Impacts of fracking fluids on microbial communities in shale basins

将压裂注入流体引入地下水环境有可能改变常驻微生物群落的组成和功能。尽管最近的几项研究测量了水力压裂页岩和相关沃茨中的微生物分布和活动，但对压裂液、返排液和采出水的常驻微生物群落的潜在影响尚不清楚。这些流体可以改变微生物栖息地的化学性质，例如，通过改变代谢底物的可用性和类型、氧化还原状态、pH值和盐度以及物理参数如压力。该项目将采用实验和计算机模拟相结合的方法，研究压裂液对微生物群落的潜在影响。将采用基于模拟的微观实验来测试微生物群落对压裂液和相关环境条件变化的反应，这些实验将在实验室中进行。地球化学建模将用于进一步评估压裂液和相关环境变化对近地表和地下微生物生长速率的潜在影响，这些微生物在特定条件下利用一系列不同的代谢过程。总的来说，这项工作将能够更好地评估水力压裂的环境风险，并使学生能够在学术界，环境咨询，工业或公共部门从事职业生涯。

Introduction of fracking injection fluids to groundwater environments has the potential to alter the composition and function of resident microbial communities. Although several recent studies measured microbial diversities and activities in hydraulically fractured shales and associated waters, the potential impacts on resident microbial communities of fracking fluids, flowback and produced water are unknown. These fluids can change the chemistry of the microbial habitat, for example, by changing the availability and type of substrate for metabolism, the redox state, pH, and salinity, as well as physical parameters such as pressure. This project will investigate the potential effects of fracking fluids on microbial communities using a combined experimental and computer modelling approach.Laboratory-based microcosm experiments will be used to test the response of microbial communities to fracking fluids and related changing environmental conditions, which will be manipulated in the laboratory. Geochemical modelling will be used to further assess the potential effects of fracking fluids and associated environmental changes on the growth rates of near-surface and sub-surface microorganisms utilizing a range of different metabolic processes under field specific conditions. Overall, this work will enable better assessment of the environmental risks of fracking and will enable the student to pursue careers in academia, environmental consulting, industry or the public-sector.