A5041806878- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Water Quality Monitoring Technologies
- Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
University of Otago
2020-2023
Cawthron Institute
2020
University of Auckland
2020
RuBisCO (ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) is one the most abundant enzymes on Earth. Virtually all food webs depend its activity to supply fixed carbon. In aerobic environments, struggles distinguish efficiently between CO2 and O2. To compensate, organisms have evolved convergent solutions concentrate around active site. The genetic engineering of such inorganic carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) into plants could help facilitate future global security for humankind....
Abstract Background Cyanobacteria are the major prokaryotic primary producers occupying a range of aquatic habitats worldwide that differ in levels salinity, making them group interest to study one unresolved conundrums microbiology which is what distinguishes marine microbe from freshwater one? We address this question using ecogenomics picocyanobacteria (cluster 5) have recently evolved inhabit geographically disparate salinity niches. Our analysis made possible by sequencing 58 new...
Picocyanobacteria (Pcy) are important yet understudied components of lake foodwebs. While phylogenetic studies isolated strains reveal a high diversity freshwater genotypes, little is known about abiotic drivers associated with Pcy in different lakes. Due to methodological limitations, most previous assess potential using total cell abundances as response, often conflicting and inconsistent results. In the present study, we explored how picocyanobacterial communities respond environmental...
Freshwater picocyanobacteria (Pcy) are important yet understudied components of lake ecosystems. Most previous studies have relied on cell abundances to assess Pcy dynamics in largely oligotrophic lakes, while little is known about spatial diversity and across different types. In the present study we assessed horizontal-spatial abundance community structure two contrasting (oligotrophic hypertrophic) New Zealand lakes using epifluorescence microscopy 16S rRNA metabarcoding. composition...
ABSTRACT Freshwater fish are in a perilous state with more than 30% of species considered critically endangered. Yet significant ecological and methodological complexities constrain our ability to determine how disturbances impacting native communities. We review current methods used assess the responses communities, especially fish, disturbances, focus on lakes. These include contemporary population surveys, manipulative experimental approaches, paleolimnological approaches Indigenous...
Freshwater picocyanobacteria form the base of microbial food webs in many lakes worldwide but have received less attention than other phytoplankton. Little is known about their potential response to environmental changes such as increased nutrient loading and climate change, due partly lack available cultured sequenced strains. Here, we isolated 25 monoclonal picocyanobacterial strains from 6 New Zealand with contrasting trophic states. The use MLA medium instead BG11 proved highly...
Scientists estimate that we share this planet with millions of other species! But how do know which species are out there and can keep track them? Unfortunately, humans driving lots to extinction disrupting important natural ecosystems. It is now more than ever understand present in different places the roles they play their With knowledge, figure protect organisms habitats. Exciting new technology has made it possible identify using DNA have released into environment—this known as...
Introduced trout can induce trophic cascades, however, a lack of pre-introduction data limits knowledge on their impact in many lakes. Traditional paleolimnological approaches have been used to study historic species changes, but until recently these restricted taxa with preservable body-parts. To explore the ecosystem effects Salmo trutta (brown trout) introduction an oligotrophic lake Aotearoa-New Zealand, we multi-marker sedimentary environmental DNA (sedDNA) approach coupled pigments...