MRI: Instrumentation for the Chemical and Biological Characterization of Factors Affecting the Distribution and Phytoremediation of Seagrasses in Coastal Bays and Estuaries

已向德克萨斯州农工大学科珀斯克里斯蒂分校的帕特里克拉金博士、柯克·卡玛拉塔博士、尤金·比略特博士、费里·比略特博士、帕特里克卢舒恩博士和马克·莫万特博士提供赠款，以购买仪器，研究影响德克萨斯州南部海湾沿着海草分布的环境因素。拟购置的仪器包括：（1）用于DNA测序和分子标记分析的遗传分析仪，（2）用于制备亚细胞组分、细胞器DNA、蛋白质和肽的超浓缩仪，（3）用于分析除草剂等环境污染物的毛细管电泳系统，有机金属化合物和无机离子，以及（4）用于制备用于分析的沉积物和植物组织的冷冻干燥器。这项研究的目标和范围将是1）评估分布，异质性和基因流之间的海草草甸沿着南德克萨斯州墨西哥湾沿岸; 2）推进我们的有机和金属污染物在我们独特的环境中的意义的理解;和3）开发植物为基础的系统（或缩影），可以专门解毒污染物在土壤或水。研究将包括分析海草物种（盐藻、盐藻、丝状聚球藻、龟海藻和海蔓藻）的遗传多样性和受农业、娱乐和工业活动高度影响的种群之间的基因流动。 将通过开发分子标记、直接DNA测序和统计分析来进行遗传多样性分析。 将对海草和相关水生植物进行研究，以评估其对环境污染物的生物累积和/或解毒能力。 特别是，机理研究将利用毛细管电泳技术来表征研究植物中相关螯合剂的发生。 待鉴定和定量的参数包括金属浓度、有机酸、氨基酸、植物螯合素和转运蛋白。 我们还希望研究如何植物和海草，特别是，响应/去除有机污染物，因为这样的污染物存在沿着得克萨斯州墨西哥湾沿岸的独特环境。 我们希望：1）量化水生/湿地植物组织中的疏水性有机碳（HOC），以确定分配和生物命运，以及2）比较各种植物根际与非根际沉积物中的HOC。我们的研究建议回答许多问题，有关栖息地的要求，潜在的污染植物修复机制和遗传学的重要性，海草和相关的水生植物床的保护，繁殖和建立。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Patrick Larkin, Dr. Kirk Cammarata, Dr. Eugene Billiot, Dr. Feri Billiot, Dr. Patrick Louchouarn and Dr. Mark Morvant at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to Acquire instrumentation to study the environmental factors affecting the distribution of seagrasses along the south Texas Gulf coast. The instruments to be acquired include (1) a genetic analyzer for DNA sequencing and molecular marker analysis, (2) an ultracentrifuge for the preparation of subcellular fractions, organelle DNA, proteins and peptides (3) a capillary electrophoresis system for the analysis of environmental pollutants such as herbicides, organometallic compounds and inorganic ions and (4) a freeze dryer for the preparation of sediment and plant tissues for analysis. The goals and scope of this research will be to 1) assess the distribution, heterogeneity and flow of genes among seagrass meadows along the south Texas gulf coast; 2) advance our understanding of the significance of organic and metal pollutants in our unique environment; and 3) develop plant-based systems (or microcosms) which can specifically detoxify contaminants in soil or water. Studies will include the analysis of seagrass species (Halodule beaudetteii, Halophila engelmannii, Cymodocea filiformis, Thalassia testudinum, and Ruppia maritima) for genetic diversity and gene flow among populations highly impacted by agricultural, recreational and industrial activity. Analysis of genetic diversity will be undertaken by the development of molecular markers, direct DNA sequencing and statistical analysis. Seagrasses and associated aquatic plants will be studied to assess their ability for the bioaccumulation and/or detoxification of environmental contaminants. In particular, mechanistic studies will utilize capillary electrophoresis technology to characterize the occurrence of relevant chelators in study plants. Parameters to be identified and quantified include metal concentrations, organic acids, amino acids, phytochelatins, and transport proteins. We also wish to study how plants and seagrasses in particular, respond to/remove organic pollutants, since a number of such contaminants exist along the Texas gulf coast's unique environment. We would like to: 1) quantify hydrophobic organic carbons (HOC's) in aquatic/wetland plant tissues to determine partitioning and biological fate, and 2) compare HOCs in rhizosphere vs. non-rhizosphere sediments for various plants. Our research proposes to answer many questions concerning habitat requirements, potential mechanisms of pollutant phytoremediation and the importance of genetics for conservation, propagation and establishment of seagrass and associated aquatic plant beds.