Welcome to the 2014 Field Season of Team Protist
Our Team:
PI: Rachael Morgan-Kiss
Department of Microbiology, Miami University
Graduate Student: Wei Li
EEEB PhD Candidate, Miami University
Graduate Student: Chris Sedlacek
Microbiology (Annette Bollmann's Lab) PhD Candidate, Miami University
Outreach/Educator: Joan Slonczewski
Department of Biology, Kenyon College
PI: Rachael Morgan-Kiss
Department of Microbiology, Miami University
Graduate Student: Wei Li
EEEB PhD Candidate, Miami University
Graduate Student: Chris Sedlacek
Microbiology (Annette Bollmann's Lab) PhD Candidate, Miami University
Outreach/Educator: Joan Slonczewski
Department of Biology, Kenyon College
December 1, 2014: Camp move to Lake Fryxell
Having completed our transplant experiment at Lake Bonney, Team Protist moved camps to Lake Fryxell. After the major experiment at Lake Bonney, our science activities here were pretty light by comparison.
During some spare time, we collected some samples for a small project on algal mats. Where the lake is shallow, microbial mats dominated by bacteria called cyanobacteria dislodge from the bottom of the lake and become embedded in the ice. Over time through a process called ablation surface lake is lost and eventually the liftoff mats make their way to the top of the ice. There they will stay freeze-dried until a small pool of liquid water forms around the mat.
We also have time to hike from Lake Fryxell to Lake Hoare. This gives us an opportunity to view the beautiful Canada Glacier up close and to enjoy one of the best meals of the season at Camp Hoare with Rae Spain.
November 25, 2014: Recovery of Algal Transplant Tubes
After successfully deploying seven algal frames in two ice holes, we have begun retrieving the algal frames and collecting data on how the two algal species are responding to the water column of Lake Bonney. The team was excited to retrieve three of our frames so far and have been busy processing samples.
We also collect natural lake water to study the natural algal communities. Chris and Joan collect ed water from the East Basin of Lake Bonney, near the site of our algal transplant experiments.
November 15, 2014: Lake Bonney Field Camp & Experiment 1
We have completed the first stage of our field experiments at one of the Dry Valley Lakes, Lake Bonney. This experiment is something new for our team and was pretty intensive to set it up. The first stage is flying on a helicopter across McMurdo Sound to the McMurdo Dry Valleys.
Experiment 1: Incubation of Dry Valley Lake Algae to Lake Bonney
Our major experiment this season involves incubating two algal species in the water column of Lake Bonney over several weeks. The purpose of this experiment is to understand better how phytoplankton survive the harsh environment of the dry valley lakes and also to determine if different algal species are more competitive at different layers in our lakes.
This is a major experiment which has been several years in the making. The first stage began more than three years ago when we isolated two divergent algal species in our laboratory and began to characterize their growth phytiology. The two organisms we chose to focus on are a green algal species (Chlamydomonas ICE) and a yellow alga or chrysophyte (Isochrysis MDV). Both of these organisms are native to the dry valley lakes and play important roles in generating organic carbon for the food web. Several weeks ago in our US laboratory, we grew several liters of each algae and then concentrated these large cultures down to just a small volume to allow us to hand-carry the algal cultures from Ohio back to Antarctica.
Once we arrive at Camp Bonney we spend several days drilling and melting two large holes to fit 4-5 algal frames.
Our major experiment this season involves incubating two algal species in the water column of Lake Bonney over several weeks. The purpose of this experiment is to understand better how phytoplankton survive the harsh environment of the dry valley lakes and also to determine if different algal species are more competitive at different layers in our lakes.
This is a major experiment which has been several years in the making. The first stage began more than three years ago when we isolated two divergent algal species in our laboratory and began to characterize their growth phytiology. The two organisms we chose to focus on are a green algal species (Chlamydomonas ICE) and a yellow alga or chrysophyte (Isochrysis MDV). Both of these organisms are native to the dry valley lakes and play important roles in generating organic carbon for the food web. Several weeks ago in our US laboratory, we grew several liters of each algae and then concentrated these large cultures down to just a small volume to allow us to hand-carry the algal cultures from Ohio back to Antarctica.
Once we arrive at Camp Bonney we spend several days drilling and melting two large holes to fit 4-5 algal frames.
Deployment of the algal frames: After our two holes were prepped, we deployed 4 algal frames in the larger hole for the temporal sampling and 5 frames in the smaller hole for the spatial sampling.
November 5, 2014: Flight and Arrival in McMurdo Station, Antarctica
After a long week of flights from Oxford Ohio to Christchurch New Zealand, we are currently working in McMurdo Station, Antarctica. McMurdo Station is the largest of three research stations in Antarctica which are part of the US Antarctic program. We will be stationed in "Mac-Town" for 7-10 days where we receive intensive training in everything from surviving in Antarctica to properly disposing of waste in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty. Much of our time is also spent preparing our field camp supplies which will enable us to survive and do science in our primary study sites, the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Below is a slide show of some of the activities we have been doing while in McMurdo Station.
IMAGES FROM WEI