A Taxonomic Inventory of Marine Invertebrate-associated Microbes from the Microbial Culture Collection of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution

DEB-0103668何塞·洛佩兹彼得·麦卡锡朱莉·奥尔森一笔赠款已授予港口海洋研究所（HBOI）分支的何塞·洛佩斯、彼得·麦卡锡和朱莉·奥尔森博士，用于对HBOI微生物培养物收藏中所含的深水海洋微生物进行分类调查和清点。 收集的大约9000种微生物是从深水海洋无脊椎动物（主要是海绵）中分离出来的。该项目将使用描述性和分子遗传学技术相结合的方法调查大约一半的标本，通过因特网提供这些信息，建立一个港口海洋微生物数据库（HBMMD）分支和专业科学出版物，并将所获得的知识应用于检查保存的宿主无脊椎动物标本的遗传多样性。海洋无脊椎动物的微生物群落通常被认为因宿主动物的种类、地理位置和水深而异，但对海洋微生物的生物学和遗传多样性知之甚少。 由于进入深水环境的固有困难，对深水海洋微生物的了解甚至更少。迫切需要研究海洋生态系统的多样性，因为海洋生态系统正受到旅游业、娱乐用途、营养物超载和海洋普遍变暖的日益严重的威胁。 了解仍然相对健康的海洋生态系统中生物多样性的平衡将提高我们管理和保护它们的能力，为恢复类似但不太健康的海洋系统提出可能的目标，并有助于促进对微生物生态系统的更大的全球赞赏。

DEB-0103668Jose LopezPeter McCarthyJulie OlsenA grant has been awarded to Drs. Jose Lopez, Peter McCarthy, and Julie Olson at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) to perform a taxonomic survey and inventory of deeper water marine microorganisms contained in HBOI's microbial culture collection. The approximately 9000 microorganisms within the collection were isolated from deep-water marine invertebrates (primarily sponges). This project will survey about half of the collection using a combination of descriptive and molecular genetic techniques, provide access to this information via the Internet, creation of a Harbor Branch Marine Microbe Database (HBMMD) and professional scientific publications, and apply the knowledge gained to examinations of the genetic diversity within preserved specimens of the host invertebrates. It is thought that the microbial communities associated with marine invertebrates will differ with the species of host invertebrate, geographic location, and water depth.Little is known about the biological and genetic diversity of marine microorganisms. Due to the inherent difficulties associated with gaining access to deep-water environments, even less is known about deeper water marine microbes. There is an urgent need to study the diversity of marine ecosystems, which are under increasing threats caused by tourism, recreational use, nutrient overload, and general ocean warming. Understanding the balance of biodiversity in marine ecosystems which are still relatively healthy will enhance our ability to manage and conserve them, suggest possible goals in the restoration of similar but less healthy marine systems, and help to foster a greater global appreciation of microbial ecosystems.