by: Amanda Rioux and the UMass Dartmouth biology students
In my continued series of talking with the biology students at UMass Dartmouth, I have been questioning the students about their individual areas of studies, and why what they are studying is important.
Many of the students study life on a microscopic level. We often do not consider how much invisible life is around us. As a result, we may sometimes forget how large a roll even the tiniest creatures can play.
“What are you studying?”
Stephanie: Marine microbiology.
Ryan: My area of study aims at understanding the interaction between highly abundant mesozooplankton (Copepods) and the bacteria that attach to their bodies (their microbiome).
Specifically, I study the association of Vibrio in terms of attachment and interaction with copepods.
Muhammad: I study the conditions in which life thrives and adapts. Ranging from the Physiology and Anatomy to the microscopic aspects which allow for structure of life to persist.
Abhi: I currently study collections of bacteria and other little critters that grow in slime-like layers called ‘biofilms’.
There are biofilms everywhere, from the gross stuff that grows on SENG walls when there are leaks, to catheters carrying MRSA in hospitals, to diverse and colorful communities growing on surfaces in the ocean.
I study biofilms in the coastal oceans – specifically, how ecological principles govern their growth and disruption.
Kenny: My current research focuses on the early colonizer community dynamics in marine biofilm communities.
In essence, I am looking at the first microscopic organisms that attach to a submerged surface and their diversity.
“Why is it important?”
Stephanie: We rely on the ocean for so many resources and towards the bottom of the marine food chain are copepods, which is the type of organism that I study.
I am trying to understand the sources (such as diet, sea water) of their microbiome components.
It’s important to learn about these animals since the whole marine food web arguably relies on the stability of their population.
Copepods are also extraordinarily abundant (estimated to be 1 copepod/ Liter of sea water), so
they can potentially play an important role in bacterial transport in the ocean as a microbialmicroniche.
Ryan: This work is important as copepods are highly abundant and ubiquitous throughout the world’s ocean. They constitute a major link in the marine food web.
Therefore, bacteria associated with their surfaces have the potential to interact with many other higher trophic organisms.
In addition, copepods produce nutrients through excretion and feeding actions that may increase the numbers of bacteria in their immediate area. Some of these bacteria may be harmful to humans, such Vibrio cholerae that causes gastrointestinal issues that are potentially fatal.
Therefore, understanding the association and subsequent interaction of copepods with microbiome has both human health impacts as well as impacts from impacts to the greater ocean ecosystem.
Muhammad: I believe it is the only way humans can maintain their population is if they are familiar with the ins and outs of their habitat.
That is the only reason even after this disastrous pandemic, human population stayed rather stable unlike like the Spanish Flu.
Abhi: There are two major reasons. The first, biofilms are tight, packed environments with tons of ecological connections between the organisms that live in (and build) them. Most of these connections, and the functions of the organisms making the connections, are unknown.
However, biofilms still perform critical jobs like turning over organic matter, breaking down pollutants and signaling the settlement and growth of larger organisms like barnacles and macro-algae.
So – studying biofilms can help us figure out some fundamental roles of these microbes in the ocean, and hopefully how they function within such complex communities by sharing, stealing, or competing.
Second, biofilms are a nuisance when they grow on your boat/ship, or your marine equipment. They decrease fuel efficiency of ships, mess up sensors and decrease aquaculture yield.
Working with engineers, we are coming up with sustainable and cost-effective ways to get rid of marine biofilms before they get so gnarly that divers have to be sent in with scrub brushes. While testing these new methods, we have an opportunity to disturb the biofilm in various ways.
In turn, this helps us understand the basics of how biofilms tick, and which community members and interactions help the biofilms resist such disturbance.
Kenny: These organisms are incredibly important not only from an economic standpoint but from an evolutionary standpoint as well.
Biofilms often lead to larger organisms attaching to the hulls of ships, piers and the interior of submerged pipes that cost companies over 1 billion dollars annually.
Additionally, the organisms in these biofilms represent the evolutionary history of life on earth that we can use to better our understanding of the origins of life on our planet.