Physics – Biological Physics
Scientific paper
2008-08-07
Physics
Biological Physics
Scientific paper
Recent field investigations of photosynthetic bacteria living in geothermal hot spring environments have revealed surprisingly complex ecosystems, with an unexpected level of genetic diversity. One case of particular interest involves the distribution along hot spring thermal gradients of genetically distinct bacterial strains that differ in their preferred temperatures for reproduction and photosynthesis. In such systems, a single variable, temperature, defines the relevant environmental variation. In spite of this, each region along the thermal gradient exhibits multiple strains of photosynthetic bacteria adapted to several distinct thermal optima, rather than the expected single thermal strain adapted to the local environmental temperature. Here we analyze microbiology data from several ecological studies to show that the thermal distribution field data exhibit several universal features independent of location and specific bacterial strain. These include the distribution of optimal temperatures of different thermal strains and the functional dependence of the net population density on temperature. Further, we present a simple population dynamics model of these systems that is highly constrained by biophysical data and by physical features of the environment. This model can explain in detail the observed diversity of different strains of the photosynthetic bacteria. It also reproduces the observed thermal population distributions, as well as certain features of population dynamics observed in laboratory studies of the same organisms.
Duncan James
Kane Suzanne Amador
Klales Anna
Nett Elizabeth Janus
No associations
LandOfFree
A biophysical model of prokaryotic diversity in geothermal hot springs does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with A biophysical model of prokaryotic diversity in geothermal hot springs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A biophysical model of prokaryotic diversity in geothermal hot springs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-29144