MO: Diversity and Ecology of Archael Viruses from Yellowstone Thermal Environments

该项目的总体目标是在黄石温泉中发现新的病毒，并了解它们在确定它们所在的微生物群落的组成和功能方面所起的作用。这项研究的具体目标是显著促进我们对病毒多样性、生态学和进化的理解。其具体目的是(I)显著扩展对病毒多样性的认识和(Ii)阐明病毒运动对病毒和微生物群落结构和动态的机制(S)和影响。这些目标将通过对黄石国家公园发现的高温(80°C)酸性(pH 4.0)温泉相关的全部病毒群落进行时间采样和分析来实现。病毒移动的影响和移动机制将分别通过阻止温泉内的移动和直接采样空气柱中的病毒来进行实验研究。这个项目的更广泛的意义和科学意义是了解病毒如何影响地球生态系统以及影响到什么程度。这项研究的目的是开始克服我们对自然界中病毒多样性和功能的无知，因为与它们的细胞宿主相比，它们受到的关注有限。这项研究的更广泛的影响包括，但远远超出了博士后和研究生、本科生和高中生的培训。这些更广泛的影响包括开发一项促进黄石公园热环境的动态推广方案，包括但不限于：(I)通过制定科学课程在全国范围内针对K-12学习者和教师的推广方案；(Ii)实地教师培训课程；(Iii)参与各种社区推广方案，包括社区系列讲座；(Iv)参与成人实地体验；(V)参与ParKids，为黄石公园社区的孩子们提供为期3天的基于热生物学的学习体验；以及(Vi)发行有关黄石公园热生物学和我们的研究的国内和国际电影纪录片、广播和流行媒体文章。

The overall goal of this project is to discover novel viruses in Yellowstone hot springs, and learn what role they play in determining composition and function of the microbial communities in which they exist. The specific objective of the research is to significantly contribute to our understanding of virus diversity, ecology, and evolution. The specific aims are to (i) significantly expand knowledge of virus diversity and (ii) elucidate the mechanism(s) and impacts of virus movement on virus and microbial community structure and dynamics. These aims will be accomplished by temporal sampling and analysis of total virus communities associated with high temperature (80°C) acidic (pH4.0) hot springs found in Yellowstone National Park. The effects of virus movement and the mechanism of movement will be investigated experimentally by blocking migration within a hot spring and by directly sampling the air column for viruses, respectively.The broader significance and scientific importance of this project is to understand how and to what extent viruses influence Earth's ecosystems. This research is aimed at beginning to overcome our ignorance of virus diversity and function in nature due to the limited attention that they have received as compared to their cellular hosts. The broader impacts of this research include, but extend well beyond the training of postdocs and graduate, undergraduate and high school students. These broader impacts encompass development of a dynamic outreach program promoting Yellowstone's thermal environments, including but not limited to, (i) an outreach program that targets K-12 learners and teachers nationally through the development of science curriculum; (ii) a field-based teacher training class; (iii) participation in a variety of community outreach programs including a community lecture series; (iv) participation in field experiences for adults; (v) participation in ParKids, a 3-day thermal biology based learning experience for kids in Yellowstone Gateway communities; and (vi) distribution of national and international film documentaries, radio and popular press articles concerning Yellowstone's thermal biology and our research.