NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2019: Monarchs, milkweed and microbes

这一行动为NSF 2019财年生物学博士后研究奖学金提供资金，扩大了生物学领域代表性不足群体的参与。该奖学金支持一项针对该研究员的研究和培训计划，该计划将增加生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。这位科学家的导师是堪萨斯大学的詹姆斯·D·贝弗和喜悦·K·沃德。这位研究员提出的研究有可能拓宽我们对土壤微生物的理解，以平衡大气中二氧化碳的增加，特别是在草原生态系统中。在这些栖息地，帝王蝶依赖于乳草来获得碳基化学提取物，以保护它们免受捕食者的伤害，并可能对癌症治疗产生影响。然而，人们几乎不知道这些碳基化学提取物，也就是所谓的万寿菊内酯，会如何随着二氧化碳内流的增加而改变。这些变化可能会对帝王的生存和食物网结构产生影响。了解土壤微生物如何有助于缓解大气二氧化碳浓缩的结果，可以为生态系统的可持续性提供洞察。该研究员正在进行的实验还允许对本科生进行培训，其中包括堪萨斯大学的三名麦克奈尔学者。在生长室条件下，大气中的二氧化碳将被广泛的本土马利筋物种、本土AM真菌物种和微生物控制。响应变量，包括马利筋化学提取物，将使用高压液相色谱(HPLC)进行测量。对多种营养反应的检测，包括原生马利筋质量、原生帝王幼虫性能和原生AM真菌定殖率；将揭示二氧化碳增加可能如何影响植物-微生物-昆虫相互作用。该项目还为寻求环境微生物学、全球变化生物学或化学生态学经验的学员提供了一种跨学科的方法。此外，这位研究员还可以激励类似血统的导师，包括第一代美国人(海地裔美国人)、社区大学学生以及来自市中心(波士顿马塔潘)的少数族裔。通过国家科学基金会提供的机会，该研究员将扩大参与和我们对全球变化生物学中微生物的理解。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2019, Broadening Participation of Groups Under-represented in Biology. The fellowship supports a research and training plan for the Fellow that will increase the participation of groups underrepresented in biology. The Fellow is being mentored by two sponsoring scientists, James D. Bever and Joy K. Ward at the University of Kansas. The research presented by the Fellow has the potential to broaden our understanding of soil microbes, as a counterbalance to atmospheric CO2 enrichment, especially in prairie ecosystems. In these habitats, monarch butterflies depend on milkweed for carbon-based chemical extracts that protect them from predators and may also have implications for cancer therapy. However, little is known as to how these carbon-based chemical extracts, termed cardenolides, may be altered in response to increase in CO2 influx. These changes may have consequences on monarch survival and food-web structure. Understanding how soil microbes may help mitigate outcomes of atmospheric CO2 enrichment, could provide insight into ecosystem sustainability. The experiments being executed by the Fellow also allow for training of undergraduates, including TRIO McNair Scholars at the University of Kansas. Under growth-chamber conditions, atmospheric CO2 will be manipulated for a broad range of native milkweed species, native AM-fungal species and a microbial control. Response variables, including milkweed chemical extracts, will be measured using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Examination of multi-trophic responses, including native milkweed quality, native monarch larval performance, and native AM-fungal colonization rates; will reveal how CO2 enrichment may impact plant-microbe-insect interactions. This project also affords an interdisciplinary approach for mentees seeking experience in environmental microbiology, global change biology or chemical ecology. Additionally, the Fellow can inspire mentees of similar origin, including first-generation Americans (Haitian-American), community college students, as well as minorities from the inner-city (Mattapan, Boston). Through the opportunities afforded by the National Science Foundation, the Fellow will broaden participation and our understanding of microbes in global change biology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.