Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/S015310/1
Molecular, microbial & enzymatic synergies and their significance to peatland condition
Fellowship Award
- Fellow:
- Dr NGA Bell, University of Edinburgh, Sch of Chemistry
- Grant held at:
- University of Edinburgh, Sch of Chemistry
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Panel C
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Chemical Structure
- Solid-state NMR
- Soil organic matter
- Environmental Microbiology
- Carbon cycling
- DNA sequencing
- Microbial communities
- Ecosystem Scale Processes
- Land use
- Microbial communities
- Peat
- Soil science
- Organic matter
- Soil chemistry & soil physics
- FT Mass Spectrometry
- Nuclear Magn. Resonance NMR
- Analytical Science
- Abstract:
- Peat bogs are organic matter-rich soils that are widespread in the northern latitudes where they formed under cold, wet and glaciated landscapes. Despite the fact that peat bogs are seen by many as waste lands, they are vital to life on this planet. Peatlands are a major carbon (C) store and actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by changing the C in plant debris and locking it up as peat. In fact, peatlands store twice as much C as all the Earths' biomass. In addition, they act as a sponge which stores and filters water, preventing floods and safeguards our drinking water supply. They are also a rich habitat for unique plants and animals. However, peatlands can only deliver all these important services if they are healthy and, unfortunately, the majority of peatlands (>80% in the UK) are in a state of deterioration. This is a global concern, as peatlands in damaged states release C to the atmosphere and natural waters, which affects our daily life and hampers our efforts to combat climate change. One of the major causes of peatland damage is drainage, as a bog can only form peat when it has a waterlogged anoxic layer that protects the stored C. In order to restore damage by drainage, the site is typically rewetted by installing dams. While we know that dams can bring back the water logged conditions and important surface plants may reappear, the question remains whether rewetting successfully restores bogs to their full health. To answer this question, we need to know what is happening below the surface and examine the roles of key players in peat formation and C cycling, namely the microbes, the enzymes and the C containing organic molecules. It is not clear which of these players is more important, or how do they depend on each other. Scientists have suggested that if certain protective molecules, so called phenolics or some carbohydrates are not present (e.g. removed because of drainage) then the peat bogs cannot store C. The question remains what controls the presence of these molecules? Is it specific microorganisms and the enzymes they release? Or is it the peat molecules that have the ultimate control over the microbes? Focussing on peatland drainage as the cause of damage, the aim of this project is to study these key players and to gain understanding of the processes leading to C storage/loss in peatlands. We plan to investigate several peatbogs in UK, but also abroad in Sweden and Canada to take into account different climates. The technology to carry out this research now exists in form of DNA sequencing (microbes), biochemical methods (enzymes) and spectroscopy/spectrometry (molecules). In Edinburgh we have all the necessary equipment, in particular very powerful spectrometers for nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry to characterise the thousands of molecules that make up the organic matter in peat. Such an interdisciplinary approach will guarantee that we address the major gaps in our knowledge of the processes that lead C storage/loss in peatlands. At the same time, we want to develop a simple method for monitoring the state of the peatbog and will therefore investigate a possibility to extend the teabag project (http://www.teatime4science.org/about/the-project/) that aims to provide information on the global C cycle by burying tea bags for 90 days in various soils and measuring the resulting weight loss. Our initial experiments indicate that by looking deeper at the molecular makeup of tea buried in peat in different conditions, we will be able to classify the state of peat bog. To enable peatlands regain their functions, multimillion pound restoration projects are being set up around the world. This research aims to ensure that the approaches used in restoration/management of peatlands are underpinned by the latest scientific understanding that ensure the long-term protection of these vulnerable soils.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/S015310/1
- Grant Stage:
- Awaiting Event/Action
- Scheme:
- Research Fellowship
- Grant Status:
- Active
- Programme:
- IRF
This fellowship award has a total value of £712,697
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| DI - Other Costs | Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Estate Costs | DI - Staff | DI - T&S | DA - Other Directly Allocated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £103,141 | £169,950 | £68,027 | £238,452 | £33,072 | £100,053 |
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