Collaborative Research: Geobiology of high pH springs in the Philippines - probing the deep biosphere

合作研究：菲律宾高 pH 泉水的地球生物学 - 探索深层生物圈

• 批准号: 1147334
• 负责人: D'Arcy Meyer-Dombard
• 金额: $ 7.65万
• 依托单位: University of Illinois at Chicago
• 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: 2012-02-15 至 2015-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1147334&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Geobiology; pH; springs

Part A. Technical description Microbial communities inhabiting the Earth?s subsurface occupy a scientifically uncharted realm. The habitable subsurface may penetrate the Earth?s crust to depths of 5?10 km, depending on geothermal gradients. It has been estimated recently that the deep subsurface habitat could accommodate more biomass and biodiversity than on Earth?s surface. Yet, we know little about carbon cycling, nitrogen cycling, or any other biogeochemical cycling that takes place in this subsurface biosphere or how these may impact surface processes. This project will investigate these processes in high pH fluids found in ophiolite regions of the Philippines, where active sepentinization brings H2 and CH4 in contact with formation fluids, energizing the subsurface biosphere.This proposed research will deliver baseline biogeochemical data for a suite of high pH serpentinizing springs in two Philippines ophiolite localities (Zambales and Palawan). In a focused two-year research plan, we will elucidate biogeochemical cycling in high pH, deeply sourced fluids in our Philippines field locations, and tie the role of microorganisms directly to biogeochemical processes. Our three parallel research strands involve whether (1) deeply sourced, ophiolite-derived fluids afford habitable niches for chemolithotrophic microbial communities that can be predicted by the geochemistry of the system, (2) nucleic acid based analyses and culturing approaches reflect functional genetic competence that confirms the predicted metabolic strategies, and (3) chemoheterotrophic metabolisms and/or methanotrophs dominate over alternative chemoautotrophic metabolisms in these subsurface fluids, due to low CO2 and bicarbonate in the Philippine high pH fluids. This project also comprises intentional mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students in field, laboratory, and analytical methods, and the development of a blended specimen- and web-based learning module tying together field findings with science education initiatives at the collegiate and high school levels, particularly with the Earth Science Literacy Initiative goals in mind (http://www.earthscienceliteracy.org.Scientific and societal broader impacts include support for life on the Early Earth and other planetary bodies, as it has been proposed that serpentinization (the aqueous alteration of ultramafic rocks, yielding diatomic hydrogen, and possibly complex organic molecules) can provide critical energy, and carbon to primitive ecosystems. These processes likely continue to support life in ?extreme? subsurface settings on the modern Earth. Ophiolite regions are also of great interest to researchers investigating the possibilities of long term carbon storage in serpentinites, as geological repositories of CO2. Because secondary mineralogy resembles concrete, ophiolites are also gaining attention as potential radioactive waste depositories. With these diverse impacts in mind, a better concept of biogeochemical cycling in ophiolite-hosted fluids is necessary to understand potential impacts for these applications.Part B. Non-technical explanation of the project?s broader significance and importanceMicrobial communities inhabiting the Earth?s subsurface occupy a scientifically uncharted realm, and may penetrate the Earth?s crust to depths of 5 to 10 km--until it is too hot to survive. It has been estimated recently that the deep subsurface habitat could accommodate more biomass and biodiversity than on Earth?s surface, and the impact of this vast reservoir of biomass on biogeochemical cycling on Earth is a gaping hole in our current knowledge of Earth systems. This project will investigate how life transforms water and rock in high pH springs at two localities in the Philippines, at Zambales and Palawan, and allow us to learn more about critical chemical and biological connections in ways that may serve both science (particularly in defining the unknown edge of the biosphere in these exciting settings?including how microbes survive in low oxygen, low nutrient settings) and society (with strong links to ongoing experiments in carbon sequestration, toxic waste storage, bioremediation of mining wastes, and micro-scale medical applications). Dr. Meyer-Dombard?s research focus has been the geobiology of terrestrial and shallow submarine hydrothermal systems, and Dr. Cardace has studied the geobiology of tectonic margins, with field localities in the seabed and coastal settings. Together in this collaborative research project, they intend to learn how Earth is evolving in concert with life in ways that impact reservoirs of carbon and other elements. They bring a commitment to mentorship and training in research to the table also, and the funds granted here will allow more students to gain skills including quantitative reasoning, analytical research, and science writing, and materials and findings will be rapidly shared with in service teachers and their students through school visits and interactive, data-rich on-line modules.

