DNA reveals the past and future of coral reefs
New DNA techniques are being used to understand how coral reacted to the end of the last ice age in order to better predict how they will cope with current changes to the climate. James Cook Univer
From 2005 to 2022, the main node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies was headquartered at James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland (Australia)
Abstract: Globally sea surface temperatures (SST) have risen 0.6 °C are forecast to continue to rise rapidly within the next 80 years. Models predict that as a result on increasing SST tropical coral reefs will reach annual bleaching thresholds over the coming decades. Understanding how corals respond to, and have the potential to overcome, environmental challenges will be enhanced by advancing our understanding of molecular and microbial processes. My research aims to integrate research on the molecular, cellular and microbial responses of corals into a greater understanding of how coral will respond to increasing sea surface temperatures over the coming decades. In this seminar I will outline recent research on 1) coral-bacteria interactions within niche microbial habitats; 2) the responses of the host-microbe interaction to thermal stress; and 3) the coral host stress response and cell death regulation under increasing thermal stress.
Biography: Tracy is a Senior Research Fellow with the Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University. Her research broadly focuses on the the molecular, cellular and micro biology of corals. Her research aims to understand the response of the coral holobiont to environmental stressors. Tracy received her doctorate from The University of Queensland in 2008, and has since held an ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship and Super Science Fellowship at James Cook University.
New DNA techniques are being used to understand how coral reacted to the end of the last ice age in order to better predict how they will cope with current changes to the climate. James Cook Univer
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