Poster Project Minnesota Mississippi Metagenomics Project – M 3 P

PROBLEM / QUESTION DOES THE ST. CROIX RIVER HAVE AN INCREASED BACTERIAL DIVERSITY BEFORE ITS CONFLUENCE WITH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER (Site 8) COMPARED TO AFTER ITS CONFLUENCE WITH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER? (Site 10)?

HYP0THESIS / PREDICTION IF THE BACTERIAL DIVERSITY OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER IS MEASURED BEFORE ITS CONFLUENCE WITH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, THEN THE BACTERIAL DIVERSITY WILL BE GREATER THAN AFTER ITS CONFLUENCE WITH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DUE TO THE HIGH DENSITY OF HUMAN POPULATION IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA RELEASING TOXIC CHEMICALS INTO THE RIVER, KILLING OFF MICROBES

BACKGROUND The St. Croix River is a National Scenic Riverway which is protected by the National Park Service. The river supports 95 fish species and 41 species of fresh water mussels (MPCA) making it one of the world’s premier mussel watersheds. The winged mapleleaf mussel, a federally endangered species, is only found in the St. Croix River. Because of the watershed’s limited mineral extraction, limited farming and limited human population; it remains near its pre-settlement conditions (US Fish and Wildlife). Therefore it is hypothesized that the flora and fauna biodiversity will mirror the bacterial diversity.

RESULTS After analysis of data using MOTHUR, the hypothesis was not supported. Bacterial diversity of the St. Croix River above its confluence with the Mississippi River had lower bacterial diversity than below its confluence with the Mississippi River. ATTACH MOTHUR DATA AND GRAPHS!

ANALYSIS/CONCLUSION The proposed hypothesis was not supported. The bacterial diversity of the St. Croix River was less diverse above its confluence with the Mississippi River… CONTINUE WITH CLAIM, EVIDENCE AND EXPLANATION USING DATA GATHERED FROM MOTHUR.

FURTHER DIRECTION/CLASSROOM APPLICATIONS HOW WOULD YOU USE MOTHUR IN YOUR CLASSROOM? HOW WOULD YOU USE METAGENOMICS IN YOUR CLASSROOM?