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Thesis
SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF MARINE ARCHAEA IN THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO
University of West Florida
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2015
Abstract
Archaea, once thought to solely inhabit extreme environments, are now known to be widespread and have major roles in biogeochemical cycling. Archaea are known to utilize refractory compounds as an energy source and compete with bacteria in the open ocean for labile, often limiting, nutrients. In the Gulf of Mexico the BP Deepwater Horizon oil well failure (2010) highlighted the need to better understand basic physical, chemical, and biological dynamics of the North Eastern Gulf of Mexico (NE GoM). Through 16S rRNA clone library analysis, this study characterized the spatial and temporal dynamics of archaeal communities on the Northwest Florida Shelf in the NE GoM. In addition, patterns in physicochemical parameters were examined and relationships between Archaea and the environment in the NE GoM explored. Four main archaeal assemblages were observed: a seasonally independent near coastal assemblage, a seasonally dependent epipelagic assemblage, a seasonally independent mesopelagic assemblage, and a unique seasonally independent sediment assemblage. The main environmental factors associated with archaeal community structure in the water column were nutrients and salinity, but no environmental factors measured accounted for variability in sediment archaeal communities.
Details
- Title
- SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF MARINE ARCHAEA IN THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Identifiers
- 99380090868006600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida