Ashvini Chauhan, Ph.D.Associate Professor

Environmental Biotechnology and Genomics LaboratorySchool of the Environment, 1515 S. MLK Blvd., Suite 305B, FSHSRC, Florida A&M University,

Tallahassee, FL-32307, USAashvini.Chauhan@famu.edu

The Vital Soil Microbiome and Impacts of Climate Change

Florida A&M University (FAMU)Florida A&M University (FAMU)

• SoE is one of several innovative programs in the STEM

disciplines at FAMU offering BS, MS and Ph.D. degrees in

environmental sciences and policy.

• Home to 10 faculty and 80 students in all degree programs.

• Several new cutting-edge programs are being developed:

• BS in environmental studies

• PSM in environmental biotechnology

• Ph.D. concentration track in environmental laws

• Research activities supported by state funds, grants and contracts.

The School of the Environment (SoE)

Research InterestsResearch Interests1. Responses to environmental microorganisms by anthropogenic impacts, such as

global warming;

2. Sustainable solutions for contaminant cleanup using microbially-mediated biodegradation technologies;

3. Sustainable production of cyanobacteria and microalgal based biofuels and other value-added products;

4. Bacterial genomics and metabolomics to better understand the genomic, catabolic and metabolic potential of environmental microorganisms

1. Responses to environmental microorganisms by anthropogenic impacts, such as global warming;

2. Sustainable solutions for contaminant cleanup using microbially-mediated biodegradation technologies;

3. Sustainable production of cyanobacteria and microalgal based biofuels and other value-added products;

4. Bacterial genomics and metabolomics to better understand the genomic, catabolic and metabolic potential of environmental microorganisms

Claire Smith

Devin AlvarezDevin Alvarez

Lowell Collins

Ashish Pathak

Jesse Thomas Denis Wafula

Why are Microorganisms so Important to the Environment?

Why are Microorganisms so Important to the Environment?

• Microbes make up most living matter (~60% of the

earths biomass)

• Up to 1 billion cells/g of soil>>maintain soil fertility

• Microbes degrade pollutants, generate at least half

the oxygen we breathe, fix atmospheric nitrogen for

plants and recycle carbon, phosphorus, iron and even

water!

• Bacterial biomass is the basis of marine and

freshwater food webs

• Without microorganisms, life would cease to exist…

• Microbes make up most living matter (~60% of the

earths biomass)

• Up to 1 billion cells/g of soil>>maintain soil fertility

• Microbes degrade pollutants, generate at least half

the oxygen we breathe, fix atmospheric nitrogen for

plants and recycle carbon, phosphorus, iron and even

water!

• Bacterial biomass is the basis of marine and

freshwater food webs

• Without microorganisms, life would cease to exist…

http://www.danmarco.net/multipoint/biofilm.htm\

http://www.hypertextbookshop.com/biofilmbook/working_version/index.html

Microbes are Everywhere and Live TogetherMicrobes are Everywhere and Live Together

In human oral biome

In lichensIn lichens

In cow rumenIn cow rumen

In coralsIn corals

In termite gutsIn termite guts

and with others…..and with others…..

In squidsIn squids

In oyster guts(Chauhan et al., Under

preparation)

In oyster guts(Chauhan et al., Under

preparation)

In human gutsIn human guts

With plant roots

With plant roots

Human Microbiome ProjectHuman Microbiome Project

-Salinity: Fresh water to marine and hypersaline environments (Dead sea and the Great Salt Lake, halophiles can tolerate 5-times the salt found in oceans

-Temperature: from –12 (chryophiles) to 113oC to 121oC) (thermophiles)

-pH: from 0 to 13 pH

- Redox Potential: from –200mV (methanogens) to +600mV

- Hydrostatic Pressure: from 1 to 1400 atm (barophiles)

Ecological DiversityEcological Diversity

Chemotrophs: Energy is obtained from chemicals • Lithotrophs: Inorganic chemicals (sulfur, iron, hydrogen) • Organotrophs: carbon and energy are obtained from organic chemicals (E.coli, pathogens)

