Marine microbial ecology

Anni did her DPhil at the University of Oxford with Professor Dr. Alex D. Rogers. As a part of the Ocean Research and Conservation group. She is very interested in marine ecosystem health especially the microbial part play in the intricate balance of the marine food web.

The ecology and distribution of microbial communities is not very well known. There is lacking knowledge on which part of the ecosystem microbes effect and how, how they change with environmental changes and which impact this could have on the future. In this respect I try my best to gather as much knowledge and data about marine microorganisms as possible!

Marine Biodiversity Observation Network

Marine biodiversity is a key indicator of ocean health and an integrated picture of what is happening to marine biodiversity will provide marine resource managers and policymakers with tools to address threats ranging from invasive species to climate change.

The Florida Keys sanctuary is one of three demonstration marine biological observation networks. The other two networks are Monterey Bay and the Channel Islands.

We go on research cruises monthly to collect data on the marine biodiversity and the physical and chemical variables forcing this ecosystem.

Seamounts

Currently I am researching general microbial ecology and biogeography of seamounts in the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO). I am particularly interested in how microbial (especially Bacterial and Archaeal) communities are comprised and how they change with environmental and biological factors, and how they affect other biological and elemental constituents of the marine ecosystem.

My research is based on samples collected from a research cruise in November-December 2011. Samples were collected across transects of five different seamounts. In addition, water samples were collected for flow cytometry (total count of microbes) and particulate organic matter (POM) analysis.

Sample sites were located in sub-Antarctic water, sub-tropical water and the convergence zone in between as well as at different depth horizons above seamounts. The study region thus covers areas where there are marked differences in water column structure (e.g. tidal-induced upwelling), structure of metazoan pelagic communities and probably associated biological processes (e.g. predation). This region therefore presents an opportunity to test the influence of water masses of contrasting temperature and local oceanographic setting on microbial community structure.

The flow cytometry counts and the POM data have been published in deep-sea research part II:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967064515004300

Hydrothermal vents

Microbial communities of hydrothermal vents have become increasingly studied as technological advancements have made these extreme ecosystems more accessible. However, there are still notable gaps regarding detailed distribution of organisms between and within these extreme habitats. Here we explore two black smoker hydrothermal vent fields in the Southern hemisphere, one at the Southwest Indian Ridge (Longqi), the other at the East Scotia Ridge (E2).

Penguin microbiomes

Penguin gut microbiomes are important for the general understanding of penguin ecology. We collect faeces swabs from penguins and sequence the total microbiome from the penguin guts across several colonies and species.