LExEn: Geochemical Constraints on the Ecology of the Deep Lineages Within the Bacteria and Archaea

LExEn：细菌和古细菌深层谱系生态学的地球化学约束

• 批准号: 9817730
• 负责人: Everett Shock
• 金额: $ 14.97万
• 依托单位: Washington 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: 1998-10-01 至 2001-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9817730&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: LExEn; Geochemical; Constraints; Ecology; Deep

Reysenbach/Shock Studies over the past decade have revealed that life may have penetrated every possible niche where there is an exploitable source of energy. Moreover, life is a major geochemical force which apparently has effects over a wider range of environments than previously appreciated. Extreme environments such as those at high temperature hydrothermal vents offer a good example to the extent to which geochemistry can control or influence the distribution and physiology of microorganisms, and the extent to which the organisms can transform their geochemical environment. An integrated interdisciplinary approach is proposed using a combination of molecular ecological tools, biogeochemical measurements and standard microbiological methods to determine the community and geochemical dynamics in these ecosystems. Specifically, the objective of the study is to establish how deeply branching lineage of the Archea and Bacteria in high temperature ecosystems transform their geochemical environments. Field work will be conducted in Yellowstone National Park. Detailed geochemical and biological analyses along the temperature gradients will provide the framework for addressing specific questions regarding the growth and physiology of the members of the communities. The results of this study will provide a much needed baseline of ecological and geochemical data, and offer quantitative models of the geochemical bioenergetics associated with these high temperature ecosystems. With the elucidation of the key biogeochemical parameters it should be possible to predict the factors that determine the distribution, dynamics, and growth requirements of the deepest lineages within the Archea and Bacteria. Furthermore, this study will challenge our perspective of biogeochemical and microbiological processes, theories on the origins of life and provide predictions about life forms that may exist on other planets.

雷森巴赫/休克过去十年的研究表明，生命可能已经渗透到每一个可能存在可利用能源的生态位。此外，生命是一种主要的地球化学力量，它对环境的影响显然比以前想象的更广泛。高温热液喷口等极端环境提供了一个很好的例子，说明地球化学可以在多大程度上控制或影响微生物的分布和生理学，以及生物体可以在多大程度上改变其地球化学环境。提出了一种综合的跨学科方法，结合分子生态工具、生物地球化学测量和标准微生物学方法来确定这些生态系统中的群落和地球化学动态。具体来说，该研究的目的是确定高温生态系统中古细菌和细菌的分支谱系如何改变其地球化学环境。实地工作将在黄石国家公园进行。沿温度梯度的详细地球化学和生物分析将为解决有关群落成员的生长和生理学的具体问题提供框架。这项研究的结果将提供急需的生态和地球化学数据基线，并提供与这些高温生态系统相关的地球化学生物能学的定量模型。通过阐明关键的生物地球化学参数，应该可以预测决定古细菌和细菌最深层谱系的分布、动态和生长要求的因素。此外，这项研究将挑战我们对生物地球化学和微生物过程、生命起源理论的看法，并提供对其他行星上可能存在的生命形式的预测。