Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2004. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: David M. Ward. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-65).

published_or_final_version / abstract / Ecology and Biodiversity / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Little is known about the role of microbial biofilms in nutrient cycling and ecosystem processes within desert springs. Furthermore, the difference between nutrient limitation of biofilms in desert springs and other ecosystems is unknown. Biofilms produce micro-scale physicochemical variation important to ecosystem function. We measured the variation in microscale physicochemical heterogeneity in biofilms of Devils Hole, Nevada. Microelectrodes were used to measure micro-scale chemical gradients of temperature, pH, O2, and H2S in addition to water column and pore water nutrient measurements in Spirogyra, cyanobacteria, and Beggiatoa biofilms over one year. Biofilm physicochemical gradients were used to calculate diffusion and metabolic rates. The rate of O2 and H2S diffusion ranged over two orders of magnitude. Biofilm production and respiration were influenced by biofilm type, light exposure, and sample month. Maximum O2 production occurred in spring and summer during direct light exposure. Oxygen production and consumption varied with light exposure and season. The H2S production and consumption varied with biofilm type. Higher concentrations of SO4 in Beggiatoa suggested that H2S production in Beggiatoa was quickly oxidized in the ecosystem. Spirogyra and cyanobacteria followed similar physicochemical trends; however, Spirogyra had more pronounced diurnal and seasonal variation. The differences between cyanobacteria and Spirogyra have implications on the ecosystem function of Devils Hole as well as other ecosystems with diverse biofilm communities. The heterogeneous physicochemistry of microbial biofilms and the differences in biofilm nutrient limitation suggests that a change in microbial biofilms or nutrient concentrations could alter ecosystem biogeochemical dynamics. Additionally, we assessed the nutrient limitation of two desert springs in comparison with a temperate stream. A nutrient diffusing substrata experiment was used to measure chlorophyll a, respiration, and biomass with phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfide treatments. Autotrophic and heterotrophic biofilms responded differently to treatments and the temperate stream had higher chlorophyll a biofilm accrual but lower respiration relative to the desert springs. / Spatial and temporal variation of microbial biofilm biogeochemistry in a desert spring, Devils Hole, Nevada -- Autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrient limitation across biomes. / Department of Biology

Southeast Harney Lake Hot Spring and its effluent channel were examined for spatial and temporal variations in the concentrations of several chemical species, viz. dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, phosphate-phosphorous, nitrate and nitrite-nitrogen, conductivity, chloride, flouride, temperature, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. Phosphate-phosphorous and nitrate-nitrogen both exhibited downstream increases in concentration. pH and alkalinity increased also, mainly due to CO2 evolution and temperature mediated carbon species redistribution. The diurnal pH and alkalinity curves exhibited depressions during the daylight hours due to the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate within the pool and effluent stream.

<div> <p>Despite its location in the rain shadow of the southern Sierra Nevada, the Panamint Range within Death Valley National Park, CA hosts a complex aquifer system that supports numerous springs. These springs, in turn, support unique groundwater-dependent ecological communities. Spring emergences range in elevation from 2434 m above sea level (within the mountain block) to 77 m below sea level (in the adjacent basins). Waters were collected from representative Panamint Range springs and analyzed for environmental isotopes and geochemical tracers to address the following questions: 1) What is the primary source of recharge for the springs? How much recharge occurs on the Panamint Range? 2) What groundwater flowpaths and geologic units support springflow generation? and 3) What are the residence times of the springs? The stable isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) of spring water and precipitation indicate that localized high-elevation snowmelt is the dominant source of recharge to these perennial springs, though recharge from rainfall is not wholly insignificant. Geochemical evolution was evaluated using principle component analysis to compare the concentrations of all major spring cations and anions in a multidimensional space and group them according to dominant geochemical signatures. These resulting geochemical groups are controlled primarily by topography. The Noonday Dolomite and other carbonate units in the range are identified as the water-bearing units in the mountain block based on the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of spring waters and rock samples. These units also offer higher hydraulic conductivities than other formations and are chemically similar. Radiocarbon- and ³H derived residence times of these spring waters range from modern to approximately 1840 years, with the shortest residence times at higher altitudes and Hanaupah Canyon and increasing residence times with decreasing altitude. This residence time-altitude relationship is likewise likely topography-driven though there are significant disparities in mountain block storage between the various canyons of the range resulting in variable residence times between drainages. Lower Warm Springs A and B, however, are the exceptions to this trend as they emerge at lower altitudes (750m above sea level) and are likely driven by the transport of groundwater to the surface along faults which increases both the temperature and groundwater residence times of waters from these springs. Benthic macroinvertebrates and benthic and planktonic microbes were also sampled for each spring studied. BMI and microbial community structure in the Panamint Range is likewise topography-controlled with more tolerant communities at lower elevations (within more chemically evolved waters) and less tolerant species in the unevolved waters at higher elevations.</p></div>