Dissertation Research: Decoding the dynamics of cryptic microscale biogeochemical cycling in a phototropic consortium

论文研究：解码向光性联合体中神秘的微尺度生物地球化学循环的动力学

• 批准号: 1310166
• 负责人: Marc Facciotti
• 金额: $ 2万
• 依托单位: University of California-Davis
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-06-01 至 2015-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1310166&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Decoding; dynamics; cryptic

Microbial metabolism has shaped the global ecosystem since early geological time and, despite the emergence of macroscopic life, remains the engine that drives global cycling of nutrients. In diverse environments, from the deep sea to the human gut, these essential ecosystem processes are mediated not by a single species, but by the interactions of metabolically-interdependent microbial communities. Ecosystem health depends upon these intricate webs of interacting microbes. However, such exchanges are often invisible via traditional approaches, and the chemical transformations involved remain cryptic. This proposal investigates microbial aggregates, the 'pink berries' of the Sippewissett salt marsh, as a model system for understanding how microbial interactions moderate nutrient cycles over spatial scales relevant to microorganisms (nanometers to micrometers). This research will link fluctuations in carbon cycling throughout the day with changes in the micrometer-scale sulfur cycle. This work investigates how the transfer of carbon from sulfide-oxidizing photosynthetic bacteria drives the metabolic activity of nearby sulfate reducing bacteria. An interdisciplinary approach will be used to synthesize information from high-throughput genomics and systems biology with data from high-resolution geochemical analytical techniques. The proposed research will pioneer new ways to elucidate the influence of microbial interactions on material and energy flux within ecosystems that will be broadly applicable across other ecosystems. This work is relevant not only to understanding microbial interactions, but will provide needed benchmarks for modeling of the sulfur cycle in both modern and early earth history. Support for this project will strengthen research collaborations between four major research institutions across the country, and foster educational opportunities from the graduate through K-12 level. All data will be publicly accessible and research findings will be communicated broadly, through public lectures and science blogs.

自早期地质时代以来，微生物代谢就塑造了全球生态系统，尽管出现了宏观生命，但微生物代谢仍然是推动全球营养循环的引擎。 在从深海到人类肠道的不同环境中，这些重要的生态系统过程不是由单一物种介导的，而是由代谢相互依赖的微生物群落的相互作用介导的。 生态系统的健康取决于这些相互作用的微生物的复杂网络。然而，通过传统方法，这种交换通常是不可见的，所涉及的化学转化仍然是神秘的。 该提案调查微生物聚集体，“粉红浆果”的Sippewissett盐沼，作为一个模型系统，了解微生物的相互作用如何适度的营养循环在空间尺度上相关的微生物（纳米到微米）。 这项研究将把一天中碳循环的波动与微米级硫循环的变化联系起来。 这项工作研究了如何从硫化物氧化光合细菌的碳转移驱动附近的硫酸盐还原菌的代谢活动。 将采用跨学科方法，将高通量基因组学和系统生物学的信息与高分辨率地球化学分析技术的数据综合起来。拟议的研究将开辟新的方法来阐明微生物相互作用对生态系统内物质和能量通量的影响，这些方法将广泛适用于其他生态系统。这项工作不仅与理解微生物相互作用有关，而且将为现代和早期地球历史中的硫循环建模提供所需的基准。 对该项目的支持将加强全国四大研究机构之间的研究合作，并促进从研究生到K-12水平的教育机会。所有数据都将向公众开放，研究结果将通过公开讲座和科学博客广泛传播。