Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/X500023/1
Community structure and the stable isotope biogeochemistry of methanogenesis: insights into the carbo-flow paradox of freshwater and marine habitats.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor RJ Parkes, Cardiff University, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor JC Fry, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor ERC Hornibrook, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr A Weightman, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences
- Grant held at:
- Cardiff University, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Freshwater
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Community Ecology
- Soil science
- Abstract:
- At present it is unclear whether carbon-flow pathways to CH4 in freshwater and marine systems are controlled by direct environmental effects or via differences in the biodiversity of methanogens selected by each habitat. Moreover, the commonly held view that acetate fermentation and H2/CO2, methanogenesis dominate, respectively, in freshwater and marine systems has never been rigorously tested, yet it forms the basis for stable isotope proxy models of CH4 formation. This investigation will directly link methanogen and acetogen biodiversity, as determined by phylogenetic and functional genetic marker analysis, and 13C-labelling of archaeal lipids, to ecosystem function. Carbon-flow pathways to CH4 in freshwater, marine and estuarine habitats will be investigated by incubation of intact sediment cores injected with 14C-labelled substrates and by manipulation of anaerobic slurries. These data will be used to rigorously test the validity of a stable isotope proxy model that is commonly used to study carbon-flow pathways in freshwater and marine environments.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/X500023/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Directed Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Marine & Freshwater Microbial
This grant award has a total value of £85,961
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Equipment | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £43,643 | £4,508 | £11,433 | £6,301 | £20,076 |
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