July 18, 2002
Contact: Dr. Holly Pinkart (509-963-2710/fax 509-963-2730/e-mail:
pinkarth@cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. -
The National Science Foundation has awarded
an $840,000 grant to Central Washington University for continued research at
Soap Lake.
Dr. Holly Pinkart, CWU biology professor and a member of the
Soap Lake Conservancy Science Advisory Board, is the principal investigators
for the grant. The three-year NSF funding will allow for development of a
microbial observatory at the lake.
"Soap Lake is an excellent choice for an observatory because of
its unique chemistry," Pinkart says.
The lake, created by the Glacial Missoula Floods more than
10,000 years ago, is atypical in that it consists of two separate water
layers that have not mixed for more than 2,000 years. Although both layers
are alkaline, the lower layer is more saline. The lake also contains
sulfide, which is generally considered toxic for most life forms. Even so,
it supports thriving communities of algae, zooplankton and bacteria.
The observatory will allow for study of the ecology and the
relatively unknown microorganisms that thrive in the extreme environment,
and determine how they affect, and are affected by, the geochemistry of
Soap Lake.
Results generated by the project will supplement data available
in the search for biological activity on Mars and extra-solar terrestrial
environments.
"The observatory will likely lead to discovery of novel
microorganisms that may be useful in industry and biotechnology," Pinkart
adds. "Additionally, this project will allow for significant involvement of
undergraduate students."
Plans are being made for a summer course at Soap Lake about the
biology of the lake for undergraduate and graduate students, along with
teachers from high schools, community colleges and four-year institutions.
Pinkart will be among the speakers at the Saline Lakes Science
Conference Aug. 26-27 in Soap Lake. Additional information about the
conference is available at www.thelake.org.
