Aleksandra Smorygo 

Sasha's research

Labyrinthula associated with mangrove leaf litter as a possible causative agent of seagrass wasting disease in Southeastern Australia

Seagrass beds are significant marine ecosystems facing multiple stresses nowadays. Seagrass wasting disease (SWD) is considered to be responsible for massive seagrass declines in the past, and still remains a serious threat to seagrass ecosystems worldwide. Its causative agent Stramenopile protist Labyrinthula spp. is associated not only with seagrass plants, but also floating mangrove leaf litter. Considering Labyrinthula ecology, it is not yet determined if these organisms are facultative or obligate, host-specific or general pathogens. Another important aspect is the possible ability of Labyrinthula to benefit in host-pathogen interactions under the influence of sea temperature rise within the climate change.

Working together with Doctor Stacey Trevathan-Tackett and Associate Professor Craig Sherman, we are going to evaluate the susceptibility of seagrasses in Southeastern Australia to Labyrinthula infection under stress conditions. In particular, we are addressing three research questions: (1) if Labyrinthula decaying mangrove leaf litter can cause SWD; (2) if seawater temperature rise increases seagrass susceptibility to SWD; (3) if seagrass microbiome promotes intensification of SWD in seagrasses. Since most of the SWD studies were performed in the Northern Hemisphere, we declare the necessity of investigation of SWD ecology in Australia for better ecosystem management and seagrass meadows restoration in southern regions.