RCN: Denitrification - Integration Across Landscapes and Waterscapes

人类极大地改变了地球的氮循环。人为引入生物圈的活性氮现已超过陆地生态系统的自然氮源。这对人类和环境健康造成了严重的负面影响。从环境中永久去除活性N的唯一过程是反硝化（通过细菌将活性N还原为非活性N2气体）。反硝化作用发生在几乎所有的陆地、淡水和海洋生态系统中，但科学的碎片化阻碍了这一关键过程的量化。该项目将建立一个国际协调网络（RCN），由来自广泛学科的反硝化科学家组成，从分子生物学到生态系统科学，从土壤科学到海洋学。通过跨学科的交流，它将推进反硝化的量化，以及将特定地点的测量扩大到生态系统、区域和全球尺度的模型。实现这一目标的机制包括讲习班、在重大科学会议上有针对性的综合特别会议，以及一个提供联系信息和在线培训的网站。更广泛的影响：本科生、研究生和博士后的跨学科教育是该项目的重要功能。它将为未来全球氮循环的管理提供知识，以实现粮食安全和环境质量的目标。知识将在“学术”反硝化专家和将反硝化过程用于实际应用的个人之间共享（例如，废水处理设施，人类工程湿地）。

Humans have dramatically altered the earth's nitrogen (N) cycle. Anthropogenic introduction of reactive N into the biosphere now exceeds natural sources of N to terrestrial ecosystems. This results in substantial negative human and environment health effects. The only process that permanently removes reactive N from the environment is denitrification (reduction, by bacteria, of reactive N to non-reactive N2 gas). Denitrification occurs in almost all terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, but fragmentation of the science has impeded quantification of this critical process. This project will develop an international coordinated network (RCN) of denitrification scientists from a wide array of disciplines, from molecular biology to ecosystem science, and from soil science to oceanography. Through interdisciplinary exchange it will advance quantification of denitrification, and models to scale-up site specific measurements to ecosystem, regional and global scales. Mechanisms to achieve this include workshops, targeted integrative special sessions at major scientific meetings, and a website with contact information and on-line training. Broader Impacts: Interdisciplinary education of undergraduate, graduate students and post-docs is an important function of this project. It will contribute knowledge to future management of the global N cycle to meet objectives of both food security and environmental quality. Knowledge will be shared between "academic" denitrification experts and individuals who are using the denitrification process for practical applications (e.g., wastewater treatment facilities, human engineered wetlands).