Macquarie University

Graduate Student, Biological Sciences

PhD Student

Thesis Title: Phytoplankton diversity in coastal waters of New South Wales, Australia.

About

I have been actively engaged in the development, conduct and communication of biological science, especially in the area of phytoplankton for the past twenty years.  I have worked in academia, government and also as a private consultant.  I have undertaken research into phytoplankton/harmful algal blooms along the NSW coastline with particular emphasis at the Port Hacking long term coastal station. I also assist public authorities, industry, universities and the community in relation to toxic/nuisance algal identification in NSW.  I also maintain a database of marine and estuarine algal blooms along the NSW coastline.

My Ph D research project aims to develop an improved understanding of the biodiversity of phytoplankton at the Port Hacking 100m station and how this may have changed over the past thirty years in relation to climate change. 

Human illness associated with harmful algae is due to the naturally occurring toxins which are transferred to humans through the consumption of seafood products. One of the very common, highly toxic microalgae occurring in Sydney coastal waters is the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia (producers of the extremely toxic domoic acid).  Species belonging to this genus are not all are toxic and microscope examination to species level is not always conclusive.  This group will be examined for molecular analysis/genetics with the aim of resolving the taxonomy of this group in Australia.