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）如何影响不同生态系统中的种群和社区动态的何时，何时何地，以及如何影响生态学的人群和社区动态。持续的现场观测和实验对于测试和推进生态理论至关重要。为了改善人们对种群，社区和生态系统如何应对累积效应或随机事件的预测（干扰）；并为保护生物多样性的可行策略，恢复退化的栖息地并管理全球和地方气候变化的意外后果。 在过去的25年中，我的研究计划着重于揭示山地和高纬度陆地环境中植物 - 毒素气候相互作用的一些关键方面。在这些生态系统中，预计变暖的效果将是放大器，这些变化的影响将导致新的条件与当前状态相似。向这种“新常态”的过渡似乎是由于减少的冰雪而驱动的，并且会带来深远的后果。我在SFU的研究小组和合作者的扩展网络都采用了一种跨学科方法来研究植物 - 养生可查气候相互作用的动态。我的研究计划的主要焦点研究领域位于育空西南部的山区，该地区继续经历快速变暖。这项研究是与一个学生，大学和政府科学家以及北方合作伙伴合作进行的。这些生态系统在我的研究中具有许多优势，因为：大多数生物学活动发生在短时间的夏季；许多物种可以在生态相关的尺度上进行研究和操纵。生态理论可以沿陡峭的生态梯度进行测试。全球变化模型（和数据）表明，一些最大的响应将发生在更高的海拔。 在此提案中，我确定了重点介绍以下优先级的新研究活动：（1）确定气候，资源可用性，竞争和预测风险的差异如何影响育空物种边缘的行为，人口统计学和领取皮卡的行为，人口统计和分布； （2）确定过程会影响北极中草食动物多样性和保护的热点； （3）确定营养相互作用的强度如何沿着海拔梯度变化； 4）维持西南育空地区气象，羊水和生态变量的长期测量，以确定气候对北山环境中生态变化速率和轨迹的影响。在这项新的NSERC Discovery Grant的五年中，我的研究计划将为2个PDF，2名博士学位和3名MSC学生，至少8-10名本科生以及我们与当地社区（包括Yukon First Nation社区）的青年提供培训。