Collaborative Research: An integrated theoretical and empirical approach to across-shelf mixing and connectivity of mussel populations

合作研究：跨大陆架混合和贻贝种群连通性的综合理论和实证方法

• 批准号: 1334022
• 负责人: Ron Etter
• 金额: $ 35.34万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Boston
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-01 至 2018-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1334022&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; integrated; theoretical; empirical

Existing larval transport models focus mainly on along-shelf transport and have done little to explicitly incorporate the effects of cross-shelf mixing and transport processes. Yet cross-shelf transits (both outgoing and incoming legs) are critical components of the dispersal paths of coastal invertebrates. This project will explore the role of cross-shelf mixing in the connectivity of blue mussel populations in eastern Maine. Previous work has shown that the Eastern Maine Coastal Current (EMCC) begins to diverge from shore southwest of the Grand Manan Channel and creates a gradient in cross-shelf mixing and larval transport, with cross-shelf mixing being more common on the northeastern end, episodic in the transitional middle area, and then becoming rare in the southwestern half of the region of the Gulf of Maine. As a result, the investigators predict that northeastern populations of mussels are seeded mostly from up-stream sources, while a significant component of self-seeding (local retention) exists in southwestern populations. Larvae settling in the intervening bays are expected to be derived from a mixture of local and up-stream sources. Using a combined empirical and theoretical approach hydrographic, current profile, and larval vertical migration data will be collected and used to develop and validate a high-resolution coastal circulation model coupled to a model of larval behavior. The investigators will model simulations in different years using the empirical data from mussel reproductive output and spawning times. Connectivity predicted from this model will be then tested against independent empirical estimates of connectivity based on trace element fingerprinting for larvae which can be connected to specific natal habitats. Regions of agreement and discrepancy in the model will be identified to guide additional data collection and model refinement. This iterative process will ensure an understanding of both larval transport patterns and processes, and provide estimates of inter-annual variability in connectivity for blue mussel populations in the Gulf of Maine.The project will provide interdisciplinary training for a number of undergraduate and graduate students. All three investigators have established track records of training students at either the undergraduate or graduate level, or both. Inter-institutional and interdisciplinary exchange will be fostered by a twice per year mini-symposium/retreat at which all project participants from the three laboratories will present and discuss results from their portions of the project. This project also has important implications for the commercial mussel aquaculture industry in Maine, which relies heavily on natural settlement and desires a better understanding of larval supply patterns to facilitate site selection for collecting newly settled spat.

现有的幼虫运输模型主要集中在沿货架运输上，并且几乎没有做出明确结合跨架子混合和运输过程的影响。然而，跨架子的过渡（无论是外向还是刚进入的腿）是沿海无脊椎动物的分散路径的关键组成部分。该项目将探讨跨缅因州东部蓝贻贝种群连通性中跨货架混合的作用。先前的工作表明，缅因州东部沿海电流（EMCC）开始从大曼南频道的西南海岸发散，并在跨架子混合和幼虫运输中创建了一个梯度，跨货架混合在东北端更为常见，在过渡性中部地区的情节性，然后在西南部的西南部罕见，在该地区的西南部中占据了Maine of Maine of Maine的西南部。结果，研究人员预测，贻贝的东北种群主要是从上游来源种子的，而西南人群中存在自种（局部保留）的重要组成部分。中间海湾中定居的幼虫预计将源自局部和上游来源的混合物。将收集并使用经验和理论方法的水文方法，当前轮廓和幼虫垂直迁移数据，并用于开发和验证高分辨率的沿海循环模型，并与幼虫行为模型相连。研究人员将使用贻贝生殖产出和产卵时间的经验数据在不同年份对模拟进行建模。然后将根据幼虫的痕量元素指纹识别该模型预测的连通性，以与可以与特定的出生栖息地相关的痕量元素指纹识别。将确定该模型中的一致性和差异区域，以指导其他数据收集和模型改进。这种迭代过程将确保对幼虫的运输模式和过程都有理解，并提供缅因州海湾蓝贻贝的连通性差异的估计。该项目将为许多本科和研究生提供跨学科培训。这三位调查人员都在本科或研究生层面或两者兼而有之的培训学生的记录记录。每年两次的迷你群岛/撤退将培养机构间和跨学科交流，其中三个实验室的所有项目参与者都将在其项目部分中介绍并讨论其结果。该项目还对缅因州的商业贻贝水产养殖业具有重要意义，该行业在很大程度上依赖自然和解，并希望更好地了解幼虫供应模式，以促进现场选择，以收集新定居的吐痰。