Funding period: 2020-2024
Lead: Christine Martineau
Total GRDI funding: $374,410
Microbial communities in soils carry out a multitude of processes that underlie many ecosystem functions such as fertility and climate regulation. Similarly, the communities of microorganisms found in water are a vital determinant of water quality and the food webs that sustain aquatic ecosystems. Despite their fundamental ecological roles, the functions of most microbial taxa remain unclear because they fail to be cultivated under laboratory conditions. The objective of the 'metagenomic toolbox' is to develop tools allowing for both taxonomic and functional characterization of microbial communities in soil and water. The two main approaches currently being developed are shotgun metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. These tools will allow to assess and protect microbial functions in forest ecosystems and lead to the development of knowledge based forest resilience solutions, therefore contributing to the environmental performance of the forest sector. As a proof of concept, this project will identify solutions for maintaining/enhancing soil carbon storage in boreal forests, which in turn could have environmental and economic impacts.
Publications
- Auer L, Buée M, Fauchery L, Lombard V, Barry KW, Clum A, Copeland A, Daum C, Foster B, LaButti K, Singan V, Yoshinaga Y, Martineau C, Alfaro M, Castillo FJ, Imbert JB, Ramírez L, Castanera R, Pisabarro AG, Finlay R, Lindahl B, Olson A, Séguin A, Kohler A, Henrissat B, Grigoriev IV, Martin FM. 2023. Metatranscriptomics sheds light on the links between the functional traits of fungal guilds and ecological processes in forest soil ecosystems. New Phytol n/a(n/a). https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19471
- Freeman EC, Emilson EJS, Dittmar T, Braga LPP, Emilson CE, Goldhammer T, Martineau C, Singer G, Tanentzap AJ. 2024. Universal microbial reworking of dissolved organic matter along environmental gradients. Nat Commun 15(1):187. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44431-4
- Gao L, Paré D, Martineau C, Yin X, Rodríguez-Rodríguez JC, Gagné P, Bergeron Y. 2024. Response of the soil microbial communities to forest ground cover manipulation in a boreal forest. For Ecol Manag 553:121615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121615
- Samad A, Degenhardt D, Séguin A, Morency M-J, Gagné P, Martineau C. 2023. Microbial community structural and functional differentiation in capped thickened oil sands tailings planted with native boreal species. Front Microbiol 14 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1168653
- Taylor RS, Manseau M, Redquest B, Keobouasone S, Gagné P, Martineau C, Wilson PJ. 2021. Whole genome sequences from non-invasively collected caribou faecal samples. Conservation Genet Resour. 14: 53-68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-021-01235-2
Contact us
For additional information, please contact:
Genomics R&D Initiative
Email: info@grdi-irdg.collaboration.gc.ca