BIOME-A Bio-Robotic Infrastructure for Oceanic Microbial Ecology

国际和平研究所要求提供资金来开发BIOME，这是一个用于海洋微生物生态的生物机器人基础设施。沿海生态系统是全球生物地球化学循环的中心，尽管其规模相对较小；因此，生物海洋学的重点是了解大陆架上的微生物水华动态。不幸的是，我们关于不同细菌群落如何在季节之间转换的概念仍然不完整，因为我们无法在适当的时间和空间进行采样，以解决影响微生物区系的过程。为了解决这一限制，我们建议建立一个与Slocum Glider兼容的生物采样器。缺少的是一个能够收集完整生物量并将其送回实验室进行分子生态学研究的部件，以描绘推动海洋细菌进化的机制。该项目将提供一个平台，以确定在海洋环境中负责微生物生长、适应和生存的代谢和基因组特性和机制。生物群研究将解决海洋生态学中的基本问题，并阐明支持海洋微生物多样性的机制。广泛影响：这一提议的潜在广泛影响大于平均水平，因为正在设计的设备如果成功，有可能被广泛部署，并将导致更准确的海洋微生物群落结构和活动模型。私人投资机构建议在大西洋中部海洋科学教育卓越中心的一名教育推广专家的帮助下，制定关于大西洋中部海湾细菌的K-12课程计划，并已将该项目的这一方面列入预算。有一项计划通过各种在线和暑期教师培训计划向K-12教师传播课程，通过在当地图书馆的讲座向公众传播课程，并通过罗格斯大学4-H课后计划向孩子们传播课程。PI还打算(尽管没有制定任何具体计划)通过Rise@Rutgers计划将未被充分代表的种族群体纳入夏季研究。

The PI's request funding to develop BIOME, a Bio-Robotic Infrastructure for Oceanic Microbial Ecology. Coastal ecosystems are central to global biogeochemical cycles despite their relatively small size; therefore, biological oceanography has focused on understanding microbial bloom dynamics on continental shelves. Unfortunately, our concepts of how a diverse bacterial community transitions between seasons remain incomplete because of our inability to sample on the appropriate time and spaces scales to resolve the processes influencing the microbiota. In order to address this limitation, we are proposing a build a biological sampler compatible with the Slocum Glider. What is missing is a component capable of collecting and returning intact biomass to the laboratory for molecular ecology studies to delineate the mechanisms driving bacterial evolution in the sea. this project will provide a platform to define the metabolic and genomic properties and mechanisms responsible for microbial growth, adaptation, and survival in the oceanic environment. The BIOME research will address fundamental questions in marine ecology and elucidate the mechanisms supporting the diversity of microorganisms in the ocean.Broader Impacts: The potential broad impacts of this proposal are greater than average because the device being designed has potential to be deployed widely if it is successful and would lead to more accurate models of ocean microbial community structure and activity. The PIs propose to develop a K-12 lesson plan about bacteria in the Mid-Atlantic Bight with the help of an education outreach specialist associated with the Mid Atlantic Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence, and have included this aspect of the project in the budget. There is a plan for disseminating the lessons to K-12 teachers through a variety of on-line and summer teacher training programs, to the public through lectures at local library, and to kids through the Rutgers 4-H after school programs. The PIs also intend (though don't lay out any specific plan) to include underrepresented ethnic groups in summer research through the RISE @ Rutgers program.