A5057394866- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Marine and fisheries research
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Gut microbiota and health
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Plant and fungal interactions
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health
University of Hong Kong
2017-2025
Chinese University of Hong Kong
2024-2025
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
2024
University at Buffalo, State University of New York
2012-2023
University of South Florida
2023
Center for Global Health
2023
Istituto di Scienze Marine del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
2020-2022
New York University
2019
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
2013
Coastal marine environments are one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth. However, anthropogenic impacts exert significant pressure coastal biodiversity, contributing to functional shifts in microbial communities and human health risk factors. relatively little is known about impact eutrophication—human-derived nutrient pollution—on biosphere. Here, we tested hypothesis that benthic diversity function varies along a pollution gradient, with focus pathogens antibiotic resistance genes....
Within microeukaryotes, genetic variation and functional sometimes accumulate more quickly than morphological differences. To understand the evolutionary history ecology of such lineages, it is key to examine diversity at multiple levels organization. In dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae, which can form endosymbioses with cnidarians ( e.g ., corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellyfish), other marine invertebrates e.g. , sponges, molluscs, flatworms), protists foraminifera), molecular...
Coastal marine ecosystems are integral in providing numerous ecosystem functions and services. However, intense chronic anthropogenic stressors often impact surrounding highly urbanized, densely populated coastal megacities. The associated reduction of water quality biodiversity these potentially erodes provision While there is general consensus that greater supports a multitude functions, evidence from real-world settings lacking. In this study, we evaluated the influence on benthic fish...
Abstract Shallow water anthozoans, the major builders of modern coral reefs, enhance their metabolic and calcification rates with algal symbionts. Controversy exists over whether these anthozoan–algae associations are flexible lifetimes individual hosts, promoting acclimative plasticity, or closely linked, such that hosts symbionts co‐evolve across generations. Given diversity morphological plasticity many host species, cryptic variation within either partner could potentially confound...
Abstract Host species often support a genetically diverse guild of symbionts, the identity and performance which can determine holobiont fitness under particular environmental conditions. These symbiont communities are structured by complex set potential interactions, both positive negative, between host symbionts among symbionts. In reef‐building corals, stable associations with specific common, we hypothesize that this is partly due to ecological mechanisms, such as succession competition,...
Abstract In the face of global warming and unprecedented coral bleaching, a new avenue research is focused on relatively rare algal symbionts their ability to confer thermal tolerance host by association. Yet, just one many physiological attributes inherent diversity symbiodinians, result millions years competition niche partitioning. Here, we revealed that among cocultured symbiodinians alters nutrient assimilation compound production with species-specific responses. For Cladocopium...
Abstract Microbial communities in marine sediments contribute significantly to the overall health and resiliency of ecosystems. However, increased human disturbance undermines biodiversity and, hence, natural functionality provided by sediments. Here, through a deep shotgun metagenomics sequencing sediment microbiome COI metabarcoding benthic metazoans, we demonstrate that >50% microorganisms’ metazoan’s taxonomic variation can be explained specific chemical pollution indices....
Many dinoflagellate microalgae of the genus Symbiodinium form successful symbioses with a large group metazoans and selected protists. Yet knowledge growth kinetics these endosymbionts their ecological evolutionary implications is limited. We used Bayesian biphasic generalized logistic model to estimate key parameters five strains cultured Symbiodinium, S. microadriaticum (cp-type A194; strain 04-503), CassKB8), minutum B184; Mf 1.05b.01.SCI.01), psygmophilum B224; 11.05b.01) trenchii D206;...
Within microeukaryotes, genetic and functional variation sometimes accumulate more quickly than morphological differences. To understand the evolutionary history ecology of such lineages, it is key to examine diversity at multiple levels organization. In dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae, which can form endosymbioses with cnidarians (e.g., corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellies), other marine invertebrates sponges, molluscs, flatworms), protists foraminifera), molecular data have been...
