Spatial and temporal changes in the ecology of marine microbial communities

 

We know that microbial communities change in abundance and activity over time. Their composition and functions relate to the environment, where communities change in composition or activity at the same site over time, depending on environmental factors. We also see the same effect at different spatial scales, even 10s to 100s of meters apart along a salinity gradient. We are using a combination of metagenomics and metatranscriptomics as well as more traditional methods to investigate the population dynamics and functions of different microbes along the salinity gradient in the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. One of the differences we are investigating is the species and strain level seasonal dynamics of important populations and their functions between the two bays as well as the importance of light driven processes in these estuaries.

 

Study Site 

 

Delaware and Chesapeake Bays

 

Current Lab Participants

 

Jason Gholamian, Alvee Ahmed, Cooper Hall, Alexis Harris, Suraj Katragadda, Brady O’Boyle, Elijah Weber, Megan Zeaser

 

Presentations/Papers

 

10+

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Funding

 

DOE/JGI Community Sequencing Program, Clemson University, NSF