University of Toronto Department of Geology
Microbial Geochemistry Laboratory
www.geomicrobiology.ca
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Graduate Students Jennifer Kyle |
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Postdocotral Fellows
Chris Omelon
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Research Assistants
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Alumni
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Physical and Chemical Controls on Microbial Activity and Diversity in High Arctic
Cryptoendolithic Habitats
Chris Omelon
Chris joined the MGL in January 2002 after completion of a Canadian Youth Sciences Horizon’s Internship studying the complementary use of GPS data with ICONOS satellite imagery to monitor and predict rates of thermokarst degradation in climate-sensitive areas including the Yukon’s Mackenzie Valley and on islands in the Canadian High Arctic.
Chris completed his undergraduate degree at McGill University with a focus on Arctic science and environmental studies. His first research project in the Canadian High Arctic was funded by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society to determine correlation(s) between the size and shape of thermal contraction cracks leading to the development of ice-wedge polygons as a function of both substrate and climate. For his M.Sc. degree (McGill), Chris explored the geochemistry and mineralogy of saline perennial spring discharge and associated mineral precipitates at Expedition Fiord on Axel Heiberg Island. This was followed by a NASA Planetary Biology Internship examining microbe-mineral interactions and their role in the formation of carbonate microbialite structures growing in an alkaline lake in the Cariboo Plateau region of British Columbia.
The current project aims to examine the structure (physical, chemical, mineralogial) of cryptoendolithic habitats and associated microbial communities on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian High Arctic. In addition to documenting the climate of this region of the High Arctic, we monitor in situ temperatures and moisture availability to determine the environmental conditions and/or constraints leading to a dominance of microorganisms within the lithic substrate in contrast to the predominantly abiotic rock surface. This environmental data is coupled with chemical analyses (sequential extractions & ICP-AES; SEM with EDS/X-ray mapping) to evaluate the activity of microbial biofilms as sites for metal accumulation and substrate dissolution. Concurrent research involves ongoing culturing and study of these microorganisms by microscopy as well as trends or relationships between community structure and habitat (climate, & substrate) and potential variations in diversity resulting from environmental change.
Research Travel
Arctic Archipelago (Axel Heiberg Island, Ellesmere Island) – 1994-
Mackenzie Valley (Inuvik, Hershel Island) – 2000-2001