CAREER: Ecosystem Impacts of Microbial Succession and Production at Antarctic Methane Seeps

职业：南极甲烷渗漏微生物演替和生产对生态系统的影响

• 批准号: 2046800
• 负责人: Andrew Thurber
• 金额: $ 124.66万
• 依托单位: Oregon State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2026-12-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2046800&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Ecosystem; Impacts; Microbial; Succession

Part I: Non-technical description: Methane is one of the more effective atmospheric gases at retaining heat in the lower atmosphere and the earth’s crust contains large quantities of methane. Research that identifies the factors that control methane’s release into the atmosphere is critical to understanding and mitigating climate change. One of the most effective natural processes that inhibits the release of methane from aquatic habitats is a community of bacteria and Archaea (microbes) that use the chemical energy stored in methane, transforming methane into less-climate-sensitive compounds. The amount of methane that may be released in Antarctica is unknown, and it is unclear which microbes consume the methane before it is released from the ocean in Antarctica. This project will study one of the few methane seeps known in Antarctica to advance our understanding of which microbes inhibit the release of methane in marine environments. The research will also identify if methane is a source of energy for other Antarctic organisms. The researchers will analyze the microbial species associated with methane consumption over several years of field and laboratory research based at an Antarctic US station, McMurdo. This project clearly expands the fundamental knowledge of Antarctic systems, biota, and processes outlined as a goal in the Antarctic solicitation. This research communicates and produces educational material for K-12, college, and graduate students to inspire and inform the public about the role Antarctic ecosystems play in the global environment. This project also provides a young professor an opportunity to establish himself as an expert in the field of Antarctic microbial ecology to help solidify his academic career.Part II: Technical description: Microbes act as filter to methane release from the ocean into the atmosphere, where microbial chemosynthetic production harvests the chemical energy stored in this greenhouse gas. In spite of methane reservoirs in Antarctica being as large as Arctic permafrost, we know only a little about the taxa or dominant processes involved in methane consumption in Antarctica. The principal investigator will undertake a genomic and transcriptomic study of microbial communities developed and still developing after initiation of methane seepage in McMurdo Sound. An Antarctic methane seep was discovered at this location in 2012 after it began seeping in 2011. Five years after it began releasing methane, the methane-oxidizing microbial community was underdeveloped and methane was still escaping from the seafloor. This project will be essential in elucidating the response of microbial communities to methane release and identify how methane oxidation occurs within the constraints of the low polar temperatures. This investigation is based on 4 years of field sampling and will establish a time series of the development of cold seep microbial communities in Antarctica. A genome-to-ecosystem approach will establish how the Southern Ocean microbial community is adapted to prevent methane release into the ocean. As methane is an organic carbon source, results from this study will have implications for the Southern Ocean carbon cycle. Two graduate students will be trained and supported with undergraduates participating in laboratory activities. The researcher aims to educate, inspire and communicate about Antarctic methane seeps to a broad community. A mixed-media approach, with videos, art and education in schools will be supported in collaboration with a filmmaker, teachers and a visual artist. Students will be trained in filmmaking and K-12 students from under-represented communities will be introduced to Antarctic science through visual arts.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.

第一部分：非技术性说明：甲烷是在低层大气中保持热量的最有效的大气气体之一，地壳中含有大量的甲烷。确定控制甲烷释放到大气中的因素的研究对于理解和减缓气候变化至关重要。抑制甲烷从水生栖息地释放的最有效的自然过程之一是细菌和微生物群落，它们利用甲烷中储存的化学能，将甲烷转化为对气候不太敏感的化合物。 南极洲可能释放的甲烷量尚不清楚，也不清楚在南极洲海洋释放甲烷之前，哪些微生物消耗了甲烷。该项目将研究南极洲已知的为数不多的甲烷渗漏之一，以促进我们对海洋环境中哪些微生物抑制甲烷释放的了解。这项研究还将确定甲烷是否是其他南极生物的能量来源。研究人员将在美国南极考察站麦克默多进行多年的实地和实验室研究，分析与甲烷消耗相关的微生物物种。该项目显然扩大了对南极系统、生物区系和过程的基本了解，这是南极征集的一个目标。该研究为K-12，大学和研究生提供教育材料，以激励和告知公众南极生态系统在全球环境中的作用。该项目还为一位年轻教授提供了一个机会，使他成为南极微生物生态学领域的专家，以帮助巩固他的学术生涯。 微生物充当甲烷从海洋释放到大气中的过滤器，在那里微生物化学合成生产收获储存在这种温室气体中的化学能量。尽管南极洲的甲烷储层与北极永久冻土一样大，但我们对南极洲甲烷消耗所涉及的类群或主导过程知之甚少。主要研究者将对麦克默多湾甲烷渗漏开始后已形成和仍在形成的微生物群落进行基因组和转录组学研究。在2011年开始渗漏后，2012年在这个位置发现了南极甲烷渗漏。在它开始释放甲烷五年后，甲烷氧化微生物群落还不发达，甲烷仍在从海底逃逸。该项目将是必不可少的，在阐明微生物群落的甲烷释放的反应，并确定如何在极地温度低的限制下发生甲烷氧化。本次调查是基于4年的现场采样，并将建立一个时间序列的发展在南极冷泉微生物群落。基因组到生态系统的方法将确定南大洋微生物群落如何适应以防止甲烷释放到海洋中。由于甲烷是一种有机碳源，这项研究的结果将对南大洋碳循环产生影响。两名研究生将接受培训，并支持本科生参加实验室活动。研究人员的目标是教育，启发和交流南极甲烷渗漏到一个广泛的社区。将与一名电影制片人、教师和一名视觉艺术家合作，支持在学校采用视频、艺术和教育等混合媒体方法。学生将接受电影制作培训，来自代表性不足社区的K-12学生将通过视觉艺术介绍南极科学。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。