Collaborative Research: Chemical and Biological Characterizations of Phosphonate and Polyphosphate Dynamics in Marine Phytoplankton

磷(P)是海洋初级生产中公认的必需营养物，其无机化学性质已被广泛研究。然而，溶态有机磷池（DOP）作为微生物的重要磷源，其研究却很少。本项目将通过磷酸盐和多磷酸盐的对照培养研究，确定有机磷化合物的生物源。这些化合物类对磷循环、固碳和群落结构、上层海洋输出和长期固存起着重要的控制作用。该研究将采用创新的方法，包括分子工具和新的化学分析，来研究不同环境条件下关键浮游植物类群的特定膦酸盐和多磷酸盐化合物的生产。四个假设推动了拟议的研究，并将研究重点放在主要的研究问题上。该研究将提高我们对特定磷化合物生产的理解，并为有机磷的生物利用度和磷对生物生产的影响提供见解。该项目将培训三名研究生，并有一个与该研究有关的大量外联部分。这些pi将使用Whyville（一个专门针对8-14岁儿童的在线虚拟世界）将教育和推广整合到K-12社区。在这项研究中，研究人员将扩大Whyville作为科学学习工具的使用范围，通过与有风险的儿童进行互动，作为科学探索的一部分，这是一个在住房庇护所进行的课后项目，并通过向学校教师提供密集的夏季短期课程。

Phosphorus (P) is a recognized essential nutrient for marine primary production and its inorganic chemistry has been well studied. However, the dissolved organic phosphorus pool (DOP) has been little studied even given its importance as a phosphorus source to microorganisms. This project will identify biogenic sources of P compounds to DOP using controlled culture studies focused on phosphonate and polyphosphate. These compound classes exert important controls over P cycling, carbon fixation and community structure and export from the upper ocean, and long-term sequestration. The study will employ innovative methods, including molecular tools and novel chemical analyses, to examine specific phosphonate and polyphosphate compound production by key phytoplankton taxa under different environmental conditions. Four hypotheses are driving the proposed research and focus the study on the primary research questions. The study will improve our understanding of the production of specific P compounds, and provide insight into the bioavailability of DOP and the influence of P on biological production.The project will train three graduate students and there is a substantial outreach component associated with the study. The PIs will integrate education and outreach to K-12 communities using Whyville, an online virtual world geared specifically to 8-14 year old children. During this study, the investigators will expand the use of Whyville as a science learning tool through interactions with at-risk children as part of ScienceQuest, an after school program at a housing shelter, and through intensive summer short courses to school teachers.