Comparing the Diversity of Fungi on Leaves Submerged in Different Amounts of Stream Water
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biology
Research Advisor
Niyogi, Dev
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Missouri S&T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program
Abstract
In this research project I looked at the different types of fungi that inhabit leaves placed in different parts of a stream. Four sites were compared along the same stream, one being completely submerged in the stream, one on the bank, and two further from the stream. The site chosen was the Audubon stream located on the north side of Rolla, Missouri. This site is considerably secluded and surrounded by native Missouri flora. Maple leaf cores were used in mesh leaf litterbags because maple trees are very common in the Midwest. The methods used in this study included dissolved oxygen measurements, conidia slides, PCR gels and most importantly DGGE gels. Although the results were slightly variable, I found that the leaves more submerged in water had a fungal community that was both more active and more diverse.
Biography
Lara is an undergraduate student majoring in biology. She is interested in the field of ecology and hopes to one day obtain a graduate degree in conservation biology.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
10 Apr 2012, 9:00 am - 11:45 am
Comparing the Diversity of Fungi on Leaves Submerged in Different Amounts of Stream Water
Upper Atrium/Hallway
In this research project I looked at the different types of fungi that inhabit leaves placed in different parts of a stream. Four sites were compared along the same stream, one being completely submerged in the stream, one on the bank, and two further from the stream. The site chosen was the Audubon stream located on the north side of Rolla, Missouri. This site is considerably secluded and surrounded by native Missouri flora. Maple leaf cores were used in mesh leaf litterbags because maple trees are very common in the Midwest. The methods used in this study included dissolved oxygen measurements, conidia slides, PCR gels and most importantly DGGE gels. Although the results were slightly variable, I found that the leaves more submerged in water had a fungal community that was both more active and more diverse.
