SEMINAR: OI Seminar Series - Bonnie Laverock

Bonnie Laverock - Research Associate

Title: All Creatures Great and Small

Abstract: Marine sediments harbour some of the most diverse microbial communities on earth. In coastal zones in particular, these communities fulfil key functions such as the degradation of organic matter and the recycling of nutrients that fuel primary production. However, microorganisms don't exist in isolation; the presence of meio- and macrofauna on or in the sediment can significantly alter both the diversity and activity of the microbial community. Specifically, functions such as nitrification and denitrification can increase tenfold in the presence of prolific sediment reworkers ("bioturbators"), while the degradation rates of hydrocarbon pollutants may also be enhanced. In this seminar, I present my PhD research into microbial community structure, function and diversity in bioturbated coastal sediments, both now and in future "acidified" oceans. I will discuss how my results may help us to understand the more general drivers behind microbial diversity; and will begin to explore the wider ecological question of how diversity links to function ... and whether it matters! Finally, I will briefly describe my plans for my UWA-AIMS-CSIRO Fellowship project, based locally in Cockburn Sound and in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.