Recipient Organization
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
BOZEMAN,MT 59717
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Many of the crops that we currently depend on for food are attacked by microbes or eaten by grazers (think of the Irish potato famine, or locust infestations). Microscopic algae are currently being developed as a much more efficient crop, as they can be grown in saltwater ponds or on land unsuitable for traditional crops, and they can produce 30 to 40 times more protein per acre than other crops. A current issue is that these microscopic algae are also attacked by microbes and eaten by microscopic herbivores that live in ponds. So, just like with our current crops, we need to find ways to protect algae from these pests so we can make the most out of their exceptional efficiency and productivity.This project will use a combination of controlled laboratory experiments, pilot-scale outdoor algae pond experiments, and statistical analysis and modeling to find new solutions for growing algae in a way that they don't get attacked by harmful pests. The specific strategy in this project is to use the chemical defenses that some algae have already attained over millions, if not billions, of years, and which have the potential to deter harmful pests. Laboratory experiments will identify specific chemicals released by algae which defend them when pests are added to their cultures, outdoor pond experiments will verify that these defenses work out in the field, and statistics and modeling will quantify the protective effects and inform industry practitioners how much this new approach could help increase productivity and reduce costs. The ultimate goal is that this research will help move the algae farming industry forward and give us a highly efficient source of protein and other marketable co-products like high-value omega-3s and antioxidants.
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
70%
Applied
30%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The overarching goal of this project is to gain fundamental insights into the mechanisms linking algal exudates to interactions with mutualists, pathogens, grazers, and competitors. These insights are intended to inform the development of crop and pest management strategies for algae production, focusing on food, feed, and high-value co-products. The specific goals of this research are conceptually organized into two distinct Work Packages (WPs): The goal of WP1 is to experimentally test how growth conditions alteralgal exudate profiles and bacterial communities, and how this, in turn, alters the ability of algae to resist grazing and pathogenesis. The goal of WP2 is to test whether grazer- and pathogen-resistant microalgae can protect undefended taxa, thereby acting to facilitate the growth of their fellow algae when grown together, both at the lab and mesocosm scale.Within WP1, the following measurable objectives will be completed:Experimentally manipulate pH/alkalinity, temperature, and nutrient supply for 10 industrially important algae strains, quantify the total concentration of exudates produced, and describe the composition of resulting exudatesCharacterize the microbiomes of each condition using 16S rRNA sequencing and quantify the relationships between algal exudates and bacteria community density and compositionExperimentally introduce a model grazer and a model pathogen to algae culturesto quantify resistance to grazing and bacterial pathogenesis among algae strainsUse structural equation modeling to quantitatively assess the strength of relationships among the cultivation treatment, algal exudates, microbiomes, and the risk of culture collapse due to pests.Within WP2, the following measurable objectives will be completed:Use laboratory experiments to test whether highly grazer- and pathogen-resistant strains can also reduce biomass loss in undefended strainsUse field trials to validate observations of the most productive strain combinations and quantify the productivity benefits of using stable co-cultures over control conditionsCollaborate with engineers to use data collected from outdoor pond trials to parameterize TEA and LCA models
Project Methods
As described in the Goals section, the two distinct Work Packages rely heavily on a combination of established laboratory methods, unique field simulation infrastructure, and statistical analysis. Overall, the fact that the methods I will employ are established will help ensure that the project remains ambitious, yet tractable and feasible. The specific and unique combination of methods used, as well as the research questions addressed, ensures that the work is timely, novel, and impactful. The methods related to the key efforts involved, as well as the evaluation methods, are described below:Effort: Lab experiments. The main methods include laboratory methods that will be applied during experiments (e.g., sterile culturing in controlled laboratory incubators, quantifying biomass using plate readers and microscopy, 16S sequencing to characterize microbiomes, mass spectrometry and colorimetric assays to characterize exudates)Evaluation: advanced statistical methods (e.g., structural equation modeling) will determine if effects are significant and will evaluate the relative importance of different factorsEffort: Field trials. The second WP will rely on the unique experimental pond infrastructure at NMSU that will be essential in translating controlled lab-based results into more industry-relevant cultivation conditions; this will require methods associated with large volume semi-continuous experiments including regular harvesting, sampling, and preparation of media in high volumes.Evaluation: Results from these pond trials will require distinct statistical analysis to evaluate effects, such as repeated measures ANOVAs that assess biomass production over time. Collaborating with experts in TEA and LCA will help evaluate the broader potential for the methods I develop to enhance process economics and efficiency.Effort: Outreach. This will be achieved by publishing results, reaching out to industry partners in regular meetings, and engaging in any other activities that will help translate results into commercial systems.Evaluation: while publications will be assessed during and after peer review by academics, outreach to industry professionals will be evaluated by communicating regularly in meetings, as well as at conferences, to share results and ask their feedback on whether my research findings are likely to be applied in their regular operations, and if any changes in plans are needed to guarantee that this research is as impactful as possible, both for academia and industry.General evaluation: Finally, the general progress of the project will be evaluated in regular meetings with the two primary mentors, Dr. Gerlach and Dr. Corcoran, as well as in meetings every 6 months with the advisory board (Global Algae staff, Dr. Laurens, Dr. Starkenburg, Dr. Fields, Dr. Viamajala, and potentially others). Their complementary expertise and combinedinput will help put the results of my project in context and ensure that my efforts are being placed in the most important research direction for yielding impactful insights.