- Starting
from "first principles" whenever possible, construct models of bacterial
population dynamics linked to organic matter degradation in sediments
and systematically compare model predictions to experimental data.
- Determine
the effects of physical and chemical properties of sediments on the
availability of nutrients and organic substrates to bacteria.
- Apply
computer-generated reaction models and molecular dynamics modeling approaches
to identify and parameterize the spectrum of PAH and NOM reaction "families"
in sediment.
- Characterize
functional groups and structural properties of NOM to provide constraints
to molecular simulations of NOM structure.
- Using
several bacterial isolates differing in their use of PAHs and NOM, determine
growth rates as functions of organic substrate concentration, nitrogen
source, and particle characteristics; use results to initiate models.
- Determine
susceptibility of different bacteria to predation by protozoa; use results
to initiate models.
- Run
models with novel combinations of input parameters, such as multiple
bacterial types, multiple predators, various initial abundance of prey
and predators, various concentrations of nutrients, single or multiple
particle types, etc. Depending on the input parameters several possible
system states will likely exist, such as steady, periodic, quasi-periodic,
or chaotic.
- Conduct
appropriate experiments to test model predictions, and update models
as needed.
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