Dissertation Research: Investigations of a Dynamic Microbially-Mediated Iron Cycle in the Rhizosphere of Wetland Plants

[00-73980]湿地植物根际微生物介导的铁循环的动态研究。研究人员发现，生活在植物根表面的铁氧化细菌可以利用溶解的铁（高浓度的污染物）作为能量来源，从而将其从水中去除。其他形式的细菌消耗根部的锈层并将其释放回水中。这就形成了一个铁在湿地系统中被捕获和释放的循环。研究人员将研究存在的细菌类型及其在湿地铁循环中的作用，以确定湿地是否长期去除和储存湿地土壤中的铁。本研究还将探讨湿地植物根际铁循环对甲烷生成的影响。

00-73980Megonigal / WeissDDIG: Investigations of a dynamic microbially-mediated iron cycle in the rhizosphere of wetland plantsWetlands naturally filter pollutants from streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater. The investigators have found iron-oxidizing bacteria living on plant root surfaces that can use dissolved iron -a pollutant at high concentrations- as an energy source, thus removing it from water. Other forms of bacteria consume the rust coating on roots and release it back into the water. This creates a cycle of iron being trapped and released in the wetland system. The investigators will study the types of bacteria present and their role in the wetland iron cycle to determine if wetlands remove and store iron in wetland soils over long time periods. The research will also examine the effects of the iron cycle in the wetland plant rhizosphere on methanogenesis.