High Resolution Linkages Between DOC Turnover and Bacterioplankton in a Coastal Ocean

关于溶解有机碳（DOC）在沿海海洋的命运长期存在的问题，需要更好地了解浮游细菌代谢与碳转化的网络。这些问题解决的不确定性的生物活性DOC组件在海洋边缘转化的组合物，细菌分类和遗传组成的作用，在确定的命运DOC。智力MeritThis项目将注入一种新的类型的数据到沿海碳循环研究的基础上，高分辨率的化学分析加上细菌基因表达的措施。该项目将把DOC过程研究扩展到单一化合物水平，把细菌活性研究扩展到单基因水平，并将这些信息整合到现有的生物信息资源中，用于生物地球化学和建模应用。1）重建沿岸海洋DOC组成、DOC周转和细菌异养之间的网络的主要组成部分（DOC池的组成，主要的生物活性成分，介导转化的浮游细菌分类群，以及细菌基因和途径）。 2)使用一个简单的系统，针对复杂的自然微生物群落查询单个DOC化合物，测试选定DOC化合物的假设网络链接。3)为了测试假设的网络链接海洋细菌使用一个简化的系统，查询一个单一的通才异养细菌对一个复杂的天然DOC池。4)为了验证预测DOC-基因的联系，是最翔实的异养活动的浮游细菌。更广泛的ImpactsThis研究解决了细菌介导的有机碳的命运在海洋和大气中的基本问题。因此，这些研究将溶解有机碳的化学变化与沿海浮游细菌群落的基因表达模式联系起来，将引起多个学科科学家的兴趣。该项目将在格鲁吉亚大学的海洋科学、微生物学、化学和生态学系培训研究生和博士后助理，并为本科生提供研究机会和指导。学生将获得微生物生态学，碳地球化学，海洋化学和生物信息学的跨学科培训。一个外展计划将提高几个有前途的高中生群体对海洋微生物生态作用的理解。PI每年夏天将与种族多元化的佐治亚州雅典市高中的高级安置生物学教师合作，开发实验室练习，以完成经过修改的AP生物学课程的体验式学习目标。 演习将围绕每个高中生从沿海格鲁吉亚海水中分离出的细菌菌株进行设计，PI将在学年期间合作测试和评估实验室演习。将在教育刊物和网站上发表文章，广泛提供这些练习。

Long-standing questions regarding the fate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in coastal oceans require a better understanding of the network that links bacterioplankton metabolism with carbon transformation. These questions address uncertainties about the composition of the bioreactive DOC components transformed in ocean margins, and the role of bacterial taxonomic and genetic composition in determining the fate of DOC.Intellectual MeritThis project will infuse a new type of data into coastal carbon cycle research based on high-resolution chemical analysis coupled with bacterial gene expression measures. It will extend DOC process studies down to the single-compound level and bacterial activity studies down to the single-gene level, and integrate this information into existing bioinformatic resources for biogeochemical and modeling applications.The specific goals of the project are: 1) To reconstruct major components of the network linking DOC composition, DOC turnover, and bacterial heterotrophy in the coastal ocean (the composition of the DOC pool, the major bioreactive components, the bacterioplankton taxa mediating transformations, and the bacterial genes and pathways responsible). 2) To test hypothesized network links for selected DOC compounds using a simplified system that queries individual DOC compounds against a complex natural microbial community. 3) To test hypothesized network links for marine bacteria using a simplified system that queries a single generalist heterotrophic bacteria against a complex natural DOC pool. 4) To verify predicted DOC-gene linkages that are most informative about heterotrophic activities of bacterioplankton.Broader ImpactsThis research addresses fundamental questions on bacterial mediation of organic carbon fate in the ocean and atmosphere. As such, these investigations linking the chemical changes in dissolved organic carbon with patterns of gene expression in coastal bacterioplankton communities will be of interest to scientists across several disciplines. The project will train graduate students and postdoctoral associates in the departments of Marine Sciences, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Ecology at the University of Georgia, and provide research opportunities and mentoring for undergraduate students. Students will obtain interdisciplinary training in microbial ecology, carbon biogeochemistry, marine chemistry, and bioinformatics.An outreach program will enhance understanding of the ecological roles of marine microorganisms for several cohorts of promising high school students. PIs will collaborate each summer with an Advanced Placement Biology teacher at a racially diverse Athens, GA, high school to develop laboratory exercises that accomplish experiential learning goals of the revamped AP Biology curriculum. Exercises will be designed around bacterial strains isolated by each high school student from coastal Georgia seawater, and PIs will collaborate in the testing and evaluation of the laboratory exercises during the school year. Publications in educational journals and web sites will make the exercises widely available.