Life Under the Heat: Microbial Diversity Across Temperature Gradients in Yellowstone’s Alkaline Hot Springs

This project examines how temperature gradients structure microbial community composition in alkaline hot springs within Yellowstone National Park. Using a comparative synthesis of four peer-reviewed studies, microbial taxa were grouped across three temperature zones: core (>80 °C), intermediate (65–80 °C), and outer (40–65 °C). Reported microbial groups were analyzed to identify dominant taxa and ecological transitions across zones. The study highlights distinct temperature-associated microbial communities and discusses broader implications for microbial ecology and astrobiology, including the potential relevance of geothermal analogs to extraterrestrial environments.