Collaborative Research: Chemical and Biological Characterizations of Phosphonate and Polyphosphate Dynamics in Marine Phytoplankton

磷（P）是海洋初级生产力的必需营养元素，其无机化学已得到广泛研究。然而，溶解性有机磷库（DOP）的研究很少，即使考虑到其作为微生物的磷源的重要性。本项目将通过对磷酸盐和多磷酸盐的控制培养研究，确定DOP中磷化合物的生物来源。这些化合物类发挥重要的控制P循环，碳固定和社区结构和出口从上层海洋，和长期封存。该研究将采用创新的方法，包括分子工具和新的化学分析，以研究在不同环境条件下主要浮游植物类群的特定膦酸盐和多磷酸盐化合物的生产。四个假设是驱动拟议的研究，并集中研究的主要研究问题。这项研究将提高我们对特定磷化合物的生产的理解，并提供深入了解DOP的生物利用度和磷对生物生产的影响。该项目将培训三名研究生，并有一个与研究相关的实质性推广部分。PI将使用Whyville（一个专门针对8-14岁儿童的在线虚拟世界）将教育和推广活动整合到K-12社区。在这项研究中，研究人员将通过与高危儿童的互动，扩大Whyville作为科学学习工具的使用，作为ScienceQuest的一部分，这是一个住房避难所的课后计划，并通过密集的夏季短期课程，以学校教师。

Phosphorus (P) is a recognized essential nutrient for marine primary production and its inorganic chemistry has been well studied. However, the dissolved organic phosphorus pool (DOP) has been little studied even given its importance as a phosphorus source to microorganisms. This project will identify biogenic sources of P compounds to DOP using controlled culture studies focused on phosphonate and polyphosphate. These compound classes exert important controls over P cycling, carbon fixation and community structure and export from the upper ocean, and long-term sequestration. The study will employ innovative methods, including molecular tools and novel chemical analyses, to examine specific phosphonate and polyphosphate compound production by key phytoplankton taxa under different environmental conditions. Four hypotheses are driving the proposed research and focus the study on the primary research questions. The study will improve our understanding of the production of specific P compounds, and provide insight into the bioavailability of DOP and the influence of P on biological production.The project will train three graduate students and there is a substantial outreach component associated with the study. The PIs will integrate education and outreach to K-12 communities using Whyville, an online virtual world geared specifically to 8-14 year old children. During this study, the investigators will expand the use of Whyville as a science learning tool through interactions with at-risk children as part of ScienceQuest, an after school program at a housing shelter, and through intensive summer short courses to school teachers.