Date of Graduation

Spring 5-20-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Biological Science (MBioSci)

Department

Biology

Thesis Chair

Davida Smyth

Abstract

The impact of land development on soil microbial diversity and antibiotic production is critical due to industrial expansion and the scarcity of effective antibiotics. Low Impact Development (LID) aims to preserve ecosystems, but its effectiveness in maintaining microbial diversity is uncertain. This study compares soil samples from nine sites: undisturbed (UD), residential (RD), and Madla Greenway (GW) within the VIDA development area and Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus. Isolated microbes were screened for antibiotic production and genetically characterized. Preliminary findings indicate that UD sites harbor greater microbial abundance, and a higher proportion of antibiotic-producing microbes compared to GW and RD sites. However, microbial characterization reveals that RD and GW sites exhibit greater diversity, suggesting that disturbance may introduce new microbes into the environment, increasing diversity while reducing overall abundance and the prevalence of antibiotic-producing microbes. These findings suggest that while LID helps preserve microbial communities, it does not maintain them at the same level as undisturbed environments.

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