ANT LIA: Do Molecular Data Support High Endemism and Divergent Evolution of Antarctic Marine Nematodes and their Host-associated Microbiomes?

ANT LIA：分子数据是否支持南极海洋线虫及其宿主相关微生物组的高度特有性和分化进化？

• 批准号: 2132641
• 负责人: Holly Bik
• 金额: $ 61万
• 依托单位: University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-07-15 至 2026-06-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2132641&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: ANT; LIA; Do; Molecular; Data

Non-technical Abstract:The long isolation and unique biodiversity of the Southern Ocean represents an important case study region for understanding the evolution and ecology of populations. This study uses modern -omics approaches to evaluate the biodiversity, evolution, and ecology of Antarctic marine nematodes and their host-associated microbiomes from a variety of habitats collected at different depths. The results are producing an important baseline dataset of Antarctic meiofaunal diversity. All genomic resources generated in this project will be publicly accessible as open-source datasets with the potential for long-term scientific reuse. This project supports diverse researchers from underrepresented backgrounds and produces a suite of Antarctic-focused digital public outreach products.Technical Abstract:Nematode worms are abundant and ubiquitous in marine sediment habitats worldwide, performing key functions such as nutrient cycling and sediment stability. However, study of this phylum suffers from a perpetual and severe taxonomic deficit, with less than 5,000 formally described marine species. Fauna from the Southern Ocean are especially poorly studied due to limited sampling and the general inaccessibility of the Antarctic benthos. This study is providing the first large-scale molecular-based investigation from marine nematodes in the Eastern Antarctic continental shelf, providing an important comparative dataset for the existing body of historical (morphological) taxonomic studies. This project uses a combination of classical taxonomy (microscopy) and modern -omics tools to achieve three overarching aims: 1) determine if molecular data supports high biodiversity and endemism of benthic meiofauna in Antarctic benthic ecosystems; 2) determine the proportion of marine nematode species that have a deep-sea versus shallow-water evolutionary origin on the Antarctic shelf, and assess patterns of cryptic speciation in the Southern Ocean; and 3) determine the most important drivers of the host-associated microbiome in Antarctic marine nematodes. This project is designed to rapidly advance knowledge of the evolutionary origins of Antarctic meiofauna, provide insight on population-level patterns within key indicator genera, and elucidate the potential ecological and environmental factors which may influence microbiome patterns. Broader Impacts activities include an intensive cruise- and land-based outreach program focusing on social media engagement and digital outreach products, raising awareness of Antarctic marine ecosystems and understudied microbial-animal relationships. The diverse research team includes female scientists, first-generation college students, and Latinx trainees.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

非技术摘要：南大洋长期与世隔绝和独特的生物多样性是了解种群进化和生态的重要案例研究区域。这项研究使用现代组学方法来评估南极海洋线虫及其宿主相关微生物组的生物多样性、进化和生态学，这些微生物组来自不同深度收集的各种栖息地。研究结果产生了南极小型动物多样性的重要基线数据集。该项目中生成的所有基因组资源都将作为开源数据集公开访问，并具有长期科学重用的潜力。该项目为来自代表性不足的背景的多元化研究人员提供支持，并制作一套以南极洲为重点的数字公共外展产品。技术摘要：线虫在世界各地的海洋沉积物栖息地中丰富且普遍存在，发挥着营养循环和沉积物稳定性等关键功能。然而，对该门的研究长期存在严重的分类缺陷，正式描述的海洋物种不足 5,000 种。由于采样有限且南极底栖动物普遍难以接近，对南大洋动物群的研究尤其少。这项研究首次对南极东部大陆架海洋线虫进行了大规模的分子调查，为现有的历史（形态）分类学研究提供了重要的比较数据集。该项目结合了经典分类学（显微镜）和现代组学工具来实现三个总体目标：1）确定分子数据是否支持南极底栖生态系统中底栖小型底栖动物的高度生物多样性和特有性； 2) 确定南极大陆架上具有深海和浅水进化起源的海洋线虫物种的比例，并评估南大洋隐秘物种形成的模式； 3）确定南极海洋线虫宿主相关微生物组最重要的驱动因素。该项目旨在快速增进对南极小型底栖动物进化起源的了解，提供对关键指标属内种群水平模式的见解，并阐明可能影响微生物组模式的潜在生态和环境因素。更广泛的影响活动包括密集的邮轮和陆地推广计划，重点关注社交媒体参与和数字推广产品，提高对南极海洋生态系统和未充分研究的微生物与动物关系的认识。多元化的研究团队包括女性科学家、第一代大学生和拉丁裔实习生。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优点和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，认为值得支持。