Drilling site at the BA1B well into the Samail Ophiolite in the Sultanate of Oman. (Elizabeth Fones)
Sites of active serpentinization, such as the Samail Ophiolite, are characterized by rock-water reactions that limit the availability of dissolved inorganic carbon and produce mineral carbonates, which is of interest for carbon capture technology. Despite extreme conditions, microorganisms, including those that produce methane, are actively impacting the carbon cycle. We will sequence single cell genomes and metagenomes to better understand adaptations necessary for life in this environment and to determine the role of viruses in diversification and liberation of organic carbon.
Proposer: Rachel Spietz, Montana State University
Proposal: Impacts of viral infections upon microbial carbon cycling in the Samail Ophiolite