Ecology and molecular biology of the effects of cold temperatures on acid mine drainage microbial communities.

矿山酸性排水是一个广泛存在的环境问题，对淡水生态系统具有破坏性影响。我的研究计划的主要目标是了解微生物群落功能的可变性，以及低温对微生物适应和AMD产生的影响，使用经典微生物学和新的基于基因组学的分子技术。该研究项目将重点研究加拿大北部地区和远北地区已建立的和新的采矿开发项目，解决AMD微生物生态学的基本科学问题，与加拿大采矿业的可持续性直接相关。特别是，我们想了解AMD微生物群落在较冷的采矿环境中是如何运作的，以及它们的适应能力是否能在低温下驱动生物浸出。进一步，本研究将探讨冷适应AMD微生物群落是否可以通过使用被动生物浸出和生物修复来制定可持续管理策略。考虑到萨德伯里（Sudbury）等硫化物矿丰富地区的采矿废物产生强度，以及安大略省远北（火环）的采矿发展，迫切需要更好地了解冷适应AMD微生物生态。拟议的研究将：1)开发“AMD微生物组”和冷活性联合体的详细微生物群落概况；2)评估它们在寒冷AMD环境中驱动生物地球化学过程的功能，目标是3)揭示可能用于北方采矿应用的新的代谢特性（即微生物菌株/酶）。我的目标是建立一个更好的理解微生物群落如何适应极端AMD环境的功能，驱动生物地球化学过程，在较冷的气候条件下浸出矿山废物中的金属和酸。该提案的资金将用于培训环境微生物学、基因组学、生物信息学、微生物浸出和修复方面的4名研究生，从而为促进加拿大和其他地方的可持续采矿提供所需的新HQP。

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a widespread environmental problem with devastating effects on freshwater ecosystems. The key objectives of my research program are to understand the variability in microbial community function and the effects of cold temperatures on microbial adaptation and the production of AMD, using both classical microbiology and novel genomics-based molecular techniques. With an emphasis on studies in the established and new mining developments in Canada's Boreal region and the Far North, this research program will address fundamental scientific questions in AMD microbial ecology with immediate relevance to sustainability in the Canadian mining industry. In particular, we want to understand how AMD microbial consortia function in colder mining environments and whether their adaptive capabilities can drive bioleaching at cold temperatures. By extension, this research will investigate whether cold-adapted AMD microbial communities can be used in developing sustainable management strategies through the use of passive bioleaching and bioremediation. Given the intensity of mining waste generation in sulfide ore-rich areas like Sudbury, and the mining developments in Ontario's Far North (Ring of Fire), a better understanding of cold-adapted AMD microbial ecology is urgently needed. The proposed research will, 1) develop detailed microbial community profiles of the "AMD microbiome" and cold-active consortia, and 2) assess their functions in driving the biogeochemical processes within cold AMD environments, with a goal of 3) uncovering novel metabolic properties (i.e. microbial strains/enzymes) that may be used in northern mining applications. I aim to establish an improved understanding of how microbial communities have adapted to function in extreme AMD environments, driving the biogeochemical processes that leach metals and acid in mine waste within colder climates. Funding for this proposal will support the training of 4 graduate students in environmental microbiology, genomics, bioinformatics, microbial bioleaching, and remediation, thus contributing new HQP required to promote sustainable mining in Canada, and elsewhere.