Evaluating Spatial and Molecular Drivers of Microbial Function
EMSL Project ID
51751
Abstract
One of the greatest and most persistent challenges in the field of soil ecology is the establishment of a direct and predictable link between soil microorganisms and ecosystem function. Soil microorganisms are the engines that drive global biogeochemical cycles, impacting the flow of nutrients to all life on Earth and many ecosystem services we depend on, such as crop production and carbon sequestration. Yet, while ecosystem function occurs at macroscales, these microbial functions occur at scales over a million times smaller than that of their impact. Establishing a clear and predictable link between soil microbial communities and ecosystem function requires comprehensive characterization of microbial community structure (DNA), function and function-associated molecules (proteins, metabolites), and the soil environment in which these microorganisms exist. It is also vital that this characterization be carried out across scales from micro to macro. This will necessitate a hierarchical approach which systematically characterizes microbial function from microbially-derived molecules (DNA, proteins, metabolites) to ecosystem function. To address this knowledge gap, we propose to use free-living nitrogen fixation as a model process. We will address two major questions aimed at characterizing the “microbial world-view”: (1) What is the effective size of the microbial habitat? (2) What data, and at what sampling-scale, is needed to accurately link microbial communities to ecosystem processes? Addressing these questions requires integration of a unique suite of advanced and interdisciplinary techniques including stable isotope work, advanced imaging techniques such as MALDI mass spec and NanoSIMS, and multi-omics approaches. Many of these techniques can only be carried out at EMSL were collaboration with experts on some of the most state-of-the-art instrumentation is possible. We will use the results of this work to collaborate with the many multi-scale modeling experts at PNNL to contribute to the improvement of ecosystem models. Ultimately, this work will fundamentally transform our understanding of the link between soil microorganisms and ecosystems and provide a foundation for improving our capacity to predict ecosystem function.
Project Details
Start Date
2020-10-30
End Date
2021-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members