In the fall of 2010, this research advertisement caught my eyes. I have always been deeply interested in ecology and this opportunity seemed like a perfect way to combine my microbiological lab skills, love of nature, and let’s not forget to best part: I would be living in a forest–the Harvard Forest–for a whole summer!
One of the many reasons why the Harvard Forest is incredible!
I have been working with my research and thesis advisor Laura Meredith, a PhD student for Climate Physics and Chemistry in the Program in Oceans, Atmospheres and Climate in the department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT. Her faculty advisor is Professor Ron Prinn. He is the director of CGCS and co-director of the Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change.
Visit this link for more on the Harvard Forest Long Term Ecological Research Site. Our research abstract is posted in the HF’s 2011 Symposium packet (page 34).
For photos of the HF check out my gallery!
Research Abstract
Exploring the microbe-mediated soil H2 sink: A lab-based study of the physiology and related H2 consumption of isolates from the Harvard Forest LTER
Atmospheric hydrogen (H2) is a secondary greenhouse gas that attenuates the removal of methane (CH4) from the atmosphere. The largest and least understood term in the H2 biogeochemical cycle, microbe-mediated soil uptake, is responsible for about 80% of Earth’s tropospheric H2 sink. A recent discovery of the first H2-oxidizing soil microorganism (Streptomyces sp. PCB7) containing a low-threshold, high-affinity NiFe-hydrogenase functional at ambient H2 levels (approx. 530 ppb) made it possible to identify a model organism to characterize microbial H2-uptake behavior. In the present research, several strains of Streptomyces containing the high-affinity NiFe- hydrogenase were isolated from the Harvard Forest LTER and used to characterize H2 uptake alongside analysis of their life cycles. It was found that containing the gene encoding for the specific hydrogenase predicted H2 uptake behavior in the wild Streptomyces strains and also in more distantly related organisms that contained the gene. The H2 uptake rates were correlated with the microorganisms’ life cycles, reaching a maximal uptake corresponding with spore formation. Understanding how environmental conditions, organismal life cycle, and H2 uptake are connected can help reduce the uncertainty in atmospheric models. With the rise of H2-based energy sources and a potential change in the tropospheric concentration of H2, understanding the sources and sinks of this trace gas is important for the future.
If you are interested in our research, please explore my senior thesis page.
Older material:
Hydrogen Soil Sink Research Proposal
Lastly, here is a big-picture walk through of my research work from the summer that I am continuing this academic year. It is also my presentation for the concluding symposium for the Harvard Forest REU Program. Enjoy!
