Nicole Webster
Principal Research Scientist
Natural Resources
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
Australia
Biography
Dr. Nicole Webster is a Principal Research Scientist within the Healthy and Resilient GBR Program where I lead research into the roles of microbial and viral symbionts in invertebrate health and adaptation to changed environments.I obtained a PhD in 2001 which investigated the microbial ecology of a GBR sponge, focussing on the stability of the symbiotic associations over different latitudinal and stress gradients. Between 2001-05 I undertook postdoctoral research at the University of Canterbury / Gateway Antarctica. This research investigated the utility of microbial symbionts as biomarkers for environmental stress in the Antarctic marine ecosystem and facilitated the development of effective diagnostic tools for measuring sub-lethal stress in Antarctic marine biota. In 2005 I commenced a research scientist position at AIMS undertaking research that assesses the impact of environmental stress on model invertebrate symbioses (primarily sponges and their microbial symbionts). During this period I also undertook research into the role of microorganisms as inducers for settlement and metamorphosis of coral reef invertebrates.
Research Interest
Ecology
Publications
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Webster NS (2017) Conceptual and Methodological Advances for Holobiont Research. Environmental Microbiology Reports 9(1):30-32.
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Bennett H, Altenrath C, Woods L, Davy S, Webster NS, Bell JJ (2016) Interactive effects of temperature and pCO2 on sponges: from the cradle to the grave. Global Change Biology 23(5): 2031-2046
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Astudillo-Garcia C, Bell J, Webster NS, Glasl B, Jompa J, Montoya JM, Taylor MW (2017) Evaluating the core microbiota in complex communities: a systematic investigation. Environmental Microbiology 19(4): 1450-1462.
