Dr Steph Gardner
School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Dr Stephanie Gardner is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, specialising in marine microbial ecology. Her research interests span both tropical and temperate reef ecosystems, and more recently, Antarctic benthic ecology.
Dr Gardner studies microorganisms, such as bacteria, in a range of organisms including corals, fish gastrointestinal tracts, invertebrates and algae. Her research also spans physiology and biochemistry of corals, particularly a sulfur compound called dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and how corals can use this compound as an antioxidant to protect themselves against changing environmental conditions which lead to coral bleaching. Steph is currently investigating bacteria in benthic habitats in Antarctica, to characterise the biodiversity and complexity in the world’s most remote continent.
Steph’s lifelong passion for the marine environment extends to supporting and inspiring women and the younger generation to actively pursue careers in STEMM.
Dr Gardner is part of an Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative, Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future. Within the biodiversity theme, Steph is leading research projects on marine microbial ecology.
Superstars of STEM Program, Science and Technology Australia (2021-22)
Homeward Bound Program (2019)
Secretary, Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS)
Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA)
Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS)
Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship – Highly Commended, Australian Academy of Science (2021 & 2022)
SIMS Auxilium Foundation Kickstarter prize (2021)
Raymond E. Purves Foundation Fellowship, Australian Museum’s Lizard Island Research Station (2020)
Women Divers Hall of Fame (WDHOF) - Advanced Dive Training Grant (2018)
PADI Foundation Research Grant, PADI Foundation, California, USA (2016)
Danielle Simmons Research Award, Australian Coral Reef Society, AUS (2016)
Publications
Journals
- Gardner, S., Leggat, W., Ainsworth, T. (2023). The microbiome of the endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae in corals exposed to thermal stress. Hydrobiologia, 850(17), 3685-3704. [More Information]
- Lewis, R., Davy, S., Gardner, S., Rongo, T., Suggett, D., Nitschke, M. (2022). Colony self-shading facilitates Symbiodiniaceae cohabitation in a South Pacific coral community. Coral Reefs, 41.0 (5), 1433-1447. [More Information]
- Xue, L., Kieber, D., Masdeu-Navarro, M., Cabrera-Brufau, M., Rodríguez-Ros, P., Gardner, S., Marrasé, C., Simó, R. (2022). Concentrations, sources, and biological consumption of acrylate and DMSP in the tropical Pacific and coral reef ecosystem in Mo’orea, French Polynesia. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9.0. [More Information]
2023
- Gardner, S., Leggat, W., Ainsworth, T. (2023). The microbiome of the endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae in corals exposed to thermal stress. Hydrobiologia, 850(17), 3685-3704. [More Information]
2022
- Lewis, R., Davy, S., Gardner, S., Rongo, T., Suggett, D., Nitschke, M. (2022). Colony self-shading facilitates Symbiodiniaceae cohabitation in a South Pacific coral community. Coral Reefs, 41.0 (5), 1433-1447. [More Information]
- Xue, L., Kieber, D., Masdeu-Navarro, M., Cabrera-Brufau, M., Rodríguez-Ros, P., Gardner, S., Marrasé, C., Simó, R. (2022). Concentrations, sources, and biological consumption of acrylate and DMSP in the tropical Pacific and coral reef ecosystem in Mo’orea, French Polynesia. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9.0. [More Information]
- Gardner, S., Nitschke, M., O’Brien, J., Motti, C., Seymour, J., Ralph, P., Petrou, K., Raina, J. (2022). Increased DMSP availability during thermal stress influences DMSP-degrading bacteria in coral mucus. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9.0. [More Information]