Date of Award
2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biological and Environmental Sciences (MSBES)
Specialization
Cell and Molecular Biology
Department
Cell & Molecular Biology
First Advisor
Bethany Jenkins
Abstract
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are projected to increase in frequency and severity with climate change, especially in coastal areas which face serious public health risks, ecological damage, and economic losses when HABs occur. The neurotoxin-producing diatom genus, Pseudo-nitzschia, is a particularly concerning HAB group due to its ability to form high-density, toxic blooms in coastal areas such as bays and estuaries, and due to high toxin variability, which has both genetic and ecological influences. Pseudo-nitzschia HABs may be an emerging issue on the U.S. east coast, due to recent anomalous and toxic blooms that occurred in 2016 and 2017. This thesis studies the topic of harmful algal blooms (HABs) from two disparate angles; microbial ecology and science communication. By doing so, this work offers a framework for scientists to holistically address the unique challenges presented by HABs to ecosystem and societal health, by blending rigorous academic research with thoughtful and inclusive engagement with relevant communities and stakeholders. The first manuscript is a research study that combines culture experiments on Pseudo-nitzschia microbiomes and environmental data on plankton-associated bacteria to identify domoic acid (DA)-associated bacteria and investigate impacts of DA on microbial community structure. By linking the controlled, strain-specific insights gained from culture studies with ecologically relevant environmental data, this work identified putative relationships between Pseudo-nitzschia algal toxin and community ecology in understudied east coast systems, and identified bacterial genera that significantly associate with DA. The second chapter is a rhetorical analysis, which assesses the effectiveness of science communication (SciComm) activities that were conducted alongside the presented research study. Studies of environmental perturbations like HABs generate important knowledge which is relevant to the livelihoods of stakeholders, such as aqua-culturists and natural resource managers, and to the health of coastal communities. This analysis evaluates the inclusiveness and effectiveness of linear and contextual SciComm strategies through the theoretical framework of rhetorical ecology and emphasizes actionable ways to improve accessibility and inclusivity in SciComm. Altogether, this thesis takes a novel and holistic approach to understanding the ecological and communal nuances of marine harmful algal blooms, through advancing both scientific knowledge and communication efficacy.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Maurer, Julie, "APPLYING COMMUNITY ECOLOGY PRINCIPLES TO ASSESS IMPACTS OF THE HARMFUL ALGAL GENUS, PSEUDO-NITZSCHIA, ON MARINE BACTERIOPLANKTON AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES" (2024). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2469.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2469