Genomic and Ecological Analysis of Bacteria in an Oceanic Oxygen Minimum Zone and Their Roles in Nitrous Oxide Production and Consumption

School Name

South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Microbiology

Presentation Type

Mentored

Abstract

Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that has harmful neurological effects and causes global warming. Microorganisms that live at anoxic depths have specific metagenomes (MAGs) that enable them to survive without oxygen and contribute to the global N2O budget by either producing or consuming N2O. We hypothesized that the MAGs we analyzed would have a positive correlation with the production and consumption of N2O. Samples were collected from three different stations in the North Pacific oxygen minimum zone (OMZ), ranging from 0-900 meters. DNA was also extracted from the samples and sent for shotgun metagenome sequencing; MAGS were reconstructed and annotated using Kyoto Encyclopedia for Genes and Genomes (KEGG). After compiling the sample’s data into figures, we found that ammonium and nitrite concentration peaks correspond with each other. We also found that the microbe’s abundances increase dramatically at the anoxic-oxic interface. However, the p-values determined from the linear regression between the percent reads of the microbe and the production/consumption rate showed no significant correlation between the MAGs and N2O consumption/production. This suggests that other microbes play a more direct role in controlling N2O dynamics than the Actinobacteriota and Roseibacillus we investigated. Ultimately, metatranscricptomic studies should continue to investigate the overall activity of the Actinobacteriota and Roseibacillus MAGs, as well as the genes involved in N2O consumption and production, in order to pinpoint the primary source of these N2O rates, so that the global N2O budget can decrease, preventing further ecological and neurological damage.

Location

HSS 203

Start Date

4-2-2022 10:00 AM

Presentation Format

Oral Only

Group Project

Yes

COinS
 
Apr 2nd, 10:00 AM

Genomic and Ecological Analysis of Bacteria in an Oceanic Oxygen Minimum Zone and Their Roles in Nitrous Oxide Production and Consumption

HSS 203

Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that has harmful neurological effects and causes global warming. Microorganisms that live at anoxic depths have specific metagenomes (MAGs) that enable them to survive without oxygen and contribute to the global N2O budget by either producing or consuming N2O. We hypothesized that the MAGs we analyzed would have a positive correlation with the production and consumption of N2O. Samples were collected from three different stations in the North Pacific oxygen minimum zone (OMZ), ranging from 0-900 meters. DNA was also extracted from the samples and sent for shotgun metagenome sequencing; MAGS were reconstructed and annotated using Kyoto Encyclopedia for Genes and Genomes (KEGG). After compiling the sample’s data into figures, we found that ammonium and nitrite concentration peaks correspond with each other. We also found that the microbe’s abundances increase dramatically at the anoxic-oxic interface. However, the p-values determined from the linear regression between the percent reads of the microbe and the production/consumption rate showed no significant correlation between the MAGs and N2O consumption/production. This suggests that other microbes play a more direct role in controlling N2O dynamics than the Actinobacteriota and Roseibacillus we investigated. Ultimately, metatranscricptomic studies should continue to investigate the overall activity of the Actinobacteriota and Roseibacillus MAGs, as well as the genes involved in N2O consumption and production, in order to pinpoint the primary source of these N2O rates, so that the global N2O budget can decrease, preventing further ecological and neurological damage.