Isolation and Characterization of Novel Halo-Acidophilic Microorganisms Present in Hypersaline Lakes from Western Australia
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences; Geology and Geophysics
Research Advisor
Mormile, Melanie R.
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
NASA-EPSCoR
Abstract
The microbial communities in the acidic hypersaline environments in Lake Magic, Lake Gounter, Lake Gneiss, and Lake Aerodrome in Western Australia are currently unknown. These lakes are of interest due to their pH and salt concentrations, recorded to be between 1.4-3.5 pH and 13-32% salt concentration. The lakes are also ephemeral, which effects the salt concentration based on how much water is in the lake. With these extreme conditions, it is likely that novel species of microorganisms will be isolated from the sediments taken from the lakes. There have been microorganisms found to be acidophilic and halo-tolerant but not halo-acidophilic. Retrieved isolates are expected to be in this new category extremophiles, leading us to a new understanding of extremophiles while pushing the envelope of where life can thrive.
Biography
Ava Hughes is a junior in Biological Sciences and has been performing research in Dr. Mormile’s lab since August 2013. She is involved in Residential Life, being a Resident Assistant and Senior Resident Assistant. She is also the secretary/treasurer of National Residence Hall Honorary and a member of Phi Sigma, a biological honor society. She plans on going to graduate school and getting a doctorate in environmental sciences and conservation.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Upper Atrium/Hall
Presentation Date
15 Apr 2015, 9:00 am - 11:45 am
Isolation and Characterization of Novel Halo-Acidophilic Microorganisms Present in Hypersaline Lakes from Western Australia
Upper Atrium/Hall
The microbial communities in the acidic hypersaline environments in Lake Magic, Lake Gounter, Lake Gneiss, and Lake Aerodrome in Western Australia are currently unknown. These lakes are of interest due to their pH and salt concentrations, recorded to be between 1.4-3.5 pH and 13-32% salt concentration. The lakes are also ephemeral, which effects the salt concentration based on how much water is in the lake. With these extreme conditions, it is likely that novel species of microorganisms will be isolated from the sediments taken from the lakes. There have been microorganisms found to be acidophilic and halo-tolerant but not halo-acidophilic. Retrieved isolates are expected to be in this new category extremophiles, leading us to a new understanding of extremophiles while pushing the envelope of where life can thrive.
