Hood Canal Bacterial Mats

Marine Projects: Hood Canal Bacterial Mats  

Hood Canal is experiencing low dissolved oxygen levels (see the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program website) and recently there have been reports of fish kills and dead zones.  The Skokomish tribe has also reported that the bottom of some areas of Hood Canal are covered with bacterial mats (see Tacoma News Tribune article).   To compare the bacterial mats in Hood Canal with those that we have observed in Commencement Bay, we are conducting a collaborative study with the Skokomish tribe and the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program.  We are using underwater videography techniques and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map the distribution and abundance of bacterial mats in relation to water depth, sediment type, and water quality variables.  The example videos shown here are from areas near Twanoh State Park in Hood Canal. 

Example subtidal surveys of:

bacterial mats

We are working with Dr. Mark Martin and his Microbiology students to identify the microbial community that make up the bacterial mats.  We will be using microscopy and genetic sequencing methods to identify the bacteria.  At this point we have tentatively identified the dominant bacterial type as the sulfide-oxidizing bacterium Beggiatoa spp.  These bacteria are some of the largest known, and visible surface mats of Beggiatoa spp. have been observed in areas with low oxygen levels in the water column. The mats have also been regarded as an indicator of organic enrichment from either natural or anthropogenic sources. 

This is an image of the bacteria taken at approx. 40X with a dissecting microscope.  Click on the image to see more detailed pictures and descriptions of the bacteria.

Webpage and project content by:

Dr. Joel Elliott, University of Puget Sound, Department of Biology
 

Please contact Dr. Joel Elliott for use of videos and images.  Thank you.

This project is funded by the Northwest Academic Computing Consortium and the University of Puget Sound

.                

 

jkelliott@ups.edu | lfly@ups.edu | Send Feedback!