NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology: Linking Diversity and Environmental Change to the Productivity of Alpine Snow Algal Communities

研究员姓名：布鲁克L。WeigelProposal编号：2208949研究题目：将多样性和环境变化与雪藻群落的生产力联系起来赞助科学家和主办机构：Robin Kodner博士（西华盛顿大学）和乔迪·扬博士（华盛顿大学西雅图分校）这项行动为2022财年的NSF生物学博士后研究奖学金提供资金，综合研究调查基因组之间相互作用的生命规则，环境和表型。该研究金支持研究员的研究和培训，以创新的方式为生活规则领域做出贡献。被称为雪藻的微型藻类在世界各地被雪覆盖的高山生态系统中茁壮成长。雪藻细胞有红色色素，雪藻的大量繁殖使雪表面变暗，加速雪的融化。世界各地被雪覆盖的山脉提供了重要的水供应，因此了解雪藻如何影响融雪对全球水安全至关重要。这项研究旨在确定高山生态系统中雪藻群落的生产力（光合作用速率）和生物量如何与其遗传和生命周期多样性以及温度和大气二氧化碳水平等环境因素联系起来。这项研究将使科学家能够确定气候变化对雪藻群落的影响，并预测雪藻未来将如何影响高山生态系统的融雪。该项目的关键组成部分将包括通过活雪项目与当地社区的接触，以及通过指导在科学领域代表性不足的学生来扩大科学参与。（种间和生命周期多样性），以及环境条件（季节性、温度、光照和二氧化碳水平），塑造雪藻群落的初级生产力和生物量。该项目有三个主要目标：（1）量化遗传多样性的变化（使用分类基因的扩增子测序），生活周期多样性（使用显微镜）和雪藻群落的表型特征（植物生理学，碳固定和细胞呼吸率）在整个春季和夏季生长季节在外地网站在华盛顿北瀑布;（2）在实验室测试雪藻群落对大气二氧化碳水平上升的生理和转录反应;（3）将目标1和目标2的结果综合到雪藻对高山生态系统生物多样性和融雪影响的参数化预测模型中。该研究员将获得高山生态系统实地考察技术，转录组测序，数据分析和包容性教学实践的宝贵培训。在整个奖学金期间，该研究员将通过指导在雪藻研究项目中科学代表性不足的学生，以及通过在STEM研讨会中基于动物园的包容性教学法对其他博士后研究人员进行同伴教育来扩大科学参与。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得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来支持。

Fellow's name: Brooke L. WeigelProposal number: 2208949Research title: Linking diversity and environmental change to the productivity of snow algal communitiesSponsoring scientist(s) and host institution(s): Dr. Robin Kodner (Western Washington University) and Dr. Jodi Young (University of Washington-Seattle)This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2022, Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment and Phenotypes. The fellowship supports research and training of the fellow that will contribute to the area of Rules of Life in innovative ways. Microscopic algae called snow algae thrive in snow-covered alpine ecosystems worldwide. Snow algae cells have red pigments, and blooms of snow algae darken the snow surface and accelerate snowmelt. Snow-covered mountains around the world provide a critical supply of water, so understanding how snow algae impact snowmelt is important for global water security. This research aims to determine how the productivity (photosynthesis rates) and biomass of snow algae communities in alpine ecosystems is linked to their genetic and life cycle diversity, and to environmental factors such as temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. This research will allow scientists to determine the impacts of climate change on snow algal communities and predict how snow algae will impact snowmelt in alpine ecosystems in the future. Key components of this project will include engagement with local communities through the Living Snow Project, and broadening participation in science through mentorship of students underrepresented in the sciences.This research will determine how multiple components of biodiversity (interspecific and life cycle diversity), together with environmental conditions (seasonality, temperature, light, and carbon dioxide levels), shape the primary productivity and biomass of snow algae communities. This project has three primary aims: (1) quantify variation in genetic diversity (using amplicon sequencing of taxonomic genes), life cycle diversity (using microscopy), and phenotypic traits of snow algal communities (photophysiology, carbon fixation and cellular respiration rates) across the spring and summer growing season at field sites in the North Cascades of Washington; (2) test the physiological and transcriptional responses of snow algal communities to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in the lab; and (3) synthesize results from aims 1 and 2 to parameterize predictive models of snow algae impacts to bioalbedo and snowmelt in alpine ecosystems. The fellow will gain invaluable training in alpine ecosystem fieldwork techniques, transcriptomic sequencing, data analysis, and inclusive pedagogical practices. Throughout the fellowship period, the fellow will broaden participation in science by mentoring students underrepresented in the sciences on snow algae research projects, and by peer education to other postdoctoral researchers through a zoom-based inclusive pedagogy in STEM workshop.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.