Anh Nguyen

Not only do multiple redox processes occur in the wetland's diverse oxygen zones but also a diversified microbial community resides in different layers due to the combination of oxygen-rich and oxygen-low locations. One of the essential elements of built wetland biogeochemistry is the sulfur cycle since it is closely related to the carbon, nitrogen, and iron cycles. To study the sulfur cycle and the hyporheic flux, I examine the composition of the soxB gene which is known for its unique characteristics of executing sulfur oxidation. This project proposed the hypothesis that the fewer sulfur oxidation activities there are, the lower the abundance of the soxB gene. Following the hypothesis, it is predicted that more microbes will be detected in places where sulfate levels are high due to sulfur oxidation activities. The sediment cores in Tims Branch at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, which were taken in January 2019, August 2019, and May 2021, will be used as my samples to test the hypothesis and answer the questions above. To determine the distribution of microorganisms in divided cores, I will first amplify and then quantify the extracted DNA of living microbes using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). This minor research will serve to lay the groundwork and provide information to support a larger project that defines the mechanism of cryptic S cycling and how it is linked to other vital biogeochemical cycles.