Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-02669, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Gray, Derek (Wilfrid Laurier University), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Ontario, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Discovery Grants Program - Individual, program name french : Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles, program purpose english : In an era of environmental change, the need to understand the factors that shape the distribution and abundance of organisms on our planet is of paramount importance. At a local scale, community composition can be influenced by both the characteristics of the local habitat, as well as by biological processes such as competition and predation. At the regional scale, rates of species dispersal and the composition of the regional species pool can determine which species are available to colonize local habitats. Incorporating information on the role of regional factors is important for evaluating how communities might respond to environmental change, as dispersal rates can influence the speed at which a species range shifts, as well as the rate at which species can evolve in response to changes in their environment (through the intake of new alleles to a population). 
 
Freshwater zooplankton are part of clearly delineated local communities that are linked to larger metacommunities via dispersal across inhospitable terrestrial landscapes. The strength of the links among zooplankton communities is vigorously debated in the literature, with some studies demonstrating high dispersal levels and others indicating very low levels. The uncertainty about zooplankton dispersal rates makes it difficult to predict how zooplankton communities will respond to a changing environment. In this proposal, I describe a research program that will examine how local and regional factors influence the response of zooplankton communities to environmental change . The proposal has three short-term objectives: 
 
1. Evaluate how dispersal and evolution together impact zooplankton community responses to a changing environment : We will use resurrection ecology and population genetics to examine the importance of dispersal and evolutionary processes as zooplankton responded to past changes in salinity levels in lakes on the Great Plains. 
2. Develop a mechanistic understanding of the role played by Allee effects for zooplankton communities impacted by an environmental stressor: We will use mate-finding models and behavioral studies to determine if the Allee effect is a significant barrier to the successful recovery of zooplankton communities after a disturbance. 
3. Examine the response of zooplankton communities to rapidly changing conditions in northern Canada: We will use a combination of field surveys and manipulative experiments to evaluate the potential impacts of melting permafrost on zooplankton in northern lakes. 
 
This research program will provide answers to key fundamental and applied questions necessary to understand the response of aquatic ecosystems to stressors, and will provide data needed to develop management plans and adaptation efforts in those regions of Canada most affected by environmental change., program purpose french : In an era of environmental change, the need to understand the factors that shape the distribution and abundance of organisms on our planet is of paramount importance. At a local scale, community composition can be influenced by both the characteristics of the local habitat, as well as by biological processes such as competition and predation. At the regional scale, rates of species dispersal and the composition of the regional species pool can determine which species are available to colonize local habitats. Incorporating information on the role of regional factors is important for evaluating how communities might respond to environmental change, as dispersal rates can influence the speed at which a species range shifts, as well as the rate at which species can evolve in response to changes in their environment (through the intake of new alleles to a population). 
 
Freshwater zooplankton are part of clearly delineated local communities that are linked to larger metacommunities via dispersal across inhospitable terrestrial landscapes. The strength of the links among zooplankton communities is vigorously debated in the literature, with some studies demonstrating high dispersal levels and others indicating very low levels. The uncertainty about zooplankton dispersal rates makes it difficult to predict how zooplankton communities will respond to a changing environment. In this proposal, I describe a research program that will examine how local and regional factors influence the response of zooplankton communities to environmental change . The proposal has three short-term objectives: 
 
1. Evaluate how dispersal and evolution together impact zooplankton community responses to a changing environment : We will use resurrection ecology and population genetics to examine the importance of dispersal and evolutionary processes as zooplankton responded to past changes in salinity levels in lakes on the Great Plains. 
2. Develop a mechanistic understanding of the role played by Allee effects for zooplankton communities impacted by an environmental stressor: We will use mate-finding models and behavioral studies to determine if the Allee effect is a significant barrier to the successful recovery of zooplankton communities after a disturbance. 
3. Examine the response of zooplankton communities to rapidly changing conditions in northern Canada: We will use a combination of field surveys and manipulative experiments to evaluate the potential impacts of melting permafrost on zooplankton in northern lakes. 
 
This research program will provide answers to key fundamental and applied questions necessary to understand the response of aquatic ecosystems to stressors, and will provide data needed to develop management plans and adaptation efforts in those regions of Canada most affected by environmental change., agreement title english : Understanding zooplankton community responses to stressors in an era of environmental change, agreement title french : Understanding zooplankton community responses to stressors in an era of environmental change, agreement number : RGPIN, agreement value : 129940.0, agreement start date : 2017-05-10, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2022-2023), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2022-2023), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada