The goal of this project is to carry out a comprehensive biotic survey of the prokaryotic, fungal, and protistan life inhabiting surficial sediments in Mid-Atlantic estuarine environments. These environments are highly productive and are considered key habitats for the maintenance of healthy coastal marine ecosystems; however, due to their close proximity to areas of coastal development, they are often subject to human encroachment. This project will utilize a combined molecular and cultural analysis of RNA and DNA extracted from environmental samples and then identify important groups of microbes. The primary experimental sampling site will be Hog Island, a large estuarine ecosystem on the Atlantic coast of Virgina and an LTER site.
