Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/A/S/2003/00365
Molecular biological characterisation of the anaerobic microbial community that drives cellulose decomposition in lake systems.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor A McCarthy, University of Liverpool, Sch of Biological Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor HE Allison, University of Liverpool, Clinical Infection, Microbiol & Immun
- Grant held at:
- University of Liverpool, Sch of Biological Sciences
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Overall Classification:
- Freshwater
- ENRIs:
- Pollution and Waste
- Natural Resource Management
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Population Genetics/Evolution
- Abstract:
- The carbon cycle in freshwater lake systems comprises two main phases: primary production (photosynthesis) and biodegradation. Sediments and the lower regions of the water column are often anoxic, particularly in summer, and here anaerobic microorganisms degrade the cellulosic phytoplankton biomass, principally to carbon dioxide and methane. In the environment, anaerobic microorganisms function as communities or consortia from which the isolation and cultivation of individual species is both difficult and a poor representation of the inherent complexity. One alternative is to analyse DNA and RNA extracted directly from environmental samples and this molecular ecological approach will be applied here to the cellulose-degrading anaerobic community of freshwater lakes. In addition to the relatively ubiquitous groups of cellulolytic bacteria, we also have evidence that gut inhabiting anaerobic fungi occur in the environment at large and are keen to determine their contribution to cellulose turnover in freshwater lakes. Environmental DNA will be cloned and sequenced to describe the biodiversity within the cellulose-degrading community, and this will be followed up with direct probing and labelling experiments to assess the relative abundance and contribution of the different members. The research will be carried out at two study sites in the Lake District and with guidance from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Windermere, we plan to analyse cellulose baits colonised in the water column and at the sediment surface of two contrasting lakes located in a single catchment area. Cellulolysis is an important driver of the biodegradation cycle in lakes yet there is a paucity of information on the subject, which this research will begin to redress.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/A/S/2003/00365
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £229,422
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Equipment | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £2,725 | £118,610 | £45,893 | £7,632 | £54,562 |
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