Ship Request

STR Management has moved to MFP

The US Academic Research Fleet is moving to Marine Facilities Planning (MFP) for scheduling initially and eventually cruise planning.

For all NEW or RESUBMITTED Projects/Ship Time Requests, go to https://mfp.us and create a new SME. Some STRs for projects starting in 2022 and beyond have already been moved to Marine Facilities Planning (mfp.us). Check your MFP Science Portal for any projects that might already be moved. If you need to make edits to projects that begin in 2022 and beyond, please contact mfp@unols.org for assistance. Be sure to indicate the Project and STR IDs that you would like to edit. For more information on getting into MFP, see the More Information button below.

  OMZ sulfur cycling  -  2012  -  Cape Hatteras  
  Project Information  
Project Title: CAREER: A functional genomic understanding of microbial sulfur cycling in oxygen minimum zones Project Status: Submitted
Principal Investigator: Frank J. Stewart, MSU Project Institution: GaTech
Project ID: 102996 Version #: 6
Date Submitted: 7/21/2011 5:28:00 PM Created By: Frank J. Stewart
Date Last Modified: 3/22/2012 11:25:00 AM URI Serial #: None
Funding Agencies: NSF/OCE/BIO - OCE 1151698 - Funded
Summary of Field Work: Recent experimental and molecular evidence suggests that marine oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) support an abundant community of dissimilatory sulfur-metabolizing microorganisms, with potentially critical links to OMZ nitrogen and carbon cycles. The organisms (Bacteria and Archaea) mediating OMZ sulfur transformations have been only minimally characterized, but appear to be phylogenetically diverse, physiologically active, and widely distributed across diverse low-oxygen regions. Here, we propose a combination of metagenomic (DNA) sampling, gene expression profiling (RNA), and shipboard microcosm experiments to characterize microbial sulfur cycling in the permanent OMZ of the Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP) and the hypoxic “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Results will be contextualized relative to existing molecular characterizations from the Eastern Tropical South Pacific OMZ (Chile/Peru) and the seasonal OMZ in Saanich Inlet (British Columbia), thereby establishing a comparative framework for understanding the evolution and ecology of pelagic sulfur-metabolizing microorganisms in diverse low-oxygen regions.

Fieldwork will consist of two cruises to each site, in alternating summers over a total span of four years beginning in summer 2012 (ideally). We propose sampling in the ETNP OMZ at 10-15 stations along two transects running southeast-northwest along the coast (~19-24°N, 106-116°W) and northeast-southwest off the coast (~14-18°N, 106-115°W). Proposed sampling in the GOM will span 5-10 stations on an east-west transect through the hypoxic zone on the Louisiana shelf (~28-29°N, 89-94°W).

At each station, general water column parameters will be assessed via vertical depth surveys using a CTD equipped with sensors for fluorometry, PAR, and dissolved oxygen. Seawater collections for DNA samples and nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate) will be done via rosette casts to discrete depths spanning the oxycline and suboxic zones. More extensive sampling will be done at ~3-5 process stations. At these sites, coupled RNA + DNA samples will be collected from 4-8 depths via single-depth casts, so as to minimize time between bottle-firing and arrival on deck. At a subset of the process stations, additional seawater samples will be collected for shipboard microcosm experiments. We therefore anticipate ~6-10 CTD-rosette casts (~24 hrs) per process station (initial CTD profile + nutrient collection + RNA/DNA casts) and 1-2 casts (~4 hrs) per non-process station.
Summary of Facility Requirements: The proposed shipboard bottle experiments will involve maintaining temperature and ambient light at in situ levels. To do so, we would like to incubate the bottles in a chilled water bath/aquarium and will therefore require access to either a chilled-water system or a portable flow-through chiller. Ideally, these experiments would be performed in a temperature-controlled van or room (cold room) that could be kept dark during the incubations, though external shading could also be used to regulate light levels.

In addition, the project requires access to a rosette and CTD equipped with sensors for fluorometry, PAR, and dissolved oxygen. We will need wet lab bench and storage space (estimated 30-40 sq ft) for filtering and preserving rosette-based water samples, as well as space to put a liquid nitrogen dewar for flash-freezing and temporarily storing RNA samples. RNA samples can then be moved into a -80C freezer (if available) for longer-term storage. Access to a -20C freezer and 4C refrigerator will be needed for storing DNA samples, reagents, and samples for enrichment cultures.
Summary of other requirements and comments:  
Ship Request Identification
Type of Request: Collaborative Ship Use Request Status: Submitted
Request ID: 1004672 Created By: Frank J. Stewart
Date Last Modified: 3/22/2012 11:25:00 AM Date Submitted: 7/21/2011 5:28:00 PM
Requested Ship, Operating Days and Dates
Year: 2012 Ship/Facility: Cape Hatteras
Optimum Start Date: 7/1/2012 Dates to Avoid: We need to avoid sampling in the GOM hypoxic zone from October-May (Winter).
 
