Marine Bacterial Chemical Warfare and Its Potential Consequences
Richard A. Long, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina
26 Oct 2007
Pelagic marine microbes are responsible for a significant component of carbon cycling on our planet. The processing of this material occurs at the microscale, i.e., aggregation and degradation of organic particles. Heterotrophic marine bacteria contribute to both processes by their activities on these ‘hotspots,’ yet little is understood about the mechanisms that bacteria might employ when competing for such resources. I will develop my thesis for one mechanism, allelopathy between bacteria, addressing the following two hypotheses: 1) antagonism is a common phenotype of marine bacteria, and 2) antagonistic interactions alter bacterial activity and colonization of particles by both natural bacterial assemblages and waterborne pathogens. I will conclude the seminar with an introduction to my lab group and projects, including discussing tools to address questions on bacterial community response to interactions and perturbations.