Dr. Mark Dopson, Professor

Center for Ecology and Evolution in  Microbial model Systems-EEMIS Linnaeus University

Our research investigates microbial communities in extreme environments and links their functional abilities to the (geo)chemistry of natural and engineered environments. The milieu we investigate include low pH and metal laden solutions connected to sulfidic minerals and soils, Baltic Sea anoxic sediments, and the extremely oligotrophic deep biosphere. The techniques used include high throughput nucleic acid sequencing to identify the microbial communities’ genetic potential and the active processes that are combined with geochemistry data to understand energy and nutrient utilization.

Keywords: Extremophiles / Baltic Sea / Acidophiles / Oligotrophs / ‘Omics’

Themes: 1-4

Laura SeidEl, PhD Student, Linnaeus University

My research focus on environmental changes on microbes in the Baltic Sea. I investigate changes in microbial communities present and their functions in sediments and the overlying bottom waters, as well as potential long term effects of climate change. I am especially interested in population dynamics and changing effects on microbial carbon and nutrient cycles, as well as how they are effected by oxygen depletion or increasing water temperature.

Key words: Baltic Sea / Climate Change / Microbial communities / Oxygen depletion / Temperature

Themes:

Functional diversity, Microbial interactions and evolution, Microbes as ecosystem engineers

Stephanie Turner, POSTDOC, Linnaeus University

My research focuses on the diversity and ecology of microbial communities in deep groundwaters. Specifically, I am interested in their functional potential, their relevance in nutrient cycles, and how these communities adapt to the extreme oligotrophic conditions in the deep subsurface. Additionally, I investigate the link between environmental parameters such as chemistry and microbial abundances and community composition. To study the deep biosphere, the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory provides access to deep, natural groundwaters and techniques including high throughput sequencing and cultivation are used.

Key words: Deep biosphere, Groundwater, Oligotrophs, ‘Omics’, Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory 

Themes: Functional diversity, Microbial biogeography, Microbes as ecosystem engineers

George WEstmeijer, PHD Student, Linnaeus University

I study the mechanisms responsible for the growth and survival of microbes in extreme oligotrophic conditions such as the deep terrestrial biosphere. Of special interests is if microbes in extreme oligotrophic conditions need each other to grow and survive and if there are symbiotic interactions, either prokaryotic in nature or prokaryotic-eukaryotic. To do so, a range of techniques is used including high-throughput sequencing, anaerobic cultivation and electron microscopy. This study will be carried out at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory, which provides access to natural groundwaters of differing origins and ages.

Key words: Oligotrophs, Syntrophy, Bacterial Communities, Symbiosis, Genome Streamlining 

Themes: Functional diversity, Microbial ecology, Microbial interaction