Function and structure of microbial biofilms in saline shallow lakes: limits and adaptations to environmental extremes

ENG- Hypersaline lakes are extreme ecosystems with high salt concentrations, often shallow and subject to natural drying periods. Despite their high ecological value, they are threatened by climate change, which puts them at risk of experiencing even higher salinity levels, longer droughts, and risi...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Boadella, Judit
Tipo de recurso: tesis doctoral
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:CBUC, CESCA
Repositorio:TDR. Tesis Doctorales en Red
OAI Identifier:oai:www.tdx.cat:10803/695218
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10803/695218
Access Level:acceso embargado
Palabra clave:Llacs hipersalins
Lagos hipersalinos
Hypersaline lakes
Biofilms
Biopelículas
Sequera
Sequía
Drought
Activitat aquàtica
Actividad acuática
Water activity
Sediment
Sedimento
Activitats enzimàtiques extracel·lulars
Actividades enzimáticas extracelulares
Extracellular enzyme activities
Substàncies polimèriques extracel·lulars
Sustancias poliméricas extracelulares
Extracellular polymeric substances
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Descripción
Sumario:ENG- Hypersaline lakes are extreme ecosystems with high salt concentrations, often shallow and subject to natural drying periods. Despite their high ecological value, they are threatened by climate change, which puts them at risk of experiencing even higher salinity levels, longer droughts, and rising temperatures. Microorganisms play a key role in these ecosystems, as they regulate biogeochemical cycles, especially those of organic matter and carbon. This thesis investigates the biofilms, which are assemblages of microorganisms, that inhabit the sediments of shallow hypersaline lakes. The main objective is to understand how these biofilms adapt to changes in water availability and temperature variations. The results of this thesis show that, although the biofilms in hypersaline lakes are resilient to temperature fluctuations, they do respond to water scarcity. This suggests that such environments are particularly vulnerable to impacts like drought, which could disrupt the organic matter cycle and, consequently, alter the carbon cycle as well