Dr. Ronald Kiene

Dr. Ronald P. Kiene
Professor
Department of Marine Sciences
University of South Alabama
LSCB-25, Mobile, AL 36688
also
Senior Marine Scientist III
Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Ph.D., 1987, SUNY Stony Brook
rkiene@disl.org

Ron Kiene's Antarctica Trip 2006

Brief Description of Research:
Biogeochemical cycling of sulfur and organic matter in aquatic environments.

Research Interests-

My research focuses on the role of microorganisms in the cycling of organic matter and important elements such as sulfur and nitrogen in aquatic systems.

A major focus of my research program is the biogeochemical cycling of dimethylsulfide (DMS) and its precursor dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in the marine water column. We carry out this research in local waters but also on oceanographic cruises all over the world. This field continues to broaden as we have discovered new and important roles for DMSP and its degradation products in the marine ecosystem. DMSP is produced by many, but not all, marine algae who use it as an osmotic solute and potentially an antioxidant. DMSP is degraded by microorganisms to volatile DMS which is a major source of sulfur to the atmosphere. This input of DMS to the atmosphere significantly affects atmospheric chemistry (especially the pH of precipitation) and also the global climate system because DMS is oxidized to sulfate aerosols (tiny crystals of salt). Sulfate aerosols affect climate by directly reflecting solar radiation back to space and by serving as cloud condensation nuclei, which in turn affect how clouds reflect solar radiation.

Here are some brief highlights of ongoing projects.

The role of DMSP as an antioxidant in marine algae – With funding from the NSF Biological Oceanography program we are testing the hypothesis that DMSP and its degradation products are important scavengers of reactive oxygen species in cells of marine algae. We are using pure cultures of marine phytoplankton as well as natural populations in seawater to study the physiological responses of the algae to oxidative stresses. One of the responses we are particularly interested in is the algal degradation of DMSP to DMS, catalyzed by DMSP lyase enzymes. We are examining the activity and regulation of DMSP lyase in the oxidative stress physiology of the phytoplankton. With separate funding from EPA we are also examining the oxidative stress physiology of the marsh grass Spartina alterniflora, another DMSP producer.

Biogeochemical cycling of DMSP and DMS in the Ross Sea, Antarctica – The Ross Sea experiences a spectacular bloom of phytoplankton beginning in the austral spring and extending into the austral summer. This bloom is composed mainly of Phaeocystis antarctica, a prymnesiophyte alga that produces large amounts of DMSP. Previous studies have documented extremely high concentrations of DMS in the Ross Sea, but no process studies have been carried out. With funding from the NSF Office of Polar Programs, we will be using an experimental approach and field sampling to examine the factors which control DMSP and DMS production in these icy cold waters. The 35S-DMSP and 35S-DMS tracer methods that we have developed provide us with powerful tools to study DMSP/DMS cycling processes under extreme conditions. We are particularly interested in the impact of solar radiation (both visible and ultraviolet) on the algal and bacterial communities that are responsible for cycling DMSP/DMS. Solar UV radiation is an important factor in the Ross Sea during the early bloom development because this area is within the Antarctic Ozone Hole. Several cruises to Antarctic waters are planned for the coming years. Research data from this project can be found at http://www.esf.edu/antarctica/data.htm

The biocomplexity of the global DMS cycle – The biogeochemical cycle of DMS in the ocean involves many different types of organisms (algae, bacteria, viruses, grazers) interacting in a complex web of ecological, processes, all of which depend greatly on the geophysical and biophysical conditions experienced by the plankton community. In turn, DMS emissions to the atmosphere can have an enormous impact on atmospheric chemistry and climate with potential for feedbacks on the plankton communities that produce DMSP and DMS. We are funded by the NSF Biocomplexity program to work with other DMS specialists, food web modelers and climate modelers to advance understanding of how the DMS cycle functions and how it responds to forcings such as temperature, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, nutrients, water column mixing depths and other factors. In addition to laboratory components, this project has two major field components. The first will be a month-long cruise to the Sargasso Sea near the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS) station to investigate the late summer “DMS paradox”, a period of high DMS concentrations when plankton biomass is extremely low. The second field study will be an extended time series and experimental investigation of DMS cycling in the productive waters near the Antarctic Palmer Peninsula.

