Yellowstone National Park

MSU Researchers pushing scientific boundaries in Yellowstone Lake

Posted: Jul 10, 2011 10:19 PM by Dan Boyce
Updated: Jul 10, 2011 10:22 PM

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - Montana State University Researchers are making startling discoveries in Yellowstone Lake. Biologists are using the latest technology to find new life there. When their study began ten years ago they doubled the number of known species in the lake--in the first three days. They're truly finding a new world beneath the waves.

One might look out at Yellowstone Lake and say, "Ok, that's a pretty big lake." Yet MSU Biologist John Varley is starting to see the ocean.

Last Wednesday he met a bus load of science teachers from around the country at the lake, mostly high school teachers getting their master's degree from MSU.

A quick training on their netting equipment and wader safety, and the teachers set out gathering samples.
"I'm trying to stir out all the sediment," said Rabun Gap, Georgia science teacher Brian Phillips while dragging a net across the bottom.

It was completely rational that any of them could net a brand new species.

"The chances of finding new species here is almost guaranteed," Varley said.

"And that is the coolest thing on earth," said Washington D.C. teacher, Paula Wang.

Varley's team has discovered dozens of new species in the last decade. But these brand new creatures may not be the most interesting discovery.

"We've got our hands in two very different worlds," Varley said.

The water on top of Yellowstone Lake is cold pure, Varley described it "almost like distilled water." But deep down the lake is covered with boiling geothermal vents like those found on the ocean floor. Varley found tiny creatures in the Yellowstone vents. Not brand new species though, the exact same species as found in the marine vents. Varley said that's remarkable, microscopic organisms surviving the exact same way in fresh water as they do in salt water. Right now that's stumping scientists--how did they get here?

"The information so new, we have no theory," he said.

With every toss and sweep of the net, the master's students could push the boundaries again--increasing and changing how we understand the natural world.

Not bad for a field trip.

"It's discovery science at it's finest," Varley said.

The area of the lake where the group was working Wednesday, it was the first time samples have been taken from that area since 1890.