AAAR 32nd Annual Conference
September 30 - October 4, 2013
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Exploring Bacterial, Fungal, and Viral Diversity in Indoor and Outdoor Air
JOANNE B. EMERSON, Noah Fierer, University of Colorado Boulder
Abstract Number: 127 Working Group: Bioaerosols: Characterization and Environmental Impact
Abstract Although the prevalence of microorganisms in the atmosphere and their influences on atmospheric processes are beginning to be appreciated, we have a limited understanding of the diversity and abundances of bacteria, fungi, and viruses in indoor and outdoor air. Likewise, we have only just begun to understand the biotic and abiotic factors that regulate the diversity and abundances of these microbes in the atmosphere, both outdoors and within buildings. Our group uses molecular methods (targeted gene sequencing and viral metagenomics) to characterize bacterial, fungal, and viral community composition in air samples from a variety of environments. Sampling sites include the near-surface atmosphere above marine and terrestrial systems, inside and outside family residences, and above the boundary layer (accessed via a 300 m tower and through airplane sampling). We will discuss the integration of microbial DNA sequencing data and abundance estimates with measurements of environmental parameters to assess ecological influences on microbial community composition, dynamics, and biogeography in indoor and outdoor air. Results indicate seasonal patterns in both indoor and outdoor microbial community structure and abundance, along with biogeographic differences in near-surface atmospheric community composition that are driven by changes in source environments.