High-resolution, parallel measurements of wetland organic carbon and microbial community metabolism under changing redox conditions
EMSL Project ID
48641
Abstract
We aim to molecularly characterize the distribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in wetland sediments via Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS), and to link biodegradation of specific DOC components to the presence and activity of specific microbial genomes, genes, and processes. Temperate wetlands represent the largest source of atmospheric methane, which is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. While little is known about how DOC is distributed along freshwater wetland gradients, we have even less is known about the functional degradation of DOC by microbial communities, which directly impacts green house gas emission. Microbial interactions with DOC in temperate wetlands are likely to be quite different from interactions driving better-studied ecosystems such as peatlands and saline sites. By understanding these interactions at a molecular level, we hope to improve the accuracy of atmospheric methane modeling under predicted climate-change scenarios. This proposal leverages existing methods-development collaborations with EMSL staff, the unique accuracy of the FT-ICR MS instrumentation available at EMSL, and the expertise in microbial community genomics and transcriptomics of the co-PIs to molecularly characterize both DOC distribution and microbial community metabolism in controlled, tractable laboratory mesocosms. We aim to disentangle the distinct processes happening at both shallow and deeper subsurface depths in the lab, with the long-term goal of field application in a well-instrumented, well-described model temperate wetland. This work is directly relevant to EMSL and DOE missions
Project Details
Project type
Special Science
Start Date
2014-12-23
End Date
2016-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)
Team Members