LEXEN: Biodiversity of Microorganisms in Ancient Polar Ice

LEXEN：古代极地冰中微生物的生物多样性

• 批准号: 9808676
• 负责人: Scott Rogers
• 金额: $ 37.5万
• 依托单位: SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• 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: 1998-10-01 至 2001-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9808676&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: LEXEN; Biodiversity; Microorganisms; Ancient; Polar

ABSTRACTRogers, Scott9808676A surprising number and variety of microorganisms can be recovered from the interior of deep-core samples of polar ice in Greenland and Antarctica, perhaps dating back 250, 000 years. Although filamentous fungi, yeast, bacteria, and a plant virus have recently been detected in samples of this ancient ice--carefully protected from modern contaminants--systematic surveys of these cores for microbes have not been conducted These discoveries confirm the opinion that glacial (polar) ice is a natural air-sampling mechanism, which has trapped wind-transported microorganisms through geological epochs. These organisms (representing taxa that are endemic to the polar regions, as well as exotics from temperate and tropical regions) originated from aerosols generated by sea wave action, wind-borne pollen and soil particles, infected plant surfaces, and many other sources. Thus, glacial ice provides a unique global source of microorganisms that presents a view of both contemporary and ancient fungal, bacteria!, and viral diversity.The main goal of this work is to characterize microbial biodiversity within ancient communities of fungi, bacteria, and viruses for comparative studies with contemporary species. Specific objectives are to: identify and characterize endemic and exotic fungi, bacteria, and viruses entrapped in glacial ice; identify those in ice of the same age from both Greenland and Antarctica; and study phylogeny and longevity in selected persistent species. A potential objective of this study is to use the above profiles to compare the relative proportions of the various fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and to correlate these with environmental characteristics (climatic conditions, vulcanism, etc.) at each of the time points. Hypotheses to be tested are: First, viruses that infect humans, animals, plants, and bacteria are present and can be detected in polar ice. Second, identical fungi, bacteria, and viruses occur in ice of the same age from Greenland and Antarctica. Third, specific fungi, bacteria, and viruses (or their nucleic acids) persist in ice over long periods of time.Profiles of successively older ice strata from cores collected in Greenland and Antarctica will be utilized to test the hypotheses. The proposed temporal and spatial analyses will extend the assessment of microbial biodiversity to geologic timeframes. If identical microbial species can be detected in ice of similar age collected from both polar regions, as evidence of global distribution, they might then be utilized in subsequent studies as bioindicators of global changes in climate, and geologic and human activity. Thus, bipolar studies are essential. The protocols developed and tested may contribute to future searches for microorganisms in Martian polar ice or recently discovered lunar ice. Therefore, for comparative purposes it will be essential to know what microorganisms are present in ancient Earth ice.

摘要Rogers, Scott9808676 从格陵兰岛和南极洲的极地冰深核样本内部可以发现数量惊人、种类繁多的微生物，其历史可能可以追溯到 250, 000 年前。虽然最近在这种古老的冰样本中检测到了丝状真菌、酵母、细菌和植物病毒（小心地保护其免受现代污染物的影响），但尚未对这些核心的微生物进行系统调查。这些发现证实了这样的观点，即冰川（极地）冰是一种天然的空气采样机制，它在地质时代捕获了风传播的微生物。 These organisms (representing taxa that are endemic to the polar regions, as well as exotics from temperate and tropical regions) originated from aerosols generated by sea wave action, wind-borne pollen and soil particles, infected plant surfaces, and many other sources. Thus, glacial ice provides a unique global source of microorganisms that presents a view of both contemporary and ancient fungal, bacteria!, and viral diversity.The main goal of this work is to characterize microbial biodiversity within ancient communities of fungi, bacteria, and viruses for comparative studies with contemporary species.具体目标是： 识别和表征冰川冰中的地方性和外来真菌、细菌和病毒；识别来自格陵兰岛和南极洲的相同年龄的冰层；并研究选定持久性物种的系统发育和寿命。 A potential objective of this study is to use the above profiles to compare the relative proportions of the various fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and to correlate these with environmental characteristics (climatic conditions, vulcanism, etc.) at each of the time points.需要检验的假设是：首先，感染人类、动物、植物和细菌的病毒存在并且可以在极地冰中检测到。其次，相同的真菌、细菌和病毒存在于格陵兰岛和南极洲相同年龄的冰中。 Third, specific fungi, bacteria, and viruses (or their nucleic acids) persist in ice over long periods of time.Profiles of successively older ice strata from cores collected in Greenland and Antarctica will be utilized to test the hypotheses. 拟议的时间和空间分析将把微生物生物多样性的评估扩展到地质时间范围。 If identical microbial species can be detected in ice of similar age collected from both polar regions, as evidence of global distribution, they might then be utilized in subsequent studies as bioindicators of global changes in climate, and geologic and human activity. Thus, bipolar studies are essential.开发和测试的协议可能有助于未来在火星极地冰或最近发现的月球冰中寻找微生物。因此，出于比较目的，有必要了解古代地球冰中存在哪些微生物。