Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Recently, the rapid drying out of the Dead Sea is the challenge faced by scientists and governors. Its level dropped more than 20 m during the last decade. As the massive precipitation of halite from the water column has led to a decrease in the Na+ concentration, concomitant with an increase in Mg2+ make the lake supersaturated with NaCl. This situation induced a big challenge to the microbial life however, despite this harsh condition of the lake, several microorganisms, including members of the domain Bacteria, unicellular algae, fungi, viruses, and Archaea have been survive. To understand the factors that affect the microbes in the Dead Sea, and to predict the possible effects of the planned conveyance of Red Sea water to the Dead Sea, a set experiments in the outdoor as well as in the laboratory were performed. The results of the laboratory experiments showed that growth of the Dunaliella was possible only when Dead Sea water was diluted with minimally 10% (by volume) of Red Sea water. Addition of phosphate was essential for the algae to grow, and growth rates and yields increased with increasing phosphate concentration and decreasing salinity. Field experiments revealed that growth of algae was rapidly followed by development of dense blooms of red halophilic Archaea. Although it should be realized that the closed system formed by the shallow ponds differs from the conditions in the lake, the results suggest that a microbial bloom, once formed, can remain present in the Dead Sea for months to years. These observations are important when attempting to predict how the biological properties of the lake may change in the future, and they have important implications for the planning of the Red Sea-Dead Sea conduit. The �Peace Conduit�, the construction of a water carrier between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea has been proposed to replace the drying out of the lake and to restore the water level to a desired elevation. The present simulation experiments designed at the Al Hussein Bin Talal University (AHU) field station at Maan to provide information on the ecological impacts of the Dead Sea when the �Peace Conduit� plans will be implemented and massive quantities of Red Sea water will enter the Dead Sea and lower the salinity of the upper water layers. The preliminary analysis of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) and Polar lipid of Archaea and of Bacteria collected from the experimental ponds containing different Dead Sea Red Sea water ratios, in order to analyze how it affects the microbial community of the ponds. The archaea community changed significantly according to the water mixture, presenting the greatest diversity when 30% Red Sea water was added to the Dead Sea water.

Biography

Email: mwedyan@hu.edu.jo