Small-scale vertical distribution of bacterial biomass and diversity in biological soil crusts from arid lands in the Colorado Plateau

We characterized, at millimeter resolution, bacterial biomass, diversity, and vertical stratification of biological soil crusts in arid lands from the Colorado Plateau. Microscopic counts, extractable DNA, and plate counts of viable aerobic copiotrophs (VAC) revealed that the top centimeter of crusted soils contained atypically large bacterial populations, tenfold larger than those in uncrusted, deeper soils. The plate counts were not always consistent with more direct estimates of microbial biomass. Bacterial populations peaked at the immediate subsurface (1–2 mm) in light-appearing, young crusts, and at the surface (0–1 mm) in well-developed, dark crusts, which corresponds to the location of cyanobacterial populations. Bacterial abundance decreased with depth below these horizons. Spatially resolved DGGE fingerprints of Bacterial 16S rRNA genes demonstrated the presence of highly diverse natural communities, but we could detect neither trends with depth in bacterial richness or diversity, nor a difference in diversity indices between crust types. Fingerprints, however, revealed the presence of marked stratification in the structure of the microbial communities, probably a result of vertical gradients in physicochemical parameters. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses indicated that most of the naturally occurring bacteria are novel types, with low sequence similarity (83–93%) to those available in public databases. DGGE analyses of the VAC populations indicated communities of lower diversity, with most types having sequences more than 94% similar to those in public databases. Our study indicates that soil crusts represent small-scale mantles of fertility in arid ecosystems, harboring vertically structured, little-known bacterial populations that are not well represented by standard cultivation methods

Women and work in India: (Re)engaging *class, careers, and occupations in a globalizing economy

This study investigates work lives and careers of Indian women within a historical context. This context is seen as being influenced symbiotically by India\u27s cultural and traditional realities as well as the contemporary phenomenon of globalization. Using feminist standpoint theory as its theoretical lens, the study explored how women (de)(co)(re)construct and develop knowledges about their worlds of work as embedded within and influenced by the intersections of class, caste, society, socialization, and individual agency. Meaning(s) women associate with their work as well as Indian women\u27s definition of a career in 21st century globalizing India are other important areas of exploration. ^ Feminist face-to-face interviewing was conducted either in English and/or Marathi in the western city of Pune in the state of Maharashtra, India, with 77 women across caste, class, income, occupation, and generational categories. Accumulated data were analyzed and interpreted using qualitative software NVivo and manually. Findings from the study indicate that social practices such as caste-based quota-reservation system in higher education and employment continue to color women\u27s work worlds. Women understand that Indian society discriminates, as well as accepts working women depending on the spatial and temporal distinctions of societal members, and have developed strategies to negotiate this contradictory public space. Parental influences through direct and indirect communication and role modeling; as well as the support and encouragement of extended family members such as in-laws, significantly affected how women came to understand and process information regarding work values, career options, and post organizational entry workplace behaviors. Women show considerable agency in pursuing their own education, pursuing career interests, and in furthering advancement opportunities. Women also believe in having careers in communion, and display a strong sense of responsibility toward their familial roles, responsibilities, and obligations.^ The findings of this study contribute to the literature on vocational anticipatory socialization, career studies and communication, meanings of work, and feminist standpoint theory. This study contributes to an emerging internationalization agenda within organizational communication. Finally, the study also answers several recent calls (e.g. Broadfoot & Munshi, 2007; Cheney, 2000; Thomas & Inkson, 2007; Zoller, 2006) simultaneously, while addressing the accusations of individualism and parochialism levied on organizational communication and career studies.