NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology: Linking Diversity and Environmental Change to the Productivity of Alpine Snow Algal Communities

研究员姓名：Brooke L.Weigel建议编号：2208949研究标题：将多样性和环境变化与雪藻群落的生产力联系起来海绵科学家(S)和主办机构(S)：Robin Kodner博士(西华盛顿大学)和Jodi Young博士(华盛顿大学西雅图大学)这一行动资助了美国国家科学基金会2022财年生物学博士后研究奖学金，综合研究调查了控制基因组、环境和表型之间相互作用的生命规则。该奖学金支持研究员的研究和培训，这些研究员将以创新的方式为生活规则领域做出贡献。被称为雪藻的微小藻类在全球白雪覆盖的高山生态系统中茁壮成长。雪藻细胞有红色的色素，雪藻的大量繁殖会使雪面变暗，加速积雪的融化。世界各地白雪覆盖的山脉提供了关键的水供应，因此了解雪藻如何影响积雪融化对全球水安全至关重要。这项研究旨在确定高山生态系统中雪藻群落的生产力(光合作用速率)和生物量如何与它们的遗传和生命周期多样性以及温度和大气二氧化碳水平等环境因素联系起来。这项研究将使科学家能够确定气候变化对雪藻群落的影响，并预测雪藻将如何影响未来高山生态系统的融雪。该项目的主要组成部分将包括通过活雪项目与当地社区的接触，以及通过对科学中代表性较低的学生的指导来扩大对科学的参与。这项研究将确定生物多样性的多种组成部分(种间和生命周期的多样性)以及环境条件(季节性、温度、光照和二氧化碳水平)如何塑造雪藻群落的初级生产力和生物量。该项目有三个主要目标：(1)量化华盛顿北级联野外地点春季和夏季生长季节雪藻群落的遗传多样性(使用分类基因扩增序列)、生活周期多样性(使用显微镜)和表型特征(光生理学、碳固定和细胞呼吸速率)的变化；(2)在实验室测试雪藻群落对大气二氧化碳水平上升的生理和转录反应；(3)综合目标1和2的结果，以参数化高山生态系统中雪藻对生物反照率和积雪融化的影响预测模型。该研究员将在高山生态系统野外工作技术、转录测序、数据分析和包容性教学实践方面获得宝贵的培训。在整个奖学金期间，该研究员将通过指导在雪藻研究项目中处于科学地位的学生来扩大对科学的参与，并通过STEM工作室基于ZOOM的包容性教学对其他博士后研究人员进行同行教育。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Fellow's name: Brooke L. WeigelProposal number: 2208949Research title: Linking diversity and environmental change to the productivity of snow algal communitiesSponsoring scientist(s) and host institution(s): Dr. Robin Kodner (Western Washington University) and Dr. Jodi Young (University of Washington-Seattle)This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2022, Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment and Phenotypes. The fellowship supports research and training of the fellow that will contribute to the area of Rules of Life in innovative ways. Microscopic algae called snow algae thrive in snow-covered alpine ecosystems worldwide. Snow algae cells have red pigments, and blooms of snow algae darken the snow surface and accelerate snowmelt. Snow-covered mountains around the world provide a critical supply of water, so understanding how snow algae impact snowmelt is important for global water security. This research aims to determine how the productivity (photosynthesis rates) and biomass of snow algae communities in alpine ecosystems is linked to their genetic and life cycle diversity, and to environmental factors such as temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. This research will allow scientists to determine the impacts of climate change on snow algal communities and predict how snow algae will impact snowmelt in alpine ecosystems in the future. Key components of this project will include engagement with local communities through the Living Snow Project, and broadening participation in science through mentorship of students underrepresented in the sciences.This research will determine how multiple components of biodiversity (interspecific and life cycle diversity), together with environmental conditions (seasonality, temperature, light, and carbon dioxide levels), shape the primary productivity and biomass of snow algae communities. This project has three primary aims: (1) quantify variation in genetic diversity (using amplicon sequencing of taxonomic genes), life cycle diversity (using microscopy), and phenotypic traits of snow algal communities (photophysiology, carbon fixation and cellular respiration rates) across the spring and summer growing season at field sites in the North Cascades of Washington; (2) test the physiological and transcriptional responses of snow algal communities to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in the lab; and (3) synthesize results from aims 1 and 2 to parameterize predictive models of snow algae impacts to bioalbedo and snowmelt in alpine ecosystems. The fellow will gain invaluable training in alpine ecosystem fieldwork techniques, transcriptomic sequencing, data analysis, and inclusive pedagogical practices. Throughout the fellowship period, the fellow will broaden participation in science by mentoring students underrepresented in the sciences on snow algae research projects, and by peer education to other postdoctoral researchers through a zoom-based inclusive pedagogy in STEM workshop.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.