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

论文研究：低地热带雨林中粘菌群落对 14 年氮、磷和钾添加的响应

• 批准号: 1406667
• 负责人: Steven Stephenson
• 金额: $ 1.9万
• 依托单位: University of Arkansas
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-06-01 至 2016-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1406667&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; RESPONSE; MYXOMYCETE; COMMUNITIES

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.

黏菌或疟原虫黏菌是许多土壤中数量最多的原生动物之一，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，但研究很少。该项目与巴拿马史密森尼热带研究所合作，利用在低地热带森林进行的长期营养施肥实验，利用环境DNA测序来研究添加氮、磷和其他营养物质对土壤中黏菌群落的影响。预计研究结果将提供有关热带土壤原生动物如何对养分作出反应的第一批数据，并使人们进一步了解这些微小的捕食者如何影响热带森林的功能。该项目的更广泛影响包括加强黏菌研究的遗传数据库、国际合作、研究生和本科生的培训以及公众宣传。DNA测序数据将向公众开放。该项目将通过一项国际奖学金计划，为在阿肯色大学就读的巴拿马学生和一名博士生提供研究经验。联合调查主任已经通过几家公共媒体介绍了她的研究，并计划进一步向公众介绍。