EAGER: The effects of soil moisture on fungal weathering, diversity, and abundance.

EAGER：土壤湿度对真菌风化、多样性和丰度的影响。

• 批准号: 1742941
• 负责人: Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad
• 金额: $ 2.98万
• 依托单位: Hartwick College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-08-01 至 2018-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1742941&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: EAGER; effects; soil; moisture; fungal

ABSTRACT A non-technical description explaining the broader significance of the projectSoil is arguably the most important physical resource that exists at the Earth's surface. It is essential for the growth and development of our food supply and soils help regulate the composition of the atmosphere. Despite this central role, knowledge of the processes of soil formation is still very rudimentary. Microbial activity has a principal role in breaking down rocks into fertile soil and identifying the major mechanisms and types of microorganisms is an ongoing research activity. Fungi are a class of these microbes that have received little attention, but likely are very important contributors to soil generation. This project will take a close look at the abundance and distribution of fungi in soils, their activity as a function of moisture availability, and the possible role they play in soil formation under a variety of climatic conditions.A technical description of the projectThis project will explore the relationship between moisture content of soils and fungal weathering of igneous rocks, estimate fungal weathering rates, and identify and quantify the fungal community. The study will examine responses of the fungal community to decreasing soil moisture content (drought) and the processes facilitated by mycorrhizal fungi to help plants cope with water stress. These will be tested by collecting soil samples along a climate gradient, and then interrogate these samples by using DNA and aquaporin (integral membrane proteins) analyses, and microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The project will use the Catalina-Jemez Critical Zone Observatories and the Landscape Evolution Observatory at Biosphere 2 of University of Arizona, which provide opportunities to study processes along a climate gradient. Four undergraduates from a Primarily Undergraduate Institution will assist with the project and the results will be used to augment general science education.

摘要 解释该项目更广泛意义的非技术描述 土壤可以说是地球表面存在的最重要的物理资源。它对于我们食物供应的生长和发育至关重要，土壤有助于调节大气的成分。尽管具有这一核心作用，但对土壤形成过程的了解仍然非常初级。微生物活动在将岩石分解成肥沃的土壤方面发挥着主要作用，识别微生物的主要机制和类型是一项正在进行的研究活动。真菌是一类很少受到关注的微生物，但可能是土壤生成的非常重要的贡献者。该项目将仔细研究土壤中真菌的丰度和分布、它们的活动与水分可用性的函数关系，以及它们在各种气候条件下在土壤形成中可能发挥的作用。该项目的技术说明该项目将探索土壤含水量与火成岩真菌风化之间的关系，估计真菌风化速率，并识别和量化真菌群落。该研究将研究真菌群落对土壤水分含量降低（干旱）的反应以及菌根真菌促进植物应对水分胁迫的过程。这些测试将通过沿气候梯度收集土壤样本进行测试，然后使用 DNA 和水通道蛋白（整合膜蛋白）分析以及显微镜和光谱技术来研究这些样本。该项目将使用亚利桑那大学生物圈二号的卡塔利娜-杰梅斯临界区观测站和景观演化观测站，为研究沿气候梯度的过程提供了机会。来自主要本科院校的四名本科生将协助该项目，其结果将用于加强普通科学教育。