Populations of marine organisms on coral reef islands (CRI) are connected in space and time by seawater that transports propagules plants, animals, algae. Yet, despite this reality, it is often assumed routine replenishment populations CRI supported locally-sourced (hereafter, larvae). Following large disturbances, however, distantly-sourced larvae from less disturbed within a regional meta-population likely to be important for local population recovery, but evaluating the roles locally-...
For many coral species, the obligate association with phylogenetically diverse algal endosymbiont species is dynamic in time and space. Here, we used controlled laboratory inoculations of newly settled, aposymbiotic corals ( Orbicella faveolata ) two cultured symbiont Symbiodinium microadriaticum S. minutum to examine role identity on growth, survivorship, thermal tolerance holobiont. We evaluated these data context photophysiology for 9 months post‐settlement also during a 5‐d period...
Concomitant to the decline of tropical corals caused by increasing global sea temperatures is potential removal barriers species range expansions into subtropical and temperate habitats. In these habitats, must tolerate lower annual mean temperature, wider temperature ranges minimum temperatures. To understand ecophysiological traits that will impact geographical boundaries, we monitored populations five coral within a marginal habitat used year in situ measures model thermal performance...
Abstract Reef-building corals owe their evolutionary success to symbiosis with unicellular algae (Symbiodiniaceae). However, increasingly frequent heat waves lead coral mass-bleaching events and pose a serious threat the survival of reef ecosystems. Despite significant efforts, mechanistic understanding coral–algal functioning, what leads its breakdown can prevent it, remains incomplete. The main obstacles are low amenability experimental handling and, owing obligatory nature, difficulties...
Abstract Background Symbionts provide a variety of reproductive, nutritional, and defensive resources to their hosts, but those can vary depending on symbiont community composition. As genetic techniques open our eyes the breadth diversity within myriad microbiomes, symbiosis research has begun consider what ecological mechanisms affect identity relative abundance species how this structure impacts resource exchange among partners. Here, we manipulated in hospite density ratio two coral...
Abstract Increasing temperatures on a global scale and locally deteriorating water quality affect coral distribution health. Mechanisms that convey environmental robustness are poorly understood have been attributed to the host, algal symbionts, prokaryotic associates. Flexibility of host’s (bacterial) microbiome has suggested contribute robustness, but underlying mechanisms unclear. We therefore utilised vastly contrasting gradient present along Hong Kong’s highly urbanised coastline...
Abstract Aim The capacity for poleward range expansions beyond the tropics in corals hinges on ecophysiological constraints and resulting responses to climatic variability. We aimed determine how future warming will affect coral habitat suitability at edges of these foundational species Northwest Pacific. Location Methods generated models integrating thermal physiological adapted extreme seasonality Hong Kong, specifically minimum annual temperature proportion time annually spent seasonal...
Scleractinian corals are increasingly subjected to local stressors combined with global changes. In subtropical areas, exhibit metabolic plasticity and resilience in response variability extremes temperature, salinity, light; however, the physiological mechanisms by which acclimate or adapt these changing conditions remain disputed. We assessed status of coral Platygyra carnosa during a two-year situ monitoring survey. To obtain rates (respiration photosynthesis), photochemical efficiency...
Both human populations and marine biodiversity are concentrated along coastlines, with growing conservation interest in how these ecosystems can survive intense anthropogenic impacts. Tropical urban centres provide valuable research opportunities because megacities often adjacent to mega-diverse coral reef systems. The Pearl River Delta is a prime exemplar, as it encompasses one of the most densely populated impacted regions world located just northwest Coral Triangle. However, spatial...
Abstract Fish and fishery products are among the most highly traded commodities in world, over‐exploitation continues to threaten biodiversity sustainability of global stocks. The state knowledge for many fish species is limited by current monitoring techniques, which rely on labour‐intensive visual or genetic surveys individual specimens (often at inconsistent coarse taxonomic resolution). To address need more efficient methods that effectively monitor trade, we developed a novel...