Molecular genetics sheds light on diversity.
The application of molecular genetic approaches elucidates unrecognized diversity in PhycoSymbioses. At each stage of my career, I used genetic and genomic techniques to characterize the diversity of coral-dinoflagellate symbioses. These contributions include studying the symbiosis ecology of juvenile corals (joint BA-MS), working with The Baums Lab to improve genomic resources for endangered corals, and joining a collaborative team to create a consensus roadmap for evaluating Symbiodiniaceae diversity. |
Nutrient variability perturbations of coccolithophore-bacterial cellular communication. The cosmopolitan inter-kingdom partnerships of coccolithophores (genus Emiliania) and bacteria (genus Pseudoalteromonas) range from symbiotic to pathogenic. I recently joined the Harvey Plankton Lab @ UNH to join a multidisciplinary team characterizing cellular crosstalk in this algal-bacterial partnership as well as the chemical communication exercised by bacteria to induce algal cell death. My specialization within this working framework will involve investigating metal limitation's influence on inter-partner crosstalk. More soon!
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Metallomes reflect how a heat-tolerant symbiont adapts to many hosts. Symbiodiniaceae from the genus Durusdinium (etymology: tough, whirling) are celebrated for their ability to thrive in harsh conditions. In Palau, Micronesia, unusually warm and acidic lagoonal reefs provide a crystal ball into how corals may cope with conditions expected in the year 2100. Some corals brave these seemingly inhospitable environments by partnering with symbionts from the genus Durusdinium spp. As a PhD student, I discovered that the metallomes of Durusdinium spp. reflect host coral affinity, demonstrating how a generalist symbiont manages the balancing act of adapting to meet the needs of many hosts while maintaining the finesse to thrive in a harsh environment (Reich et al. In Prep). This compliments a larger ongoing collaborative effort tackling the functional ecology of heat tolerant coral symbionts.
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