: University of California-Davis
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2017-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1234345&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Connecting; genetic; diversity; ecosystem; functioning

There is growing evidence that genetic variation within and among populations of key species plays an important role in marine ecosystem processes. Several experiments provide compelling evidence that the number of genotypes in an assemblage (genotypic richness) can influence critical ecosystem functions including productivity, resistance to disturbance and invasion or colonization success. However, these studies use only the number of genotypes as a measure of genetic diversity. Recent analyses of species diversity experiments show that phylogenetic diversity may be a more reliable predictor of ecosystem functioning than simply the number of species. However, such approaches have not yet been applied to understanding the effects of genetics on ecosystem functioning. While genetic relatedness within a species holds the potential to predict the outcome of intraspecific interactions, and the functioning of ecosystems that depend on those species, we currently have few data to assess the shape or strength of this relationship. The investigators will build on their own previous work, and that of others, in eelgrass (Zostera marina) ecosystems showing strong effects of genotypic richness on a spectrum of critical ecosystem processes. The investigators will ask whether genotypic richness, or - as in studies at the level of species diversity - genetic relatedness/distance better predicts ecosystem functioning? If genetic relatedness measures are better predictors, then what mechanisms underlie this relationship? Can genetic relatedness predict ecological relatedness? Although the current focus is on eelgrass, the research should be applicable to many systems. The project will assess the relationship between genetic relatedness and phenotypic distinctiveness of a key marine foundation species and use manipulative experiments to test the relative importance of the number of genotypes in an assemblage vs. their genetic relatedness and trait diversity for ecosystem functioning. Specifically, experiments will: (1) characterize the relationship between genetic relatedness and trait similarity among individual genotypes of eelgrass, including responses to experimental warming; (2) compare the effects of genetic relatedness and trait similarity among genotypes on the outcome of intraspecific competitive interactions; and (3) test the relative effect of genetic relatedness vs. number of genotypes of eelgrass on the growth of eelgrass, its associated ecosystem functions it (e.g., primary production, nutrient dynamics, trophic transfer, habitat provision, and detrital production and decomposition). Broader Impacts: Seagrass ecosystems provide important services to coastal regions including primary production, nutrient cycling, habitat for fisheries species, and erosion control. Previous studies have shown these services can be compromised by reduction in the numbers of species of grazers or genotypes, but this study will allow a more predictive approach to diversity loss by integrating the effects of multiple components of diversity and clarifying the extent to which diversity effects can be predicted by the genetic or ecological uniqueness of component genotypes. The PIs will continue to be involved in direct communication of findings of biodiversity-related research to federal and state agencies and other stakeholders. This grant will integrate physiological, community, and genetic approaches to studying marine ecosystem functioning and will train a number of young scientists (postdocs, grad students and undergrads) at this interface. This project will interface with 4 outreach/training programs, including an NSFsupported UBM collaborative program for undergrads, a University of California-sponsored program that brings students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to UC Davis for summer research experiences at the interface of ecology and evolutionary biology, a GK-12 program based at Bodega Marine Lab focused on coastal marine science; and a program that brings elementary school classes to the campus for a coordinated series of interactive field trips.

越来越多的证据表明，关键物种种群内外的遗传变异在海洋生态系统过程中起着重要作用。一些实验提供了令人信服的证据，表明组合中的基因型数量（基因型丰富度）可以影响关键的生态系统功能，包括生产力，抗药性和入侵或定植成功。但是，这些研究仅使用基因型数量作为遗传多样性的量度。对物种多样性实验的最新分析表明，系统发育多样性可能是生态系统功能的可靠预测指标，而不是仅仅是物种的数量。但是，这种方法尚未应用于理解遗传学对生态系统功能的影响。尽管一个物种内的遗传相关性具有预测依赖于这些物种的生态系统的功能的潜力，但我们目前几乎没有数据来评估这种关系的形状或强度。研究人员将以自己以前的工作以及其他工作为基础，在鳗草（Zostera Marina）生态系统中，表现出基因型丰富度对关键生态系统过程的强烈影响。研究人员会询问基因型丰富度，还是在物种多样性水平的研究中 - 遗传相关性/距离更好地预测生态系统的功能？如果遗传相关性措施是更好的预测因素，那么这种关系是哪些机制？遗传相关性可以预测生态相关性吗？尽管目前的重点是鳗草，但该研究应适用于许多系统。该项目将评估关键海洋基础物种的遗传相关性与表型独特性之间的关系，并使用操纵实验来测试组合中基因型数量的相对重要性，而对生态系统功能的遗传相关性和特征多样性。具体而言，实验将：（1）表征源泉中个体基因型之间遗传相关性与性状相似性之间的关系，包括对实验变暖的反应； （2）比较基因型之间遗传相关性和性状相似性对种内竞争相互作用结果的影响； （3）测试遗传相关性与鳗鱼基因型的相对影响对鳗鱼生长的基因型数量，其相关的生态系统功能（例如，初级生产，营养动力学，营养转移，栖息地提供，栖息地提供以及碎屑生产和分解和分解）。更广泛的影响：海草生态系统为沿海地区提供重要服务，包括初级生产，营养自行车，渔业栖息地和侵蚀控制。先前的研究表明，这些服务可能会因减少放牧者或基因型种类的数量而损害，但是这项研究将通过整合多样性多样性的多种组成部分的影响，并阐明多样性效应可以通过组件基因型的遗传或生态学独特性预测多样性效应的程度，从而使多样性丧失的方法更具预测性。 PI将继续参与与联邦和州机构以及其他利益相关者的生物多样性研究发现的直接沟通。该赠款将整合研究海洋生态系统功能的生理，社区和遗传方法，并将在此界面培训许多年轻科学家（博士后，研究生和本科生）。 This project will interface with 4 outreach/training programs, including an NSFsupported UBM collaborative program for undergrads, a University of California-sponsored program that brings students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to UC Davis for summer research experiences at the interface of ecology and evolutionary biology, a GK-12 program based at Bodega Marine Lab focused on coastal marine science;以及将小学课带到校园进行协调的一系列互动实地考察的计划。