Instrumentation for the Enhancement of DRI's Microbial Ecology Education and Research (MEER) Programs

拟议的仪器采购的目标是加强分析能力，并有利于极端环境中微生物生态领域正在进行的和未来的研究。这些仪器提供的能力将有助于将陆地、水文和大气研究整合到PIS的大学系统中，解决与微生物生态相关的环境问题，并加强设施和研究计划，使本科生和研究生受益。通过购置这些仪器进行的研究包括：南极浮冰微生物区系的化学分类和系统发育特征；古卤水栖息地细菌、真核生物和古细菌的系统发育确定；几个微生物基因组项目的完成；评估冰环境、海洋、湖泊和钙华碳酸盐材料中的单个细胞系统类型和活动；评估淡水生态系统分类和酶活动的时空变化；以及微生物介导的铁矿物转化和反映微生物活动的元素同位素特征。即将进行的探索海冰形成时间与磷虾、鱼类、企鹅和鲸鱼季节性迁徙之间关系的研究，将通过获得能够量化对这些迁徙的影响的因素的仪器来促进，包括表征微藻中的色素、描绘细菌群落组成和确定营养状态。对辅助色素的量化将有助于对与早期和晚期形成冰相关的微生物冰群落进行更合理的统计比较。这项研究的结果将对预测全球气候变化对南大洋生态系统的影响产生重要影响。提案中要求的仪器将使实地和实验室的许多合作项目受益。拟议的工具还将在几个层面上对教育和信息作出重大贡献。该仪器将提供更多的机会，在本科、研究生和博士后水平上使用最先进的设备进行培训，并为年轻学生提供教育机会。这项研究的信息将通过几个渠道公开，包括由私人投资机构及其合作者创建的网站。

The objectives of the proposed instrument acquisition are to enhance the analytical capabilities and benefit ongoing and future research in the field of microbial ecology in extreme environments. The capabilities provided by these instruments will aid in the integration of terrestrial, hydrologic, and atmospheric research within the PIs' university system, address environmental problems associated with microbial ecology, and enhance facilities and research programs for the benefit of undergraduate and graduate students. Research made possible by the acquisition of these instruments includes chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characterization of Antarctic pack ice microbiota, phylogenetic determinations of Bacteria, Eukarya, and Archea from ancient brine habitats, completion of several microbial genomics projects, evaluation of individual cell phylotypes and activities in ice environments, oceans, lakes, and travertine carbonate materials, evaluation of temporal and spatial shifts in taxonomic and enzymatic activities in freshwater ecosystems, and characterization of microbially mediated iron mineral transformations and elemental isotopic signatures reflective of microbial activity. Upcoming research exploring the relationship between the timing of sea ice formation and the seasonal movements of krill, fish, penguin, and whale migration will be facilitated by the acquisition of instruments capable of quantifying factors that have implications for changes in these movements, including characterizing pigment in microalgae, profiling the bacterial community composition, and determining nutrient status. Quantification of accessory pigments will all for more statistically sound comparisons of microbial ice communities associated with early versus late forming ice. Results of this research will have important implications for prediction of the effects of global climate change on the Southern Ocean ecosystem.The instrumentation requested in the proposal will benefit numerous collaborative projects in the field and in the laboratory. The proposed instrumentation will also lead to significant educational and information contributions at several levels. The instrumentation will provide increased opportunities for training with state of the art equipment at the undergraduate, graduate and post doctoral level, and educational opportunities for younger students. Information from the research will be made publicly available through several outlets, including websites generated by the PIs and their collaborators.