| NSF Org: |
DEB Division Of Environmental Biology |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | May 7, 2013 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | May 7, 2013 |
| Award Number: | 1311028 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Saran Twombly
DEB Division Of Environmental Biology BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences |
| Start Date: | May 15, 2013 |
| End Date: | April 30, 2015 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $19,479.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $19,479.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO ALBUQUERQUE NM US 87131-0001 (505)277-4186 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
NM US 87131-0001 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | POP & COMMUNITY ECOL PROG |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.074 |
ABSTRACT
Microbes mediate many important ecosystem services yet remain relatively poorly understood. This research examines how microbes - the bacteria and fungi that occur in soils - contribute to the ability of grassland ecosystems to respond to climate change. Desert grassland soils harbor high microbial diversity, but collecting, identifying and interpreting this diversity remains a challenge. Genomic tools will be used to identify the microbes in grassland soils under different environmental conditions. This information on microbial community composition will be linked with previous measures of microbial function in order to predict how microbes and their associated plant communities will respond to climate change.
Grasslands provide many ecosystem services that benefit humans, yet they are changing rapidly in response to climate change and human land use. Results from this study will be communicated to the public in collaboration with the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in central New Mexico. Educational materials and exhibits for the Refuge's new Visitors' Center will be developed based on this project. In addition, the researchers will participate in the Junior Scientist Outreach Program, a new outreach activity coordinated by the University of New Mexico Department of Biology. This activity targets 4th and 5th grade students from under-represented groups and engages then in hands-on activities coordinated by the research scientists.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Grasslands provide many ecosystem services that benefit humans, yet they are changing rapidly in response to climate change and human land use. Properly functioning grasslands depend on interactions between plants and microbes, which includes bacteria and fungi that live in grassland soils. Soil microbes can help plants in many ways, including aiding in nutrient acquisition from the soil. This research tackled a fundamental ecological challenge: measuring the response to global change of microbial species in the soils of a native desert grassland that is being invaded by a native shrub, creosotebush.
Desert soils harbor high microbial diversity, but collecting, identifying and interpreting this diversity remains a challenge. Genomic tools are the main method for determining which soil microbes occur and what they are doing in those soils. This research increased our knowledge of what species are present in soil microbial communities and how these microbial communities may change in dryland ecosystems as areas formerly dominated by grasses are increasingly dominated by shrubs. The project resulted in several datasets about bacteria and fungi in soils beneath important desert plants. First, a genomic dataset was created which informs us on what type of microbes are present in the soil and how they differ between plant species. Additionally, a newly created dataset of enzyme activities provides information on how microbes are interacting with plants in the soil. Combined, these datasets help us to understand how plants and soil microbes interact, and how these interactions may shift as grasslands continue to change.
Last Modified: 06/12/2015
Modified by: Scott L Collins
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