Dimensions: Collaborative Research: Microbial Biodiversity and Functionality in Deep Shale and its Interfaces

这项研究将探索微生物的生命和功能，在一个很少被研究的栖息地：深海黑色页岩，这是美国能源组合的关键组成部分。由于能源行业使用新的水平钻井和水力压裂技术，它也代表了一个面临生物多样性变化直接风险的生态系统。深层页岩生物圈储存了丰富的甲烷和其他石油烃，为页岩内和沿着其边界地层的微生物提供碳和能量资源。在这些岩石中遇到的极端条件包括缺乏光合作用的光，亚微米孔隙空间，高温，高压和盐水流体化学。这些环境因素中的每一个都可能强烈影响微生物种群的起源、适应和功能。西弗吉尼亚州和俄亥俄州阿巴拉契亚盆地内的马塞勒斯和尤蒂卡-波因特普莱森特页岩是美国最大的非常规储量之一。该页岩将作为一个案例研究，以广泛表征黑色页岩及其边界岩石界面中的微生物生物多样性和功能。研究目标包括根据这些地层的地质历史推断微生物生命的起源，探索微生物如何适应当前的深层生物圈环境，并研究在该生态系统中遇到的极端环境条件下用于隔离营养资源的代谢策略。研究人员将对页岩及其界面中的土著微生物种群进行首次基因组调查。这项研究将大大扩展我们的知识微生物的生活和功能的页岩之前，大规模的环境干扰的结果，能源开发。该项目还将进一步深入了解深层陆地生物圈中的微生物碳循环。项目参与者将为当地场地（例如学校，图书馆，博物馆）开发展览材料，让更广泛的公众可以了解深层地下的居民，了解他们的特征和偏好，将微生物与深海表亲相匹配，并见证这项研究揭示了钻井前后的社区结构。研究结果将通过在俄亥俄州州立大学（OSU）-西弗吉尼亚大学（WVU）页岩能源和环境实验室联合举办的各种教育活动传达给学生和更广泛的公众。调查人员和学员还将通过OSU领导的定期研讨会和研讨会，向阿巴拉契亚地区的非营利组织、监管机构、学者和其他利益相关者传播有关页岩能源主题的知识。的地下能源资源中心和OSU/WVU推广办事处。

This research will probe microbial life and function in a rarely examined habitat: kilometer-deep black shale, which is a critical component of the U.S. energy portfolio. It also represents an ecosystem under immediate risk for biodiversity change as a result of energy industry use of new horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies. The deep shale biosphere stores an abundance of methane and other oil hydrocarbons that provide carbon and energy resources for microorganisms both within the shale and along its bounding formations. The extreme conditions encountered within these rocks include the absence of light for photosynthesis, sub-micron pore-spaces, elevated temperatures, high pressures, and brine fluid chemistry. Each of these environmental factors may strongly influence the origin, adaptation and function of the microbial population. The Marcellus and Utica-Point Pleasant shale within the Appalachian basin of West Virginia and Ohio is one of the largest unconventional reserves in the U.S. This shale will serve as a case study to broadly characterize the microbial biodiversity and function in black shale and its bounding rock interfaces. Research objectives include inferring the origin of microbial life with respect to geologic history of these formations, exploring how microorganisms have adapted to the current deep biosphere environment, and investigating the metabolic strategies used to sequester nutrient resources given the extreme environmental conditions encountered in this ecosystem. The investigators will undertake the first genomic survey of indigenous microbial populations in shale and its interfaces. This research will greatly expand our knowledge of microbial life and function in shale prior to broad-scale environmental disturbance as a result of energy exploitation. The project will also provide further insight into microbial carbon cycling in the deep terrestrial biosphere. The project participants will develop exhibit materials for local venues (e.g. schools, libraries, museums) where the broader public can get to know the residents of the deep subsurface, learn about their characteristics and preferences, match microbes with their deep-sea cousins, and witness what this research has revealed about community structure before and after drilling. Research findings will be communicated to students and the broader public through a variety of educational activities at a joint Ohio State University (OSU)-West Virginia University (WVU) Shale Energy and Environmental Laboratory. Investigators and trainees will also disseminate knowledge on shale energy topics to non-profits, regulatory agencies, academics, and other stakeholders in the Appalachian region through regular workshops and workgroup meetings led by OSU?s Subsurface Energy Resource Center and OSU/WVU Extension Offices.