Research

	Enlarge ImageLobate Porites sp. coral in waters off Ofu, American Samoa.
	A humpback whale breaches off the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

Coral-associated microorganisms

Corals harbor a complex assemblage of microorganisms including eukaryotic dinoflagellates, bacteria, archaea and viruses.  The extent that particular organisms within these groups contribute to coral health is an important area of research.  Our research on coral microbiomes is focused on questions that advance understanding about how microorganisms (Bacteria and Archaea) contribute to maintaining a coral’s health, play a role in the development of disease, and are affected by altered environmental conditions.

Projects:

Fundamental Coral-Microbial Associations
It is generally believed that healthy corals harbor microorganisms that reside in their tissues, but little microscopy-baesd evidence exists to support this idea.  We are combining DNA sequencing survey, bioinformatics, and microscopy-based tools to identify microorganisms that reside within corals from reefs in the Florida Keys. We hope to identify microbial groups that may be fundamental to the survival of the coral holobiont.
Funding: NSF Biological Oceanography

Micronesian Coral-Microbes
Across the Micronesian Islands, we are studying the community structure and functional roles of microorganisms associated with the major reef-building corals in Micronesia.
Funding: WHOI Access to the Sea/Dalio Family Foundation

Investigating the Role of Endozoicomonas Associated with Corals
In collaboration with Chris Voolstra at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), we are investigating associations between Red Sea corals and Endozoicomonas, a group of bacteria associated with diverse species of corals from worldwide reefs.  Matthew Neave is a post-doc on this project, and will be working on this project at both WHOI and KAUST.
Funding: KAUST-WHOI Special Academic Partnership Fellows

Reef water bacterioplankton dynamics

The microbial ecology of coral reefs is increasingly recognized as an important factor contributing to the health of globally threatened coral reef ecosystems, but we know little about bacterioplankton dynamics in this environment.  I am interested in how water quality dynamics in a coral reef environment, especially organic matter loading from natural and anthropogenic sources, affect bacterioplankton communities.

Microbial Biogeochemistry of Micronesian Reef Waters
Although the seawater surrounding corals is generally thought to be 'oligotrophic', there are actually relatively few measurements of the nutrients and microbial biogeochemical parameters of these waters.  On a cruise along the Micronesian Islands, we are studying the microbial biogeochemistry of reef waters.
Collaborators: Alyson Santoro (U of Maryland)
Funding: WHOI Access to the Sea/Dalio Family Foundation

Marine mammal microbiomes

Recent studies on the microbes associated with our human bodies (our 'microbiome') suggest that these microbial communities play vital and active roles in maintaining our health. The health of marine mammals is of particular concern, with many of these species residing in anthropogenically impacted coastlines, and frequently stranding on beaches.  We are studying the virtually unexplored microbiomes of marine mammals to learn more about their health.

Humpback whale skin microbiome
Skin microbiomes are of particular interest because the skin is directly exposed to the seawater, and may the first surface to exhibit health-related alterations. In collaboration with marine mammal scientists, we are studying skin-associated bacteria from diverse populations of humpback whales.
Collaborators: Jooke Robbins (Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies), Adam Pack (U of Hawaii, Hilo), David Mattila, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Tracy Mincer (WHOI)
Funding: WHOI Marine Mammal Center