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Micro-Organisms of the Mojave Desert

Micro-Organisms of the Mojave Desert. Sara B. Kline March 2001. Background Biology Lesson. Nitrogen Fixation Gram-Positive Gram-Negative Spores. Halobacteria. High alkalinity and salinity Halorhodopsin Owens Lake. Alkaliphiles. pH values Extremozymes. Where’s the Desert??.

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Micro-Organisms of the Mojave Desert

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  1. Micro-Organisms of the Mojave Desert Sara B. Kline March 2001

  2. Background Biology Lesson • Nitrogen Fixation • Gram-Positive • Gram-Negative • Spores

  3. Halobacteria • High alkalinity and salinity • Halorhodopsin • Owens Lake

  4. Alkaliphiles • pH values • Extremozymes Where’s the Desert??

  5. Mycoplasmas • Gram-Negative Prokaryotes • Parasitic • Respiratory Disease in Desert Tortoises Cough-Cough!!

  6. Azotobacter and Streptomycetes • A-Gram-neg • Bioremediation of Methane products • S-gram-pos, • Antibiotic Uses

  7. Protozoa • Single-celled eukaryotic • Parasitic • Cellulase breakdown

  8. Cyanobacteria • AKA- blue-green algae • Prokaryotic, photosynthetic • Hepatoxins in blooms • Dunaliella

  9. Fungi • Penicilluim • Erosional properties • Mycorrhizae

  10. Lichens • Symbiotic Relationship • Alga= Photosynthesis • Fungi=Protection • Crustose Lichens • Tardigrades

  11. Desert Varnish • 30% Manganese and Iron Fixed • Other Components= Si, Al, Mg, K,Ca • Metallogenium, Pedomicrobium and Fungi • Travertine is not Varnish • Magnetite and Aging • Environmental Risks of Alkalinity

  12. Main Sources • “Extremophiles.” Scientific American. April 1997; p82-88. • “How Fast Does Desert Varnish Grow??” Geomicrobiology Journal. August 1992, v.10. • “Rock Varnish.” Geology. February 2000, v.28. • “In Industry, Extremophiles Begin to make their Mark.” Science. 2 May 1997, v.276. • Desert Landforms. Singapore: Australian National University Press, 1977. • Abrahams, Athol. Geomorphology of Desert Environments. New York: Chapman & Hall, 1994. • Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Http://search.eb.com/bol/Topic?

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