Reproduction and dispersal strategies in extreme environments: insights into persistence and shifts in marine biodiversity

极端环境中的繁殖和扩散策略：深入了解海洋生物多样性的持久性和变化

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-07018
• 负责人: Mercier, Annie
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: Memorial University of Newfoundland
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=761577
• 关键词: Reproduction; dispersal; strategies; extreme; environments

The long-term objective of my research program is to clarify the drivers and adaptive significance of breeding and dispersal strategies in cold-water and deep-sea benthic animals, in the context of a changing ocean. Life-history events are explored from the perspectives of chronobiology (relation between biological activity and time), phenology (relation between periodic events and climatic conditions) and evolutionary biology (adaptive benefits of life-history strategies). We recently demonstrated lunar mass-spawning events in 24 boreal species belonging to 6 phyla, as well as seasonal and lunar breeding cycles in deep-sea species exposed to weak environmental variability. We also assessed the underpinnings and significance of lecithotrophy/oviparity (maternally provisioned propagules) on the continuum between planktotrophy (externally feeding propagules) and matrotrophy/viviparity (live bearing). Currently proposed advantages of rhythmic reproductive events cannot fully explain why so many species release progeny in sync, irrespective of reproductive strategies, depth or region. Moreover, historical predictions made about gradients of non-pelagic development and pelagic lecithotrophy towards the deep sea and the poles (e.g. Thorson's rule) have been both supported and challenged, calling for further study of the selective pressures at play. Extending my research program into the Arctic for this funding cycle follows a twofold premise. (1) It complements our studies along subarctic coasts and in the deep sea (representing marked and weakly seasonal environments, respectively), and allows us to test hypotheses related to photoperiod (high latitude, seasonal ice cover) and food availability (unique primary production) using the same or closely related taxa. (2) Marine species are expected to shift their distributions towards the Arctic in the face of climate change, while pressures on this environment (ocean warming, shipping and mining activities) increase, stressing the need to understand local life-history strategies to predict impacts on biodiversity. The short-term objectives are to identify (i) intra and interspecific spatial dynamics related to reproductive strategies; (ii) sources and cycles of energy storage and reproductive investment; and (iii) drivers of breeding periodicities in Arctic benthic taxa (echinoderms, cnidarians, mollusks).  Identifying drivers of breeding and dispersal strategies in Arctic marine taxa will provide insight into shifting biodiversity and distribution patterns, and assist management strategies supporting food security in Canada's northernmost communities. The interdisciplinary context of the proposed program provides opportunities for significant discoveries and for training HQPs (including Indigenous scientists) in a variety of tools and techniques inside a collaborative environment.

我的研究计划的长期目标是在不断变化的海洋中阐明冷水和深海底栖动物中繁殖和分散策略的驱动因素和适应性意义。从时间生物学的角度（生物活动与时间之间的关系），物候学（周期性事件与气候条件之间的关系）和进化生物学（生命历史策略的适应性益处），探索了生活历史事件。我们最近在属于6个门的24种北方物种中展示了月球质量产生事件，以及暴露于弱环境变异性的深海物种中的季节性和月球繁殖周期。我们还评估了在浮游植物（外部喂养的繁殖体）和增生/体内（活体植物（活体轴承））之间的连续性（生物营养繁殖）上的基础和意义。目前提出的节奏生殖事件的优势无法完全解释为什么这么多物种在同步中释放进展，而与生殖策略，深度或地区无关。此外，对深海和波兰人（例如，索尔森的统治）的非螺旋发育和骨植物的梯度的历史预测得到了支持和挑战，呼吁进一步研究选择性的压力。将我的研究计划扩展到该资金周期的北极，这是两个前提的。 （1）它符合我们沿亚北极科斯塔斯和深海（分别代表季节性环境和季节性弱的环境）的研究，并允许我们使用相同或密切相关的分类来测试与光周期（高纬度，季节性冰覆盖）和食品可用性（季节性冰覆盖）和食品可用性（独特的初级生产）相关的假设。 （2）在面对气候变化的情况下，海洋物种有望将其分布向北极转移，而这种环境的压力（海洋变暖，运输和采矿活动）则增加，强调需要了解当地的生活历史悠久的策略，以预测对生物多样性的影响。短期目标是确定（i）与生殖策略有关的（i）内部和种间空间动力学； （ii）能源存储和生殖投资的来源和周期； （iii）北极底栖类群繁殖周期的驱动因素（棘皮动物，cnidarians，mollusks）。确定北极海洋分类群中繁殖和分散策略的驱动因素将提供有关改变生物多样性和分配模式的洞察力，并协助支持加拿大最北社区粮食安全的管理策略。拟议计划的跨学科背景为大量发现和培训HQP（包括本地科学家）提供了机会，以协作环境中的各种工具和技术。