Characterizing Microorganisms during Ecosystem Development: Do Soil Microbial Communities Show Patterns of Succession?

生活在土壤中的数万亿微生物是生态系统的关键组成部分，它们是生态系统提供的许多服务的组成部分。一种新的DNA测序方法将被用于编目，在一个详细的水平上，还没有达到以前，在自然土壤微生物多样性沿着一个连续沙丘时间序列。可能被发现的新细菌物种的宝库将增强我们对改变微生物多样性和组成的模式、原因和后果的理解。它将有助于我们了解为生物修复等特定目的将微生物引入生态系统的后果，并有助于我们了解可能限制潜在致病细菌的分布和丰度的因素。本研究将培养1名博士和3 - 6名土壤生物化学、微生物学和分子生态学的本科生和高中生。与密西西比数学与科学学院（MSMS）的合作将为夏季研究项目招募未来的本科生。这些项目还将有助于将最先进的科学项目扩展为一种影响高中课堂的学习体验。学生的研究将在州竞赛中得到突出，如州工程博览会和密西西比州科学院的青年科学家竞赛。

The trillions of microorganisms that inhabit soils are key components of ecosystems and they are integral to the many services that ecosystems provide. A new DNA sequencing method will be used to catalog, in a level of detail that has not been achieved before, microbial diversity in natural soils along a successional dune chronosequence. The treasure trove of novel bacterial species that is likely to be discovered will enhance our understanding of patterns, causes, and consequences of changing microbial diversity and composition. It will contribute to our understanding of the consequences of introducing microbes into ecosystems for specific purposes such as bioremediation, and to our understanding of factors that may limit the distribution and abundance of potentially disease-causing bacteria. This research will result in the cross-disciplinary training of one doctoral and three to six undergraduate and high school students in soil biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular ecology. Cooperation with the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) will result in the recruitment of future undergraduate students for summer research projects. These projects will also help to expand state of the art science projects into a learning experience that will impact High School classrooms. Student research will be highlighted in state competitions such as the State Engineering Fair and the young scientist division at the Mississippi Academy of Sciences.