Determining whether pH impacts bacterial composition in soils found in various San Franciscan microclimates

Abstract

San Francisco is a place with a lot of bio diversity in soil. This paper is about determining whether pH and water proximity impacts bacterial composition in soils found in various San Franciscan micro climates. 3 soil samples were individually collected from different areas on the San Franciscan peninsula. These areas were chosen based on their location relative to still and moving bodies of water. After the soil samples were collected the pH of each sample was measured. The samples were then serial diluted and added to a petri dish filled with nutrient agar. After bacteria began cultivation the sample was gram stained and observed under a microscope. Differences in the size, color, shape, and formation of the bacterial colonies were recorded. This data was then compared among the samples until a conclusion was reached. We found that soil collected in closer proximity to bodies of water had more bacterial counts then those without, This was espescially shown when the there were multiple bodies of water or moving bodies of water. The information gathered in this experiment can help us learn how bacterial composition relates to pH levels and Water proximity.