Atmospheric Transport Barriers and the Biological Invasion of Toxigenic Fungi in the Genus Fusarium

该项目研究了大气运输屏障（ATBs）在镰刀菌生物入侵中的作用，镰刀菌是世界上最重要的真菌群之一，也是许多作物的破坏性疾病病原体。镰刀菌利用大气从一个栖息地迁移到另一个栖息地。虽然对其在大气中的迁移了解甚少，但对于评估其在农业生态系统中的生态作用和评估入侵镰刀菌所带来的风险是必要的。这项工作的目标是提高对微生物在大气中的迁移的理解。具体目标是：(1)建立一个框架，以了解ATBs在地方和区域尺度上形成镰刀菌种群的作用；(2)评估与预测ATBs相关的低层大气中收集的镰刀菌种群结构；(3)提供一个创新的外展计划，以吸引和留住空气生物学和工程学的学生。这个跨学科的项目将为理解大气运输如何影响空气中微生物的生态生物学创造一个新的框架。研究和由此产生的新技术将通过弗吉尼亚理工大学肯特兰农场的实地考察日、高中生的空气生物学研讨会，以及弗吉尼亚一所高中的一个雄心勃勃的项目来展示，该项目允许学生通过尖端显微镜探索大气中的微生物。

This project examines the role of atmospheric transport barriers (ATBs) in the biological invasion of Fusarium--one of the most important groups of fungi in the world and a devastating disease agent of many crops. Fusarium species use the atmosphere to travel from one habitat to another. Their atmospheric transport is poorly understood, yet necessary to assess their ecological roles in agricultural ecosystems and to evaluate risks posed by invasive Fusarium. The goal of this work is to develop an increased understanding of the atmospheric transport of microorganisms. The specific objectives are to: (1) develop a framework for understanding the role of ATBs in shaping the populations of Fusarium at both local and regional scales, (2) evaluate the population structure of Fusarium collected in the lower atmosphere associated with predicted ATBs, and (3) deliver an innovative outreach program to attract and retain students at the interface of aerobiology and engineering. This transdisciplinary project will create a new framework for understanding how atmospheric transport influences the ecological biology of airborne microorganisms. Research and resulting new technology will be showcased through Field Days at Virginia Tech's Kentland Farm, aerobiology workshops for high school students, and an ambitious program at a Virginia high school allowing students to explore microorganisms in the atmosphere through cutting-edge microscopy.