 
Earliest Start Date: 6/15/2012 Multi-Ship Op: No
Latest Start Date: 8/1/2012 Other Ship(s):

Operating Days Needed: Science Days Mob Days De-Mob Days Estimated Transit Days Total Days
8 5 2 3 18
Repeating Cruise?
(within same year)
No Interval:   # of Cruises:  

Description of Repeating cruise requirements:
Justification/Explanation for ship choice, dates,
conflicts, number of days & multi-ship operations:
Work Area for Cruise
Short Description of Op Area
for use in schedules:
Louisiana shelf
Description of Op Area: Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone on Louisiana shelf (OMZ)
Op Area Size/Dia.: 300
 
  Lat/Long Marsden Grid Navy Op Area
Beginning
30° N / 89° W map
117 map
NA09 map
Ending
28° N / 94° W map
82 map
NA09 map
  Show Degrees Minutes    
Foreign Clearance and Permitting Requirements
Foreign Clearance Required? No Coastal States:
 Important Info on Foreign Research Clearances  

Are you or any member in your science party bringing in any science equipment items which are regulated for export by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR)?
No If yes, have you applied for the necessary permits through your export control office? No
 Questions about ITAR/EAR regulations?

Comments about foreign clearance requirements or
description of any other special permitting requirements
(e.g., MMPA, ESA, IHA, Marine Sanctuaries, etc.)
Port Calls
Requested Start Port Intermediate Port(s) Requested End Port
Gulfport, MS, USA None Gulfport, MS, USA
Explanation/justification for requested
ports and dates of intermediate stops
or to list additional port stops
 

 Important Info on Working in Foreign Ports

 
Science Party
Chief Scientist: Frank J. Stewart, MSU
# in Science Party 6 # of different science teams 1 # Marine Technicians to be
provided by ship operator:
(include in science party total)
2
Explanation of Science Party Requirements and Technician Requirements Two technicians are required to deploy and operate the CTD-rosette. Four additional party members are required for water collection, and shipboard physiological experiments.
Instrumentation Requirements That Impact Scheduling Decisions
Unselected Dynamic PositioningUnselected ADCPUnselected MultibeamUnselected Seismic
Unselected Dredging/Coring/Large Dia. Trawl WireUnselected Stern A-frameUnselected Fiber Optic (.681)Unselected 0.680 Coax Wire
Unselected SCUBA DivingUnselected Radioisotope use - briefly describeUnselected NO Radioisotope use/Natural level workUnselected Other Operator Provided Inst. - Describe
1 PI-Provided Vans - briefly describe Unselected MOCNESS  
Explain Instrumentation or Capability
requirements that could affect choice
of ship in scheduling.

In addition, this project requires access to a standard rosette and CTD equipped with sensors for fluorometry, PAR, and dissolved oxygen. The proposed shipboard bottle experiments will involve maintaining temperature and ambient light at in situ levels. Ideally, these would be performed in a temperature-controlled van or room (cold room) that could be kept dark during the incubations, though external shading could also be used to regulate light levels.

Major Ancillary Facilities (that require coordination of schedules with ship schedule)
Aircraft
Unselected Helicopter Ops (USCG)Unselected Twin OtterUnselected Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) 
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
Unselected Other AUVUnselected Sentry  
Coring Facility
Unselected Jumbo Piston CoringUnselected Large Gravity Core Unselected MC800 multicorer w/ MISO camera/telemetryUnselected OSU Coring Facility (MARSSAM)
Unselected Other Large Coring FacilityUnselected WHOI Long Core  
Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV)
Unselected AlvinUnselected Clelia (HBOI)Unselected JSL I & II (HBOI)Unselected Other HOV
Other Facility
Unselected MISO Facility - deep-sea imagingUnselected Other FacilityUnselected Potential Fields Pool Equipment 
Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)
Unselected JasonUnselected Other ROV  
Seismic Facility
Unselected Ocean Bottom Seismograph Instrument Center (OBSIC)Unselected Ocean Bottom Seismograph Instrument Pool (OBSIP)Unselected Ocean-Bottom Seismometer Program (UTIG)Unselected Other Seismic/OBS Facility
Unselected PASSCALUnselected Portable MCS groupUnselected Portable MCS/SCS groupUnselected U.S. Geological Survey Ocean Bottom Seismometer Facility (USGS at WHOI)
Towed Underwater Vehicle
Unselected ARGO IIUnselected Hawaii MR1 (HMRG)Unselected IMI12 (HMRG)Unselected IMI120 (HMRG - formerly DSL 120A)
Unselected IMI30 (HMRG)Unselected Other Towed Underwater VehicleUnselected Towfish 
UNOLS Van Pool
Unselected AUV Lab Van #1Unselected Clean Lab VanUnselected Cold Lab VanUnselected General Purpose Lab Van
Unselected Radioisotope Lab VanUnselected Wet Lab Van  
UNOLS Winch Pool
Unselected Mooring SpoolerUnselected Portable WinchUnselected Turn Table 
Explain Major Ancillary Facilities
Requirements and list description
and provider for "other" systems.

Expand request schedules  Associated Schedules

Expand request history Ship Request History