Event Title
Microbial Behavior of Cyanobacterial Mats in a Low-Oxygen, High-Sulfur Lake Huron Sinkhole
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Biomedical Sciences
Mentor Information
Bopi Biddanda
Department
Annis Water Resource Institute (AWRI)
Location
Kirkhof Center KC 82
Start Date
11-4-2012 9:00 AM
Keywords
Environment, Life Science
Abstract
A submerged freshwater sinkhole off the coast of Alpena, Michigan houses a thriving community of purple filamentous cyanobacteria-dominated mats that survive using oxygenic photosynthesis, anoxic photosynthesis, and chemosynthesis. The Middle Island Sinkhole (MIS) is located at a depth of 23 meters in NW Lake Huron. Conditions in the sinkhole are relatively harsh due to low light, low-oxygen and high salt content of groundwater venting out. Here, instead of the expected phytoplankton ecosystems, purple-colored benthic cyanobacteria dominate. Mat samples were collected from MIS in June 2011, ground water was sampled, photos were taken, and behavioral experiments were performed in order to learn what environmental factors allow these mats to flourish. Our findings suggest that these cyanobacterial filaments are physiologically versatile and possess the capability for rapid and diurnal mobility (both horizontal and vertical) with attendant consequences for ecosystem biogeochemistry.
Microbial Behavior of Cyanobacterial Mats in a Low-Oxygen, High-Sulfur Lake Huron Sinkhole
Kirkhof Center KC 82
A submerged freshwater sinkhole off the coast of Alpena, Michigan houses a thriving community of purple filamentous cyanobacteria-dominated mats that survive using oxygenic photosynthesis, anoxic photosynthesis, and chemosynthesis. The Middle Island Sinkhole (MIS) is located at a depth of 23 meters in NW Lake Huron. Conditions in the sinkhole are relatively harsh due to low light, low-oxygen and high salt content of groundwater venting out. Here, instead of the expected phytoplankton ecosystems, purple-colored benthic cyanobacteria dominate. Mat samples were collected from MIS in June 2011, ground water was sampled, photos were taken, and behavioral experiments were performed in order to learn what environmental factors allow these mats to flourish. Our findings suggest that these cyanobacterial filaments are physiologically versatile and possess the capability for rapid and diurnal mobility (both horizontal and vertical) with attendant consequences for ecosystem biogeochemistry.