Microbiology of C1 Compounds in the Upper Ocean

该奖项为西伯思博士和他的合作研究人员提供了为期两年的持续资助，以更新他们在海洋微生物学方面的工作。该奖项是基于他们先前资助的研究（1985 - 1987）的成就更新，该研究导致从海水中分离出一个新的古细菌属。西伯斯博士提出了一个令人兴奋的假设，即在表层海水中存在一种非常活跃的海洋细菌组合，它们产生并消耗简单的碳化合物。这代表了一种以前未记载的地表水中碳的途径。目前的奖项将使西伯斯博士能够验证这一假设，并继续他对致病生物的分析。该奖项还支持采用敏感技术（如比色法）测量海水溶解无机碳的富有成效的合作研究人员。

This award supports a two year continuing grant for Dr. Sieburth and his co-investigators to renew their work on marine microbiology. The award is an Accomplishment Based Renewal of their previously funded research (1985 - 1987) that has led to the isolation of a new genus of archebacteria from marine waters. Dr. Sieburth has put forth the exciting hypothesis that there exists a very active assemblage of marine bacteria that produce and consume simple carbon compounds in surface seawater. This represents a previously undocumented pathway for carbon in surface waters. The current award will enable Dr. Sieburth to test this hypothesis and continue his analysis of the organisms responsible. The award also supports the productive co- investigators that have adapted sensitive techniques such as coloumetry for the measurement of seawater dissolved inorganic carbon.