Ecological succession of thermophilic bacterial endospores

Endospores of thermophilic bacteria are widespread in the marine rare biosphere and have been proposed as model organisms for studying microbial dispersal. This project will evaluate the diversity, abundance and community succession of thermophilic endospore populations previously reported in sediments of Svalbard fjords. The findings of this project will be crucial in closing knowledge gaps related to the ecophysiology of thermophilic bacteria.