Download or read book Modeling the Habitat Range of Phototrophs in Yellowstone National Park written by Eric S. Boyd and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 11 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The extent to which geochemical variation shapes the distribution of phototrophic metabolisms was modeled based on 439 observations in geothermal springs in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), Wyoming. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were developed to predict the distribution of phototrophic metabolism as a function of spring temperature, pH, and total sulfide. GAMs comprised of temperature explained 38.8% of the variation in the distribution of phototrophic metabolism, whereas GAMs comprised of sulfide and pH explained 19.6 and 11.2% of the variation, respectively. These results suggest that of the measured variables, temperature is the primary constraint on the distribution of phototrophs in YNP. GAMs comprised of multiple variables explained a larger percentage of the variation in the distribution of phototrophic metabolism, indicating additive interactions among variables. A GAM that combined temperature and sulfide explained the greatest variation in the dataset (53.4%) while minimizing the introduction of degrees of freedom. In an effort to verify the extent to which phototroph distribution reflects constraints on activity, we examined the influence of sulfide and temperature on dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) uptake rates under both light and dark conditions. Light-driven DIC uptake decreased systematically with increasing concentrations of sulfide in acidic, algal-dominated systems, but was unaffected in alkaline, cyanobacterial-dominated systems. In both alkaline and acidic systems, light-driven DIC uptake was suppressed in cultures incubated at temperatures 10°C greater than their in situ temperature. Collectively, these quantitative results indicate that apart from light availability, the habitat range of phototrophs in YNP springs is defined largely by constraints imposed firstly by temperature and secondly by sulfide on the activity of these populations that inhabit the edges of the habitat range. These findings are consistent with the predictions from GAMs and provide a quantitative framework from which to translate distributional patterns into fitness landscapes for use in interpreting the environmental constraints that have shaped the evolution of this process through Earth history.
Download or read book Environmental Bioinorganic Chemistry of Aquatic Microbial Organisms written by Christel Hassler and published by Frontiers E-books. This book was released on 2013-07-05 with total page 207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Environmental Bioinorganic Chemistry of Aquatic Microbial Organisms describes the interactions between metals and aquatic prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms in their environment. Metals influence microbial growth in the aquatic environment as they can be either toxic to aquatic microbes, if present at too high concentrations in the environment, or limiting, if bio-essential and present at very low concentrations. In turn, microorganisms influence the biogeochemical cycling of metals as they affect trace metal concentrations, distributions between particulate and dissolved phase, and chemical speciation. At the sub cellular level, metalloproteins are the catalysts driving many steps in the biogeochemical cycles of major elements such as carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Metals thus provide a link between the abundance and activity of enzymes, the growth of microorganisms, and the biogeochemical cycles of major climate influencing elements. Furthermore, the evolution of the chemistry of aquatic environments and atmosphere has left its mark on the microbial proteome as a direct result of changes in the solubility of metals. The aquatic microbial metallome thus has the potential to reveal information about key biogeochemical processes, their spatial and seasonal occurrence, and also to reveal how the geochemical environment is shaping the microbial population itself. The aim of this Research Topic is to highlight recent advances in our understanding of how metals influence the activity of aquatic microbes, and how microbes influence the biogeochemical cycling of metals. Applications of techniques in proteomics, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and genomics are all leading to a greater understanding of the interactions between the microbial metallome and the “aquatic metallome” and thus the influence of metals on the biogeochemical cycles of climatically important elements such as carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Both reviews and original research on the occurrence and abundance of microbial metal proteins and peptides, the utilisation of metals by aquatic microbes, the influence of microbially produced exudates on metal speciation and the biogeochemical cycling, and the toxicity of metals to microbial organisms are welcome.
