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

酸性矿山废水(AMD)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利用经典微生物学和基于基因组学的新分子技术，了解微生物群落功能的可变性，以及寒冷温度对微生物适应和AMD生产的影响。该研究计划将重点放在对加拿大北部地区和远北地区现有和新的矿业发展的研究上，解决与加拿大采矿业可持续发展直接相关的AMD微生物生态学的基本科学问题。特别是，我们想了解AMD微生物协会如何在较冷的采矿环境中发挥作用，以及它们的适应能力是否可以推动低温下的生物浸出。通过扩展，这项研究将调查冷适应的AMD微生物群落是否可以用于通过使用被动生物淋滤和生物修复来制定可持续管理战略。考虑到像萨德伯里这样的硫化矿石富集区产生的采矿废物的强度，以及安大略省远北(火环)的采矿开发，迫切需要更好地了解适应寒冷的AMD微生物生态。拟议的研究将：1)制定“AMD微生物群”和冷活动联合体的详细微生物群落概况，2)评估它们在推动AMD寒冷环境中的生物地球化学过程中的作用，目的是3)揭示可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，了解微生物群落如何适应极端的AMD环境，推动生物地球化学过程，在较冷的气候中浸出矿山废物中的金属和酸。这项提议的资金将支持对4名研究生进行环境微生物学、基因组学、生物信息学、微生物浸出和补救方面的培训，从而为促进加拿大和其他地方的可持续采矿提供新的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.