This National Science Foundation Project Grant award of $240,000 supports research investigating the interactions between seagrasses, environmental conditions, and microbes from March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2027. The award is made through the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074), which aims to promote biological sciences research and strengthen the scientific enterprise.
Specifically, the fellow will conduct three studies to better understand how the presence of the sulfide-oxidizing bacterium 'Candidatus Thiodiazotroph' impacts seagrass health under varying environmental stress levels. A reciprocal transplant experiment will analyze how plant traits and environment affect bacterial abundance. A mesocosm experiment will assess how interactions between sulfide stress and the bacterium affect seagrass performance. An incubation experiment will explore how seagrass-microbe interactions influence higher-order variation in plant performance and nutrient cycling. Results aim to advance knowledge of plant microbiomes, coastal ecosystem nitrogen cycling, and environmental impacts on ecosystem functions. The fellow will also receive training and promote undergraduate research involvement to support the program's broader goals.
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