The NEXUS: unlocking the black box of larval dispersal

• Applicant: Gerrit Nanninga, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Sensory and Behavioural Biology ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
• Term: from 2015 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 278878763

Despite its vital role in species evolution, population dynamics, and the resilience of species towards global change, the process of larval dispersal in marine meta-systems remains poorly understood. Due to the inherent difficulty of testing explicit hypotheses about dispersal theory, we are still lacking critical insights into the internal and external causes and consequences of larval dispersal. To overcome these hurdles, we propose the development of an experimental infrastructure, the Nexus, composed of 16 modular, interconnected aquarium tanks, designed to study larval movements as a model of dispersal. We aim to use this framework to investigate fundamental issues in dispersal theory that, up to this point, have been difficult to assess: (1) Do specific marine organisms exhibit condition-dependent dispersal strategies? (2) If so, how does the interaction of phenotype and environment affect dispersal behaviours (context-dependence)? (3) How does ocean acidification affect condition- and context-dependent dispersal in offspring via parental effects? In the face of rapid global change, overfishing, and habitat degradation, these are timely issues to address. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms regulating larval dispersal will further result in enhanced predictive models of population connectivity. The innovative framework of the Nexus will facilitate the holistic assessment and controlled manipulation of the entire dispersal process, from emigration to post-settlement selection, thereby paving the way for novel research avenues in aquatic dispersal ecology. The experimental framework is intended to be developed at Curtin University, Australia, which offers the ideal infrastructure and unmatched expertise for the intended project. The long-term goal is to establish the Nexus as a research tool in the German scientific community to advance the global standing of the European Union in the field of marine connectivity research. The Nexus will provide researchers with a high level of experimental flexibility and control to address key issues in spatial meta-community ecology.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Australia, United Kingdom
• Hosts: Professor Andrea Manica, Ph.D.; Professorin Jennifer McIlwain, Ph.D.