SID/ISMS, An Autonomous Instrument for Combined In Situ Tracer Incubation Studies and Preservation of Microbial Samples for Genomic, Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis

主要研究者要求提供资金，以建造、测试和实施一种仪器（潜水孵育装置-原位微生物采样器（SID-ISMS）），该仪器将满足海洋环境中分子微生物生态学和地球化学元素循环研究的水柱采样的当前要求。这种仪器将使自主原位，关键微生物驱动的速率过程的时间序列测量结合同期采样（原位样品保存）的环境在同一位置，允许测量的活动与催化生物体的身份和功能的关联。新的发展将包括一个用于示踪剂速率测量的2L培养室，一个新的固定过滤器单元，允许在现场对过滤后的样品进行化学保存，而不需要外部机电支持，以便将SDSL数据纳入防腐剂交付。 研究生和博士后可能会有使用这项新技术的经验，在海上试验期间收集的样本将有助于研究生论文。这项技术很可能会恢复科学上新的遗传物质，并为SID模块中可以进行的整个地球化学测量范围产生修订的速率测量。利用WHOI和CMORE外联方案推广新的采样/收集技术，将确保接触到其他有兴趣从事科学事业的代表性不足的群体。这一新工具应该使科学家能够进入下一个层次，了解水生生态系统，而不是简单地“解决”现有的技术，目前限制了科学创造力。

The PI's request funding to build, test and implement an instrument (Submersible Incubation Device-In Situ Microbial Sampler (SID-ISMS) that will satisfy the current requirements for water column sampling for studies in molecular microbial ecology & biogeochemical element cycling in the marine environment. This instrumentation will make possible autonomous in situ, time series measurements of critical microbially-driven rate processes in conjunction with contemporaneous sampling (in situ sample preservation) of the environment at the same location to allow association of measured activities with the identity and function of the catalyzing organisms. New developments will include a 2L incubation chamber for tracer rate measurements, a new Fixation Filter Unit allowing in situ chemical preservation of filtered samples without need for external electromechanical support for preservative delivery & incorporation of a SDSL data.Broader Impacts: Grad-students and post-docs will likely have the experience to work with this new technology and the samples it collects during the sea trials will contribute to graduate theses. It's quite likely that this technology will recover genetic material that is new to science and produce revised rate measurements for the entire range of biogeochemical measurements that could be conducted in the SID module. The use of WHOI and CMORE outreach programs to promote the new sampling/collection technology will ensure exposure to other underrepresented groups with an interest in pursuing careers in science. This new tool should enable scientists to move to the next level of understanding aquatic ecosystems and not simply 'settle' for the available technology, which currently limits scientific creativity.