Understanding the growth characteristics and adaptive responses of psychrophilic organisms to varying environmental conditions is crucial for clarifying their ecological niche and potential applications in biotechnology. Psychrophilic organisms exhibit a preference for growth at 4ºC. Chlamydomonas malina originates from the Beaufort Sea and Chlamydomonas klinobasis originates from Svalbard, Norway. C. malina is a marine alga while C. klinobasis is a snow alga. There are previous studies done on C. malina regarding lipid function. In this study, we investigated the growth dynamics and salinity adaptation strategies of two psychrophilic strains, C. malina and C. klinobasis. Cultures of these organisms were subjected to a salinity gradient (0.43mM, 100mM, 200mM, 300mM, and 400mM NaCl) to determine optimal growth conditions and observe stress-induced responses. Growth curves were plotted by optical density, cell count, and cell size measurements for C. malina under different salinity levels. Additionally, the formation of palmelloids and aggregates, indicative of stress responses, was observed. Our results revealed distinct growth patterns and adaptation strategies among C. malina, with consistency in optimal salinity levels at 100mM NaCl and stress-induced responses. Our results also showed that C. malina was not growing optimally at 400mM NaCl. Furthermore, adjustments in salinity conditions allowed for the identification of optimal growth conditions that minimize stress-induced responses. This study contributes to our understanding of the adaptive mechanisms employed by psychrophilic organisms in harsh environments and provides insights into their potential biotechnological applications. Future research directions will focus on completing the salinity gradient up to 800mM NaCl with C. malina and repeating this study with C. klinobasis. This study will also pivot to study palmelloids and aggregates in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
Author(s): Lehua Hoops, Kaylie Wheeless, Rachael Morgan-Kiss, Ph.D.
Advisor(s): Rachael Morgan-Kiss, Department of Microbiology
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