Microbial Observatories: Anaerobic Bacteria and Methanogens in Northern Peatland Ecosystems

微生物观测站：北部泥炭地生态系统中的厌氧细菌和产甲烷菌

• 批准号: 0132049
• 负责人: Joseph Yavitt
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Cornell Univ - State: AWDS MADE PRIOR MAY 2010
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-01-15 至 2007-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0132049&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Microbial; Observatories; Anaerobic; Bacteria; Methanogens

A grant has been awarded to Drs. Joseph B. Yavitt and Stephen H. Zinder at Cornell University to establish a microbial observatory to study the microorganisms that produce methane and decompose organic matter in northern, peat-forming wetland ecosystems. Although northern peatland ecosystems are significant sources of methane, an important greenhouse gas in the Earth's atmosphere, almost nothing is known about the microbes that produce methane (methanogens) in peatlands or about other anaerobes (organisms living without oxygen) that decompose organic matter to compounds used by methanogens. Because northern peatlands are characterized by low nutrient availability and acidic conditions, Drs. Yavitt and Zinder will concentrate on acid-tolerant bacteria. They will study three contrasting sites in central New York State in which their preliminary work suggests a rich diversity of as yet uncultivated methanogens. Molecular biological techniques will be used to further characterize the microbial populations at these sites, and methods will be systematically developed for culturing methanogens and culturing other anaerobes using organic compounds of particular importance in peatlands. Of particular interest will be the highly acidic McLean Bog site with a pH near 3.6.These studies will increase our understanding of microbial diversity and physiology; moreover, some of the acid-tolerant organisms obtained may have biotechnological uses. The microbiological studies will be integrated with biogeochemical studies on carbon flow to methane at the sites, and on methane flux to the atmosphere. As a result, we will be better able to predict how microbial populations in peatlands function and, in particular, how methane production will respond to changing environmental conditions, which will greatly improve our ability to forecast trends in atmospheric methane concentrations. Results of the project will be conveyed to the public through written documents, an internet web site developed and maintained by students, and visits by students to comparable sites in Canada and Europe.

已向博士授予了赠款。康奈尔大学的约瑟夫·B·耶维特（Joseph B. Yavitt）和斯蒂芬·H·辛德（Stephen H.尽管北部泥炭地生态系统是甲烷的重要来源，这是地球大气中的重要温室气体，但几乎没有什么了解的微生物在泥炭地产生甲烷（甲烷剂）或其他厌氧菌（无氧生存的生物体）将有机物质分解为甲烷毒素的化合物。因为北部的泥炭地的特征是养分较低和酸性状况。 Yavitt和Zinder将集中在耐酸细菌上。他们将研究纽约州中部的三个对比地点，他们的初步工作暗示了尚未养殖的甲烷剂的丰富多样性。分子生物学技术将用于进一步表征这些位点的微生物种群，并将系统地开发出用于使用泥炭地中特别重要的有机化合物培养甲烷剂和培养其他厌氧菌的方法。特别有趣的是高度酸性的麦克莱恩沼泽部位，pH值接近3.6。这些研究将增加我们对微生物多样性和生理学的理解。此外，获得的一些耐酸生物可能具有生物技术用途。微生物学研究将与生物地球化学研究有关，该研究对碳流向甲烷的位置以及甲烷通量到大气中的通量。结果，我们将能够更好地预测泥炭地功能中的微生物种群，尤其是甲烷产生将如何响应不断变化的环境条件，这将大大提高我们预测大气中甲烷浓度的趋势的能力。该项目的结果将通过书面文档，学生开发和维护的互联网网站以及学生访问加拿大和欧洲的可比较地点。