Microbial ecology and carbon cycling in estuaries - With funding from the US EPA we have been studying the trophic dynamics in the microbial food web of Mobile Bay, a large shallow estuary on the US Gulf Coast. We are measuring the biomass, production and growth efficiency of bacteria in the estuary. Field and laboratory experiments are being carried out to test how temporal and spatial variations in sediment resuspension and riverine DOC inputs influence the role of bacteria the trophic transfers within the Bay ecosystem. The trophic status of the Bay (heterotrophic vs. autotrophic) is being assessed to determine how efficient the system is at processing nutrients and carbon and in transferring energy up to the fish forage base.

Selected Recent Publications -

Moran, M.A., A. Buchan, J. M. González, J. F. Heidelberg., W. B. Whitman., R. P. Kiene, J. R. Henriksen, G. M. 
                     King, R. Belas, C. Fuqua, L. Brinkac, M. Lewis, S. Johri, B. Weaver, G. Pai, J. A. Eisen, E. Rahe, W. M. 
                     Sheldon, W.Ye, T. R. Miller, J Carlton, D. A. R.4, I.T. Paulsen, Q. Ren, S. C. Daugherty, R. T. Deboy, R. J. 
                     Dodson, A. S. Durkin, R. Madupu, W.C. Nelson, S. A. Sullivan, M. J. Rosovitz, D. H. Haft, J. Selengut, & N. 
                     Ward. Genome Sequence of Silicibacter pomeroyi reveals unique adaptations to the marine environment . 
                     Nature, In Press.                      
Toole, D.A. D.J. Kieber, R.P. Kiene, E.M. White, J. Bisgrove, D.A. del Valle, D. Slezak. 2004. High 
                   dimethylsulfide photolysis rates in nitrate-rich Antarctic waters. 2004. Geophys.Res. Lett.. 31: L11307, 
                   doi:10.1029/2004GL019863.                    
 Vila , M., R. Simó, R.P. Kiene, J. Pinhassi, J.M. González, M. A. Moran, and C. Pedrós-Alió. 2004. 
                   Dimethylsulfoniopropionate incorporation by bacterioplankton taxa studied by microautoradiography and 
                   fluorescence in situ hybridization. Appl. Evniron. Microbiol. 70: 4648-4657. 
                   Malmstrom, R R., R. P. Kiene, M. Cottrell and D. L. Kirchman. 2004. Contribution of SAR11 bacteria to C, N, 
                   and S cycling in the North Atlantic Ocean . Appl. Evniron. Microbiol. 70: 4129-4135.                    
Keller, M.D., P.M. Matrai, R.P. Kiene, and W. K. Bellows. 2004. Responses of coastal phytoplankton 
                   populations to nitrogen additions: Dynamics of cell-associated dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), glycine 
                   betaine ( GBT ) and homarine. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 61: 685-699.                    
Zubkov, M, L. J. Linn, R. Amann and R. P. Kiene. 2004. Temporal patterns of biological dimethylsulfide 
                   (DMS) consumption during laboratory-induced phytoplankton bloom cycles. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 271: 77-86.
                    Harada, H, M-A. Rouse, W. Sunda and R. P. Kiene. 2004. Latitudinal and vertical distributions of particle-
                   associated DMSP lyase activity in the western North Atlantic Ocean . Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 61: 700-711. 
                   Miley, G.A. and R. P. Kiene. 2004. Sulfate reduction and pore water chemistry in a gulf coast Juncus 
                   roemerianus (needlerush) marsh. Estuaries 27: 472-481.                    
Malmstrom, R R., R. P. Kiene and D. L. Kirchman. 2004. Identification and enumeration of marine bacteria 
                   assimilating dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in the north Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico . Limnol. Oceanogr. 
                   49: 597-606. 
Stets, E G, M. E. Hines and R. P. Kiene. 2004. Thiol methylation potential in anoxic, low pH wetland 
                   sediments and its relationship dimethylsulfide production and organic carbon cycling. FEMS Microbiology 
                   Ecology. 47: 1-11. 
Toole, D.A., D. J. Kieber, R. P. Kiene, D. A. Siegel, and N.B. Nelson. 2003. Photolysis and the dimethylsulfide
                    (DMS) summer paradox in the Sargasso Sea . Limnol. Oceanogr. 48: 1088-1100. 
Moran, M. A., J. M. González, and R. P. Kiene. 2003. Linking a bacterial taxon to organic sulfur cycling in the 
                   sea: studies of the marine Roseobacter group. Geomicrobiology Journal. 20:375-388.                    
Sunda, W., D. J. Kieber, R. P. Kiene and S. Huntsman. 2002. An antioxidant function for DMSP in marine 
                   algae. Nature 418: 317-320.                    
Hines , M.E. , K. N. Duddleston, and R.P. Kiene. 2001. Carbon flow to acetate and C 1 compounds in high 
                   latitude wetlands. Geophysical Res. Lett. 28: 4251-4254.                    
Zubkov, M, B. M. Fuchs, S.D. Archer, R. P. Kiene, R. Amann and P. Burkhill. 2001. Linking the composition of 
                   bacterioplankton to rapid turnover of dissolved dimethylsulphoniopropionate in an algal bloom in the North 
                   Sea . Environ. Microbiol. 3: 304-311. 
Kiene, R.P. and L. Linn. 2000. The fate of dissolved dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in seawater: Tracer 
                   studies using 35S-DMSP. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 64: 797-2810. 
Kiene, R.P. and L. J. Linn. 2000. Turnover of dissolved DMSP and its relationship with bacterial production in
                    the Gulf of Mexico . Limnol. Oceanogr. 45(4): 849-861.
Kiene, R. P., L. J. Linn, and J. A. Bruton. 2000. New and important roles for DMSP in marine microbial 
                   communities. J. Sea Res. 43: 209-224.

