Discovery, Description, and Biogeography of Novel Alpine Fungi

0426116 Schmidt，Longcore，Martin尽管高山地区的重要性和威胁，但人们对栖息在这些系统中的微生物的多样性知之甚少。使用DNA探针的初步研究揭示了科罗拉多高山土壤中以前未知的真菌的惊人多样性。特别令人惊讶的是发现了几种以前从未描述过的大型真菌群。在这个由科罗拉多和缅因州的研究人员史蒂文施密特、安德鲁马丁和乔伊斯朗科进行的项目中，将研究来自秘鲁、新西兰和北美西部不同高山地区的土壤真菌。研究人员将使用新的基于DNA的方法来研究这些生物在自然界中的分布。与此同时，他们将实施一项大规模的努力，将许多这些以前未知的生物体带入实验室培养。培养这些生物体将使研究人员能够描述以前未知的真菌物种，将他们的发现与传统分类学联系起来，并筛选这些生物体用于潜在的生物技术应用。分离的微生物、照片、基因组DNA和核糖体DNA序列将在公共博物馆（美国自然历史博物馆）和适当的数据库中存档。此外，将在科罗拉多大学建立一个网上互动博物馆，提供所有数据和研究地点说明的链接。研究高山环境的生物多样性有一种紧迫感，因为它们是世界上受环境变化（包括全球变暖）威胁最严重的生态系统之一。事实上，高山雪原和冰川目前正在以前所未有的速度融化。这项研究将涉及三个国家的科学家和技术人员。将为缅因州大学的一名研究生和科罗拉多大学的一名少数民族研究生和一名博士后科学家提供培训。此外，拟议的研究将与CU现有的本科生研究经验（REU）计划以及正在进行的K-12教育计划相吻合，为学生和教师提供参与研究的机会。

0426116Schmidt, Longcore, Martin Despite the importance of and threats to alpine areas, little is known about the diversity of microscopic creatures that inhabit these systems. Preliminary studies using DNA probes revealed an astonishing diversity of previously unknown fungi in alpine soils of Colorado. Especially surprising was the discovery of several large and never-before described groups of fungi. In this project by Colorado and Maine investigators Steven Schmidt, Andrew Martin, and Joyce Longcore, soil fungi from diverse alpine sites in Peru, New Zealand and Western North America will be studied. The investigators will use new DNA-based methods to study the distribution of these organisms in nature. Simultaneously with this effort they will implement a large-scale effort to bring many of these previously unknown organisms into laboratory culture. Having these organisms in culture will allow the researchers to describe previously unknown fungal species, link their findings to traditional taxonomy, and screen these organisms for potential biotechnological applications. Isolated organisms, photographs, genomic DNA, and ribosomal DNA sequences will be archived in a public museum (American Museum of Natural History) and in appropriate databases. In addition, an interactive Web-based museum will be established at University of Colorado, providing access to all the data and links to descriptions of the research sites. There is a sense of urgency about studying the biodiversity of alpine environments because they are among the world's most threatened ecosystems due to environmental change, including global warming. In fact, alpine snowfields and glaciers are presently melting at unprecedented rates. The research will involve scientists and technicians in three countries. Training will be provided for a graduate student at the University of Maine and a minority graduate student and a postdoctoral scientist at the University of Colorado (CU). In addition, the proposed research will dovetail with existing Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs at CU and with an ongoing K-12 education program by providing opportunities for students and teachers to become involved in the research.