Marine Microbial Endoliths: Biodiversity and Function
Endolithic (mining) cyanobacteria, which actively penetrate carbonate minerals known as euendoliths (true endoliths), constitute a major erosive force contributing to the morphogenesis of coastal and terrestrial limestones, destroying coral reefs and other biological carbonates, such as shell casings and various skeletal fragments. They also cause enormous damage to aquaculture.Despite their immense and undeniable environmental importance, the diversity of endoliths and the mechanism that allows them to dissolve and destroy carbonate rocks remains unknown. The aim of the proposed project is therefore to conduct the first comprehensive and multifaceted study of the molecular and phenotypic diversity of marine endoliths. Furthermore, the project plans to conduct unique metagenomic studies on endolith organisms. The study aims not only to obtain information on the biodiversity of endolithic cyanobacteria but also on their function and ecological potential. In this project, we intend to conduct genomics on single cells of endolithic organisms for the first time, providing detailed information on the metabolism of individual organisms and their unique abilities to penetrate and degrade carbonates, phosphates, and other similar substrates.In our research, we intend to work exclusively on single cells collected directly from the field without first placing them in culture. This way, in endolithic cyanobacteria, which have not yet been maintained in any culture and which dominate marine rocks and biochemical cycles, a correlation will be established between their identification, morphological description, and the metabolism of a given organism.A key strength of the project will be the innovative application of modern, next-generation molecular tools to study microorganisms penetrating carbonate rocks "in situ," i.e., where these organisms naturally occur. To investigate the diversity, importance, and mechanisms of rock degradation by cyanobacteria-mining organisms, studies of euendoliths from five different locations with different latitudes and nutrient availability are planned.The project aims to answer the question of how the environment (climate and chemistry) influences the distribution of endolithic organisms and their functional capabilities. The identification of endoliths from geographically diverse locations will be correlated with their function in the environment.Understanding the metabolism and biodiversity of endoliths in the context of geochemical processes in coastal areas will enable future mitigation of their impact on global bioerosion.It is also important to better understand the functions, potential, ecology, and requirements of euendoliths in these environments to improve knowledge of past environmental conditions and better predict the future.