MRI: Instrumentation for the Chemical and Biological Characterization of Factors Affecting the Distribution and Phytoremediation of Seagrasses in Coastal Bays and Estuaries

美国德州农工大学科corpus Christi分校的Patrick Larkin博士、Kirk Cammarata博士、Eugene Billiot博士、Feri Billiot博士、Patrick Louchouarn博士和Mark Morvant博士获得了一笔拨款，用于研究影响德克萨斯州南部海湾沿岸海草分布的环境因素。需要获得的仪器包括(1)用于DNA测序和分子标记分析的遗传分析仪，(2)用于制备亚细胞组分、细胞器DNA、蛋白质和肽的超离心机，(3)用于分析除草剂、有机金属化合物和无机离子等环境污染物的毛细管电泳系统，以及(4)用于制备用于分析的沉积物和植物组织的冷冻干燥机。本研究的目标和范围将是：1)评估沿南德克萨斯海湾沿岸海草草甸的基因分布、异质性和流动；2)提高我们对有机和金属污染物在我们独特环境中的重要性的认识；3)开发以植物为基础的系统（或微型系统），可以专门解毒土壤或水中的污染物。研究将包括分析海草物种（Halodule beaudetteii, Halophila engelmannii, Cymodocea filformis， Thalassia testudinum和Ruppia maritima）的遗传多样性和基因在受农业，娱乐和工业活动高度影响的种群中的流动。遗传多样性分析将通过开发分子标记、直接DNA测序和统计分析来进行。将对海草和相关水生植物进行研究，以评估它们对环境污染物的生物积累和/或解毒能力。特别是，机理研究将利用毛细管电泳技术来表征研究植物中相关螯合剂的发生。要确定和量化的参数包括金属浓度、有机酸、氨基酸、植物螯合素和运输蛋白。我们还希望研究植物和海草如何对有机污染物做出反应/去除有机污染物，因为德克萨斯州墨西哥湾沿岸独特的环境中存在许多这样的污染物。我们希望：1)量化水生/湿地植物组织中的疏水有机碳（HOC），以确定其分配和生物命运；2)比较不同植物根际和非根际沉积物中的疏水有机碳。我们的研究旨在回答有关生境要求、污染物植物修复的潜在机制以及遗传学对海草及其相关水生植物床的保护、繁殖和建立的重要性等许多问题。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Patrick Larkin, Dr. Kirk Cammarata, Dr. Eugene Billiot, Dr. Feri Billiot, Dr. Patrick Louchouarn and Dr. Mark Morvant at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to Acquire instrumentation to study the environmental factors affecting the distribution of seagrasses along the south Texas Gulf coast. The instruments to be acquired include (1) a genetic analyzer for DNA sequencing and molecular marker analysis, (2) an ultracentrifuge for the preparation of subcellular fractions, organelle DNA, proteins and peptides (3) a capillary electrophoresis system for the analysis of environmental pollutants such as herbicides, organometallic compounds and inorganic ions and (4) a freeze dryer for the preparation of sediment and plant tissues for analysis. The goals and scope of this research will be to 1) assess the distribution, heterogeneity and flow of genes among seagrass meadows along the south Texas gulf coast; 2) advance our understanding of the significance of organic and metal pollutants in our unique environment; and 3) develop plant-based systems (or microcosms) which can specifically detoxify contaminants in soil or water. Studies will include the analysis of seagrass species (Halodule beaudetteii, Halophila engelmannii, Cymodocea filiformis, Thalassia testudinum, and Ruppia maritima) for genetic diversity and gene flow among populations highly impacted by agricultural, recreational and industrial activity. Analysis of genetic diversity will be undertaken by the development of molecular markers, direct DNA sequencing and statistical analysis. Seagrasses and associated aquatic plants will be studied to assess their ability for the bioaccumulation and/or detoxification of environmental contaminants. In particular, mechanistic studies will utilize capillary electrophoresis technology to characterize the occurrence of relevant chelators in study plants. Parameters to be identified and quantified include metal concentrations, organic acids, amino acids, phytochelatins, and transport proteins. We also wish to study how plants and seagrasses in particular, respond to/remove organic pollutants, since a number of such contaminants exist along the Texas gulf coast's unique environment. We would like to: 1) quantify hydrophobic organic carbons (HOC's) in aquatic/wetland plant tissues to determine partitioning and biological fate, and 2) compare HOCs in rhizosphere vs. non-rhizosphere sediments for various plants. Our research proposes to answer many questions concerning habitat requirements, potential mechanisms of pollutant phytoremediation and the importance of genetics for conservation, propagation and establishment of seagrass and associated aquatic plant beds.