Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, 307 Mossman Building, Knoxville, TN 37996, klloyd@utk.edu
We work on determining the carbon and energy sources for the vast uncharacterized majority of subsurface microorganisms in hydrothermal vents/springs, cold methane seeps, deep oceanic sediments, coastal estuaries and bays, and subduction zones.
By coupling phylogenetic and functional information from RNA, DNA, proteins, and metabolites in whole natural samples, single microbial cells, and laboratory mesocosms to geochemical parameters, we can link uncharacterized groups of organisms to their environmental functions. We are particularly focused on transformations of organic matter and C1 compounds in the deep marine subsurface.
Our field work is in Costa Rica, Panama, Argentina, Chile, the Baltic Sea, North Carolina, Svalbard, Siberia, and Mariana Trench Seamounts.
Karen Lloyd with MS student, Kate Fullerton doing field work in Costa Rica. We study how microbes from hot springs across Costa Rica are connected to their deep subsurface source fluids. Photo by Katie Pratt
Joides Resolution deep ocean drill ship from the IODP. We use samples from this ship to explore the deep oceanic subsurface biosphere.
Iceberg with veins of sediments in Kongsfjorden, Ny Alesund, Svalbard, 79°N. We study what happens to the sediments after they melt out and fall to the seafloor. Photo by Karen Lloyd
