Investigating the role of organic nutrient resources in controlling biodiversity and production in freshwater ecosystems

研究有机营养物资源在控制淡水生态系统生物多样性和生产中的作用

• 批准号: 2886185
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Lancaster University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2886185
• 关键词: Investigating; role; organic; nutrient; resources

The value of the ecosystem services derived from fresh waters by human society exceeds all other inland ecosystems on a per unit area basis. Despite their environmental, economic and social value, rivers, lakes and wetlands are subject to unprecedented threats. Nutrient enrichment is among the most significant stressors within freshwater ecosystems. Current understanding of this stressor is largely constrained to the role of inorganic nutrient resources (i.e. phosphate, nitrate or ammonium) for primary production or the frequency and intensity of harmful algal blooms. However, the importance of the wide range of organic nutrient compounds found in fresh waters (e.g. proteins, nucleic or amino acids, phospholipids, etc) for the structure and function of these ecosystems remains highly uncertain. Research to address this uncertainty is urgently required for three primary reasons: i) the concentration of organic nutrient compounds is increasing in many fresh waters, driven by multiple factors including climate change and land management; ii) organic nutrient resources can dominate total nutrient availability, particularly in highly sensitive low nutrient systems where inorganic nutrient resources are limited; and iii) organic nutrient resources may continue to be significant even in nutrient-enriched systems, due to their stoichiometry and incorporation of critical elements such as carbon. In this context, the overarching aim of this project is to significantly advance understanding of the control exerted by organic nutrient resources on the biodiversity and primary production of fresh waters. The project will deliver new, fundamental understanding of the mechanisms controlling growth and community dynamics within the benthos of river ecosystems. This understanding will make critical contributions to the design and implementation of appropriate management strategies to conserve and restore fresh waters. The potential for significant impact from the project is evidenced by strong commitment and funding for the research from two regionally- and nationally-significant Case/project partners.

人类社会源自新鲜水域的生态系统服务的价值超过了所有其他内陆生态系统。尽管它们具有环境，经济和社会价值，但河流，湖泊和湿地仍受到前所未有的威胁。营养富集是淡水生态系统中最重要的压力源之一。当前对这种应激源的理解在很大程度上限制在非有机营养资源（即磷酸盐，硝酸盐或铵）中的作用，或者是有害藻类开花的频率和强度。然而，在新鲜水域（例如蛋白质，核或氨基酸，磷脂等）中发现的各种有机养分化合物的重要性对于这些生态系统的结构和功能仍然高度不确定。迫切需要解决这种不确定性的研究，这是出于三个主要原因：i）在许多新鲜水域中，有机养分化合物的浓度正在增加，其中包括多种因素，包括气候变化和土地管理； ii）有机养分资源可以主导总营养物质，尤其是在高度敏感的低营养系统中，无机养分资源受到限制； iii）由于化学计量和关键因素（例如碳）的结合，有机营养资源即使在富含养分的系统中也可能仍然很大。在这种情况下，该项目的总体目的是显着提高对有机养分资源对生物多样性和主要生产新鲜水的控制的控制。该项目将对控制河流生态系统底座内增长和社区动态的机制提供新的基本理解。这种理解将为设计和实施适当的管理策略做出重要贡献，以保护和恢复新鲜的水。来自两个地区和全国范围内的案件/项目伙伴的研究的坚定承诺和资金证明了该项目对项目产生重大影响的潜力。