技术描述地球上的微生物群落？地球的地下占据了一个科学上未知的领域。可居住的地下可能穿透地球？地壳深度为5？10公里，取决于地温梯度。据最近估计，地下深处的栖息地可以容纳比地球上更多的生物量和生物多样性。年代的表面。然而，我们对发生在地下生物圈中的碳循环、氮循环或任何其他生物地球化学循环知之甚少，也不知道这些循环如何影响地表过程。该项目将在菲律宾蛇绿岩区发现的高pH流体中研究这些过程，在那里，活跃的separization使H2和CH4与地层流体接触，为地下生物圈注入能量。这项拟议的研究将为菲律宾两个蛇绿岩地点（Zambales和Palawan）的一套高pH蛇纹岩化泉提供基线生物地球化学数据。在一项为期两年的重点研究计划中，我们将阐明菲律宾油田高pH值深层流体中的生物地球化学循环，并将微生物的作用直接与生物地球化学过程联系起来。我们的三个平行研究方向包括：(1)深层来源的蛇绿岩衍生流体是否为化学岩石营养微生物群落提供了可居住的生态位，这可以通过系统的地球化学来预测；(2)基于核酸的分析和培养方法反映了功能性遗传能力，证实了预测的代谢策略；(3)在这些地下流体中，由于菲律宾高pH值流体中的二氧化碳和碳酸氢盐含量较低，化学异养代谢和/或甲烷化养代谢在替代化学自养代谢中占主导地位。该项目还包括对研究生和本科生进行实地、实验室和分析方法方面的指导，并开发一个混合样本和基于网络的学习模块，将实地发现与大学和高中的科学教育举措结合起来。特别是考虑到地球科学素养倡议的目标（http://www.earthscienceliteracy.org.Scientific）和更广泛的社会影响，包括支持早期地球和其他行星体上的生命，因为有人提出蛇纹岩化（超镁质岩石的水蚀作用，产生双原子氢，可能还有复杂的有机分子）可以为原始生态系统提供关键的能量和碳。这些过程很可能会在极端环境下继续支持生命的存在。现代地球的地下环境蛇绿岩区域也引起了研究人员的极大兴趣，他们正在研究蛇纹岩作为二氧化碳的地质储存库长期储存碳的可能性。由于次生矿物学类似于混凝土，蛇绿岩作为潜在的放射性废物贮存地也受到关注。考虑到这些不同的影响，有必要更好地了解蛇绿岩流体中的生物地球化学循环，以了解这些应用的潜在影响。B.项目的非技术解释？生活在地球上的微生物群落有什么更广泛的意义和重要性？it’火星的地下占据了一个科学上未知的领域，并可能穿透地球。到5到10公里深的地壳，直到热到无法生存。据最近估计，地下深处的栖息地可以容纳比地球上更多的生物量和生物多样性。在我们目前对地球系统的认识中，这个巨大的生物质储存库对地球生物地球化学循环的影响是一个巨大的漏洞。该项目将调查生命如何在菲律宾赞巴勒和巴拉望岛的两个地方改变高pH值泉水中的水和岩石，并使我们能够更多地了解关键的化学和生物联系，这些联系可能服务于科学（特别是在这些令人兴奋的环境中定义生物圈的未知边缘）。包括微生物如何在低氧、低营养环境中生存)和社会（与正在进行的碳封存、有毒废物储存、采矿废物的生物修复和微型医疗应用方面的实验密切相关）。Meyer-Dombard博士吗?他的研究重点是陆地和浅海热液系统的地质生物学，卡达斯博士研究了构造边缘的地质生物学，并在海底和沿海环境中进行了实地研究。在这个合作研究项目中，他们打算了解地球是如何以影响碳和其他元素储层的方式与生命一起进化的。他们还承诺在研究方面提供指导和培训，这里授予的资金将使更多的学生获得包括定量推理、分析研究和科学写作在内的技能，材料和发现将通过学校访问和交互式、数据丰富的在线模块迅速与在职教师及其学生分享。