The rapidly expanding blooms
The brown algae Sargassum grows naturally in the Sargasso Sea, where it provides habitat for fish, turtles, and other marine life. However, in the past 10 years, Sargassum has dramatically expanded its distribution, and its overgrowth is now an economic and a health problem for the Caribbean, Gulf and East US coast.
Algae, just like plants and us, need associations with beneficial bacteria to grow. Our lab identified mechanisms underpinning these microbial associations. We have also detected several bacteria that are potential human pathogens growing on coastal Sargassum.
Algae, just like plants and us, need associations with beneficial bacteria to grow. Our lab identified mechanisms underpinning these microbial associations. We have also detected several bacteria that are potential human pathogens growing on coastal Sargassum.
Allie Stiffler showing undergraduate students how to plate Sargassum samples for quantification of vibrios.
Many species of vibrio are potential human pathogens. Our lab is monitoring the relationship between Sargassum, vibrio, and temperature in the coast of Miami.
Many species of vibrio are potential human pathogens. Our lab is monitoring the relationship between Sargassum, vibrio, and temperature in the coast of Miami.