Dr. Bettina Glasl

Coral reef ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots in our oceans. Symbiotic interactions of reef invertebrates, such as corals and sponges, with bacteria and archaea are critical to the health and resilience of coral reefs. During her joint PhD at James Cook University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Bettina began to explore the contribution of microbes to coral reef health. In recent years she has become particularly fascinated by the symbiotic interactions between marine sponges and ammonia-oxidizing archaea. Bettina's research combines field- and aquarium-based experiments with meta'omics, chemical imaging, and microscopy to unravel adaptations of ammonia-oxidizing archaea to a symbiotic lifestyle and their contribution to sponge health.