Award Date

1-1-1994

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Science

Number of Pages

185

Abstract

Water flowing along fractures may affect the mobilization of microorganisms in volcanic tuff and impose conditions that are different from those in the rock matrix away from water flow paths. To address the potential for bacterial transport with water in deep fractured tuffs, flow water and six rock samples were taken progressively farther from a deep subsurface fracture flow system for microbiological and geological comparisons. Differences in the composition of microbiota among sites appeared to be the result of proximity to flow water. The microbiota in the vicinity of the fracture water flow path, in contrast to that in rock farthest away, consisted of greater morphological and physiological diversity suggesting a more complex community structure; Bacterial transport was tested, in water-saturated tuff cores of differing lithology. Bacterial transport occurred in cores permeable to water and was impeded in impermeable tuffs. Bacterial transport routes in permeable cores was determined by bacterial breakthrough patterns. Bacteria appeared to be transported through connected macropores or fractures in tuff cores. Laboratory and field results demonstrated that bacteria were transported with water predominantly along preferred water flow paths in rock.

Keywords

Mesa; Microbial; Nevada; Rainier; Site; Test; Transport; Tuff; Volcanic

Controlled Subject

Microbiology; Hydrology

File Format

pdf

File Size

5273.6 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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