Targeted environmental probing: Linking microorganisms with biogeochemical function at Fe- and Mn-rich, diffuse hydrothermal vents

本项目的主要目标是确定哪些微生物参与热液喷口系统中的二氧化碳固定和锰氧化。研究人员将采用生物地球化学，微生物和分子生物学方法，以更全面地了解将金属氧化与碳固定相结合的微生物群落，从而推动玄武岩风化并维持深海生态系统。他们的策略包括1）基于培养的方法，以分离更具生态意义的菌株，并确定锰氧化细菌是否可能在混合或纯培养物中将无机碳固定为有机碳中发挥作用，2）非培养方法，以鉴定负责环境中碳固定的关键化能无机自养生物，和3）肽探针，用于将Mn氧化物和相关微生物与其它颗粒和微生物物理分离;高分子分析（DNA和/或脂质）的Mn氧化物-相关微生物将提供第一个直接的系统发育鉴定的生物负责锰氧化物生物矿化在环境中更广泛的影响：本项目的主要目标是从热液区分离出自养锰（II）氧化细菌，这将对了解锰循环产生广泛的影响。这位博士后候选人在博士期间已经有了很好的推广和教育活动的记录。研究，并建议与高中学生的合作是一个很大的价值，这项工作的广泛影响。

The primary objective of this project is to determine which microorganisms are involved in CO2 fixation and Mn oxidation in hydrothermal vent systems. The researchers will employ biogeochemical, microbiological, and molecular biological methods to gain a more complete understanding of the microbial communities that are coupling metal oxidation to carbon fixation, thus driving basalt weathering and sustaining ecosystems in the deep-sea. Their strategy includes 1) culture-based methods to isolate more ecologically significant strains and to determine whether Mn-oxidizing bacteria may play a role in fixation of inorganic carbon into organic carbon in mixed or pure cultures, 2) culture-independent methods to identify the key chemolithoautotrophic organisms responsible for carbon fixation in the environment, and 3) peptide probes to physically separate Mn oxides and associated microorganisms from other particles and microbes; analysis of macromolecules (DNA and/or lipids) of the Mn oxide-associated microorganisms will provide the first direct phylogenetic identification of the organisms responsible for Mn oxide biomineralization in environmental samples.Broader Impacts:Isolating autotrophic Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria from hydrothermal fields, the main objective of this project, will have a broad impact on understanding the manganese cycle. The postdoctoral candidate has already a great track record of outreach and education activities during her Ph.D. studies, and the proposed collaboration with high school students is a great value to the broad impact of this work.