NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2019: Monarchs, milkweed and microbes

该行动为2019财年美国国家科学基金会生物学博士后研究奖学金提供资金，扩大生物学中代表性不足群体的参与。该奖学金支持研究员的一项研究和培训计划，该计划将增加生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。该研究员由两位赞助科学家，堪萨斯大学的James D. Bever和Joy K. Ward指导。研究员提出的研究有可能扩大我们对土壤微生物的理解，作为大气中二氧化碳富集的平衡，特别是在草原生态系统中。在这些栖息地，黑脉金斑蝶依靠马利筋获取碳基化学提取物，保护它们免受捕食者的侵害，也可能对癌症治疗有影响。然而，这些碳基化学提取物（被称为硬核内酯）如何随着二氧化碳流入的增加而发生变化，我们知之甚少。这些变化可能对黑脉金斑蝶的生存和食物网结构产生影响。了解土壤微生物如何帮助减轻大气二氧化碳富集的结果，可以为生态系统的可持续性提供见解。研究员正在进行的实验也允许对本科生进行培训，包括堪萨斯大学的TRIO McNair学者。在生长室条件下，大气中的二氧化碳将被操纵，以广泛的本地乳草物种，本地am真菌物种和微生物控制。响应变量，包括马利筋化学提取物，将使用高压液相色谱法（HPLC）进行测量。检查多营养反应，包括本地马利筋质量、本地黑脉金斑蝶幼虫性能和本地am真菌定植率；将揭示二氧化碳富集如何影响植物-微生物-昆虫的相互作用。这个项目也为寻求环境微生物学、全球变化生物学或化学生态学经验的学员提供了一个跨学科的方法。此外，奖学金获得者还可以激励具有类似背景的学员，包括第一代美国人（海地裔美国人）、社区大学学生以及来自市中心的少数族裔（波士顿马塔班）。通过国家科学基金会提供的机会，该研究员将扩大参与和我们对微生物在全球变化生物学中的理解。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2019, Broadening Participation of Groups Under-represented in Biology. The fellowship supports a research and training plan for the Fellow that will increase the participation of groups underrepresented in biology. The Fellow is being mentored by two sponsoring scientists, James D. Bever and Joy K. Ward at the University of Kansas. The research presented by the Fellow has the potential to broaden our understanding of soil microbes, as a counterbalance to atmospheric CO2 enrichment, especially in prairie ecosystems. In these habitats, monarch butterflies depend on milkweed for carbon-based chemical extracts that protect them from predators and may also have implications for cancer therapy. However, little is known as to how these carbon-based chemical extracts, termed cardenolides, may be altered in response to increase in CO2 influx. These changes may have consequences on monarch survival and food-web structure. Understanding how soil microbes may help mitigate outcomes of atmospheric CO2 enrichment, could provide insight into ecosystem sustainability. The experiments being executed by the Fellow also allow for training of undergraduates, including TRIO McNair Scholars at the University of Kansas. Under growth-chamber conditions, atmospheric CO2 will be manipulated for a broad range of native milkweed species, native AM-fungal species and a microbial control. Response variables, including milkweed chemical extracts, will be measured using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Examination of multi-trophic responses, including native milkweed quality, native monarch larval performance, and native AM-fungal colonization rates; will reveal how CO2 enrichment may impact plant-microbe-insect interactions. This project also affords an interdisciplinary approach for mentees seeking experience in environmental microbiology, global change biology or chemical ecology. Additionally, the Fellow can inspire mentees of similar origin, including first-generation Americans (Haitian-American), community college students, as well as minorities from the inner-city (Mattapan, Boston). Through the opportunities afforded by the National Science Foundation, the Fellow will broaden participation and our understanding of microbes in global change biology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.