Collaborative Research (MIP): Microbial Interactions at Cold Seeps: Characterizing C2-C4 anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation and its influence on AMO and sulfate reduction.

“天然气”的主要成分是碳氢化合物气体，包括甲烷、乙烷、丙烷和丁烷。这些气体是从“碳氢化合物渗漏”中高浓度排放出来的，“碳氢化合物渗漏”是指由于底层沉积物和岩层的地质、化学和水文原因，碳氢化合物气体和石油渗出的区域。渗水中有大量微生物群落，能够降解在这些生境中发现的许多碳氢化合物和其他化合物(如硫化物和硫酸盐)。重要的研究集中于确定甲烷、硫酸盐和硫化物的去向，但对乙烷、丁烷和丙烷在渗漏时的去向知之甚少。虽然地球化学证据表明存在降解乙烷、丁烷和丙烷的微生物，但尚未发现或培养出能够在渗漏条件下(例如，在氧气很少或没有氧气的情况下)消耗这些气体的微生物物种或群落。本研究旨在对深海碳氢化合物渗漏中能够厌氧消耗乙烷、丁烷和丙烷的微生物进行表征、量化和培养。为此，将使用一套定量的分子生物学和地球化学技术来研究墨西哥湾渗漏的微生物生态和生物地球化学。此外，将使用一种新型的“人工渗漏”进行高分辨率的实验室研究，以确定碳氢化合物的降解率、与硫酸盐还原的关系，以及负责消耗这些气体的微生物或微生物组合的识别和分离。尽管它们在支持地球上的生命方面发挥了关键作用，但我们对微生物生理和生物化学的了解很少。这项跨学科的研究旨在加深我们对新的微生物类群(特别是它们的生理和生物化学)、它们在调节碳氢化合物降解中的作用以及它们对全球海洋碳循环的贡献的理解。这项研究将支持一个旨在向学生传授微生物如何控制生物地球化学循环的教育项目的发展，并支持处于不利地位的高中生和大学生参与海洋科学和微生物学研究。这项研究还将与国家水族馆合作，为发展世界第一个油气渗漏展览S做出贡献。

The primary components of "natural gas" are hydrocarbon gasses including methane, ethane, propane and butane. These gasses are emitted at high concentrations from "hydrocarbon seeps", regions of the ocean floor where hydrocarbon gasses and oils percolate out due to the geology, chemistry and hydrology of the underlying sediments and rock layers. Seeps host tremendous microbiological communities that are capable of degrading many of the hydrocarbons and other compounds (such as sulfide and sulfate) found in these habitats. Significant research has focused on determining the fate of methane, sulfate and sulfide, however very little is known about the fate of ethane, butane and propane at seeps. While geochemical evidence points to the existence of microbes that degrade ethane, butane and propane, no microbial species or community has yet been identified or cultured that is capable of consuming these gasses in seep conditions (e.g. with little or no oxygen). This research aims to characterize, quantify and culture microbes capable of anaerobically consuming ethane, butane and propane in deep sea hydrocarbon seeps. To that end, a suite of quantitative molecular biological and geochemical techniques will be used to study the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of seeps in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, high-resolution laboratory studies using a novel 'artificial seep' will be used to determine the rates of hydrocarbon degradation, the relationship to sulfate reduction, and the identity and isolation of microbes or microbial assemblages responsible for consuming these gasses. Despite their critical role in supporting life on Earth, our understanding of microbial physiological and biochemistry is meager. This interdisciplinary research aspires to further our understanding of novel microbial taxa (in particular their physiology and biochemistry), their role in mediating hydrocarbon degradation, and their contribution to global marine carbon cycling. This research will support the development of an educational program designed to teach students about how microbes govern biogeochemical cycles, and support the involvement of disadvantaged high school and college students in marine science and microbiological research. In collaboration with a state aquarium, this research will also contribute to the development of the world''s first hydrocarbon seep exhibit.