I am interested in the relationship between sponges and their microbial communities. In particular, how each are involved in metabolising both organic and inorganic nutrients within the holobiont. My research primarily focuses on shallow water tropical sponges in Curacao.

I use a variety of techniques to study host/microbial relationships, but my main focus is the use of NanoSIMS technology, which allows us to track the uptake and fate of labelled nutrients by the sponge at the subcellular level. This cutting-edge technique affords  novel insights into the dynamics of food processing within the sponge holobiont. By highlighting the role microbes play in sponge metabolism, we can better understand how sponges as a whole contribute to the cycling of limiting nutrients on coral reefs.

Techniques used:

• Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (NanoSIMS)
• Host-microbe cell separation
• Fatty acid analysis
• Stable isotope probing (13C and 15N)

   

   

Hudspith, M., Reichelt-Brushett, A., Harrison, P.L. 2017. Factors affecting the toxicity of trace metals to fertilization success in broadcast spawning marine invertebrates: a review. Aquatic Toxicology 184:1-13

Reichelt-Brushett, A., Hudspith, M. 2016. The effects of metals of emerging concern on the fertilization success of gametes of the tropical scleractinian coral Platygyra daedalea. Chemosphere 150:398-406.

Hauton, C., Hudspith, M., Dean, L. 2015. Future prospects for prophylactic immune stimulation in crustacean aquaculture – the need for improved metadata to address immune system complexity. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 48:360-368.