Obiettivo The aim of the project is to determine the role of a recently discovered, ubiquitous and abundant group of microorganisms, the autotrophic, ammonia oxidising mesophilic crenarchaea, in a major biogeochemical cycling process, soil nitrification. Microcosm systems will be used to determine the changes in diversity and activities of both bacterial and crenarchaeal ammonia oxidiser communities, and nitrification rates, under the influence of major environmental factors, ammonia concentration and oxygen availability. Experiments will be carried out in two contrasting European soils, fertilised and unfertilised grassland soils and wetland soils, subject to different levels of oxygen availability. In addition, the distribution of ammonia oxidation potential and carbon dioxide fixation throughout the crenarchaeal kingdom will be determined. The project will employ advanced molecular techniques and the fellow will therefore receive extensive training in cutting-edge techniques used to determine the links between microbial community structure and ecosystem function. These techniques will involve cultivation-independent in situ methods for determination of changes in community structure, transcriptional activity, stable isotope probing, metagenomics and 454 pyrosequencing. Training will be organised through a personal development plan which will also include formal courses and training programmes in complementary, generic skills operated by the host institution. The fellow will also develop supervisory skills through supervision of Master project students. Training will be supplemented through transnational collaboration and through national and international collaborations in multidisciplinary projects. The project will develop the conceptual, technical and managerial skills of the fellow to place him in a position of developing and managing an independent research group addressing major scientific questions of direct relevance to European environmental science initiatives. Campo scientifico natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysisnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology Parole chiave Biodiversity ammonia autotrophy environmental change mesophilic crenarchaea metagenomics microcosms molecular microbial ecology nitrogen cycling soil nitrification stable isotope probing Programma(i) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Argomento(i) PEOPLE-2007-2-1.IEF - Marie Curie Action: "Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development" Invito a presentare proposte FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF Vedi altri progetti per questo bando Meccanismo di finanziamento MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinatore THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN Contributo UE € 169 390,93 Indirizzo KING'S COLLEGE REGENT WALK AB24 3FX ABERDEEN Regno Unito Mostra sulla mappa Regione Scotland North Eastern Scotland Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contatto amministrativo James Prosser (Prof.) Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato
