C-DEBI Newsletter – May 1, 2020

Publications & Press

Antarctic Science
Environmentally clean access to Antarctic subglacial aquatic environments – NEW!
Alexander B. Michaud*, Trista J. Vick-Majors, Amanda M. Achberger, Mark L. Skidmore, Brent C. Christner, Martyn Tranter, John C. Priscu
*C-DEBI Contribution 528

Subglacial Antarctic aquatic environments are important targets for scientific exploration due to the unique ecosystems they support and their sediments containing palaeoenvironmental records. Directly accessing these environments while preventing forward contamination and demonstrating that it has not been introduced is logistically challenging. The Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling (WISSARD) project designed, tested and implemented a microbiologically and chemically clean method of hot-water drilling that was subsequently used to access subglacial aquatic environments. We report microbiological and biogeochemical data collected from the drilling system and underlying water columns during sub-ice explorations beneath the McMurdo and Ross ice shelves and Whillans Ice Stream. Our method reduced microbial concentrations in the drill water to values three orders of magnitude lower than those observed in Whillans Subglacial Lake. Furthermore, the water chemistry and composition of microorganisms in the drill water were distinct from those in the subglacial water cavities. The submicron filtration and ultraviolet irradiation of the water provided drilling conditions that satisfied environmental recommendations made for such activities by national and international committees. Our approach to minimizing forward chemical and microbiological contamination serves as a prototype for future efforts to access subglacial aquatic environments beneath glaciers and ice sheets.

ScienceAdvances
Methanotrophic bacterial symbionts fuel dense populations of deep-sea feather duster worms (Sabellida, Annelida) and extend the spatial influence of methane seepage – NEW!
Shana K. Goffredi, Ekin Tilic, Sean W. Mullin, Katherine S. Dawson, Abigail Keller, Raymond W. Lee, Fabai Wu, Lisa A. Levin, Greg W. Rouse, Erik E. Cordes, Victoria J. Orphan

Deep-sea cold seeps are dynamic sources of methane release and unique habitats supporting ocean biodiversity and productivity. Here, we describe newly discovered animal-bacterial symbioses fueled by methane, between two species of annelid (a serpulid Laminatubus and sabellid Bispira) and distinct aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria belonging to the Methylococcales, localized to the host respiratory crown. Worm tissue δ¹³C of −44 to −58‰ are consistent with methane-fueled nutrition for both species, and shipboard stable isotope labeling experiments revealed active assimilation of ¹³C-labeled methane into animal biomass, which occurs via the engulfment of methanotrophic bacteria across the crown epidermal surface. These worms represent a new addition to the few animals known to intimately associate with methane-oxidizing bacteria and may further explain their enigmatic mass occurrence at 150–million year–old fossil seeps. High-resolution seafloor surveys document significant coverage by these symbioses, beyond typical obligate seep fauna. These findings uncover novel consumers of methane in the deep sea and, by expanding the known spatial extent of methane seeps, may have important implications for deep-sea conservation.

See also the NSF press release and Science Friday segment.

ScienceAdvances
Effects of a deep-sea mining experiment on seafloor microbial communities and functions after 26 years – NEW!
T. R. Vonnahme, M. Molari, F. Janssen, F. Wenzhöfer, M. Haeckel, J. Titschack, A. Boetius

Future supplies of rare minerals for global industries with high-tech products may depend on deep-sea mining. However, environmental standards for seafloor integrity and recovery from environmental impacts are missing. We revisited the only midsize deep-sea disturbance and recolonization experiment carried out in 1989 in the Peru Basin nodule field to compare habitat integrity, remineralization rates, and carbon flow with undisturbed sites. Plough tracks were still visible, indicating sites where sediment was either removed or compacted. Locally, microbial activity was reduced up to fourfold in the affected areas. Microbial cell numbers were reduced by ~50% in fresh “tracks” and by <30% in the old tracks. Growth estimates suggest that microbially mediated biogeochemical functions need over 50 years to return to undisturbed levels. This study contributes to developing environmental standards for deep-sea mining while addressing limits to maintaining and recovering ecological integrity during large-scale nodule mining.

See also the MPI-Bremen press release.

Have an upcoming manuscript about the deep subseafloor biosphere and want to increase your press coverage? NSF’s Office of Legislative and Public Affairs is looking to coordinate press releases between your home institution and the NSF to coincide with the date of publication. Please contact us as soon as your publication is accepted!

Astronomy News with The Cosmic Companion, April 28, 2020 – NEW!
This week’s episode features a video interview with Dr. Steven D’Hondt of the University of Rhode Island. A new study from the University of Tokyo (published in C-DEBI Contributon 526) suggests his work could have a significant impact in how we search for life on Mars.

Caltech Trustee and Professor Named Members of American Academy of Arts and Sciences – NEW!
Congratulations to C-DEBI Senior Scientist Victoria J. Orphan for being honored as a new member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS)!

Popular Mechanics: 20 Weird Facts About Earth To Remind You Why It’s The Best – NEW!
Our home planet holds some strange secrets. C-DEBI researcher Victoria Orphan summarizes the marine deep biosphere in slide #3.

Meetings & Activities

C-DEBI: Nominations open for the 2020 Networked Speaker Series
C-DEBI seeks nominations for three speakers for the 2020 program. C-DEBI is continuing the Networked Speaker Series (begun in Fall 2011) as a means to enhance communication and the exchange of ideas among our spatially distributed community. Potential speakers can be nominated by colleagues, mentors, or those mentored by C-DEBI participants; they can also self nominate. Selected C-DEBI Networked Speakers will make a presentation online, using video conferencing tools, with assistance from the C-DEBI main office at USC. Nominated C-DEBI Networked Speakers should be capable of combining compelling visual materials with the ability to communicate effectively to a broad audience. We are particularly enthusiastic about giving young researchers a chance to present work to the C-DEBI community. Being selected to be a C-DEBI Networked Speaker is an honor.

NSF: OCE Virtual Town Halls, May 4 and 5 – NEW!
This OCE program officers and staff invite you and colleagues to a special OCE Virtual Town Hall to provide updates on NSF/OCE responses to the current pandemic and answer any general questions you may have. The meeting will be led by OCE staff including program officers from the science programs and from ship operations. It will be held on two dates: May 4 and 5, at 2PM Eastern time. The two sessions will be the same, so you would likely want to choose one. The meeting will be conducted as a zoom webinar and you must pre-register in advance to participate. There will be a short presentation followed by Q+A conducted using the chat (text) function that will be moderated. Register in advance for the May 4 webinar or register in advance for the May 5 webinar.

AGU: Nominate Your Peers for 2020 Honors
Nominations are now open for 2020 AGU honors, including the Asahiko Taira International Scientific Ocean Drilling Research Prize. Extended Deadline: June 1, 2020.

ISSM 2020: Meeting postponed to November 1-6, call for poster abstracts extended
Submitting poster abstracts (oral presentation abstract submissions are now closed) has an extended deadline of July 30, 2020.

Microenergy 2020: 4th International Workshop on Microbial life under extreme energy limitation, September 7-11, 2021, Sandbjerg Manor, Denmark
Applications for admission open January 1, 2021, deadline March 15, 2021.

Serpentine Days: 5th Workshop, September 21-24, Sestri Levante (Genova, Italy)
Due to the COVID-19 situation, we have decided to pause registration until May 15th and to postpone decisions on further proceedings until that time.

Ongoing Activities:

Education & Outreach

AGI: Federal Grant Proposal Writing 101 for Students, Wednesday, May 6, 2020 1:00 PM EDT | 1 hour 30 min – NEW!
This webinar will provide an insight into the federal grant proposal opportunities available for geoscience students pursuing careers within academia. Speakers from four federal agencies will discuss the nuances of each of their individual programs as well as provide some advice on how to submit successful applications. This webinar will introduce a variety of federal fellowship programs, examine the key components of the application materials including eligibility and deadlines, and provide advice to submit successful applications. Our speakers are: Jessamin Straub (2020 NOAA Knauss Fellow / R&D Advisor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers HQ), Christina Richardson (NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Dept. of Earth & Planetary Sciences, UC Santa Cruz), Jessica Ball (former USGS Mendenhall Fellow, Staff Scientist, US Geological Survey) and Jeff Berger (NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, NASA Johnson Space Center).

IODP-USSSP: Apply to host an Ocean Discovery Lecturer
Lecture topics include hydrothermal microbial communities with C-DEBI researcher, Jessica Labonté. Deadline to apply to host a lecturer: May 15, 2020.

Undergraduate Student Spotlight

Learn more about our summer undergraduate course and meet the rest of the 2019 Global Enviromental Microbiology students.

Proposal Calls

NSF OCE: Upcoming proposals to OCE, shiptime and data proposals – NEW!
Given the impacts and uncertainties from the current pandemic, we would like to raise awareness of a few issues which might be particularly relevant for ocean science proposal submissions in the near future. The current stand-down of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (as well as many foreign research vessels) is delaying many 2020 projects dependent upon sea time and is expected to create a backlog of research cruises into 2021. We would like to assure the community that OCE will continue to accept proposals with Ship Time Requests and they will be reviewed as normal with the science rationale coming first, followed by assessment of the fit of the ship request to the science proposed, and finally ship logistics (timing and location). That said, PIs will need to be even more flexible than usual about cruise scheduling over the next year or so. With regards to currently funded cruises, we’d like to take this opportunity to make sure you are also aware of the latest information from UNOLS. In addition, we want to remind the community that NSF OCE is, as always, interested in receiving proposals that use existing data and samples. The ocean research community has made significant progress in getting data and samples into public repositories for wider use and re-use. We believe these resources can be more fully exploited to advance our understanding of the oceans, ocean basins, and margins. Proposals with strong science that synthesize and utilize these data are welcome. Ongoing streams of data are also available from sources such as OOI, Argo, coastal observing networks, LTER sites, remote sensing, model output, and others. We expect continued enhancements in access to an even wider array of data sets in the future with innovations in observational capability and cyberinfrastructure.

NSF: Dear Colleague Letter: Research Collaboration Opportunity in Europe for NSF Awardees
Requests must be received at NSF at least 3 months prior to the proposed visit, but no later than May 15, 2020, for consideration using Fiscal Year 2020 funds.

Simons Foundation: Postdoctoral Fellowships in Marine Microbial Ecology – NEW!
The Simons Foundation invites applications for postdoctoral fellowships to support basic research on fundamental problems in marine microbial ecology, with an emphasis on understanding the role of microorganisms in shaping ocean processes, and vice versa. The foundation is particularly interested in applicants with training in different fields, as well as applicants with experience in modeling or theory development. While these cross-disciplinary applicants will receive particular attention, applicants already involved in ocean research are also encouraged to apply. The foundation anticipates awarding five fellowships in 2020. Application deadline: May 15, 2020.

NSF: Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)
Full proposal deadline: July 27, 2020.

UNOLS: 2020 Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Cruise Opportunities
The application deadline for the Fall 2020 Deployment Operations cruises is is August 3, 2020.

NSF: Biological Oceanography
Full proposal target dates: August 17, 2020 and February 15, 2021.

NSF: Chemical Oceanography
Full proposal target date: August 17, 2020 and February 15, 2021.

NSF: Physical Oceanography
Full proposal target date: August 17, 2020 and February 15, 2021.

NSF: Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Pathways into the Earth, Ocean, Polar and Atmospheric & Geospace Sciences (IUSE:GEOPAths)
Letter of Intent Due Date: November 17, 2020.

NSF: Research Traineeship (NRT) Program
Full Proposal Deadline Date: February 6, 2021.

NSF: COVID-19 Impacts
Links: NSF Coronavirus webpage, NSF Implementation of OMB Memorandum M-20-17, COVID-19 Information for the Geosciences Research Community.

Rolling Calls:

Employment

LDEO: Associate Research Scientist/Assistant Director, Education & Outreach for USSSP – NEW!
The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is seeking an Associate Research Scientist/Assistant Director of Education and Outreach for the U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) associated with the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in Earth science and lead the USSSP staff in managing and overseeing the USSSP Education & Outreach program, which consists of: (1) Raising awareness of IODP and Earth science; (2) Providing support and outreach for IODP expeditions; (3) Inspiring students in STEM fields to pursue careers in science or engineering within the Earth sciences; (4) Empowering educators to incorporate IODP data and scientific materials into their curricula; and (5) Increasing diversity in IODP via targeted outreach. Minimum requirements include a Ph.D. in Earth science, with at least two years of experience in education and outreach and demonstrated management skills. Review of applications will commence on May 6, 2020. The advertisement will stay open until the position is filled.

GFZ Potsdam: Research Associate – geomicrobiology of oil reservoirs – UPDATED!
The GeneOil project is a cooperation between Lundin Norway, the University of Duisburg-Essen and the GFZ. The project aims to identify the sources of microbial DNA in hydrocarbon reservoirs in order to develop a better understanding of current and past microbial activity in both the current reservoir and the environment in which the source rock was deposited. Responsibilities include: development of strategies for sampling and conservation of samples for genomic analyses on offshore drilling and production platforms; development of methods for the extraction of DNA and other biomolecules from crude oil; quantification of microbial activity using molecular biological (FISH, BONCAT, qPCR) and biogeochemical techniques (radioisotope incubations). The envisioned starting date is June 1st, but given the current situation we have some flexibility. The application deadline is extended to May 14, 2020.

Queen Mary U of London: 3-year Postdoc, Arctic soil biogeochemical modelling

U of Georgia: Assistant or Associate Professor – Biological Oceanography

WWU: Assistant Professor in Marine Molecular Biology

Don’t forget to email me with any items you’d like to share in future newsletters! We will also broadcast this information on our social media outlets, Twitter and Facebook. You are what makes our deep biosphere community!

Best,

Matt

—

Matthew Janicak

Data Manager

Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI)

University of Southern California
janicak@usc.edu

3616 Trousdale Pkwy, AHF 209, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371

Phone: 708-691-9563, Fax: 213-740-2437

Exploring life beneath the seafloor and making transformative discoveries that advance science, benefit society, and inspire people of all ages and origins.C-DEBI is now on Twitter! Follow and tweet to us @deepbiosphere or tag #CDEBI.