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2010 Annual Science Report

Arizona State University Reporting  |  SEP 2009 – AUG 2010

Stoichiometry of Life, Task 2b: Field Studies - Cuatro Cienegas

Project Summary

Cuatro Cienegas is a unique biological preserve in which there is striking microbial diversity, potentially related to extreme scarcity of phosphorus. We aim to understand this relationship via field sampling of biological and chemical characteristics and a series of enclosure and whole-pond fertilization experiments.

4 Institutions
3 Teams
9 Publications
1 Field Site
Field Sites

Project Progress

Molecular genetics of Cuatro Ciénegas
Using the oncoid microbialite samples from the 2009 sampling trip to Cuatro Ciénegas, we are optimizing extraction methods of DNA and RNA from biogenic carbonate microbial communities. We have successfully extracted DNA from these samples and plan to characterize the microbial communities using T-RFLP analysis. An undergraduate student, Eric Hughes, has been working on extracting DNA from microbialites to retrieve genes encoding sulfano-lipid biosynthesis enzymes. In preparation for the 2011 mesocosm experiments, we sampled the water and sediment of the Churince System for pre-manipulation biological analysis. We also are using these samples to test preservation methods for FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) analysis.

Calcification and nutrient cycling in Río Mezquites
In continuation of the 2009 environmental sampling, we collected water samples for major and minor elemental analysis. Graduate Student Jessica Corman also began a project to determine the role of metazoans on oncoid stromatolite growth. She collected nutrient excreta from snails caught randomly that were grazing on stromatolites. Corman is also developing a mesocosm and artificial Río Mezquites media to grow oncoids in vitro.

All samples have been transported to Arizona State University and are undergoing analysis.

Publications

  • Alcaraz, L., Moreno-Hagelsieb, G., Eguiarte, L. E., Souza, V., Herrera-Estrella, L., & Olmedo, G. (2010). Understanding the evolutionary relationships and major traits of Bacillus through comparative genomics. BMC Genomics, 11(1), 332. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-11-332

  • Cerritos, R., Eguiarte, L. E., Avitia, M., Siefert, J., Travisano, M., Rodríguez-Verdugo, A., & Souza, V. (2010). Diversity of culturable thermo-resistant aquatic bacteria along an environmental gradient in Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, México. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 99(2), 303–318. doi:10.1007/s10482-010-9490-9

  • Toribio, J., Escalante, A. E., Caballero-Mellado, J., González-González, A., Zavala, S., Souza, V., & Soberón-Chávez, G. (2011). Characterization of a novel biosurfactant producing Pseudomonas koreensis lineage that is endemic to Cuatro Ciénegas Basin. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 34(7), 531–535. doi:10.1016/j.syapm.2011.01.007

  • Bonilla-Rosso, G., Peimbert, M., Olmedo, G., Alcaraz, L.D., Eguiarte, L.E. & Souza, V.  (2010).  Life in oligotrophic desert environments: contrasting taxonomic and functional diversity of two microbial mats with metagenomics.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Breitbart, M., Hollander, D., Nitti, A., Van Mooy, B., Siefert, J. & Souza, V.  (2010).  Modern freshwater microbialites of Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico. I: Metagenomic and stable isotopic analyses to assess microbial community structure and function.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Corman, J.R., Souza, V. & Elser, J.J.  (2010).  Interactions of biogeochemical cycles in oncoid microbialites from Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Hollander, D., Breitbart, M., Nitti, A., Van Mooy, B., Siefert, J. & Souza, V.  (2010).  Modern freshwater microbialites, Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico. II. Detailed spatial analysis of geochemical signals linked to microbial activity and carbonate precipitation.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Souza, V., Breitbart, M., Hollander, D., Elser, J.J., Meadows, V. & Siefert, J.  (2010).  Cuatro Cienegas, A desert oasis with active stromatolites: an astrobiological project.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.
  • Souza, V., Eguiarte, L.E., Garcia-Oliva, F., Olmedo, G., Travisano, M., Elser, J.J. & Siefert, J.  (2010).  Cuatro Cienegas: a living ancient world dominated by microbialites.  AbSciCon.  League City, TX.