Jul 15, 2020
Dr. Ritchie has studied corals
and associated microbes for over 25 years and currently is focused
on
marine bacteria that live within corals.
She explains for listeners
Kim B. Ritchie is an associate
professor of genetics and prokaryotic cell biology at the
University of South Carolina Beaufort. She tells listeners how her
interest in marine bacteria and microbes in the ocean began as an
undergrad studying corals and continues in her current
research.
She explains that corals are animals that have an obligate
symbiosis with a single-celled photosynthetic organism called a
dinoflagellate. These algae live inside the cells of the corals and
give the reefs their colors. Temperature increases cause the corals
to expel this algae, leading to what is called coral bleaching and
eventually death.
She is studying the symbiosis of
bacteria and coral and the protective nature of this microbiome.
She began by studying the microbial shifts by looking at what type
of bacteria are present under normal non-stressful conditions and
how that shifts as temperature increases, when more of a pathogenic
ecosystem develops. She goes into more detail of why this happens,
namely that these beneficial bacteria produce antibiotics that
deter the harmful marine bacteria and microbes in the ocean.
She noticed in warmer months the corals lose that antibiotic
bacteria and gain pathogenic bacteria. She explains her study
methods in more detail as well as the implications, and describes
other studies she's working on regarding ancient
marine microbes such as the healing properties of sharks and
rays.
For more, see her website
at
www.uscb.edu/academics/academic_departments/school-of-science-and-mathematics/natural_sciences/research/kim-ritchie.html.
Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK