This is a past event.

From Environmental Monitoring to Bilge Water

Civil Engineering Graduate Seminar

Stephen M. Techtmann, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Michigan Technological University

Abstract: Microbes are ubiquitous in the environment and are essential for human and ecosystem health.  For the most part, microbes exist in complex communities.  The composition of these microbial communities can change rapidly in response to environmental change.  New technologies for characterization of these communities have enabled the identification of biomarkers for different environmental phenomena.  Here we present details regarding the use of environmental microbial communities as tools for monitoring environmental contamination and maritime provenance.  Using next-generation sequencing we have identified two marine taxa as near perfect indicators for current and previous oil contamination. We are now seeking to apply this technology to find better methods for tracking ocean-going vessels.  Environmental microbes can colonize most structures including ships. The microbiome of a vessel may reflect the environments through which the vessel has passed.  We are beginning to investigate microbes that colonize ship surfaces and to what extent they represent the waters through which the ship has passed.  Both of these stories illustrate how environmental microbial communities have wide-ranging applications as biosensors.