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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Simplified Microbial Mats: Unraveling A Complex Community One Alga At A Time., Donna A. Dela Calzada, Brad M. Bebout, Angela Detweiler
Simplified Microbial Mats: Unraveling A Complex Community One Alga At A Time., Donna A. Dela Calzada, Brad M. Bebout, Angela Detweiler
STAR Program Research Presentations
Microbial mats are the oldest known ecosystems with an over 3.4 billion-year fossil record. Understanding their structure and function will help us better understand the biological evolution of life on early earth. They are rich in diversity (phylogenetically and physiologically) ranking amongst the most complex systems on earth. In this investigation, we aim to develop an effective method to study microbial mat organisms in relatively uncomplicated ecosystems that mimic the way they grow in nature. By growing “simplified microbial mats” on polypropylene cloth, we are able to observe the range of biogeochemical processes of a single species in a biogeochemical …