NSF Award Abstract - #0221834| NSF Award Abstract - #0221834 |
AWSFL008-DS3 |
| NSF Org | CHE |
| Latest Amendment Date | September 13, 2002 |
| Award Number | 0221834 |
| Award Instrument | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager |
Janice M. Hicks CHE DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY MPS DIRECT FOR MATHEMATICAL & PHYSICAL SCIEN |
| Start Date | October 1, 2002 |
| Expires | September 30, 2006 (Estimated) |
| Expected Total Amount | $1490000 (Estimated) |
| Investigator |
Thomas Pichler pichler@chuma.cas.usf.edu (Principal Investigator current) Jan P. Amend (Co-Principal Investigator current) Gary Huxel (Co-Principal Investigator current) James R. Garey (Co-Principal Investigator current) Pamela Hallock-Muller (Co-Principal Investigator current) |
| Sponsor |
U of South Florida 4202 Fowler Avenue Tampa, FL 336209951 813/974-5465 |
| NSF Program | 1972 ELECTROCHEMISTRY & SURFACE CHE |
| Field Application | |
| Program Reference Code | 0000,1689,OTHR, |
Professor Thomas Pichler of the University of South Florida and coworkers are funded by the Biocomplexity-Coupled Biogeochemical Cycles program to study arsenic cycling in marine thermal vents in New Guinea. Arsenic can function as a toxin or a nutrient and more work is needed to understand its roles in an ecosystem. Little is known about arsenic biogeochemistry in vents; this site chosen was chosen because it is pristine and therefore the study will not be strongly affected by other pollutants. The work combines biochemistry, geology and ecology. Analyses include inorganic aqueous species, isotopes and dissolved organic matter from pore fluids and the water column. In addition, microbial, foraminiferan, meiofaunal and macrofaunal invertebrate diversities and community strucutres will be investigated in the sediments using morphological, isotopic and PCR-based molecular methods. Bioenergetic computations as well as mathematical models of biota will be performed. Interactive broadcasts will link the research with middle school science classes.The effects of arsenic on human health are a well-documented global concern. Understanding how arsenic moves through the environment and whether it is bioavailable is crucial in evaluating water quality world-wide. In the pristine environment in New Guinea, natural arsenic will be observed in relation to the biota. The results will have applications in understanding trace arsenic in other ecosystems.
