| NSF Org: |
OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | September 23, 2010 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | September 17, 2012 |
| Award Number: | 1030453 |
| Award Instrument: | Continuing Grant |
| Program Manager: |
David Garrison
OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | October 1, 2010 |
| End Date: | September 30, 2016 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $610,720.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $610,720.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2011 = $115,676.00 FY 2012 = $246,525.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1776 E 13TH AVE EUGENE OR US 97403-1905 (541)346-5131 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
1776 E 13TH AVE EUGENE OR US 97403-1905 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY |
| Primary Program Source: |
01001112DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01001213DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
Intellectual Merit. This project integrates studies of oceanographic circulation, larval dispersal, invertebrate life histories, population genetics, and phylogeography to explore questions of contemporary and historical connectivity in relatively unexplored deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems. Five deep-sea seep systems in the Intra- American Sea (IAS) are targeted: Blake Ridge, Florida Escarpment, Alaminos Canyon, Brine Pool, Barbados (El Pilar, Orenoque A, Orenoque B). This project will evaluate connectivity on spatial scales that match those at which vent systems are being studied (3500 km), with a set of nested seeps (within the Barbados system) within which connectivity can be explored at more local spatial scales (30 to 130 km), and with species that span depth (600 m to 3600 m) and geographic ranges (30 km to 3500 km) and that have diverse life-history characteristics. The primary objective is to advance our general knowledge of connectivity in the deep sea. The focus is on species and processes occurring in the IAS, with attention to oceanographic circulation, life histories, and genetics. Questions that apply in shallow-water systems motivate this study:
1. What phylogeographic breaks occur in the system? It is important to distinguish between phylogeographic history and connectivity. A phylogeographic break with no shared alleles between populations implies a long history of isolation or possibly cryptic speciation.
2. Are populations connected by ongoing migration? This is the fundamental question about connectivity and the scale of genetic variation in marine species with planktonic larvae.
3. What biophysical processes underlie observed connectivities? Biological processes (e.g., larval distributions in the water column, timing of reproduction, and planktonic larval duration) and physical processes of transport and dispersion interact to determine connectivity.
The oceanographic model for the IAS will be improved and coupled to a Lagrangian larval transport model. The field program includes time-series sampling of larvae at seeps with records of current velocities, water column sampling to determine larval distribution potential, shipboard studies of larval biology and behavior, and sampling of benthic target species. Phylogenetic and population genetic tools will be used to explore historical and contemporary gene flow. Iterative interactions among the science teams will advance our understanding of connectivity in the deep sea and to develop effective and best methods for hypothesis testing under the constraints of working in a relatively inaccessible environment. Since their discovery, deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems have been novel systems within which to test the generality of paradigms developed for shallow-water species. This study will explore scale-dependent biodiversity and recruitment dynamics in deep-sea seep communities, and will identify key factors underlying population persistence and maintenance of biodiversity in these patchy systems.
Broader Impacts. Building capacity (knowledge and expertise) in studying spatial and temporal scales of connectivity and the oceanographic and life-history processes that underlie genetic subdivision in the deep sea is critical in light of emergent policy regimes in both Exclusive Economic Zones and on the High Seas related to marine spatial planning. A seascape genetic approach will be adopted to advance beyond the state-of-the-art through inclusion of biophysical modeling, observations of larval biology and ecology, and a comprehensive suite of molecular tools. Results will be broadly disseminated to advance scientific understanding through peer-reviewed publications and will enhance the capacity to undertake coupled oceanographic-life history-genetic studies through (i) training of 6 graduate students and 1 post-doc, (ii) through incorporation of approaches and results in presentations at professional meetings and workshops, and (iii) through presentations and discussions seminars and classes for graduate and undergraduate students. Results of this work will be used to inform policymakers engaged in the design of deep-sea networks of marine reserves. In addition, two innovative activities will be undertaken: a field-oriented interdisciplinary deep-sea research course for advanced PhD students and post-docs, and an artist-in-residence at sea that enhance the broad impact of the research.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This project explored the mechanisms by which deep-sea animals move among isolated habitas using microscopic planktonic larvae. Methane seeps are localized areas where methane gas bubbles from the ocean floor. Many of the specialized animals living at these seeps are dependent on methane for their nutrition. Most of them reproduce by means of larval forms that migrate up into the water column to disperse and locate new habitats. We modeled the distances and directions that these larvae disperse to predict how populations throughout the western Atlantic might be connected genetically. The models required information on water currents as well as biological information about the larvae, including spawning time, larval duration, and the depths where larvae swim. Using opening-closing plankton nets (MOCNESS) and a newly developed plankton collector (SyPRID) deployed on the autonomous undersea vehicle Sentry, we collected more than 10,000 larvae from depths as great at 5000m from the southern Caribbean (Barbados), the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic continental margin. Larvae of bivalves and some other deep-sea animals were identified by genetic barcoding. We discovered that some seep molluscs are able to migrate all the way to the upper water column, where they may disperse for vast distances. Biophysical models incorporating ocean currents predicted that these larvae can disperse thousands of kilometers. For example, larvae from the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana can be carried around Florida and north in the Gulf Stream to colonize seeps off the Atlantic seaboard up to a year later. By contrast, larvae from the same area drifting near the sea floor disperse much shorter distances and in the opposite direction. Several new kinds of larval development were discovered. The spawning of bivalves was studied using thin sections of gonads from animals collected with the Alvin submersible. Mussels of three different species occurring at depths from 500m to 3000m all had similar egg sizes and similar patterns of gamete production.
Our study of larval dispersal among isolated habitats has practical implications for other isolated habitats in the deep sea, including hydrothermal vents and seamounts. The former are targeted for large-scale mining operations and the latter are threatened by deep-sea fishing and other human activities. Information from this project was disseminated through scientific publications, and to the public through a museum display at the Charleston Marine Life Center in Oregon. Websites show pictures of larval forms and describe the new SyPRID sampling system. Numerous college students were trained at sea in oceanographic work and larval biology.
Last Modified: 02/21/2017
Modified by: Craig M Young
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