Session
2025 Poster
Location
Brigham Young University Engineering Building, Provo, UT
Start Date
5-5-2025 9:55 AM
Description
Among the major contributors to the bottom of the food chain in Great Salt Lake (GSL), microbialites are mats of microorganisms supported by rock-like structures. The microbiome includes photosynthesizers such as cyanobacteria, but they also include more complex organisms such as algae. The microbialites are the foundation for the food chain in the lake, and without them, the food chain will likely face a collapse. As GSL is shrinking, more areas are exposed to drying out and high salt conditions. This project aims to analyze the genetic microbial community of the microbialites form 2016 and 2023 to see the effects of a major desiccation event in 2021. Additionally, analyzing the sequential pattern of regrowth from differing timeline tanks of 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. To analyze the difference in these timelines, a variety of techniques were used. Using data processing, figure building, diversity indexes (alpha and beta), and statistical models (NMDS, PCA, hierarchical clustering), shifts in microbial abundances were identified. With this information, isolation of a potential pioneer species cyanobacteria from the lake is being done for further characterization. The overall goal of this research is to genetically identify the species present in GSL microbialites in order to help recover microbiolites from environmental stressors that are a direct result of the lake shrinking. This issue is urgent because if the microbialites desiccate, then the food chain will crumble.
Genetic Analysis of Great Salt Lake Microbialites
Brigham Young University Engineering Building, Provo, UT
Among the major contributors to the bottom of the food chain in Great Salt Lake (GSL), microbialites are mats of microorganisms supported by rock-like structures. The microbiome includes photosynthesizers such as cyanobacteria, but they also include more complex organisms such as algae. The microbialites are the foundation for the food chain in the lake, and without them, the food chain will likely face a collapse. As GSL is shrinking, more areas are exposed to drying out and high salt conditions. This project aims to analyze the genetic microbial community of the microbialites form 2016 and 2023 to see the effects of a major desiccation event in 2021. Additionally, analyzing the sequential pattern of regrowth from differing timeline tanks of 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. To analyze the difference in these timelines, a variety of techniques were used. Using data processing, figure building, diversity indexes (alpha and beta), and statistical models (NMDS, PCA, hierarchical clustering), shifts in microbial abundances were identified. With this information, isolation of a potential pioneer species cyanobacteria from the lake is being done for further characterization. The overall goal of this research is to genetically identify the species present in GSL microbialites in order to help recover microbiolites from environmental stressors that are a direct result of the lake shrinking. This issue is urgent because if the microbialites desiccate, then the food chain will crumble.