Collaborative Research: Combining Methods from Geochemistry and Molecular Biology to Predict the Functions of Microbial Communities

将地球化学数据与微生物生态数据相结合，可以预测微生物种群的分布及其在自然界中催化的过程。在这项研究中，我们将把重点放在甲烷生产（如产甲烷）和甲烷消耗（如产甲烷）的微生物过程的对比上，作为评估地球化学预测与催化这些过程的生物的分布、多样性和活动之间联系的框架。针对这些生物过程的总体理论基础是，产甲烷和氧化甲烷的联合活动在很大程度上控制了强效温室气体甲烷向大气的通量，其程度可能对全球气候产生重大影响。确定微生物种群分布的限制条件，在自然界中催化这两个过程，可以显著提高我们对环境扰动对其各自活动的影响的理解，以及这可能对全球碳循环产生的后果。怀俄明州黄石国家公园热液生态系统的现有地球化学预测表明，催化甲烷生产的种群应该是高度禁止的，但有氧和厌氧甲烷化应该是广泛存在的，并且参与这些活动的种群应该表现出显著的遗传多样性，作为春季流体组成的函数。热力学预测将用于指导旨在解释产甲烷菌和氧化甲烷菌分布及其各自活动数据的实验。利用新开发的生态建模工具，实现地球化学数据和生物数据的整合。这些模型将提供对微生物功能群的分布、多样性和活动反映其环境的物理和化学特征的程度的更全面的理解。利用这一框架确定这种关系存在的程度，对我们理解导致现存生物多样性的制约因素具有重要意义，并将使我们能够预测环境条件的变化将如何影响这些微生物生态系统的功能。这个统一的研究目标将吸引学生参与跨学科研究，他们将融合传统上独立的地球化学和微生物生态学学科。这一目标将通过在实地研究环境中协调地球化学和微生物分析以及在亚利桑那州立大学和蒙大拿州州立大学协调实验室实验来实现。此外，还将举办讲习班，具体重点是培训学生将这些学科的知识结合起来。考虑到这一令人兴奋的科学探索和发现领域，拟议的工作也将为教育和推广带来一些切实的机会，其中大部分是基于我们以前的经验和对各种受众的教育项目的承诺。这包括以实地和课堂为基础的努力，旨在向包括K-12学生、本科生和研究生、高中和社区大学教育者在内的其他公众部门推进科学知识。该项目还将通过全球科学家之间的网络，促进陆地温泉和活跃蛇纹化系统的地球化学、能量学和微生物生态学的研究。

Combining geochemical data with microbial ecological data makes it possible to predict the distribution of microbial populations and the processes that they catalyze in nature. In this research we will focus on the contrasting microbial processes of methane production (e.g., methanogenesis) and methane consumption (e.g., methanotrophy) as a framework for evaluating the linkages between geochemical predictions and the distribution, diversity, and activity of organisms that catalyze these processes. The overarching rationale for targeting these biological processes is that the combined activities of methanogenesis and methanotrophy largely control the flux of the potent greenhouse gas methane to our atmosphere, the extent of which may significantly impact global climate. Defining the constraints on the distribution of microbial populations catalyzing these two processes in nature can significantly advance our understanding of the impact that a perturbation to their environment would have on their respective activities and the consequence that this may have on the global carbon cycle. Existing geochemical predictions from hydrothermal ecosystems in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming indicate that the occurrence of populations catalyzing methane production should be highly proscribed, but that aerobic and anaerobic methanotrophy should be widespread and that populations engaged in these activities should display significant genetic diversity as a function of the spring fluid composition. The thermodynamic predictions will be used to guide experiments aimed to interpret data on the distribution of methanogens and methanotrophs and their respective activities. The integration of geochemical data and biological data will be achieved using newly developed ecological modeling tools. These models will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the extent to which the distribution, diversity, and activity of functional groups of microorganisms reflect the physical and chemical characteristics of their environment. Defining the extent to which such relationships exist using this framework has critical implications for our understanding of the constraints which led to extant biodiversity and will enable predictions of how changes in environmental conditions will affect the functioning of those microbial ecosystems. This unified research goal will engage students in hands on interdisciplinary research where they will merge the traditionally independent disciplines of geochemistry and microbial ecology. This goal will be met through the coordination of geochemical and microbiological analyses in field research settings as well as through coordinated laboratory experimentation at both Arizona State University and Montana State University. In addition, workshops will be held with the specific focus of training students in merging knowledge from these disciplines. Given this exciting area of scientific exploration and discovery, the proposed work will also result in several tangible opportunities for education and outreach, most of which are built on our previous experience and commitment to educational programs for various audiences. This includes field-and classroom-based efforts aimed at advancing scientific knowledge to other sectors of the public including K-12 students, undergraduate and graduate students, and high school and community college educators. This project also will help promote research on the geochemistry, energetics, and microbial ecology of terrestrial hot springs and active serpentinizing systems through networking among scientists worldwide.