易胜博官网

易胜博官网 scientists are taking part in a study to learn more about the microbes that break down organic matter and manmade contaminants in the ocean and subterranean desert environments.

A $6 million research grant was recently awarded to the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences,听in collaboration with 易胜博官网 and the Desert Research Institute, to develop the tools and genetic technologies necessary to study single-celled bacteria that influence the biogeochemical cycles in different ecosystems. This innovative research will connect the genetics of individual microbes to their roles within the environment in near-real-time. Funding for the grant was provided by the听National Science Foundation鈥檚 EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program.听

鈥淭he bacterial breakdown of manmade contaminants like oil and plastic in the ocean becomes more and more of an issue as the levels of contamination increase."

鈥淰ery little is known about the efficiency of microbially-mediated degradation of organic matter and manmade contaminants in the sea,鈥� says Kai Ziervogel, a 易胜博官网 research assistant professor of marine biogeochemistry who is taking part in the study. 鈥淲e know they exist but we don鈥檛 know which bacteria are involved in breaking down carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous, and we don鈥檛 know how fast the bacteria take up these compounds which are important for many biological processes in the sea.鈥�

Ziervogel - who is part of 易胜博官网's Ocean Process Analysis Laboratory - will focus on microbes from the coastal Gulf of Maine, an ecosystem that is not immune to the effects of pollution.

鈥淭he bacterial breakdown of manmade contaminants like oil and plastic in the ocean becomes more and more of an issue as the levels of contamination increase,鈥� Ziervogel says.听鈥淔rankly, we know even less about the biology and ecology of microbes that 鈥榚at鈥� contaminants compared to those that 鈥榚at鈥� algal products.鈥� 听

Here is where the new tools developed by this research group will come in to play: Ziervogel will partner with Erik Berda, 易胜博官网 associate professor of chemistry and a collaborator on this grant,听to place a fluorescence marker on specific molecules that chemically resemble a particular type of contaminant.听The microbes that break down the contaminant will take up the marker, thus enabling the researchers to identify which听bacteria are the ones听that are capable of the degradation.鈥澨�听鈥嬏�

In addition to the anticipated technological advances, this grant will provide funding for two 易胜博官网 students 鈥� one graduate student and one undergraduate 鈥斕齮o learn more about these topics.

鈥淚 am excited that this project will provide students with opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary research that will contribute to environmental science in a unique way,鈥�听 Ziervogel adds.