Department Seminar: Dr. Daniel Colman
Defining the Intersection of Geology, Geochemistry and Microbiology in Hydrothermal Environments
Dr. Daniel Colman
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University
Hydrothermal systems provide excellent model systems to deconvolute the dynamic interplay between geology and geochemistry and the ecology and evolution of microorganisms. Extensive geochemical variation exists in hydrothermal systems that sets the stage for an incredible amount of microbial taxonomic and functional biodiversity. Further, microorganisms inhabiting hydrothermal systems can have profound roles in shaping the geochemistry of their environments through geo-biological feedbacks resulting from biological transformations of inorganic and organic chemical constituents.