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，由于海底沉积物和岩层的地质、化学和水文作用，碳氢化合物气体和石油在海底渗漏出来。渗漏处有大量的微生物群落，它们能够降解在这些栖息地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）。重要的研究集中在确定甲烷、硫酸盐和硫化物的命运上，但对渗漏处乙烷、丁烷和丙烷的命运知之甚少。虽然地球化学证据表明存在能够降解乙烷、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。本研究旨在描述、量化和培养能够厌氧消耗深海烃类渗漏中的乙烷、丁烷和丙烷的微生物。为此目的，将使用一套定量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学和生物地球化学。此外，使用新型“人工渗漏”的高分辨率实验室研究将用于确定碳氢化合物降解的速率，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。尽管它们在维持地球上的生命中起着至关重要的作用，但我们对微生物生理和生物化学的了解却很少。这项跨学科研究旨在进一步了解新的微生物分类群（特别是它们的生理和生物化学），它们在介导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。这项研究将支持一项教育计划的发展，该计划旨在向学生传授微生物如何控制生物地球化学循环，并支持贫困的高中生和大学生参与海洋科学和微生物研究。在与国家水族馆的合作下，这项研究也将有助于世界上第一个碳氢化合物渗漏展览的发展。

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.