Development and Testing of Materials Methods for In-situ Incubations and Subsurface Microbial Observatories at North Pond

深层生物圈和海底下水圈研究是综合大洋钻探方案的关键重点领域。在这个项目中，研究人员将开发和测试用于在钻孔中培养微生物的新仪器，这些钻孔可能在北大西洋中脊西侧22度45分钟处的北池塘钻探和用软木塞塞住，该项目是在一个悬而未决的IODP项目的支持下进行的。该项目还将扩展分析技术(荧光标记的嵌入式核心或FLEC)，使其能够仔细研究微生物之间的空间关系(“生命位置”)，用于深海环境中的各种微生物研究，包括本项目将开发的孵化器。与已建立的核糖体RNA检测方法(CARD和FISH)相结合，FLEC将提供更多关于微生物系统的信息，包括在精细范围内的群落结构和微生物联合。更广泛的影响包括对研究生和本科生的培训，促进IODP科学的发展和在ODP科学基础上的发展，主办讲习班，以及对教师群体的教育推广。

Deep biosphere and subseafloor hydrosphere studies are critical focus areas for the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). In this project, researchers will develop and test new instrumentation for the incubation of microbes in boreholes that may be drilled and CORKed at North Pond, on the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 22 degrees 45 minutes north, under the auspices of a pending IODP project. This project will also extend analysis techniques (Flourescently-Labeled Embedded Core or FLEC) that permit careful study of the spatial relationships ('life locations') among microbes for use in various microbial studies in the deep marine environment, including on the incubators to be developed in this project. FLEC, combined with established ribosomal RNA detection methods (CARD and FISH), will provide significantly more information about the microbial systems, including community structure and microbial associations at a fine scale. Broader impacts include training of graduate and undergraduate students, advancement of IODP science and building on ODP science, hosting of a workshop, and educational outreach to teacher groups.