American Society for Microbiology American Association for the Advancement of Science California Health Professions Consortium SACNAS

Bacteria are among the oldest life forms and are the most populous organisms on the planet and it is estimated that approximately 0.1% of microbes can be grown in the laboratory using standard microbiological methods. It has been only within the last decade that scientists have developed methods, such as metagenomics, to glimpse into the vast diversity of the non-culturable members of the community. The goal of the research in my lab is to begin cataloging and assessing the contribution Bacteria have to the California Vernal Pool Ecosystem CVPE; an ephemeral wetland found in shallow depressions with an underlying impermeable substrate, which prevents water from percolating through the soil. These wetlands form as a result of winter rainfall, and consist of two biological phases: an aquatic and flower phase. The communities found in the CVPE, in both the aquatic and flower phase, are of particular concern because they contain high levels of biodiversity (invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants) with a large proportion of them being threatened and endangered species. We began our studies in 2009, in collaboration with Jamie Kneitel's Lab, of local vernal pool sites around the Sacramento area. It is our goal to determine the identity of Bacteria and understand the metabolic contribution of these bacteria to the CVPE. Collectively, data acquired during this project will add to the increasing body of knowledge about the diversity organisms that inhabit this unique ecosystem, and will contribute to the larger understanding of bacterial diversity on our planet.