+ Investigation of Colony Morphology in Outcrop Communities at Different Altitudes on Mount Arabia

By Ludia C., Shiworke W., Jeffrey O., Emma B.

+Question:

How do different altitudes of pools relate to the diversity of

bacteria?

Goal: To determine whether different altitudes of pools relate to the diversity of bacteria in the outcrop.

+Hypothesis and Prediction

Hypothesis: More diverse bacteria

are found in lower altitudes as opposed to high altitudes.

Prediction: If more bacteria in

lower pools, then more diverse colonies in lower altitude pools.

+Summary of Experiment

Investigating micro-diversity in granite rock outcrop of Arabia Mountain

12 samples were collected from pools at different altitudes

Different samples from edge/middle of each pool Diversity investigated based on colony type, cell shape,

motility and color

+Background Information:

Mount Arabia Granite rock outcrop Bacterial and colony morphology “Manadnock” extrusion Endemic species

Ex: Confederate daisy

Biofilms and Dish Gardens Agar plates

+Materials Agar plate cultures with bacterial

colonies Sterile swabs Petri dishes/ sterile plates Metric ruler Stereoscopic microscope Gloves Litmus paper Test tubes Pipettes Tape Camera

+Methods Swab dish gardens of low

and high altitudes. Measure depth,

temperature, and pH. Record color, shape,

margin surface, and number of colonies.

Observe motility, cell shape, and color of bacteria.

Take pictures!

+ResultsNumber of Colonies:

For low elevation (est. 890 ft. elevation) 92.5 average colonies

per plate.

For high elevation (est. 930 ft. elevation) 112.5 average colonies

per plate.

+Variety of Colonies Characteristics

Shape: round, irregular Margin: smooth, lobate Surface: smooth Color: creamy white

Shape: round, irregular, punctiform, filamentous

Margin: smooth, lobate, wavy, filamentous

Surface: smooth, concentric, wrinkle, contoured

Color: creamy white, purple, yellow

Low Altitude High Altitude

+Bacteria in Low Altitude Dish Gardens Table 11. The cell shape, motility, and color of bacteria

found colonies of low altitude pools

+ Results

Figure 1.1. Bacteria found in low altitude dish gardens

+Bacteria in High Altitude Dish Gardens Table 2.1 The cell shape, motility, and color of Bacteria

found in colonies of high altitude dish gardens

+ Results

Figure 1.1. Bacteria found in high altitude dish gardens

+MobilityHigh altitude middle #2 colony A

+Discussion•Results vs. Hypothesis•Trends •Problems•Other researches on this subject.

+resources

http://www.arabiaalliance.org/index.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monadnock http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~microlab/CLASSINFO/

IMAGESCI/colony%20Morphology.pdf