Postdoctoral Fellowship: CREST-PRP: Ecophysiological response of tidal freshwater tree ecosystem engineers to chronic thermal, hydric, and salinity stressors in the Caribbean.

博士后奖学金：CREST-PRP：潮汐淡水树生态系统工程师对加勒比地区慢性热、水和盐压力源的生态生理反应。

• 批准号: 2400973
• 负责人: Elix Hernandez
• 金额: $ 30.71万
• 依托单位: University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-07-01 至 2026-06-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2400973&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Postdoctoral; Fellowship; CREST; PRP; Ecophysiological

In tropical ecosystems the weather is typically stable and warm but in the past decade climate change has been causing changes in temperature and shifts in rain and sea level in coastal wetlands that are impacting tropical flora and fauna. Lacking tools to adjust to these changes, tropical plants might struggle to survive. This study will investigate how two tree species, Pterocarpus officinalis and Dalbergia ecastaphyllum, cope with changes in temperatures and water supply and how these changes are affecting their physiology. The study site is located in the Corredor Ecológico del Noreste, a natural reserve in the Caribbean that represents freshwater coastal wetlands. Working with natural resource managers, community, and scientists, data will be collected to characterize the effects of climate change on these trees with the goal of advance knowledging that can be applied to inform management decisions about coastal wetlands restoration.In the past decade, Puerto Rico and the broader Caribbean region have witnessed a historical increase in temperature. Trends suggest that this warming trajectory will continue, accompanied by other climatic extremes, including rising sea levels, extreme precipitation events, and intensified atmospheric disturbances. Coastal tropical vegetation is in a perilous situation, where in the context of a warmer planet and rising sea levels, vegetation might not have the physiological mechanisms for acclimation. This study’s goal is to assess the ecophysiological responses of nitrogen-fixing species in tidal freshwater wetlands in response to warmer temperatures and increased salinity under the same mesoclimate conditions. The research will investigate 1) how warmer climate and increased salinity affects photosynthesis and regulation of osmotic balance, and 2) how these environmental changes affect activity and efficiency of nitrogen fixation. Using an interdisciplinary approach involving plant physiology, ecology, climate change science and metabolomics, the study will include field observations of two tree species, Pterocarpus officinalis and Dalbergia ecastaphyllum, that share the same mesoclimate but different hydrologic conditions, and greenhouse experiments in which air temperature and saline conditions will be modified. Data examined will include light and temperature response curves to assess leaf thermal tolerance, plant morphological traits, hydraulic conductance, osmotic potential, 13C and 15N isotopic analyses for nitrogen fixation, as well as nutrient analysis and non-targeted metabolomic analyses to create a profile of metabolites related to salt stress and temperature changes. The combined approach will be applicable to informing plant selection in conservation management efforts, thus enhancing the potential benefits these critical ecosystems provide.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

在热带生态系统中，天气通常稳定而温暖，但在过去十年中，气候变化一直导致沿海湿地的温度变化以及降雨和海平面的变化，从而影响了热带动植物群，而热带地区缺乏适应这些变化的工具。这项研究将调查紫檀和黄檀这两种树种如何应对温度和供水的变化，以及这些变化如何影响它们的生理机能。 Corredor Ecológico del Noreste 是加勒比地区的一个自然保护区，代表淡水沿海湿地，我们将与自然资源管理者、社区和科学家合作，收集数据来描述气候变化对这些树木的影响，目的是加深了解。过去十年，波多黎各和更广泛的加勒比地区经历了历史性的气温上升，趋势表明这种变暖趋势将持续下去，并伴随着其他极端气候，包括海平面上升。 ,极端降水事件和加剧的大气扰动使沿海热带植被处于危险境地，在地球变暖和海平面上升的背景下，植被可能没有适应的生理机制。在相同的中气候条件下，潮汐淡水湿地中固氮物种对气温升高和盐度增加的反应该研究将调查1）气候变暖和盐度增加如何影响。光合作用和渗透平衡的调节，以及2）这些环境变化如何影响固氮的活性和效率，该研究将采用涉及植物生理学、生态学、气候变化科学和代谢组学的跨学科方法，包括对紫檀属两种树种的实地观察。 officinalis 和 Dalbergia ecastaphyllum 具有相同的中气候但不同的水文条件，并且将修改气温和盐分条件的温室实验所检查的数据将包括光。和温度响应曲线，以评估叶片耐热性、植物形态特征、水力电导、渗透势、固氮的 13C 和 15N 同位素分析，以及养分分析和非靶向代谢组分析，以创建与盐胁迫相关的代谢物概况综合方法将适用于为保护管理工作中的植物选择提供信息，从而增强这些关键生态系统提供的潜在效益。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并被认为是值得的。通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来获得支持。