Overview
Topic status: In progress
Overview
Biological fouling of groundwater extraction, treatment and distribution infrastructure creates substantial operational and associated financial issues to the water industry. This is particularly the case in Australia, with growth of iron-, and manganese-biogeochemical cycling bacteria hypothesised as principal causative factors. These organisms are also important in mobilisation and sequestration of metals in aquatic environments. However, these organisms have been little studied in Australia despite particularly acute fouling of groundwater infrastructure. This project will provide supporting information regarding Fe- and Mn-bacterial communities associated with groundwater and fouling of bore casings using molecular phylogenetic techniques. Students will learn and apply DNA extraction, PCR and bioinformatics techniques.
Duration of project
Eight weeks, Dec 2011 to mid-Feb 2012
- Study level
- Vacation research experience scholarship
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Contact
- Please contact the supervisor for enquiries.
Dr James Smith
