Meeting Abstract
P2.38 Jan. 5 Determination of Bacterial Diversity in Soil Samples from Brooklyn Using Genetic and Morphological Analysis JODHAN, G*; KINLOCK, B; BOLNET, C; Medgar Evers College; Medgar Evers College; Medgar Evers College godsgrace5555@aol.com
Several indices such as the species richness, diversity and evenness are used to describe the structural diversity of a community and to monitor changes in microbial diversity due to environmental fluctuations, land practice and pollution. Knowing that Brooklyn faced these environmental changes, we decided to explore the diversity of soil bacteria in four different locations: Manhattan Beach (MB), Coney Island Beach (CIB), Downstate (DS) and Prospect Park (PP). In this study, we used a morphological, physiological and molecular approach. Soil samples were diluted (10-4, 10-5 and 10-6 dilutions), inoculated onto enriched agar plates and incubated at 28 degree Celsius for 2-7 days. The colonies were categorized based upon their color, shape and number. According to their morphology and pigmentation seven types of colonies were found: yellow, white, gray-red, brown, orange, black, and white with a fuzzy coating. This diversity was reflected in all four locations; although, the percentage of each type varied within each sample. The yellow and brown colonies were the most dominant in all soil samples but the orange colonies seemed to thrive better in CIB soils. In CIB cultures, the bacterial density was significantly higher than the one found in the three other soil samples. The physiological tests indicated a functional diversity among the seven colonies which confirms the morphological diversity. DNA was extracted from each soil and PCR was utilized successfully to amplify the 16S rRNA gene. We are currently sequencing the PCR products to access at a molecular level the composition of the soil bacterial community. In conclusion, our preliminary results indicated that CIB has the highest bacterial density when compared to the other three Brooklyn locations.
