Functional Microbial Diversity in Lake Arthur, Spokane, Washington
Faculty Sponsor
Betsy A. Bancroft, bancroft@gonzaga.edu
Session Type
Poster Presentation
Research Project Abstract
Ecosystem health depends, in part, on microbial community diversity. Microbial diversity can vary between habitat types, including between river and lake systems. Upwelling in Lake Arthur, located on Gonzaga University’s campus, is indicative of water exchange between the Spokane River and the lake, by way of the culverts that connect them. If there is a large amount of water exchange occurring between the river and the lake, there should also be exchange of microbiological communities. EcoPlates were used to quantify the differences in functional diversity between the Spokane River and Lake Arthur. Understanding the microbial community differences and similarities between these two systems may allow us to identify drivers of ecosystem processes in Lake Arthur.
Session Number
PS1
Location
HUB Multipurpose Room
Abstract Number
PS1-r
Functional Microbial Diversity in Lake Arthur, Spokane, Washington
HUB Multipurpose Room
Ecosystem health depends, in part, on microbial community diversity. Microbial diversity can vary between habitat types, including between river and lake systems. Upwelling in Lake Arthur, located on Gonzaga University’s campus, is indicative of water exchange between the Spokane River and the lake, by way of the culverts that connect them. If there is a large amount of water exchange occurring between the river and the lake, there should also be exchange of microbiological communities. EcoPlates were used to quantify the differences in functional diversity between the Spokane River and Lake Arthur. Understanding the microbial community differences and similarities between these two systems may allow us to identify drivers of ecosystem processes in Lake Arthur.
