Collaborative Research: An Integrated Ecological Investigation of McMurdo Dry Valley's Active Soil Microbial Communities

合作研究：麦克默多干谷活跃土壤微生物群落的综合生态调查

• 批准号: 1142102
• 负责人: Cristina Takacs-Vesbach
• 金额: $ 43.52万
• 依托单位: University of New Mexico
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-01 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1142102&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Integrated; Ecological; Investigation

The McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are among the coldest, driest habitats on the planet. Previous research has documented the presence of surprisingly diverse microbial communities in the soils of the Dry Valleys despite these extreme conditions. However, the degree to which these organisms are active is unknown; it is possible that much of this diversity reflects microbes that have blown into this environment that are subsequently preserved in these cold, dry conditions. This research will use modern molecular techniques to answer a fundamental question regarding these communities: which organisms are active and how do they live in such extreme conditions? The research will include manipulations to explore how changes in water, salt and carbon affect the microbial community, to address the role that these organisms play in nutrient cycling in this environment. The results of this work will provide a broader understanding of how life adapts to such extreme conditions as well as the role of dormancy in the life history of microorganisms. Results will be widely disseminated through publications as well as through presentations at national and international meetings; raw data will be made available through a high-profile web-based portal. The research will support two graduate students, two undergraduate research assistants and a postdoctoral fellow. The results will be incorporated into a webinar targeted to secondary and post-secondary educators and a complimentary hands-on class activity kit will be developed and made available to various teacher and outreach organizations.

南极洲的麦克默多干谷是地球上最寒冷、最干燥的栖息地之一。先前的研究已经证明，尽管有这些极端条件，但在干旱山谷的土壤中存在着令人惊讶的多样性微生物群落。然而，这些生物的活跃程度尚不清楚;这种多样性可能反映了被吹到这个环境中的微生物，这些微生物随后在这些寒冷干燥的条件下保存下来。这项研究将使用现代分子技术来回答关于这些社区的一个基本问题：哪些生物是活跃的，它们如何在这种极端条件下生活？该研究将包括探索水，盐和碳的变化如何影响微生物群落的操作，以解决这些生物在这种环境中营养循环中的作用。这项工作的结果将提供一个更广泛的了解生命如何适应这种极端条件，以及休眠在微生物的生活史中的作用。结果将通过出版物以及在国家和国际会议上的发言广泛传播;原始数据将通过一个引人注目的门户网站提供。该研究将支持两名研究生，两名本科生研究助理和一名博士后研究员。评估结果将纳入针对中学和中学后教育工作者的网络研讨会，并将开发一个免费的实践课堂活动包，提供给各教师和外联组织。