Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Microbial Biology for FY-2000

Buckley, Daniel H, Lansing MI

Investigators

Abstract

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Microbial Biology for 2000. The research and training plan is in the area of Metabolic Biochemistry and is entitled "Anaerobic Methane Oxidizers in Marine Microbial Mats". Anaerobic methane oxidation (AMOX), a sink for greenhouse gas methane, is a microbially-mediated process of global ecological significance. This research investigates the biology of microorganisms responsible for AMOX in marine microbial mats by using microelectrodes in conjunction with 16S rRNA-based techniques to monitor the organisms as they occur in their natural environments. The data acquired from this research helps to determine if AMOX is mediated by a syntropic relationship between two microbial groups or by a single microbial group possessing an unknown biochemical pathway.