Hubert, CaseyCramm, Margaret2017-12-152017-12-1520172017Cramm, M. (2017). Thermophilic Endospore-Forming Bacteria as Models for Exploring Microbial Dispersal in Time and Space (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/28742http://hdl.handle.net/11023/4275Thermophilic endospore-forming bacteria – “ thermospores ” – are particularly useful model organisms for exploring microbial biogeography because they remain viable for long geologic time periods owing to a dormant state that confers resistant to extreme conditions. Using high temperature incubation experiments and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, geographic and temporal thermospore dispersal in marine sediments was explored. Thermospores detected in surface sediments across the North Atlantic are likely to originate from multiple warm temperature habitats, and are viable in sediments buried ~15 000 years ago. These approaches also revealed thermospore viability following the extreme stress of prolonged -80°C exposure. Thermospore viability and dispersal on a scale of millions of years was explored in a 1.2 km long sediment core. Uneven thermospore germination posed a challenge for thermospore detection but their capacity for use as models of biological dispersal remains valid.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Microbiologyenvironmental microbiologymicrobial biogeographymaster thesishttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/28742