Cave microbial metabolism as a missing biogeochemical sink

该项目的目的是揭示地下生态系统的微生物生物多样性，新的代谢能力和化学合成初级生产，例如在洞穴中发现的那些。利用地理空间，分子和地球化学方法的强大组合，该项目预计将确定驱动地球主要基本周期的地下地球化学过程的微生物基础。预期成果包括一个预测框架，以评估和扩大这些微生物群落对环境的影响。其益处包括通过揭示微生物如何应对养分和碳消耗来预测和应对气候风险，例如农业土壤的荒漠化。

The aim of this project is to unveil the microbial biodiversity, novel metabolic capabilities and chemosynthetic primary production of subsurface ecosystems, such as those found in caves. Leveraging a powerful blend of geospatial, molecular and biogeochemical approaches this project expects to identify the microbial basis of subsurface biogeochemical processes driving the earth’s major elementary cycles. Expected outcomes include a predictive framework to assess and upscale the impact of these microbial communities on the environment. Benefits include predicting and responding to climate risks, such as the desertification of agricultural soils, by uncovering how microorganisms respond to nutrient and carbon depletion.