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，我们将重点关注甲烷产生(例如，甲烷生成)和甲烷消耗(例如，甲烷营养)的不同微生物过程，作为评估地球化学预测与催化这些过程的生物的分布、多样性和活性之间的联系的框架。以这些生物过程为目标的主要理由是，甲烷生成和甲烷营养的综合活动在很大程度上控制了强有力的温室气体甲烷进入我们大气的流量，其程度可能会对全球气候产生重大影响。确定在自然界中催化这两个过程的微生物种群分布的限制条件，可以极大地促进我们对环境扰动对它们各自活动的影响以及这可能对全球碳循环产生的影响的理解。来自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，催化甲烷产生的种群应该被高度禁止，但好氧和厌氧甲烷营养应该广泛存在，从事这些活动的种群应该表现出显著的遗传多样性，这是泉水组成的函数。热力学预测将用于指导旨在解释产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌的分布及其各自活动的数据的实验。将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集成。这些模型将更全面地了解微生物功能群的分布、多样性和活性在多大程度上反映了其环境的物理和化学特征。使用这一框架确定这种关系的存在程度，对于我们理解导致现有生物多样性的制约因素具有重要意义，并将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。这一统一的研究目标将使学生参与跨学科研究，在那里他们将融合传统上独立的地球化学和微生物生态学学科。这一目标将通过协调实地研究环境中的地化分析和微生物分析以及通过亚利桑那州立大学和蒙大拿州立大学的协调实验室实验来实现。此外，还将举办讲习班，重点是培训学生融合这些学科的知识。鉴于这一令人兴奋的科学探索和发现领域，拟议的工作还将带来几个切实的教育和推广机会，其中大部分建立在我们以前的经验和对各种受众教育计划的承诺的基础上。这包括以实地和课堂为基础的努力，旨在向其他公众部门推广科学知识，包括K-12学生、本科生和研究生以及高中和社区大学教育工作者。该项目还将通过世界各地科学家之间的网络联系，帮助促进对陆地温泉和活跃的蛇纹岩系统的地球化学、能量学和微生物生态的研究。

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.