DISSERTATION RESEARCH: A phylogenetic characterization of the lichen microbiome

地衣是由真菌(真菌)、藻类和/或蓝藻(光生物)组成的生物群落。某些地衣已经被证明拥有不同的细菌群落，而不是光生物，尽管这些群落非常鲜为人知。许多地衣能够在营养非常贫乏的栖息地(如露出地面的岩石)生长到大型地衣。这一观察结果支持这样的观点，即地衣相关细菌群落的成员可能为地衣提供关键的营养物质(例如固定氮)，否则这些营养物质是无法获得的。这项研究的主要目标是对与地衣相关的细菌进行首次大规模调查，并确定氮素需求在确定这些细菌群落的组成中所起的作用。作为这项研究的一部分，产生的数据将揭示更多新的微生物谱系，并有助于对细菌多样性的总体理解。对这些微生物群落的研究也可能揭示细菌和组成地衣的有机体之间相互作用的进化。与这一项目相结合，资助的研究生将带领当地的“地衣行走”对公众进行教育。此外，还将创建和维护网站，以使所有人都能获得研究成果。

Lichens are biological associations comprised of a fungus (mycobiont) and an alga and/or cyanobacterium (photobiont). Certain lichens have been shown to host diverse communities of bacteria that are not photobionts, though these communities are very poorly known. Many lichens are able to grow to large sizes in very nutrient-poor habitats such as rock outcrops. This observation supports the notion that members of the lichen-associated bacterial community may provide the lichen with crucial nutrients (e.g., fixed nitrogen) that otherwise would be unavailable. The main objectives of this study are to conduct the first large-scale survey of bacteria associated with lichens and to determine what role nitrogen requirements play in determining the composition of these bacterial communities.The data generated as part of this study will reveal additional new lineages of microorganisms and contribute to the general understanding of bacterial diversity. The examination of these microbial communities may also shed light on the evolution of interactions among bacteria and the organisms that comprise lichens. In conjunction with this project, the funded graduate student will lead local 'lichen walks' to educate the public. Additionally, websites will be generated and maintained in order to make research findings accessible to all.