Shallow-subsurface microbial ecology and sediment-groundwater interface in sulfate-rich playa at White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
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Ramirez, Steven.
Shallow-subsurface microbial ecology and sediment-groundwater interface in sulfate-rich playa at White Sands National Monument, New Mexico. Retrieved from
https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3WH2T2X
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TitleShallow-subsurface microbial ecology and sediment-groundwater interface in sulfate-rich playa at White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
Date Created2017
Other Date2017-10 (degree)
Extent1 online resource (vii, 52 p. : ill.)
DescriptionThe hypersaline sediment and groundwater of the playa Lake Lucero at the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico were examined for microbial community composition, geochemical gradients, and mineralogy during the dry season along a meter and a half depth profile of the sediment vs. the groundwater interface. Lake Lucero is a highly dynamic environment, strongly characterized by the capillary action of the groundwater, the extreme seasonality of the climate, and the hypersalinity. Sediments are predominantly composed of gypsum with minor quartz, mirabilite, halite, quartz, epsomite, celestine, and clays. Geochemical analysis has revealed predominance of nitrates over ammonium in all of the analyzed samples, indicating oxygenated conditions throughout the sediment column and in groundwater. Conversely, the microbial communities are primarily aerobic, gram-negative, and are largely characterized by their survival adaptations. Halophiles and oligotrophs are extremely common throughout the samples. The very diverse communities contain methanogens, phototrophs, heterotrophs, saprophytes, ammonia-oxidizers, sulfur-oxidizers, sulfate-reducers, iron-reducers, and nitrifiers. Overall diversity and biomass did not vary in a significant, consistent manner between the near surface, deeper subsurface, and groundwater. The dynamism of this environment manifests in the relatively consistent character of the microbial communities, where significant taxonomic distinctions were observed but the extent of phenotypic differences is uncertain. Therefore, sediment and groundwater substrates should not be considered as separate ecological entities.
NoteM.S.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby Steven Ramirez
Genretheses, ETD graduate
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - Newark Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.