Photo credit: A. Wood
Research
My research focuses on understanding the chemically-mediated roles that microbes play in the ecology of benthic marine organisms and how these interactions are impacted by climate change and other environmental stressors.
My current research interests include 1) the ecological roles of toxins produced by harmful algal blooms, 2) the production of biomolecules by marine bacteria that affect coral recruitment, 3) effects of climate change on the production of ecologically important biomolecules.
1. Ecological roles of toxins produced by harmful algal blooms
Harmful algal blooms (HAB)s are increasing in some areas, largely due to increased seawater temperatures and nutrients. These blooms produce toxins that adversely affect a wide variety of organisms within the ecosystem and can cause health problems in humans. Examining the ecological roles of these toxins can help us understand their impacts within the ecosystem and discover ways to prevent blooms from occurring. My work and the work of others have shown that benthic bloom forming cyanobacteria produce compounds that have potent biological activity including anti-feeding, anti-fouling, allelopathic, and antibiotic properties. I am currently working on a manuscript describing the bloom dynamics of benthic cyanobacteria in the Indian River Lagoon, including characterization of the major secondary metabolites produced and their antifungal and feeding deterrent properties. I am interested in continuing to investigate the production of ecologically active biomolecules by benthic cyanobacteria along the coast of Florida and also in expanding this research to other HAB species.
2. Production of biomolecules by marine bacteria and their roles in mediating ecological interactions between higher organisms
Bacteria are prolific producers of bioactive compounds and, due technological advances, are becoming increasingly recognized as the true producers of compounds that were previously attributed to host organisms. It has long been thought that many coral and other invertebrate larvae settle in response to chemical cues produced by crustose coralline algae (CCA). As part of a collaboration between the Smithsonian Marine Station, Eckerd College, and Mote Marine Lab, I have recently discovered that a bacterium living on the surfaces of CCA produces the compound tetrabromopyrrole (TBP) that induces settlement in multiple coral species. The widespread activity of this compound among multiple coral species indicates that it may be an important factor in the reproductive cycle of many corals and makes this work particularly important for coral reef conservation. I am currently working to understand the prevalence of TBP on marine surfaces and to examine other ecological roles for this compound.
3. Effects of climate change/environmental stress on the production of ecologically important biomolecules
Coastal ecosystems are facing a number of environmental stressors including rising seawater temperatures, ocean acidification, and excess nutrients. These changes in the environment can impact the physiological processes of marine plants and micro-organisms causing changes in the amounts or types of bioactive compounds produced. During my graduate work, I discovered that turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) increases the amount of phenolic compounds it produces in response to a combination of salinity stress and disease. Phenolic compounds are important defensive metabolites in many seagrasses and changes in their production in response to stress could have implications for their health. I am interested in continuing to explore how environmental changes impact the production of bioactive compounds and what effects these changes have on ecological interactions.
1. Ecological roles of toxins produced by harmful algal blooms
Harmful algal blooms (HAB)s are increasing in some areas, largely due to increased seawater temperatures and nutrients. These blooms produce toxins that adversely affect a wide variety of organisms within the ecosystem and can cause health problems in humans. Examining the ecological roles of these toxins can help us understand their impacts within the ecosystem and discover ways to prevent blooms from occurring. My work and the work of others have shown that benthic bloom forming cyanobacteria produce compounds that have potent biological activity including anti-feeding, anti-fouling, allelopathic, and antibiotic properties. I am currently working on a manuscript describing the bloom dynamics of benthic cyanobacteria in the Indian River Lagoon, including characterization of the major secondary metabolites produced and their antifungal and feeding deterrent properties. I am interested in continuing to investigate the production of ecologically active biomolecules by benthic cyanobacteria along the coast of Florida and also in expanding this research to other HAB species.
2. Production of biomolecules by marine bacteria and their roles in mediating ecological interactions between higher organisms
Bacteria are prolific producers of bioactive compounds and, due technological advances, are becoming increasingly recognized as the true producers of compounds that were previously attributed to host organisms. It has long been thought that many coral and other invertebrate larvae settle in response to chemical cues produced by crustose coralline algae (CCA). As part of a collaboration between the Smithsonian Marine Station, Eckerd College, and Mote Marine Lab, I have recently discovered that a bacterium living on the surfaces of CCA produces the compound tetrabromopyrrole (TBP) that induces settlement in multiple coral species. The widespread activity of this compound among multiple coral species indicates that it may be an important factor in the reproductive cycle of many corals and makes this work particularly important for coral reef conservation. I am currently working to understand the prevalence of TBP on marine surfaces and to examine other ecological roles for this compound.
3. Effects of climate change/environmental stress on the production of ecologically important biomolecules
Coastal ecosystems are facing a number of environmental stressors including rising seawater temperatures, ocean acidification, and excess nutrients. These changes in the environment can impact the physiological processes of marine plants and micro-organisms causing changes in the amounts or types of bioactive compounds produced. During my graduate work, I discovered that turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) increases the amount of phenolic compounds it produces in response to a combination of salinity stress and disease. Phenolic compounds are important defensive metabolites in many seagrasses and changes in their production in response to stress could have implications for their health. I am interested in continuing to explore how environmental changes impact the production of bioactive compounds and what effects these changes have on ecological interactions.
Photo credit: R. Ritson-Williams
