RAPID: Understanding Early Time Biogeophysical Signals of the Microbial Degradation of Crude Oil from the BP Spill in Saline Marshlands

这是一个对墨西哥湾深海地平线漏油事件做出快速反应的奖项。这项研究应用了一种新的方法来评估随着时间的推移，原油在沿海海洋沉积物中的转化。这项研究试图确定独特的电磁(EM)地球物理特征，反映沉积物物理、化学和微生物特征的具体变化。研究涉及石油污染、石油/分散剂污染和未污染沉积物中地球物理特征的时间序列测量。将确定沉积物中相应的微生物群落结构和组成，以及相应的地球化学特征。这将是首次将电磁地球物理学用于咸水和咸水系统的生物地球物理研究。现场地点和样本地点将在路易斯安那州和佛罗里达州选定。这项工作的更广泛影响将对评估受深水地平线漏油影响的沿海沉积物的石油污染和微生物活力产生直接影响。它将开发新的方法，允许对地下微生物活动进行遥感。该项目对学生进行最先进的分子生物学技术和生物地理学的培训。它还支持来自EPSCoR州(俄克拉荷马州)一所机构的两名少数族裔PI，其中一人来自科学界代表性不足的性别。

This is a RAPID award to respond to the Deep Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This research applies a new methodology to assess the transformation of crude oil, over time, in coastal marine sediments. The research seeks to identify unique electromagnetic (EM) geophysical signatures that reflect specific changes in sediment physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics. Research involves time-series measurements of geophysical signatures in oil contaminated, oil/dispersant contaminated, and uncontaminated sediments. Corresponding microbial community structure and composition, as well as corresponding geochemical characteristics of the sediments will be determined. This will be the first use of EM geophysics for biogeophysical studies in saltwater and brackish systems. Field sites and sample locations will be selected in Louisiana and Florida. Broader impacts of the work will have immediate implications for assessing the oil contamination and microbial vitality of coastal sediments impacted by the Deep Horizon oil spill. It will develop new methodology that allows the remote sensing of microbial activity in the subsurface. The project trains students in state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques and biogeophysis. It also supports two minority PIs from an institution in the EPSCoR state (Oklahoma), one of whom is from a gender under-represented in the sciences.