Isolation and Characterization of Novel Halo-Acidophilic Microorganisms Present in Hypersaline Lakes from Western Australia
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Geology and Geophysics, Biological Sciences (Minor)
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. Halite and gypsum crystals form as evaporates as a crustal layer on the sediment. With these extreme conditions, it is likely that novel species of microorganisms will be isolated. There have been microorganisms found to be acidophilic and halo-tolerant but not halo-acidophilic. Retrieved isolates will be isolated from halite and in some cases gypsum crystals from the various lakes mentioned above and are expected to be in this new category extremophiles. This will lead us to a new understanding of extremophiles while pushing the envelope of where life can thrive.
Biography
Katlyn Lonergan is a senior in Geology and Geophysics pursuing a minor in Biological Sciences. She is taking on her first research project with Dr. Mormile to incorporate biology and geology as one science. Currently she serves as President of AAPG/C.L. Dake Geological Society and a member of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, an honors geological society. After graduation, Katlyn plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Geomicrobiology with a focus on environmental protection.
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. Halite and gypsum crystals form as evaporates as a crustal layer on the sediment. With these extreme conditions, it is likely that novel species of microorganisms will be isolated. There have been microorganisms found to be acidophilic and halo-tolerant but not halo-acidophilic. Retrieved isolates will be isolated from halite and in some cases gypsum crystals from the various lakes mentioned above and are expected to be in this new category extremophiles. This will lead us to a new understanding of extremophiles while pushing the envelope of where life can thrive.
