PurSUiT: Discovery and characterization of mesophotic seaweeds in Hawaii: genomic adaptations to low light environments

中温带位于海洋深处，那里几乎没有光线。可以生活在这些地区的生物，如海藻，人们知之甚少。其中一个区域从夏威夷群岛的海岸线向外延伸约30-150米。对这种习性的海藻进行的一项为期六年的初步研究发现，52%的海藻是科学上的新物种。确定和描述这些物种的特征，对于更好地了解热带太平洋海洋生物的分布、追踪入侵物种以及为了解全球生物多样性这一更大目标作出贡献，具有重要意义。该项目将收集、鉴定和描述夏威夷的中生海藻，增加生物多样性数据和植物标本收藏，并发现新物种。此外，这项研究将首次调查生活在中温带弱光环境中的红色、绿色和棕色海藻的基因组水平适应。重要的是，该项目的一个关键目标包括通过接触最新的DNA测序技术，培训下一代藻类生物学家从事当今的工作，培训标本馆管理、基因组学、生物信息学以及生态和进化分析。这项研究的目标和结果将通过许多外展活动、科学会议和同行评议的出版物广泛传播。夏威夷群岛的中游藻类植物区系将使用基因组浏览和形态分析来描述，以加快描述新物种的速度。将通过与美国国家海洋和大气局文化工作组的合作伙伴关系，为海藻新物种开发夏威夷语言名称。来自中游和浅海生境的密切相关物种对，包括绿藻、红藻和褐藻，将用比较基因组学方法进行分析。数据将被用来检验热带太平洋生物地理学、中生藻的进化以及基因组对中温带生命的适应假设。这项研究利用过去十年与科学家、机构和其他方面建立的伙伴关系，从偏远的野外站点和中层深度进行采样。交付成果包括永久存档的夏威夷中游生物标本收藏，通过网络可访问的数据库(托管在主教博物馆)开放获取所有项目数据，建立基准中游藻类数据集以帮助识别和筛选，对选定的分类群进行系统修订，以及更新物种清单。该奖项反映了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。

The mesophotic zone lies deep in oceans where very little light is present. The organisms, such as seaweeds, that can live in these zones are poorly known. One such zone extends approximately 30-150 m deep off the coastlines of the Hawaiian Islands. An initial six-year study of seaweeds in this habit found that 52% of the species were new to science. Characterizing and describing these species is important for developing a greater understanding of the distribution of marine organisms across the tropical Pacific, for tracking invasive species, and for contributing to the larger goal of understanding global biodiversity. This project will collect, identify and describe mesophotic seaweeds from Hawaii, adding to biodiversity data and herbarium collections, and new species discovery. Additionally, this research will allow the first investigation into genome-level adaptations of red, green, and brown seaweeds that live in the low-light environment of the mesophotic zone. Importantly, a key goal of this project includes training the next generation of algal biologists for current-day jobs through exposure to the most up-to-date DNA sequencing techniques, training in herbarium curation, genomics, bioinformatics, and ecological and evolutionary analyses. The goals and results of the research will be broadly communicated through numerous outreach events, scientific conferences, and peer-reviewed publications.The mesophotic algal flora of the Hawaiian Islands will be characterized using genome skimming and morphological analysis to speed the pathway to description of new species. Hawaiian language names for new species of seaweeds will be developed through a partnership with the NOAA Cultural Working Group. Closely related pairs of species from mesophotic and shallow marine habitats, including green, red, and brown algal species, will be analyzed with a comparative genomics approach. Data will be used to test hypotheses of biogeography in the tropical Pacific, evolution of mesophotic algae, and genomic adaptations to life in the mesophotic zone. This research leverages partnerships with scientists, agencies, and others that have been forged over the past decade to sample from remote field sites and mesophotic depths. Deliverables include permanently archived collections of Hawaiian mesophotic specimens, open access to all project data through a web accessible database (hosted at Bishop Museum), establishment of a baseline mesophotic algae dataset to aid identification and screening, systematic revision of select taxa, and an updated species checklist.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.