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Item Biology of acid-sulfate-chloride springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States of America(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2007) Boyd, Eric Stephen; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Gill G. Geesey; Timothy McDermott (co-chair)This dissertation investigated the role of biology in several biogeochemical cycles in acid sulfate chloride (ASC) geothermal springs in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Elemental sulfur (S°) is associated with many geothermal springs, yet little is known about the organisms involved in its cycling. The aqueous and solid phase geochemistry near the source of Dragon Spring, an ASC spring in the Norris Geyser Basin (NGB) of YNP, was used to guide the enrichment and isolation of two novel S°-reducing Crenarchaeota affiliated with the order Desulfurococcales. Both isolates are chemoorganotrophs, dependent on complex peptide-containing carbon sources, S°, and anaerobic conditions for respiration-dependent growth. Physiological characterization suggests the isolates are adapted to the physicochemical conditions of Dragon Spring which is supported by quantitative PCR analysis which indicates that the isolates represent a significant fraction of the microbial community associated with S° precipitates in several ASC geothermal springs in the NGB in YNP.