LEXEN: Collaborative Research: Microbial Life within the Extreme Environment Posed by Permanent Antarctic Lake Ice

LEXEN：合作研究：永久南极湖冰造成的极端环境中的微生物生命

• 批准号: 9714339
• 负责人: Christian Fritsen
• 金额: $ 48.88万
• 依托单位: Montana State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-08-01 至 2001-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9714339&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: LEXEN; Collaborative; Research; Microbial; Life

*** Fristsen 9714339 Three to twenty meter thick permanent ice covers on lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctic contain viable microbial cells in association with sediment aggregates. These aggregates are now recognized as sites where physical, chemical and biological interactions promote microbial growth under extreme conditions inherent to the ice environment. This interdisciplinary research program will define specific processes which allow (1) the creation of liquid water (the essential element for life) in the permanent ice, (2) the survival and structuring of microbial populations subjected to freezing and thawing, (3) the production of substances which alter the physical attributes of the ice crystal habitat and (4) nutrient supply to the microbial populations which is essential for not only survival, but net microbial growth and biomass accumulation. The work will be on ice aggregates embedded within the permanent ice covers on the lakes in the Taylor Valley which have been tentatively characterized in previous studies. Research on microbes in permanent ice provides information on the ecology of microbes in ice ecosystems and promises to have biotechnological implications. Furthermore, these studies will provide insights into the conditions which support or have supported life beyond our own planet in association with water ice which is currently present within and beyond our own solar system. ***

* 弗里斯特森9714339 南极洲麦克默多干谷湖泊上3 ~ 20米厚的永久性冰盖含有与沉积物聚集体相关的活微生物细胞。这些聚集体现在被认为是在冰环境固有的极端条件下物理、化学和生物相互作用促进微生物生长的场所。这一跨学科的研究计划将确定具体的过程，使（1）创造液态水（生命的基本要素），（2）经历冻融的微生物种群的生存和结构，（3）改变冰晶生境的物理属性的物质的产生，以及（4）为微生物种群提供营养，这不仅是生存所必需的，而且是微生物净生长和生物量积累所必需的。这项工作将是在泰勒谷的湖泊上的永久冰盖内嵌入的冰聚集体，这在以前的研究中已经初步确定。对永久冰中微生物的研究提供了冰生态系统中微生物生态学的信息，并有望产生生物技术影响。此外，这些研究将提供对支持或曾经支持我们地球以外生命的条件的深入了解，这些条件与目前存在于我们太阳系内外的水冰有关。 ***