Books Edited -

Kiene, R. P., P. T. Visscher, G. O. Kirst and M. D. Keller (eds.). 1996. Biological and Environmental Chemistry of DMSP
                      and related sulfonium compounds. Plenum Publishing Corp., New York 430p.

Current Research Grants –

National Science Foundation – Polar Programs-Antarctic Biology and Medicine. Impact of solar radiation and nutrients
                    on biogeochemical cycling of DMSP and DMS in the Ross Sea , Antarctica . (with David Kieber, SUNY ESF).
National Science Foundation – Biocomplexity in the Environment. Complex molecular to global interactions and 
                   feedbacks in the marine DMS cycle. (with Patricia Matrai, Bigelow Laboratory, and several other PI’s).
National Science Foundation – Biological Oceanography. Production and dynamics of DMSP and related compounds
                     in response to oxidative stress in marine phytoplankton. (with David Kieber, SUNY ESF ). 
National Science Foundation – Microbial genetics. Bacterial Regulation of Organic Sulfur Cycling in the Ocean: A
                    Genomic Approach.. sub-contract from Univ. Georgia , under grant to Mary Ann Moran.
Environmental Protection Agency – Alabama Center for Estuarine Studies. Oxidative stress protection by
                    dimethylsulfoniopropionate(DMSP) in Spartina alterniflora.

Current Graduate Students –
J. Daniel Husband
Daniela del Valle
Hyakubun Harada (Ph.D.)

Post Doctoral Associates -
Doris Slezak

Technicians -
Jennifer Meeks


	University of South Alabama - Mobile, AL 36688-0002 / (251) 460-6101 For questions or comments Contact Us Last date changed: July 10, 2008 URL: http://www.southalabama.edu/marinesciences/fac_kiene.html