Engineering low-cost methodology for studying airborne microbes.
Consulting by Dr. David J. Smith NASA, Scientist in the Planetary Science Division (PSD) at NASA Headquarters, Ph.D. in Biology & Astrobiology
The collection of bioaerosols, airborne microbes, is an important process to understand the biological composition of the atmosphere. However, there is no standard way to sample microbes hundreds of meters up, and many methods of doing so are expensive, making the study of bioaerosols somewhat inaccessible. This study designed, 3D printed, assembled and tested a cost effective lightweight bioaerosol sampling device that was attached to a F11 Pro Ruko drone. Bioaerosols can be dispersed through the atmosphere, and this dispersal causes greater diversity. To test the viability of the bioaerosol sampling device, the device was used to measure this diversity at different altitudes in a suburban environment. Fungal spores were chosen as a bioaerosol to be collected due to its abundance and easily identifiable traits for colonies. Samples of fungal spores were collected using the device at ground level and 100 meters five different times, and it was predicted that the 100 meter samples would have a higher average diversity. The Gini-Simpsons and Shannon Evenness Indices (GSI and SEI) revealed that the 100 meter samples had an average of 7% (p=0.1465) and 9% (p=0.1872) greater diversity than the ground level samples. Although this value was not significant (p<0.05), the trend may mean that there is a greater diversity at 100 meters, implying that long distance bioaerosol transport may occur in suburban areas. Future uses include collecting samples at varying temperatures, humidities, and wind speeds.
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