Collaborative Proposal: Roles for Dehydration and Photoperiodism in Preparing an Antarctic Insect for the Polar Night

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。极地陆地环境通常被描述为沙漠，在那里，水的可用性是限制陆地生物分布的关键因素。在这样的环境中，对低湿度条件的耐受性可能与抗寒性一样重要。许多极地生物的冬季生存取决于从短暂的夏季的进食、生长和繁殖到能量保存的休眠的协调过渡，以及在漫长而严酷的冬季增强对极端环境的抵抗力。南极洲比利时蠓为研究应激（寒冷和低湿度）耐受机制以及极端光周期变化在协调季节适应中的作用提供了一个很好的模型系统。该研究将采用基因和蛋白质水平的方法来研究脱水和光周期线索在极地昆虫冬季生存准备中的季节性作用。该研究将探讨(1)水通道蛋白、脱水蛋白和低温保护脱水在季节性生存中的作用，以及(2)光周期在冬季准备中的作用。更广泛的影响涉及到K-12教育工作者和学生的参与，包括为教师提供动手实地研究经验，在当地学校进行演讲，制定课程计划和播客，以及在教育期刊上发表文章。主要研究人员还将邀请研究生、本科生和博士后参与该项目。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Polar terrestrial environments are often described as deserts, where water availability is a critical factor limiting the distribution of terrestrial organisms. In such environments, tolerance of low moisture conditions is likely as important as cold resistance. Winter survival for many polar organisms depends on a coordinated transition from feeding, growth and reproduction during short summers, to an energy-conserving dormancy coupled with enhanced resistance to environmental extremes during long, severe winters. The midge Belgica antarctica provides an excellent model system for investigating mechanisms of stress (cold and low moisture) tolerance, and the role of extreme photoperiodic changes in coordinating seasonal adaptations. The proposed research will use gene and protein level approaches to investigate the seasonal roles of dehydration and photoperiodic cues in preparing a polar insect for winter survival. The research will investigate (1) the role of aquaporins, dehydrins, and cryoprotective dehydration in seasonal survival, and (2) the role of photoperiodism in preparing for winter. Broader impacts involve engagement of K-12 educators and students, including hands-on, in-the-field research experiences for teachers, presentations at local schools, development of lesson plans and podcasts, and publication of articles in education journals. The principal investigators also will engage graduate students, undergraduates, and post-docs in the project.