Geobiology / Geomicrobiology
The
study of life‘s many roles in the Earth‘s system, and of life‘s evolution
through Earth History constitute the subject of Geobiology, broadly defined.
Research groups at Illinois consider aspects of geobiology at two scales.
Geomicrobiology: Prof. Bruce Fouke focuses on understanding biocomplexity in geologic environments, most notably coral reefs and hot springs. He has ongoing projects in the southern Caribbean, addressing issues such as black band disease, and in Yellowstone, where his work addresses the role of microbes in the microfacies of carbonate terraces. Prof. Rob Sanford's research focuses on the microbial ecology of biogeochemical processes, particularly those that occur in the subsurface. The emphasis of his experimental work has been in characterizing the role of respiratory anaerobic organisms, the microbial ecology of anaerobic groundwater, and the microbiology in calcium carbonate depositing environments. Prof. Craig Bethke is addressing the biophysics of how environmental parameters limit microbial metabolism in groundwater, and how microbes play a role in the geochemical evolution of groundwater. Prof. Tom Johnson studies the role of microbes in reactions involving iron, chromium, and selenium contaminants in groundwater.
Paleobiology and Paleoecology: Prof. Feng Sheng Hu (primary appointment in the Department of Plant Biology) focuses on paleoecology of forest floras, and how they are affected by climatic change during the Quaternary. He currently supervises projects concerning abrupt climate change and ecosystem response in the mid-continent, climate change, and soil carbon in the tundra, and climate-fire-vegetation interactions in boreal ecosystems. He also studies paleolimnology.
- Prof. Craig Bethke Aquifer microbiology, groundwater microbiology, environmental microbiology.
- Prof. Bruce Fouke Terrestrial microbiology, coral reef studies, environmental microbiology.
- Prof. Feng Sheng Hu Soil and sediment biogeochemistry, climatic change and biotic response
- Prof. Thomas Johnson Isotope microbiology
- Prof. Rob Sanford environmental geomicrobiology
