Natural and Lignocellulose-Enriched Microbial Communities in Great Boiling Spring, NV

Author

Jessica Cole, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Award Date

12-2012

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biological Sciences

Department

Life Sciences

First Committee Member

Brian Hedlund, Chair

Second Committee Member

Helen Wing

Third Committee Member

Eduardo Robleto

Graduate Faculty Representative

Ernesto Abel-Santos

Number of Pages

142

Abstract

The natural microbial communities present in Great Boiling Spring were investigated and contrasted against those present after in situ enrichment with lignocellulose. High-throughput cultivation-independent DNA sequencing of the V8 region of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene generated a total of 274,119 quality-filtered pyrosequencing fragments. Twelve natural spring samples were analyzed, including four high-temperature water samples and eight sediment samples ranging from 87 - 62 °C. Eight lignocellulosic enrichments incubated in the spring sediment and water at two high-temperature sites were analyzed. The natural water communities were found to be extremely uneven but relatively constant throughout time. The natural sediment communities clustered based according to sample temperature and location. This study demonstrates the strong influence of temperature on microbial diversity and composition of both natural and enriched samples, with a negative correlation between temperature and richness. A thermophilic and cellulolytic bacterium was isolated from one of the lignocellulosic enrichments. It was aerobic and able to utilize a wide variety of substrates as sole carbon and energy sources, including both amorphous and crystalline cellulose. The results of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and morphological analyses determined the strain to be representative of a new order-level lineage within the class "Chloroflexi".

Keywords

Archaea; Archaebacteria; Bacteria; Biofuels; Biological sciences; Biomass energy; Cellulose; Hot springs; Lignocellulose; Nevada – Great Boiling Spring

Disciplines

Bacteriology | Biology | Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology

File Format

pdf

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Comments

Author’s original Excel data spreadsheet has been modified into separate files

Attached file: Arachea Alpha pH Data

Attached file: Bacteria Alpha pH Data

Attached file: Chao1 vs Chemistry Data

Attached file: Combined Alpha pH Data

Attached file: Evenness vs Chemistry Data

Attached file: OTU vs Chemistry Data

Attached file: Shannon Diversity Chemistry Data

Attached file: Simpson Diversity Chemistry Data

Attached file: Arachaea Alpha pH Graph 1

Attached file: Bacteria Alpha pH Graph 1

Attached file: Combined Alpha pH Graph 1

Attached file: Arachaea Alpha pH Graph 2

Attached file: Bacteria Alpha pH Graph 2

Attached file: Combined Alpha pH Graph 2

Attached file: Arachaea Alpha pH Graph 3

Attached file: Bacteria Alpha pH Graph 3

Attached file: Combined Alpha pH Graph 3

Attached file: Archaea Alpha pH Graph 4

Attached file: Bacteria Alpha pH Graph 4

Attached file: Combined Alpha pH Graph 4

Attached file: Arachaea Alpha pH Graph 5

Attached file: Bacteria Alpha pH Graph 5

Attached file: Combined Alpha pH Graph 5

Attached file: Chao1 vs Chemistry Graph

Attached file: Evenness vs Chemistry Graph

Attached file: OTU vs Chemistry Graph

Attached file: Shannon Diversity Chemistry Graph

Attached file: Simpson Diversity Chemistry Graph

Repository Citation

Cole, Jessica, "Natural and Lignocellulose-Enriched Microbial Communities in Great Boiling Spring, NV" (2012). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 1518.
http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/4301608

Rights

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