Uncovering the microbial ecology of Australia's coasts: Friends next-door or enemies at the gate?

沿海栖息地的健康和功能是由丰富的海洋微生物群落调节的，这些微生物履行基本的生态系统服务。然而，一些微生物可以周期性地破坏沿海栖息地的生物地球化学平衡，而另一些微生物则是导致人类疾病的危险病原体。人为影响可能是沿海微生物“好”和“坏”平衡的间歇性变化的基础，但这些变化的机制和动态尚不清楚。该项目将联合包括微流体学和生态基因组学在内的尖端分析工具，重新定义我们对澳大利亚海岸微生物学的理解，为保护我们的水生后院和保护我们的健康提供革命性的新见解。

The health and function of coastal habitats is mediated by an abundant community of marine microbes, which perform essential ecosystem services. However, some microbes can periodically disrupt the biogeochemical balance of coastal habitats, while others are dangerous pathogens that cause human illness. Anthropogenic impacts may underpin episodic shifts in the balance of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ coastal microbes, but the mechanisms and dynamics of these shifts are undefined. This project will unite cutting-edge analytical tools, including microfluidics and ecogenomics, to redefine our understanding of the microbiology of the Australian coast, providing transformative new insights for preserving our aquatic backyard and protecting our health.