Chemotrophs: Energy is obtained from chemicals • Lithotrophs: Inorganic chemicals (sulfur, iron, hydrogen) • Organotrophs: carbon and energy are obtained from organic chemicals (E.coli, pathogens)

Phototrophs: Energy is obtained from light • Heterotrophs: carbon is obtained from organic compounds (halophilic Archaea and several bacteria) • Autotrophs: carbon is obtained by fixing CO2 (most cyanobacteria, photosynthetic

bacteria)

Phototrophs: Energy is obtained from light • Heterotrophs: carbon is obtained from organic compounds (halophilic Archaea and several bacteria) • Autotrophs: carbon is obtained by fixing CO2 (most cyanobacteria, photosynthetic

bacteria)

http://arctida.blogspot.com/2010/11/cyanobacteria-asymmetric-contemporary.html

http://ncassyellowstone.wordpress.com/pictures/

Metabolic DiversityMetabolic Diversity

Based on 4 Generalizations:

(1) All animals and plants establish symbiotic relationships with microorganisms(2) The association between host and symbionts affects the fitness of the holobiont within its environment(3) Variation in the hologenome can be brought about by changes in either the host or the microbiota genomes(4) Under environmental stress, the symbiotic microbial community can change rapidly

Based on 4 Generalizations:

(1) All animals and plants establish symbiotic relationships with microorganisms(2) The association between host and symbionts affects the fitness of the holobiont within its environment(3) Variation in the hologenome can be brought about by changes in either the host or the microbiota genomes(4) Under environmental stress, the symbiotic microbial community can change rapidly

Latest Research Suggests that…Latest Research Suggests that…

"The role of the infinitely small in nature is infinitely large"

-Louis Pasteur

"The role of the infinitely small in nature is infinitely large"

-Louis Pasteur

Many Soil Bacteria Enhance Plant Productivity

Bulk Soil

Rhizosphere

Efficient Microorganisms:

EM™ stands for "Effective Microorganisms™" developed by Professor Dr. Teruo Higa from Japan. EM™ consists of a wide variety of effective, beneficial and non-pathogenic microorganisms produced through a natural process and not chemically synthesized or genetically engineered that is shown to enhance plant productivity.

Rhizonify™ is a formulation from Grigg Brothers designed to facilitate the interaction of turfgrass roots with water, nutrients, and sugars in the rhizosphere to improve rooting, enhance plant energy status, and promote turfgrass vigor in challenging soil conditions or during environmental stress.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (commissioned by UN) "most of the warming observed

over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities".

Blame is on primarily

on CO2

emissions

GCC and Microbes

GCC are likely to affect soil microbial processes by:

• Altering the function of environmental microorganisms

• Restructuring the community

• Modifying the physiologies of microbes that drive biogeochemical processes

GCC Will Influence Soil Productivity:

Directly:- Affecting the growth, survival and dispersal of soil organisms- Changing decomposition rates and C and N cycling

Indirectly:- Influencing plant productivity and litter fall rates and root turnover and soil organic matter-Changing substrate chemistry-Changing plant species composition

Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) provides a unique opportunityFree-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) provides a unique opportunity

Four FACE rings surrounding deciduous forest trees at the Oak

Ridge National Laboratory.

- These FACE research facilities give scientists an opportunity to understand how different plant biochemical, physiological, and growth processes within the ecosystem will respond as a result of long-term exposure to elevated CO2 levels.

- The FACE studies are designed to address the question of how ecosystems will respond to future atmospheric CO2 environments and whether the growth response level off at some future CO2 level.

Conclusions

• It is difficult to draw general conclusions about the full effects of elevated CO2 on terrestrial ecosystems.

• Elevated (CO2) has adverse effects on microbial community structure and microbial activity.

• Simulated climate change reduced species number, richness and diversity.

Recommendations

- Climate change is global and thus the impacts of global warming on plants and their native microbiota needs to be studied at a global level

- Integrated international teams need to work seamlessly on the many facets of global warming and climate smart environmental practices

- A holistic understanding on effects of climate change

on plant’s aboveground and belowground forces need to be studied in further details.