A5037945943- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Oil Spill Detection and Mitigation
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Marine and fisheries research
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- Marine Toxins and Detection Methods
- Connexins and lens biology
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Coastal and Marine Management
Australian Institute of Marine Science
2012-2023
James Cook University
2007
The box jellyfish, Chironex fleckeri, is the largest and most dangerous cubozoan jellyfish to humans. It produces potent rapid-acting venom its sting causes severe localized systemic effects that are potentially life-threatening. In this study, a combined transcriptomic proteomic approach was used identify C. fleckeri proteins elicit toxic in envenoming.More than 40,000,000 Illumina reads were de novo assemble ∼ 34,000 contiguous cDNA sequences 20,000 predicted based on homology searches,...
Jellyfish venoms are rich sources of toxins designed to capture prey or deter predators, but they can also elicit harmful effects in humans. In this study, an integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approach was used identify putative their potential role the venom scyphozoan jellyfish Chrysaora fuscescens. A de novo tentacle transcriptome, containing more than 23,000 contigs, constructed analysis C. fuscescens toxins. From a total 163 proteins identified proteome, 27 were classified as...
The box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri produces extremely potent and rapid-acting venom that is harmful to humans lethal prey. Here, we describe the characterization of two C. proteins, CfTX-A (∼40 kDa) CfTX-B (∼42 kDa), which were isolated from using size exclusion chromatography cation exchange chromatography. Full-length cDNA sequences encoding -B a third putative toxin, CfTX-Bt, subsequently retrieved tentacle library. Bioinformatic analyses revealed new toxins belong small family cnidarian...
Abstract Risks posed by oil spills to coral reefs are difficult evaluate, partially due the absence of studies that adequately assess toxicity relevant reef species. Here we experimentally tested acute condensate, representing a fraction light crude oil, ( Acropora tenuis ) and sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile larvae. The metamorphosis larvae was inhibited at total petroleum aromatic hydrocarbon (TPAH) concentrations water accommodated fractions (WAF) as low 103 μg l −1 , similar detected in...
The nematocyst is a complex intracellular structure unique to Cnidaria. When triggered discharge, the explosively releases long spiny, tubule that delivers an often highly venomous mixture of components. box jellyfish, Chironex fleckeri, produces exceptionally potent and rapid-acting venom its stings humans cause severe localized systemic effects are potentially life-threatening. In effort identify toxins could be responsible for serious health caused by C. fleckeri related species, we used...
Exposure to polycyclic aromatic carbons (PAHs) poses a growing risk coral reefs due increasing shipping and petroleum extraction in tropical waters. Damaging effects of specific PAHs can be further enhanced by the presence ultraviolet radiation, known as phototoxicity. We tested phototoxic anthracene phenanthrene on larvae scleractinian Acropora tenuis absence UVA (320-400 nm). Activity superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme was reduced while exposure did not have any effect. Gene expression...
Abstract Coral reefs are at risk of exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons from shipping spills and uncontrolled discharges during extraction. The toxicity can substantially increase in the presence ultraviolet radiation (UVR), therefore shallow coral reef environments may be particularly hazardous species. Here we investigated sensitivity larvae ( Acropora tenuis ) dissolved heavy fuel oil (HFO) diesel absence UVR. Larval settlement success decreased with increasing concentrations HFO,...
During an oil spill, shallow, tropical coral reefs are likely to be simultaneously exposed high intensities of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which can exacerbate the toxicity petroleum oils. While successful recruitment corals is critical for reef recovery following disturbances, sensitivity several early life stages hydrocarbons has not been investigated, particularly UVR co-exposure. Here we present first dataset on relative three (gametes, embryos and planula larvae) in a model broadcast...
Oil spill responders require information on the absolute and relative toxicities of chemical dispersants to relevant receptor species assess their use in response. However, little toxicity data are available for tropical marine including reef-building corals. In this study, we experimentally assessed sub-lethal five larvae coral Acropora millepora over three short exposure periods (2, 6 24 h) reflecting real-world response scenario durations. Inhibition larval settlement increased rapidly...
Exposure from the dissolved-phase and through food-chains contributes to bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in organisms such as fishes copepods. However, very few studies have investigated accumulation PAHs corals. Information on dietary uptake contribution corals is especially limited. Here, we used Cavity-Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) investigate rates a 13C-labeled PAH, phenanthrene, Acropora millepora over 14 days. Our experiment involved three treatments...
Successful reproduction and larval dispersal are important for the persistence of marine invertebrate populations, these early life history processes can be sensitive to pollution. Coal is emerging as a contaminant interest due proximity ports shipping lanes coral reefs. To assess potential hazard this contaminant, gametes, newly developed embryos, larvae juveniles Acropora tenuis were exposed range coal leachate, suspended coal, smothering treatments. Fertilisation was most reproductive...
Rising CO2 levels, associated climatic instability, freshwater scarcity and diminishing arable land exacerbate the challenge to maintain food security for fast growing human population. Although coal-fired power plants generate large amounts of emissions wastewater, containing environmentally unsafe concentrations metals, they ensure energy security. Nitrogen (N2)-fixation by cyanobacteria eliminate nitrogen fertilization costs, making them promising candidates remediation waste metals from...
Toxicity thresholds for dissolved oil applied in tropical ocean risk assessments are largely based on the sensitivities of temperate and/or freshwater species. To explore suitability these habitats we experimentally determined toxicity eight species a partially weathered gas condensate, target lipid model (TLM) to predict fresh and condensates compared with predictions. The experimental condensate-specific hazard concentration (HC5) was 167 μg L-1 total aromatic hydrocarbons (TAH),...