Download or read book Microbial Evolution under Extreme Conditions written by Corien Bakermans and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2015-03-10 with total page 317 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today's microorganisms represent the vast majority of biodiversity on Earth and have survived nearly 4 billion years of evolutionary change. However, we still know little about the processes of evolution as applied to microorganisms and microbial populations. Microbial evolution occurred and continues to take place in a vast variety of environmental conditions that range from anoxic to oxic, from hot to cold, from free-living to symbiotic, etc. Some of these physicochemical conditions are considered "extreme", particularly when inhabitants are limited to microorganisms. It is easy to imagine that microbial life in extreme environments is somehow more constrained and perhaps subjected to different evolutionary pressures. But what do we actually know about microbial evolution under extreme conditions and how can we apply that knowledge to other conditions? Appealingly, extreme environments with their relatively limited numbers of inhabitants can serve as good model systems for the study of evolutionary processes. A look at the microbial inhabitants of today's extreme environments provides a snapshot in time of evolution and adaptation to extreme conditions. These adaptations manifest at different levels from established communities and species to genome content and changes in specific genes that result in altered function or gene expression. But as a recent (2011) report from the American Academy of Microbiology observes: "A complex issue in the study of microbial evolution is unraveling the process of evolution from that of adaptation. In many cases, microbes have the capacity to adapt to various environmental changes by changing gene expression or community composition as opposed to having to evolve entirely new capabilities." We have learned much about how microbes are adapted to extreme conditions but relatively little is known about these adaptations evolved. How did the different processes of evolution such as mutation, immigration, horizontal (lateral) gene transfer, recombination, hybridization, genetic drift, fixation, positive and negative selection, and selective screens contribute to the evolution of these genes, genomes, microbial species, communities, and functions? What are typical rates of these processes? How prevalent are each of these processes under different conditions? This book explores the current state of knowledge about microbial evolution under extreme conditions and addresses the following questions: What is known about the processes of microbial evolution (mechanisms, rates, etc.) under extreme conditions? Can this knowledge be applied to other systems and what is the broader relevance? What remains unknown and requires future research? These questions will be addressed from several perspectives including different extreme environments, specific organisms, and specific evolutionary processes.
Download or read book Systems biology and ecology of microbial mat communities written by Martin G. Klotz and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2016-04-11 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Microbial mat communities consist of dense populations of microorganisms embedded in exopolymers and/or biomineralized solid phases, and are often found in mm-cm thick assemblages, which can be stratified due to environmental gradients such as light, oxygen or sulfide. Microbial mat communities are commonly observed under extreme environmental conditions, deriving energy primarily from light and/or reduced chemicals to drive autotrophic fixation of carbon dioxide. Microbial mat ecosystems are regarded as living analogues of primordial systems on Earth, and they often form perennial structures with conspicuous stratifications of microbial populations that can be studied in situ under stable conditions for many years. Consequently, microbial mat communities are ideal natural laboratories and represent excellent model systems for studying microbial community structure and function, microbial dynamics and interactions, and discovery of new microorganisms with novel metabolic pathways potentially useful in future industrial and/or medical applications. Due to their relative simplicity and organization, microbial mat communities are often excellent testing grounds for new technologies in microbiology including micro-sensor analysis, stable isotope methodology and modern genomics. Integrative studies of microbial mat communities that combine modern biogeochemical and molecular biological methods with traditional microbiology, macro-ecological approaches, and community network modeling will provide new and detailed insights regarding the systems biology of microbial mats and the complex interplay among individual populations and their physicochemical environment. These processes ultimately control the biogeochemical cycling of energy and/or nutrients in microbial systems. Similarities in microbial community function across different types of communities from highly disparate environments may provide a deeper basis for understanding microbial community dynamics and the ecological role of specific microbial populations. Approaches and concepts developed in highly-constrained, relatively stable natural communities may also provide insights useful for studying and understanding more complex microbial communities.
Download or read book Extremophiles written by Maulin P. Shah and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2022-12-19 with total page 444 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book covers the latest development in the biotechnological application of extremophiles. Along with this the impact of climate change and environmental pollution on loss of diversity of extremophiles is also discussed. This is crucial as the loss of this diversity is related with the loss of many bioactive compounds and bacteria of ecological importance.
