The San Diego Chapter of the Explorers Club presents: Hubert Staudigel, PhD
The Rock Bottom of Antarctica’s Food Chain Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 Best Western Seven Seas Dr. Hubert Staudigel (Scripps Inst. of Oceanography) will discuss his research adventures exploring microbes that (eat) volcanic rocks in the extreme environments of the McMurdo area around Ross Island, AntarcKca. These will include some (ancient) lava flows and lakes in the Dry Valleys, the Royal Society Range, and in the ice caves near the summit of Mount Erebus. AntarcKca is a very harsh conKnent with very liNle life. Food webs have to be very “creaKve” to adjust to condiKons that have been compared to life on other planets or during the early Earth. Staudigel’s group aims to improve understanding of the Rock BoNom of the food chain. How can microbes make organic carbon by using inorganic components? And which microbes are the main players in uKlizing chemical energy and nutrients from rocks and soils that are very poor in organic maNer? NOTE LOCATION: Best Western Seven Seas 411 Hotel Circle South San Diego, CA 92108 Social Hour: 6:00 P.M., Dinner: 6:45 P.M., PresentaKon: 7:45 P.M. Price: $35 for dinner and presentaFon RSVP by mailing a check made payable to ‘San Diego Explorers Club’ to: Jim Hoffman 638 Santa Alicia Solana Beach, CA 92075 Please also indicate your meal choice: Grilled Halibut, Roast Pork Loin, or Linguine Marinara with vegetables *Checks must be received by Tuesday, March 13th For more informaKon or quesKons, please e-­‐mail or call Jim Hoffman: jimwhoff[email protected] 858-­‐481-­‐6340 DirecFons to BEST WESTERN SEVEN SEAS (Mission Valley) Interstate 8 From Beaches: Head East on Interstate 8, take exit 4A for Hotel Circle, exit and turn leh onto Hotel Circle. From East San Diego: Head West on interstate 8, take Exit 4B for Hotel Circle and turn right onto Hotel Circle. Interstate 5 North or South Exit onto Interstate 8 East, take exit 4A for Hotel Circle, exit and turn leh onto Hotel Circle. Interstate 805 North or South Interstate 15 North or South & Hwy 163. Exit onto Interstate 8 West, exit Hotel Circle and turn right. For informaKon on the Explorers Club, visit www.explorers.org