We will conduct a geomicrobiological study of basal ice from Taylor Glacier, Dry Valleys, Antarctica.
- Previous work at Taylor Glacier revealed elevated CO2 concentrations concurrent with depleted O2 concentrations
The anomalous gas values in basal ice sections are concurrent with measurements of elevated biomass and heterotrophic microbial activity in the ice samples.
One explanation for these data is that in situ microbial respiration is occurring in the ice at -17oC.
We will determine the gas concentration (N2, O2, CO2, and Ar) and isotopic composition of CO2 (i.e., d13CO2) in a 5 m profile of the Taylor Glacier basal ice. In addition, experiments will be undertaken in parallel to examine the viability and physiology of the entrapped microbial assemblages.
Members of our research team:
Montana State University:
Mark Skidmore, Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences, PI
Scott Montross, Graduate Student
Tim Brox, Undergraduate Research Technician
Louisiana State University:
Brent Christner, Assistant Professor of Microbial Ecology, Co-PI
Pierre Amato, Post Doctoral Researcher
Sean Doyle, Undergraduate Research Assistant
4 comments:
Hope your travels have served you well. Post some photos on your blog for all to see, Pretty Please!
Thank you!
We miss you in class! We're sure you miss it more! Ha!
You need an "introduction to the project" page for dummies...I think I get it? ha. My brother is so cool :)
You make me proud. I can remember you looking at rocks and saying someday I might be a scientist, and that someday is now. Be safe.
which way is the wind blowing?
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