Dr Penelope Ajani
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.
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.
less
InterestsView All (8)
Uploads
Books
Papers
our study unambiguously revealed three species, L. danicus, Leptocylindrus convexus and Leptocylindrus aporus from 34 clonal isolates from SE Australia, with the majority (82%) of strains identified as L. danicus. Furthermore, we investigated the growth, auxospore and resting spore formation of the most commonly occurring species, L. danicus, under four temperature and irradiance scenarios. The diatom reached maximum growth rates (μMax, 1.71 divisions day−1) under relatively high temperatures (25°C) and light conditions (100 μmol photons m−2 s−1) between days 2 and 7 of the experiment. When temperature and light regimes were reduced (18°C, 50 μmol photons m−2 s−1) auxospores and resting spores were formed. The rapid growth rate and potential of L. danicus to form auxospores are important survival mechanisms in coastal upwelling systems and likely to result in the continued success of this species in Eastern Australia. The ecological, physiological and evolutionary response of this significant diatom group to further ocean warming should be the focus of future investigations.
our study unambiguously revealed three species, L. danicus, Leptocylindrus convexus and Leptocylindrus aporus from 34 clonal isolates from SE Australia, with the majority (82%) of strains identified as L. danicus. Furthermore, we investigated the growth, auxospore and resting spore formation of the most commonly occurring species, L. danicus, under four temperature and irradiance scenarios. The diatom reached maximum growth rates (μMax, 1.71 divisions day−1) under relatively high temperatures (25°C) and light conditions (100 μmol photons m−2 s−1) between days 2 and 7 of the experiment. When temperature and light regimes were reduced (18°C, 50 μmol photons m−2 s−1) auxospores and resting spores were formed. The rapid growth rate and potential of L. danicus to form auxospores are important survival mechanisms in coastal upwelling systems and likely to result in the continued success of this species in Eastern Australia. The ecological, physiological and evolutionary response of this significant diatom group to further ocean warming should be the focus of future investigations.