Unravelling the formation of unique modern stromatolites by taxonomic and functional analysis: implications for the early evolution of life

通过分类学和功能分析揭示独特的现代叠层石的形成：对生命早期进化的影响

• 批准号: EP/X024873/1
• 负责人: Lara Vimercati
• 金额: $ 24.26万
• 依托单位: Natural History Museum
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FX024873%2F1
• 关键词: Unravelling; formation; unique; modern; stromatolites

Lake Untersee in East Antarctica represents a unique ice-sealed ecosystem with ultra-oligotrophic waters, high pH and it is tightly sealed from the environment except for the penetration of sunlight (5%). This habitat serves as an ecological analog of early Earth and other worlds in our solar system characterized by thick permanent ice covers, such as Enceladus, Europa and ancient ice-covered lakes on Mars. It is the only known freshwater lake hosting large conical modern stromatolites at its bottom. These structures consist of a thin layer of oxygenic photosynthetic Bacteria covering alternating laminations of sediment and microbially derived organic matter. It is still unknown why these large conical stromatolites occur exclusively at this site. I propose to use an integrative approach to determine taxonomy and functionality of these structures to shed light on the mechanisms driving their formation. Investigations to understand the microbial assemblages as well as functional potential of communities will be done using in-depth environmental taxonomic, metagenomic and imaging analyses. This research will investigate the role played by Bacteria, Eukarya and Archaea in the formation of conical stromatolites as well as understanding whether these structures are characterized by a core taxonomy and functionality. Microbiome composition and function of the stromatolites of Lake Untersee will be compared with that of microbial structures in similar Antarctic lakes to understand the effect of environment and geography. SEM and confocal laser scanning will be used to explore physical interactions between microbes and minerals in conical stromatolites and to provide information on the biogeochemical processes involved. This research will advance our knowledge on the emergence of complex structures in microbial mats and is fundamental to interpret biological influences on ancient stromatolites.

南极洲东部的Untersee湖代表了一个独特的冰密封的生态系统，具有超亲营的水，高pH值，除了阳光的渗透（5％）外，它与环境紧密密封。在我们的太阳系中，这种栖息地是对早期地球和其他世界的生态类似物，其特征是厚实的永久冰盖，例如地球座，欧罗巴和火星上古老的冰覆盖的湖泊。它是唯一已知的淡水湖，其底部位于其底部。这些结构由一层薄薄的氧光合细菌组成，涵盖了沉积物和微生物衍生的有机物的交替层压。为什么这些大型锥形基质岩专门出现在此站点仍然不知道。我建议使用一种综合方法来确定这些结构的分类学和功能，以阐明推动其形成的机制。了解微生物组合以及社区的功能潜力的研究将使用深入的环境分类学，元基因组和成像分析进行。这项研究将研究细菌，真核生和古细菌在形成圆锥形基质产物中所起的作用，并了解这些结构是否以核心分类法和功能性为特征。将Untersee湖泊的层状体的微生物组组成和功能与类似南极湖泊中的微生物结构的组成和功能进行比较，以了解环境和地理位置的影响。 SEM和共聚焦激光扫描将用于探索微生物和矿物质之间的物理相互作用，并提供有关涉及的生物地球化学过程的信息。这项研究将提高我们对微生物垫中复杂结构的出现的了解，并且是解释对古代基质石的生物学影响的基础。