EAGER: Assessing Functional Diversity of Algal Communities at the Single Cell Level with a Compact Multi-function Microfluidic Cytometer

光合微藻是水生系统中主要的初级食物生产者，藻类大规模养殖具有生产石油燃料和从大气中清除二氧化碳的巨大潜力。 然而，藻类生产的食品/油波动很大，其原因尚不清楚，因为目前无法获得关于自然条件下单个藻类细胞的信息。 这一需求在此通过新技术（定制设计的多功能超紧凑型细胞仪）来解决，该技术能够同时评估单个藻类细胞利用太阳能进行光合作用的效率及其含油量。 鉴于微生物对人类健康、能源需求和生态系统可持续性的至关重要性？在没有确定的技术表征微生物功能多样性？这项研究解决了一个迫切的需要。 具体而言，这项研究将（i）首先确认适当的细胞计数器性能与实验室生长的藻类文化，（ii）添加进一步的监测参数，需要区分单个藻类细胞在混合的自然社区，和（iii）评估藻类的功能多样性在这些社区在科罗拉多湖。 这项研究的结果，预计将允许更好地预测有毒藻华和整个食物链中的微生物油含量的变化的影响，以及确定藻类与生物燃料生产的上级性能。 这个高度多样化的研究人员合作团队包括生态学家，生物学家和光生物学家，因此不仅提供了新技术和生态专业知识的必要交叉，而且还为学生提供了跨学科的教育机会，特别是对具有数学，物理或工程背景的学生进行生物学（藻类生理学和生态学）培训。

Photosynthetic microalgae are dominant primary food producers in aquatic systems, and algal mass culture has a strong potential to produce oil-based fuel and to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, algal production of foods/oils fluctuates strongly, and the reasons for this are unknown since information on individual algal cells under natural conditions is currently inaccessible. This need is addressed here with novel technology (a custom-designed, multifunction, ultra-compact cytometer) able to simultaneously assess the efficiency with which individual algal cells utilize solar energy for photosynthesis and their oil content. In light of the critical importance of microbes for human health, energy needs, and ecosystem sustainability ? and in the absence of established technology for the characterization of microbial functional diversity ? this research addresses an urgent need. Specifically, this research will (i) first confirm proper cytometer performance with laboratory-grown algal cultures, (ii) add further monitoring parameters needed to differentiate individual algal cells in mixed natural communities, and (iii) assess the functional diversity of algae in these communities in Colorado lakes. The results of this study are expected to allow a better prediction of toxic algal blooms and repercussions of changes in microbial oil content throughout food chains as well as identification of algae with superior properties for biofuels production. This highly diverse collaborative team of researchers includes an ecologist, a biophysicist, and photobiologists, thus providing not only the necessary intersection of novel technology and ecological expertise, but also providing an interdisciplinary educational opportunity for students, especially for training in biology (algal physiology and ecology) of students with a background in math, physics, or engineering.