Research Accomplishments of a Small Business Using Yellowstone’s Extremophiles

Abstract

It has been found that as conditions become more demanding in extreme environments, microorganisms predominate and certain microorganisms occupy the more extreme niches (Brock, 1986). Geothermal environments are among the most productive places to search for thermophiles. The Yellowstone ecosystem is the world’s foremost showcase of geothermal activity. With nearly 10,000 hot springs and steam vents, Yellowstone has the largest and most varied array of accessible, geothermal phenomena on earth. Nowhere else is such a diversity of extreme habitats found. Water temperatures range from cold mountain streams to boiling geysers. Strongly acidic (pH below 1.0) and strongly basic (pH 10.5) waters are in this region. High concentrations of some ions and heavy metals present unique environments for evolutionary adaptations. Extreme microbial habitats include oligo-trophic conditions, rich petroleum seeps, and rare, high temperature microbial mat communities. As temperatures increase, oxygen solubility decreases, resulting in numerous anaerobic habitats. At the opposite extreme are certain mat communities where oxygen production results in microhabitats supersaturated with respect to oxygen. It should be emphasized that organisms are not just exposed only to one of these extremes but generally to several extremes simultaneously. These habitats are relatively undisturbed, allowing long term evolution. It appears that this ecosystem provides an unparalleled opportunity to search for novel organisms.