Download or read book Extremozymes and their Industrial Applications written by Naveen Kumar Arora and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2022-06-15 with total page 444 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Extremophiles belong to members of all three domains of life, i.e., bacteria, archaea, and eukarya. However, a high proportion of extremophiles are archaea and bacteria. These microbes live under chemical and physical extremes that are usually lethal to cellular molecules, yet they not only manage to survive but even thrive in such conditions. Extremophiles have important practical and industrial uses. They are a valuable source of industrially important enzymes also known as extremozymes. Recent research has revealed that extremozymes have unique structural features essential for biocatalysis under extreme conditions. Extremozymes have great commercial values and are known for their potential use in biotechnology, biomining, and bioremediation. Extremozymes and their Industrial Applications highlights the current and topical areas of research in this rapidly growing field of extremophiles and their applications. Expert researchers from around the globe are trying to uncover the underlying mechanisms responsible for their specific adaptations under extreme environments. The topics covered include the ability of acidophiles to maintain a neutral intracellular pH, the way psychrophiles "loosen up" their proteins at low temperatures, and other equally ingenious adaptations and metabolic strategies that extremophiles use to survive and flourish under extreme conditions. Extremozymes and their Industrial Applications also covers the established biotechnological uses of extremophiles and the most recent and novel applications, including their exploitation for enzyme production. Potential use of extremophiles and their enzymes in the generation of sustainable energy, biomass conversion, agro-waste processing, and biocontrol of phytopathogens is also covered. The book will be very useful for researchers and students working in the area of industrial microbiology and biotechnology, and microbial ecologists. It is also recommended reference text for those interested in the biochemistry and microbiology of extremophiles, as well as for those interested in bioprospecting, biomining, biofuels, and biodegradation. - Presents information exclusively based on extremozymes and their application in industries - Chapters have been collected from various experts and deals with contemporary issues related to extremozymes and their usability in various industries - Enriched with suitable illustrations that assist in increasing readership and broaden the reach of the book amongst scholars and academicians
Download or read book Ecological Dynamics on Yellowstone s Northern Range written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2002-02-01 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ecological Dynamics on Yellowstone's Northern Range discusses the complex management challenges in Yellowstone National Park. Controversy over the National Park Service's approach of "natural regulation" has heightened in recent years because of changes in vegetation and other ecosystem components in Yellowstone's northern range. Natural regulation minimizes human impacts, including management intervention by the National Park Service, on the park ecosystem. Many have attributed these changes to increased size of elk and other ungulate herds. This report examines the evidence that increased ungulate populations are responsible for the changes in vegetation and that the changes represent a major and serious change in the Yellowstone ecosystem. According to the authors, any human intervention to protect species such as the aspen and those that depend on them should be prudently localized rather than ecosystem-wide. An ecosystem-wide approach, such as reducing ungulate populations, could be more disruptive. The report concludes that although dramatic ecological change does not appear to be imminent, approaches to dealing with potential human-caused changes in the ecosystem, including those related to climate change, should be considered now. The need for research and public education is also compelling.
Download or read book Studies on Life at the Energetic Edge from Laboratory Experiments to Field Based Investigations Volume II written by Mark Alexander Lever and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2024-01-16 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In collaboration with Microenergy 2022: The 4th International Workshop on Microbial Life under Extreme Energy Limitation, we are proud to launch Volume II of Studies on Life at the Energetic Edge – from Laboratory Experiments to Field-Based Investigations. This workshop focuses on the energy controls on microbial life and the exploration of the biological demand for energy. Genetic adaptations and phenotypic traits that enable microorganisms to tolerate long periods of energy limitation have attracted broad scientific interest in recent years. Laboratory-based cultivation experiments have shown that the potential to survive weeks to months in the absence of energy inputs occurs across a phylogenetically wide range of microbes. Studies on natural environments have shown that energy limitation is pervasive across most habitats on Earth, from highly metabolically active surface habitats to subsurface environments that have been cut off from new energy inputs for thousands of years. Yet, much remains to be learned about the evolutionary adaptations and life history traits that enable microorganisms to live under low-energy conditions. Similarly, the spectrum of energy sources and metabolisms that enable and support life on Earth and potentially elsewhere in the Universe is far from constrained.
