Award Name
Group Award Winner
Researcher ORCID Identifier
Daniel Bonilla-
0009-0000-7761-6370
Award Date
Spring 2024
Faculty Sponsor
Jason Tor
Description/Abstract
The Salton Sea is a body of water located in Southern California and is the largest lake by surface area in the state. The Sea continues to experience significant environmental changes—including increasing salinity—due to evaporative loss consequent to major changes in water management and agricultural runoff. To better understand the impact of increasing salinity on microbial communities, this study evaluates the effects of salinity on the growth of halophilic bacteria in the Salton Sea. Bacterial growth in media containing salt concentrations of 5%, 8%, and 11% was evaluated. Serially diluted samples were evaluated to determine the Most Probable Number (MPN) for each salt concentration. The 5% and the 8% salt concentrations shared the same results with values of 24,000 MPN/g while the 11% salt concentration had a value of 38,000 MPN/g. This research reveals the microbial response to different salinity levels in the Salton Sea and provides valuable insights into the potential consequences of climate change and altered water management practices in the Salton Sea. Understanding the factors influencing halophilic bacterial growth in hypersaline environments is an integral component of future conservation efforts in the Salton Sea.
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Recommended Citation
Bonilla, Daniel A.; Lore, Sophia; Proulx, McKayla K.; and Posada Villanueva, Bertha M., "Halophilic Diversity in the Salton Sea: Identifying Resiliency and Abundance in Extremophiles Across Salt Gradients" (2024). 2024 CLAREMONT COLLEGES LIBRARY UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AWARD. 1.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cclura_2024/1
