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Brian P. Hedlund |
 Joy Hallmark sampling water at Alkali Lake at Surprise Valley, CA.  Eldorado Playa near Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by D. Moser. |
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| Microbiology of Desert Playas | ||
| Ephemerally wet playas, also known as dry lakes, alkali flats, or salt pans, are conspicuous, vegetation free features of arid landscapes worldwide. Although they have been studied by geologists due to their importance in hydrology and mineral deposit formation, they have not been well studied as habitats for microorganisms, particularly those that are less extreme with respect to salt content. The Great Basin is host to thousands of playas, which occasionally become inundated with water. We have found that wet playas are host to extremely diverse and abundant populations of heterotrophic microorganisms that appear to be supported by cyanobacterial photosynthetic primary production. We are examining how microbial populations change through time along with chemical and physical parameters of the playa lake. In addition, we are examinging some of the novel microorganisms that thrive in this habitat. This project will allow us to better understand a major and underappreciated microbial habitat in arid regions and expand our knowledge of the diversity of life on Earth. |
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