Defense Date

3-31-2014

Graduation Date

Spring 2014

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

thesis

Degree Name

MS

Department

Environmental Science and Management (ESM)

Committee Chair

John Stolz

Committee Member

Peter Castric

Committee Member

Brady Porter

Keywords

Fracking, Marcellus Shale, Pellicle, Salinivibrio costicola, Shale, Unconventional gas extraction

Abstract

A euryhalic, gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterium was isolated from an enrichment culture found in an impoundment used for storing Marcellus Shale waste water. Designated strain LP-1, its cells were non-spore-forming, motile, curved rods with a single polar flagellum. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed it is a £^-proteobacerium closely related (98%) to Salinivibrio costicola. Carbohydrates serve as energy sources both aerobically and anaerobically. It grew anaerobically on nitrate with hydrogen, acetate, pyruvate, or lactate but not with formate, and did not use arsenate, sulfate, or thiosulfate as electron acceptors. Strain LP-1 grew optimally at 37°C (range 4-65°C), 10.0% NaCl (range 0-20.0%), and a pH of 7.5 (range 4.5-10.5). It is capable of forming pellicles in liquid culture and Strontium and Barium-containing precipitates. These results suggest that the recycling impoundments contain unique microbiota that have adapted to living in a broad range of conditions.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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