Microbial Ecology Lab

Research Interests

The Dillon lab focuses on studying the ecology, physiology and diversity of microorganisms in extreme aquatic environments.  We use a combination of molecular ecology and traditional cultivation approaches to investigate the environmental factors that govern the distribution and abundance (community structure) of microbes.  We use these techniques to study both planktonic and mat-forming benthic communities.

Opportunities in My Lab

Please contact Dr. Dillon (jdillon@csulb.edu) regarding joining our research team.

Current Projects

Salt Marsh Microbiology

We currently have several projects investigating the biogeochemical role of salt marsh microorganisms in local wetlands including the Huntington Beach Wetland Conservancy area which is currently being restored.

Microbial Carbon Cycling

This project is using molecular and isotopic tools to identify key bacteria involved in carbon degradation in salt marshes.

Sulfate Reduction Along a Salinity Gradient

This project is looking at the diversity and activity of sulfate-respiring microorganisms across a salinity, vegetation and inundation gradient in the HB salt marsh. Pre-restoration analyses are wrapping up now and a post-restoration follow-up will be performed in the future following flooding of currently dried areas.

Halophile Microbiology

We currently have several ongoing projects investigating the diversity of microorganisms in other marine and hypersaline environments.

Halophile Proteome Projects

This project is using proteomics tools available from the Center for Education and Proteomics Analyses (CEPA) at CSULB to identify potentially haloadaptive proteins in both bacterial and archaeal halophile cultures including environmental and medically relevant isolates. 

Marine Halophile Project

This project investigates the diversity of culturable halophiles from nearshore seawater samples.

Baja California Saltern Diversity Project

These projects investigate the diversity of bacteria and archaea in the salt ponds of the Guerrero Negro salt facility.  These range from lower salinity ponds where microbial mats form to saturated crystallizing ponds.

Guerrero Negro & Cargill Saltern Phage Projects

Viruses and the prokaryotes they infect can be found thriving even in extreme hypersaline environments such as the solar salterns in Baja California and the SF Bay area. The phage projects seeks to investigate host-virus dynamics in these habitats. Part of the project involves the genomic characterization and biochemical elucidation of viral proteins in order to better understand how viruses have adapted to surviving in extreme hypersalinity. In addition, infectivity studies at various salt concentrations will help us to determine how salinity affects infection of the prokaryotic host.

Past Projects

Salton Sea Microbial Diversity Project

This project investigated seasonal changes in bacterioplankton diversity and abundance in this increasingly eutrophic, saline, terminal lake located in the desert of Southeastern California. 

Marine Sulfur Vent Microbiology

We had another project investigating the diversity and local geographic variation in microorganisms that form biofilms near small intertidal sulfide vents located at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, CA.

Hot Spring Microbiology

Dr. Dillon's Postdoctoral Fellowship was in the Stahl Lab at the University of Washington. This project used molecular sequencing and isotopic approaches to investigate the activity, diversity and evolutionary history of sulfate-respiring prokaryotes in hot springs in Yellowstone National Park.

UV Photophysiology of Cyanobacteria 

Dr. Dillon's dissertation research with Dr. Richard Castenholz at the University of Oregon investigated the effects of ultraviolet radiation on photosynthetic activity and pigmentation in sheath-containing cyanobacteria.  Specifically, he studied the production of scytonemin, a UV-absorbing sheath pigment in cyanobacteria that form biofilms in hot springs and desert crusts.