DR. LINDSEY KANE DEIGNAN

2011-2017           Ph.D. in Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington

2004-2007           Bachelors of Science in Marine Science/Biology, University of Tampa

My primary research merges coral reef ecology with microbiology to gain a better understanding of the functional resilience of coral reef ecosystems.  I employ microbiome manipulation to bioengineer corals that will be better equipped to survive against climate change. More broadly I study the role of the microbiome in ecosystem processes, including nutrient cycling of sponges or in artificial systems such as aquaculture facilities.

Deignan, L.K., McDougald, D. (2021) Differential response of the microbiome of Pocillopora acuta to reciprocal transplantation within Singapore. Microbial Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-021-01793-w.

Ho, X.Y., Katermeran, N.P., Deignan, L.K., Phyo, M.Y., Ong, J.F.M., Goh, J.X., Ng, J.Y., Tun, K., Tan, L.T. (2021) Assessing the Diversity and Biomedical Potential of Microbes Associated with the Neptune’s Cup Sponge, Cliona patera. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12:631445.

Fong, J., Deignan, L.K., Bauman, A.G., McDougald, D., Todd, P.A. (2020) Influence of direct contact and water-mediated interactions with macroalgae on coral health and microbiome. Frontiers in Marine Science 6:831.

Deignan, L.K., Lopez-Legentil, S., Pawlik, J. (2018) Evidence for shifting genetic structure among Caribbean giant barrel sponges in the Florida Keys. Marine Biology, 165: 106.

Deignan, L.K., Pawlik, J.R., Erwin, P. M. (2018) Agelas Wasting Syndrome alters microbial symbiont communities of the Caribbean brown tube sponge, Agelas tubulata. Microbial Ecology, 76:459-466

Deignan, L.K., Pawlik, J.R. (2016) Demographics of the Caribbean brown tube sponge on Conch Reef, Florida Keys, and a description of Agelas wasting syndrome (AWS). Proceedings of the 13^th International Coral Reef Symposium:pp. 72-84.

Pawlik, J.R., Deignan, L.K. (2015) Cowries graze verongid sponges on Caribbean reefs. Coral Reefs, 34: 663.

Deignan, L.K., Pawlik, J.R. (2015) Perilous proximity: Does the Janzen-Connell hypothesis explain the distribution of giant barrel sponges on a Florida coral reef? Coral Reefs, 34: 561-567.