Research Terms
Keywords
Conservation Genetics Coral Reef Ecology Evolutionary Biology Genomics Marine Biology Microalgae Molecular Biology Symbiodiniaceae Symbiodinium Symbiosis Taxonomy
| Ends | Title |
| 04-2024 |
Quantifying the efficacy of coral reef restoration from
Quantifying the efficacy of coral reef restoration from
Sea of Change Foundation
|
| 12-2023 |
Investigating the genomic basis of key performance trait
Investigating the genomic basis of key performance trait
National Science Foundation
|
| 02-2023 |
Whole-genome DNA methylation survey of Symbiodiniaceae d
Whole-genome DNA methylation survey of Symbiodiniaceae d
Phycological Society of America
|
| 05-2022 |
Collaborative Research: Building consensus around quanti
Collaborative Research: Building consensus around quanti
National Science Foundation
|
| 03-2022 |
Epigenetic regulation of transcript variants involved in
Epigenetic regulation of transcript variants involved in
Phycological Society of America
|
Corals are marine animals related to jellies and anemones. In the tropics, corals often associate with photosynthetic micro-algae that live within their cells, and build large reef structures that support tremendous biodiversity. The algae provide much of the energy corals use for daily function and skeletal growth. Without the algae, reefs wouldn’t be as productive, as multidimensional, or as colorful as they are today. Unfortunately, rising sea surface temperatures cause the symbiosis between corals and micro-algae to break down in a process called ‘bleaching.’ Bleached corals are more susceptible to disease and death, and recent bleaching episodes have decimated coral populations worldwide.
Our lab uses genomic techniques to examine the ecology and evolution of coral-algal symbioses. We are particularly interested in processes related to the establishment, maintenance, and breakdown of intracellular associations, and how these interactions may change as corals adapt to a changing world. Our research involves diving on reefs in the field, maintaining coral and algal cultures to experiment with in the laboratory, and translating our findings into guidance for coral restoration and conservation practitioners in Florida and beyond.
Voolstra CR, Quigley K, Davies SW, Parkinson JE, Peixoto RS, Aranda M, Baker AC, Barno A, Barshis DJ, Benzoni F, Bonito V, Bourne D, Buitrago-Lopez C, Bridge T, Chan CX, Combosch DJ, Craggs J, Frommlet JC, Herrera S, Quattrini AM, Rothig T, Reimer JD, Rubio-Portillo E, Suggett D, Villela H, Ziegler M, Sweet M (2021) Consensus guidelines for advancing coral holobiont genome and specimen voucher deposition. Frontiers in Marine Science doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.701784
Fujiwara Y, Kawamura I, Reimer JD, Parkinson JE (2021) Zoantharian endosymbiont dynamics during a stress event. Frontiers in Microbiology 12:674026 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.674026
Parker KE, Ward J, Eggleston E, Fedorov E, Parkinson JE, Dahlgren C, Cunning R (2020) Characterization of a thermally tolerant Orbicella faveolata reef in Abaco, The Bahamas. Coral Reefs 39:675-685 doi: 10.1007/s00338-020-01948-0
Tivey TR, Parkinson JE, Weis VW (2020) Host and symbiont cell cycle coordination is mediated by symbiotic state, nutrition, and partner identity in a model cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. mBio 11:e02626-19 doi: 10.1128/mBio.02626-19
Kavousi J, Denis V, Sharp V, Reimer JD, Nakamura T, Parkinson JE (2020) Unique combinations of coral host and algal symbiont genotypes reflect intraspecific variation in heat stress responses among colonies of the reef-building coral, Montipora digitata. Marine Biology 167:1-5 doi: 10.1007/s00227-019-3632-z
Tivey TR, Parkinson JE, Mandelare PE, Adpressa DA, Peng W, Dong X, Mechref Y, Weis VM, Loesgen S (2020) N-linked surface glycan biosynthesis, composition, inhibition, and function in cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Microbial Ecology 80:223-236 doi: 10.1007/s00248-020-01487-9
Parkinson JE, Baker AC, Baums IB, Davies SW, Grottoli AG, Kitchen SA, LaJeunesse TC, Matz MV, Miller MW, Shantz AA, Kenkel CD (2020) Molecular tools for coral reef restoration: beyond biomarker discovery. Conservation Letters e12687 doi: 10.1111/conl.12687
Corals are marine animals related to jellies and anemones. In the tropics, corals often associate with photosynthetic micro-algae that live within their cells, and build large reef structures that support tremendous biodiversity. The algae provide much of the energy corals use for daily function and skeletal growth. Without the algae, reefs wouldn’t be as productive, as multidimensional, or as colorful as they are today. Unfortunately, rising sea surface temperatures cause the symbiosis between corals and micro-algae to break down in a process called ‘bleaching.’ Bleached corals are more susceptible to disease and death, and recent bleaching episodes have decimated coral populations worldwide.
Our lab uses genomic techniques to examine the ecology and evolution of coral-algal symbioses. We are particularly interested in processes related to the establishment, maintenance, and breakdown of intracellular associations, and how these interactions may change as corals adapt to a changing world. Our research involves diving on reefs in the field, maintaining coral and algal cultures to experiment with in the laboratory, and translating our findings into guidance for coral restoration and conservation practitioners in Florida and beyond.
Speaker Topics
Conservation Genetics Coral Reef Ecology Evolutionary Biology Genomics Marine Biology Microalgae Molecular Biology Symbiodiniaceae Symbiodinium Symbiosis Taxonomy
Target Audiences
Fee Range
University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue SCA 110 Tampa, FL 33620
