Investigation of Pathogenic Marine Fungi Origin, Support and Growth in Sand and on Coastal Beaches

Presentation Type

Event

Full Name of Faculty Mentor

Karen Aguirre

Major

Biology

Minor

Chemistry

Presentation Abstract

Pathogenic fungi have been suggested to inhabit sand, especially yeast. Sand was collected and sterilized from commercial, residential and private beaches to examine ability to support pathogenic yeast growth. Three species of pathogenic yeast identified in a previous study by this lab grew at similar rates on all three types of sand, despite differences in sand particle size and composition. These results argued against an abiotic cause of differential growth rates that was seen in the previous study. Sand from a high-census, high recreational use beach was collected according to a scheme designed to test several hypotheses as to how organisms are introduced, now assuming biological origin. The collection was made from areas adjacent to the swash, as well as following the ingress of people. Data suggests that organism deposition arose primarily from recreational beach goers themselves.

Course

BIOL 399

Location

Lib Jackson Student Union, Atrium

Start Date

17-4-2019 4:30 PM

End Date

17-4-2019 6:30 PM

Disciplines

Biology

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Apr 17th, 4:30 PM Apr 17th, 6:30 PM

Investigation of Pathogenic Marine Fungi Origin, Support and Growth in Sand and on Coastal Beaches

Lib Jackson Student Union, Atrium

Pathogenic fungi have been suggested to inhabit sand, especially yeast. Sand was collected and sterilized from commercial, residential and private beaches to examine ability to support pathogenic yeast growth. Three species of pathogenic yeast identified in a previous study by this lab grew at similar rates on all three types of sand, despite differences in sand particle size and composition. These results argued against an abiotic cause of differential growth rates that was seen in the previous study. Sand from a high-census, high recreational use beach was collected according to a scheme designed to test several hypotheses as to how organisms are introduced, now assuming biological origin. The collection was made from areas adjacent to the swash, as well as following the ingress of people. Data suggests that organism deposition arose primarily from recreational beach goers themselves.