Ecological interactions in high places: patterns, processes and consequences

高处的生态相互作用：模式、过程和后果

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-05474
• 负责人: Hik, David
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: Simon Fraser University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=717325
• 关键词: Ecological; interactions; places; patterns; processes

Determining when, where and how species interactions, resource availability, and abiotic factors (e.g. weather/climate) influence population and community dynamics in different ecosystems remains one of the great challenges in ecology. Sustained field observations and experiments are essential for testing and advancing ecological theory; for improving predictions about how populations, communities and ecosystems respond to cumulative effects or stochastic events (disturbance); and for developing viable strategies for conserving biodiversity, restoring degraded habitats and managing the unexpected consequences of global and local climate change. Over the past 25-years my research program has focused on unraveling some key aspects of plant-herbivore-climate interactions in mountain and high latitude terrestrial environments. In these ecosystems, the effects of warming are expected to be amplified and the impacts of these changes will lead to new conditions that will not resemble current states. The transition to this “new normal” appears to be driven by reduced ice and snow, and will have far-reaching consequences. Both my research group at SFU and extended networks of collaborators have adopted an interdisciplinary approach to studying the dynamics of plant-herbivore-climate interactions. The primary focal study areas for my research program are located in the mountains of the southwest Yukon, a region that continues to experience rapid warming. This research has been conducted in collaboration with a diverse group of students, university and government scientists, and northern partners. These ecosystems have many advantages for my research because: most biological activity occurs during a short summer; many species can be studied and manipulated at ecologically relevant scales; ecological theory can be tested along steep ecological gradients; and global change models (and data) indicate that some of the largest responses will occur at higher elevation. In this proposal, I identify new research activities focused on the following priorities: (1) determine how variation in the effects of climate, resource availability, competition and predation risk affect the behaviour, demography and distribution of collared pikas at the edge of the species range in Yukon; (2) identify processes influencing hotspots of herbivore diversity and conservation in the Arctic; (3) determine how the strength of trophic interactions change along elevational gradients; and 4) sustain long-term measurements of meteorological, limnological and ecological variables in southwest Yukon, to determine the influence of climate on rates and trajectory of ecological change in northern mountains environments. Over the five years of this new NSERC Discovery Grant my research program will provide training for 2 PDFs, 2 PhD and 3 MSc students, at least 8-10 undergraduates, as well as youth from the local communities (including Yukon First Nation communities) that we work with.

确定物种相互作用、资源可用性和非生物因素（例如天气/气候）何时、何地以及如何影响不同生态系统中的种群和群落动态仍然是生态学中的巨大挑战之一，这对于测试和推进生态学至关重要。理论；改进对人口、社区和生态系统如何应对累积效应或随机事件（干扰）的预测；以及保护生物多样性、恢复退化的栖息地和管理全球发展和当地的意外后果的可行战略；气候变化。 在过去的 25 年里，我的研究项目专注于揭示山区和高纬度陆地环境中植物-草食动物-气候相互作用的一些关键方面，在这些生态系统中，变暖的影响预计会被放大，而这些变化的影响也会更大。将导致与当前状态不同的新情况。向这种“新常态”的过渡似乎是由冰雪减少推动的，并将产生深远的影响。我的研究项目的主要重点研究区域位于育空地区西南部的山区，该地区持续经历快速变暖。这些生态系统对我的研究有很多优势，因为：大多数生物活动发生在短暂的夏季；可以在生态相关的情况下研究和操纵许多物种。生态理论可以是沿着测试的陡峭生态梯度；全球变化模型（和数据）表明，一些最大的反应将发生在更高的海拔处。 在本提案中，我确定了新的研究活动，重点关注以下优先事项：（1）确定气候、资源可用性、竞争和捕食风险的影响变化如何影响物种边缘的项圈鼠兔的行为、人口统计和分布育空地区的范围；（2）确定影响北极食草动物多样性和保护的热点的过程；（3）确定营养相互作用的强度如何沿海拔梯度变化；以及育空地区西南部的湖泊学和生态变量，以确定气候对北部山区环境生态变化的速率和轨迹的影响 在这项新的 NSERC 发现资助的五年中，我的研究计划将为 2 个 PDF、2 个博士和 3 个提供培训。硕士生、至少 8-10 名本科生，以及来自与我们合作的当地社区（包括育空原住民社区）的年轻人。