Microbial Observatories: Kilauea Volcano Observatory for Carbon Monoxide-Oxidizing Bacteria

火山活动经常从火山灰、火山灰和熔岩的沉积物中创造新的地貌。 这些最初无菌的原始沉积物经历了一系列物理、化学和生物转化，在某些情况下导致了夏威夷雨林等多样化、复杂的生态系统。 最近的活动由基拉韦厄火山创造了独特的机会，了解复杂的生态系统发展的时间和控制，并分析微生物的作用，作为开拓殖民者，有助于植物的发展和演替。 新成立的基拉韦厄火山微生物观测站将比较目前已有45年和55年历史的两个不同矿床中一氧化碳氧化细菌的多样性和活性。 CO氧化细菌是重要的，因为它们有助于大气中的CO预算，并参与主要的地球化学循环。 在每个基拉韦厄地点，将沿着从无植被到有植被的沉积物的梯度分离新的CO氧化细菌。 初步结果表明，许多新的物种可以预期，包括共生微生物，影响植物的发展。 在每一个地点，一组生物地球化学分析和分子生态分析将建立一个框架，以了解CO氧化剂的生态意义及其与发展中植物群落的关系。作为该项目的一部分，一名博士后研究员和两名研究生将接受高级研究培训。 除了研究工作外，基拉韦厄火山微生物观测站还将支持一项教育推广计划，该计划涉及缅因州南布里斯托小学5-8年级的学生和夏威夷火山艺术与科学学校。 将编写关于火山系统的地质学、生物学和生态学的教学单元，并向这两个小组介绍。 两所学校将采用网上形式，促进本地文化和历史的交流。 来自火山学校的学生也将参加实地考察的研究地点。

Volcanic activity regularly creates new landforms from deposits of tephra, ash and lava. These initially sterile, pristine deposits undergo a range of physical, chemical and biological transformations that lead in some cases to diverse, complex ecosystems such as Hawaiian rainforests. Recent activity by the Kilauea volcano has created unique opportunities to understand the timing and controls of complex ecosystem development, and to analyze the roles of microbes as pioneering colonists that contribute to plant development and succession. The newly established Kilauea Volcano Microbial Observatory will compare the diversity and activity of carbon monoxide-oxidizing bacteria colonizing two different deposits currently 45 and 55 years old. CO-oxidizing bacteria are important because they contribute to budgets of CO in the atmosphere and participate in major biogeochemical cycles. Novel CO-oxidizing bacteria will be isolated along gradients from unvegetated to vegetated deposits at each of the Kilauea sites. Preliminary results indicate that many new species can be anticipated, including symbiotic microbes that affect plant development. At each of the sites a battery of biogeochemical analyses and molecular ecological analyses will establish a framework for understanding the ecological significance of CO oxidizers and their associations with developing plant communities.A postdoctoral researcher and two graduate students will receive advanced research training as part of the project. In addition to its research efforts, the Kilauea Volcano Microbial Observatory will support an educational outreach program involving grade 5-8 students at South Bristol Elementary School in Maine, and the Volcano School for Arts and Sciences in Hawai'i. Instructional modules about the geology, biology and ecology of volcanic systems will be prepared and presented to both groups. A web-based format will be used by the two schools to facilitate exchanges on local culture and history. Students from the Volcano School will also participate in field trips to the research sites.