DISSERTATION RESEARCH: THE RESPONSE OF MYXOMYCETE COMMUNITIES TO 14 YEARS OF N, P, AND K ADDITION IN A LOWLAND TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

黏菌，或疟原虫黏菌，是许多土壤中最丰富的原生动物之一，它们以细菌和其他微生物为食。黏菌的生态作用可能是相当大的，但研究得很少。该项目与巴拿马史密森热带研究所合作，利用在低地热带森林进行的长期养分施肥实验，利用环境DNA测序，调查添加氮、磷和其他养分对土壤中黏菌群落的影响。结果预计将提供热带土壤原生动物如何对营养素的反应的第一个数据，并导致这些微小的捕食者如何可能影响热带forest.The更广泛的影响，该项目包括增强基因数据库的研究粘菌，国际合作，培训研究生和本科生，和公众宣传的功能增加的理解。DNA测序数据将向公众开放。该项目将通过国际奖学金计划为就读于阿肯色州大学的巴拿马学生提供研究经验，并为共同主要研究者提供研究经验。学生.联合PI已经通过几家公共媒体介绍了她的研究，并计划向公众进一步介绍。

Myxomycetes, or plasmodial slime molds, are among the most abundant protozoans in many soils, where they feed on bacteria and other microorganisms. The ecological role of myxomycetes may be considerable but has been studied very little. In collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, this project takes advantage of a long-term, nutrient fertilization experiment in lowland, tropical forest to investigate the effects of additions of nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients on communities of myxomycetes in the soil using environmental DNA sequencing. Results are expected to provide the first data on how tropical soil protozoans respond to nutrients and to lead to increased understanding of how these tiny predators may influence the functioning of tropical forests.The broader impacts of the project include enhancement of the genetic database for studies of myxomycetes, international collaboration, training of graduate and undergraduate students, and public outreach. DNA sequencing data will be made available to the public. The project will provide research experience for Panamanian students attending the University of Arkansas through an international scholarship program and for the co-PI, a Ph.D. student. The co-PI has already presented her research through several public media outlets and plans further presentations to the public.