Collaborative Research: IPY Microbial subzero activity and its impact on biogeochemical processes in frozen tundra and permafrost

该项目的重点是最近发现的微生物在温度低于4摄氏度的冻土和永久冻土中代谢的能力。这项研究建立在之前对阿拉斯加、欧亚和格陵兰不同的永久冻土和北极土壤中嗜冷菌的微生物学研究的基础上。该项目将探索这种零度以下微生物活动的意义及其在经历全球气候变化的极地系统中的作用。这项工作的总体目标是了解这些微生物过程对永久冻土动力学的影响。这项研究将通过结合数学建模和使用分子生物学、环境、物理和生物地球化学方法的实验研究的跨学科研究来进行。该项目将通过使用完好的冻结岩芯的实验室研究，对零度以下的代谢活动进行系统研究，研究永久冻土对融化和侵蚀的抵抗力。这项工作的长期目标是了解零度以下的微生物活动是否在永久冻土动力学中起着关键作用。反过来，这些结果应该会提高高纬度环境中全球变化预测的可靠性，并应导致极地研究的新领域。该项目将为研究生和本科生提供机会，将微生物学和物理学结合起来，研究冻土微生物过程和冻土过程中的生物物理化学。

This project focuses on the recently discovered ability of microorganisms to metabolize in frozen soil and permafrost at temperatures to below 4oC. This research builds upon previous microbiological studies of psychrophiles in diverse permafrost and Arctic soils across Alaska, Eurasia and Greenland. This project will explore the significance of this subzero microbial activity and its role in polar systems undergoing global climatic change. The overall objective of the work is to understand the impact of these microbial processes on permafrost dynamics. The research will be approached through an interdisciplinary study combining mathematical modeling with experimental studies using molecular biological, environmental, physical and biogeochemical methods. This project will conduct a systematic study of subzero metabolic activities, through laboratory studies using intact frozen cores, on permafrost resistance to thaw and erosion. The long term goal of this work is to understand whether subzero microbial activity plays a critical role in permafrost dynamics. In turn these results should improve the reliability of global change prediction in high latitude environments and should lead to new frontiers in polar research. This project will provide an opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students to combine microbiology and physics to study permafrost microbial processes and biophysical chemistry in permafrost processes.