Retrospective optimisation of multifunctionality on coastal urban infrastructure

沿海城市基础设施多功能回顾性优化

• 批准号: 2738127
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Plymouth University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2738127
• 关键词: Retrospective; optimisation; multifunctionality; coastal; urban

A combination of reduced complexity and spatial scale underpins biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality deficits on artificial compared to natural habitats1. At fine-grain (mm-cm) scales, low physical complexity can inhibit the settlement/recruitment of larvae by environmentally filtering out mal-adapted organisms2. Physically simple environments can select for an over-abundance of mesopredators (e.g. limpets), whose non-selective grazing behaviour can biotically filter2 weaker species, leading to grazer dominance and "limpet barrens"3, akin to urchin barrens in subtidal systems. Here, the goal is to upscale GGI solutions to stimulate a 'multifunctional cascade' using appropriately complex surfaces to provide recruitment-phase refugia from grazing for habitat-forming species (e.g. fucoids, mussels) that, in turn, support greater biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality through facilitation cascades4. At medium- (e.g. cm-m) and large-grains (e.g. >10m), reduced physical complexity homogenises environmental conditions that effectively reduces niche availability, the number of species both within (a-diversity) and between patches (B-diversity)5, and site-scale (g) diversity and multi-functionality. At larger scales, regions characterised by discontinuous shorelines with mosaics of habitats (e.g. seawalls interspersed with natural reef) could support higher B-diversity compared to regions characterised by continuous homogenous vertical seawalls. This studentship will evaluate relationships between complexity, biodiversity, and ecosystem multifunctionality, and then apply this new empirical understanding to inform upscaling GGI solutions at larger scales. We propose a three-pronged state-of-art approach: (1) Field surveys and mesocosm studies to quantify naturally-occurring relationships between physical complexity, biodiversity, and multifunctionality at multiple scales (photogrammetry/biodiversity surveys) in Plymouth Sound, Southampton Water and Milford Haven (selected due to differences in levels of urbanisation). Ecosystem multifunctionality will be estimated using functional traits databases and validated using field mesocosms. [Firth, Griffin, Foggo] (2) Two manipulative field experiments using biomimetic tiles will determine (1) whether structural features deter/encourage key taxa and disentangle the roles of propagule pressure from physical complexity (abiotic filtering) and post-settlement biotic interactions (biotic filtering) on assemblage development; and (2) how area (scale) and spatial heterogeneity (arrangement) influence biodiversity and multifunctionality outcomes at larger spatial scales. Experiments will be deployed in Brixham (permission already granted)[Firth, Hanley, Knights] (3) Modelling will test how the surface type, density and spatial heterogeneity of GGI patches affect accessibility and spatial use by key grazers (e.g. limpets)(see Fig 1 in OneDrive). Methods will involve in-situ surveys (photographs/time-lapse) and modelling (e.g. correlated walk models). [Firth, Knights] The project allows the student to develop highly sought-after technical and academic skills in applied and theoretical ecological modelling, and general research skills. The supervisory team's track-record of high-quality PhD training and mentoring, evidenced by and student-led high-quality research outputs ensures an excellent student experience, including integration into a vibrant community of staff and students at UoP and abroad. UoP and ARIES training courses for continuing professional development will be encouraged, alongside presentation at international conferences (e.g. International Temperate Reefs Symposium) to develop their network and science communication skills.

与自然栖息地相比，复杂性和空间规模的降低共同支撑了人工栖息地的生物多样性和生态系统多功能性缺陷1。在细颗粒（毫米-厘米）尺度上，低物理复杂性可以通过过滤掉环境适应不良的生物体来抑制幼虫的定居/招募2。物理简单的环境可以选择过多的中捕食者（例如帽贝），其非选择性放牧行为可以从生物角度过滤2较弱的物种，导致食草动物占主导地位和“帽贝贫瘠之地”3，类似于潮下系统中的海胆贫瘠之地。这里的目标是升级 GGI 解决方案，以刺激“多功能级联”，使用适当复杂的表面，为栖息地形成物种（例如岩藻类、贻贝）的放牧提供补充阶段的庇护所，从而支持更大的生物多样性和生态系统多功能性通过促进级联4。在中等颗粒（例如 cm-m）和大颗粒（例如 >10m）下，降低的物理复杂性使环境条件均质化，从而有效减少生态位可用性、斑块内（a-多样性）和斑块之间（B-多样性）的物种数量5、场地规模（七）多样性和多功能性。在更大的尺度上，与具有连续同质垂直海堤特征的区域相比，具有不连续海岸线和栖息地镶嵌（例如散布有天然珊瑚礁的海堤）的区域可以支持更高的B多样性。该奖学金将评估复杂性、生物多样性和生态系统多功能性之间的关系，然后应用这种新的实证理解为更大规模的升级 GGI 解决方案提供信息。我们提出了三管齐下的最先进方法：(1) 实地调查和中生态研究，以量化南安普敦水域普利茅斯湾的物理复杂性、生物多样性和多功能性之间自然发生的关系（摄影测量/生物多样性调查）和米尔福德港（由于城市化水平的差异而选择）。生态系统的多功能性将使用功能性状数据库进行估计，并使用田间中生态系统进行验证。 [Firth、Griffin、Foggo]（2）使用仿生瓷砖进行的两项操作性现场实验将确定（1）结构特征是否阻止/鼓励关键类群，并将繁殖体压力的作用与物理复杂性（非生物过滤）和定居后生物相互作用分开（生物过滤）关于组合发展； (2) 面积（规模）和空间异质性（排列）如何影响更大空间尺度上的生物多样性和多功能性结果。实验将在布里克瑟姆部署（已获得许可）[Firth、Hanley、Knights] (3) 建模将测试 GGI 斑块的表面类型、密度和空间异质性如何影响主要食草动物（例如帽贝）的可达性和空间使用（参见OneDrive 中的图 1）。方法将涉及现场调查（照片/延时）和建模（例如相关步行模型）。 [Firth，Knights] 该项目使学生能够在应用和理论生态建模以及一般研究技能方面培养备受追捧的技术和学术技能。指导团队在高质量博士培训和指导方面的记录，以学生主导的高质量研究成果为证，确保了良好的学生体验，包括融入 UoP 和国外充满活力的教职员工和学生社区。将鼓励 UoP 和 ARIES 提供持续专业发展培训课程，并在国际会议（例如国际温带珊瑚礁研讨会）上进行演讲，以培养他们的网络和科学沟通技能。