Western Australia Extreme Environments
Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Major
Geology and Geophysics
Research Advisor
Oboh-Ikuenobe, Francisca
Advisor's Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Funding Source
Missouri S&T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program; National Science Foundation; Dr. Al Spreng Undergraduate Research Award
Abstract
Studies of hypersaline lakes on Earth provide insights into extreme conditions in which life may arise on other planets. We present palynological analysis of cores from three hypersaline lakes in Western Australia (Cowan Basin, Oldenberg Farm, Twin Lake West) that constrain environmental conditions during the Holocene. Dispersed organic matter preserved in the sediments includes structured phytoclasts (wood, cuticles, etc.), degraded and comminuted phytoclasts, and fungal remains. Identified pollen grains blown in from the surrounding areas include Myrtaceae (Eucalyptus pollen), Chenopodiaceae (saltbush pollen), and Poaceae (grass pollen). The discovery of Dunaliella (algae that lived within the lakes) demonstrates that such organisms can survive and thrive in hypersaline extreme environments that are analogous to those on Mars.
Biography
Kate Schlarman is a junior Geology and Geophysics major interested in connections between biological and earth sciences.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
06 Apr 2011, 9:00 am - 11:45 am
Western Australia Extreme Environments
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Studies of hypersaline lakes on Earth provide insights into extreme conditions in which life may arise on other planets. We present palynological analysis of cores from three hypersaline lakes in Western Australia (Cowan Basin, Oldenberg Farm, Twin Lake West) that constrain environmental conditions during the Holocene. Dispersed organic matter preserved in the sediments includes structured phytoclasts (wood, cuticles, etc.), degraded and comminuted phytoclasts, and fungal remains. Identified pollen grains blown in from the surrounding areas include Myrtaceae (Eucalyptus pollen), Chenopodiaceae (saltbush pollen), and Poaceae (grass pollen). The discovery of Dunaliella (algae that lived within the lakes) demonstrates that such organisms can survive and thrive in hypersaline extreme environments that are analogous to those on Mars.
