Bacterial disease and bleaching of chemically defended marine algae

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Disease has emerged as a major factor in the ecology and management of natural marine communities. Moreover, the impact of disease in marine ecosystems is linked to environmental changes such as global warming. Much of the research in this area has focused on tropical systems (coral reefs). However, in temperate reef systems seaweeds are the major habitat formers. This proposal investigates how environmental factors (temperature, UV) mediate bacterial disease of seaweeds, key temperate organisms. The proposal thus adresses National Research Priority 1: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, and in particular the Priority Goals 'Sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity' and 'Responding to climate change and variability'.