Download or read book Plants and Their Environments written by and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Ecology of Large Mammals in Central Yellowstone written by Robert A. Garrott and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2008-11-25 with total page 712 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is an authoritative work on the ecology of some of America's most iconic large mammals in a natural environment - and of the interplay between climate, landscape, and animals in the interior of the world's first and most famous national park.Central Yellowstone includes the range of one of the largest migratory populations of bison in North America as well as a unique elk herd that remains in the park year round. These populations live in a varied landscape with seasonal and often extreme patterns of climate and food abundance. The reintroduction of wolves into the park a decade ago resulted in scientific and public controversy about the effect of large predators on their prey, a debate closely examined in the book. Introductory chapters describe the geography, geology and vegetation of the ecosystem. The elk and bison are then introduced and their population ecology described both pre- and post– wolf introduction, enabling valuable insights into the demographic and behavioral consequences for their ungulate prey. Subsequent chapters describe the wildlife-human interactions and show how scientific research can inform the debate and policy issues surrounding winter recreation in Yellowstone. The book closes with a discussion of how this ecological knowledge can be used to educate the public, both about Yellowstone itself and about science, ecology and the environment in general. Yellowstone National Park exemplifies some of the currently most hotly debated and high-profile ecological, wildlife management, and environmental policy issues and this book will have broad appeal not only to academic ecologists, but also to natural resource students, managers, biologists, policy makers, administrators and the general public. - Unrivalled descriptions of ecological processes in a world famous ecosystem, based on information from 16 years of painstaking field work and collaborations among 66 scientists and technical experts and 15 graduate studies - Detailed studies of two charismatic North American herbivore species – elk and bison - Description of the restoration of wolves into central Yellowstone and their ecological interactions with their elk and bison prey - Illustrated with numerous evocative colour photographs and stunning maps
Download or read book Yellowstone s Wildlife in Transition written by P. J. White and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2013-04-01 with total page 362 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The world's first national park is constantly changing. How we understand and respond to recent events putting species under stress will determine the future of ecosystems millions of years in the making. Marshaling expertise from over 30 contributors, Yellowstone's Wildlife in Transition examines three primary challenges to the park's ecology.
Download or read book Yellowstone s Northern Range written by and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Notes on the Ecology of a Species of Zygogonium in Yellowstone National Park written by Richard Lynn and published by . This book was released on 1969 with total page 5 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A species of Zygogonium forms extensive dark purple mats in Yellowstone National Park in acidic habitats adjacent to thermal areas. These mats range up to 6 cm in thickness and up to 3000 m2 in areal extent. Temperatures in the mats varied from 20?31 C and pH varied from 2.4?3.1. These mats form on soil in areas where a moist surface is created by the presence of small acidic springs or seeps. The effect of light, temperature, and pH on photosynthesis was studied in the field by use of 14CO2. Photosynthesis increased in rate up to full sunlight; light inhibition was not observed. Temperature optimum for photo-synthesis was 25 C. A broad pH optimum was found between 1.0 and 5.0. The Zygogonium mats have a high water holding capacity and create a moist habitat in which Euglena and Chlamydomonas develop. The mats also serve as repositories for the eggs of the brine fly Ephydra bruesi and both larvae and adults of this fly probably consume Zygogonium filaments as their main food source.
Download or read book Computationally Modeling the Trophic Cascade in Yellowstone National Park written by Emily Menden and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many of the world’s ecosystems are facing species elimination (2). Whether this elimination is intentional or accidental, the consequences need to be understood in order to make better resource management decisions. Computational models can be helpful in making these management decisions. Yellowstone National Park gives ecologist a unique opportunity to study species elimination and reintroduction.
Download or read book Yellowstone Vegetation written by Don G. Despain and published by Roberts Rinehart Publishers. This book was released on 1990 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive view of vegetation types, distribution, and the natural forces that influence plant succession in Yellowstone.
Download or read book Geothermal Biology and Geochemistry in Yellowstone National Park written by William Parks Inskeep and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Yellowstone Wildlife written by Paul A. Johnsgard and published by University Press of Colorado. This book was released on 2013-06-15 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Yellowstone Wildlife is a natural history of the wildlife species that call Yellowstone National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem their home. Illustrated with stunning images by renowned wildlife photographer Thomas Mangelsen, Yellowstone Wildlife describes the lives of species in the park, exploring their habitats from the Grand Tetons to Jackson Hole. From charismatic megafauna like elk, bison, wolves, bighorn sheep, and grizzly bears, to smaller mammals like bats, pikas, beavers, and otters, to some of the 279 species of birds, Johnsgard describes the behavior of animals throughout the seasons, with sections on what summer and autumn mean to the wildlife of the park, especially with the intrusion of millions of tourists each year. Enhanced by Mangelsen’s wildlife photography, Yellowstone Wildlife reveals the beauty and complexity of these species’ intertwined lives and that of Yellowstone’s greater ecosystem.
