Associate Professor Ziggy Marzinelli
School of Life and Environmental Sciences
My research focuses on understanding the processes that generate, maintain and impact marine ecosystems. I use this information to develop solutions to environmental problems. I integrate ecological theory and experiments with cutting-edge molecular analyses to understand the mechanisms that cause species’ declines and to restore degraded habitats.
Host-microbiome interactions in marine ecosystems
Humans rely on ecosystem goods and services provided by the ocean. Thus, understanding how marine ecosystems function and how to manage them is crucial. Microorganisms comprise the bulk of the diversity and biomass in the ocean, but prior to the recent revolution in environmental gene sequencing technologies (‘omics’) many of the key concepts and questions in modern ecology could simply not be addressed for microbes. Despite this technological advancement, the integration between studies of microorganisms and the well-established theory and practice of “macrobial” ecology remains a fundamental challenge. A key question is: Are ecological principles for microbial communities similar to those of higher organisms, or are they somehow fundamentally different? In this context, my research aims at bridging the disparate fields of molecular microbiology and benthic ecology, focusing on host-microbiome interactions. This approach is necessary in order to understand the ecology and function of “holobionts” (host plus their microbiome) that form the biogenic structure of coastal ecosystems, such as seaweeds, seagrasses and corals, because impacts on the interaction between these hosts and their associated microbiome can cascade throughout an entire ecosystem. Critically, such approach can be used to build resilience of these key holobionts in the face of environmental change.
Kelp forest ecology and restoration
Large brown seaweeds (macroalgae; "kelp") form extensive underwater forests that underpin biodiversity and key ecosystem functions and services on temperate rocky reefs worldwide. These productive forests are, however, declining globally due to multiple human impacts. My research aims at understanding the ecology of kelp forests in order to provide solutions. An example of this is my work on crayweed forests.
‘Crayweed’ (Phyllospora comosa) is an important habitat-forming alga that disappeared from the Sydney coastline in the early 1980’s, possibly due to poor water quality. Despite significant improvements in water quality since the 1990’s, crayweed has not re-established. This project – a.k.a. ‘Operation Crayweed’ – aims to determine the ecological processes and interactions that influence colonisation and survival of crayweed in order to restore crayweed forests and the biodiversity and functions they support.
Urban ecology
Most people live on the coast and that is where most interactions between humans and marine ecosystems occur, and thus where most impacts on marine systems occur. My research aims at understanding the ecological processes that drive biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in urbanised coastlines. The main focus is on effects of urbanisation on key habitat-forming organisms such as kelps as they underpin biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
SUPERVISION
PhD students
Georgina Wood (PhD candidate)Genetic diversity and ecological restoration of underwater forests(jointly supervised with A/Prof. A. Vergés; co-supervised by Prof. M. Coleman)
Shannen Smith (PhD candidate)The role of biotic interactions in understanding the future of tropicalised communities(jointly supervised with A/Prof. A. Vergés)
Lana Kajlich (PhD candidate)Engaging the community in ecological restoration projects(co-supervised with A/Prof. A. Vergés, Prof. P. Steinberg and Dr A. Campbell)
Jiasui Li (PhD candidate) Microbial symbiosis in marine macroalgae (co-supervised with A/Prof. S. Egan and Prof. T. Thomas)
Rick Leong (PhD candidate) Reef connectivity (jointly supervised with A/Prof. P. Gribben; co-supervisors: Prof. A. Poore and Dr A. Bugnot)
Tahsin Khan (PhD candidate) Horizontal gene transfer (co-supervised with Prof. T. Thomas and A/Prof. S. Egan)
Zhiguang "Galaxy" Qiu (PhD 2017, UNSW)Functional responses of kelp and its microbiome to environmental stress(jointly supervised with Prof. P. Steinberg and Dr A. Campbell)
Ana Bugnot (PhD 2014, University of Sydney)The ecological interactions between native fauna and the invasive isopod Cirolana harfordi(co-supervised with Prof. R.A. Coleman and A/Prof. W. Figuera)
Honours students
Madelaine Langley (Honours candidate)The role of host-associated microbiomes in mediating herbivory(jointly supervised with A/Prof. A. Vergés)
Joanne Young (BSc Honours 2018)Microbiome effects on the resilience of habitat-forming hosts(jointly supervised with A/Prof. S. Egan)
Adam Camilleri (BSc Honours 2017)The impacts of sea urchins and structural complexity on the restoration of crayweed (jointly supervised with A/Prof. A. Vergés)
Nigel Coombes (BSc Honours 2016)The influence of herbivores on the restoration of habitat-forming crayweed and associated epifaunal communities(jointly supervised with A/Prof.A. Vergés)
Mathew Skye (BSc Honours 2014)A decade of decline of the kelp Ecklonia radiata in the Solitary Island Marine Park(co-supervised with A/Prof. A. Vergés, Dr A. Campbell and Dr H. Malcom)
Martin Leong (BSc Honours 2013)Marine invertebrate communities and the restoration of missing underwater forests in Sydney(co-supervised with A/Prof. A. Vergés and Dr A. Campbell)
ARC Discovery grant (DP180104041) The effect of microbial diversity vs function on marine holobionts
ARC Linkage grant (LP160100836) Restoration of Sydney's missing underwater forests
F1000 Associate Faculty Member
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution
Review Editor, Frontiers in Marine Science
Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA)
Ecological Society of America (ESA)
International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME)
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Eureka Prize for Environmental Research finalist 2017, Australian Museum |
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Green Globe Award 2017, Natural Environment, Office of Environment and Heritage |
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Australian Government 2006 Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship |
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The University of Sydney 2006 International Postgraduate Award |
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Universidad de Buenos Aires ‘Beca Estímulo 2005’ Undergraduate Award |
(Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) Nanyang Technological University & National University of Singapore) Visiting Lecturer |
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| Enhancing Conservation Strategies for Posidonia australis Seagrass Meadows in New South Wales: An Ecological Approach.s | Federico FACCHIN |
| Microbial Community Sensitivity Resistance and Resilience under Interacting Environmental Stressors. | Rose FUGGLE |
| Frameworks for crayweed restoration in the context of climate change | Catalina MUSRRI FUENZALIDA |
| Securing a future for kelp forests in a changing ocean | Rachel VENHUIZEN |
Publications
Books
- Hawkins, S., Mumby, P., Sharples, J., Smith, I., Swearer, S., Todd, P., Russell, B., Lemasson, A., Allcock, A., Byrne, M., Marzinelli, E., et al (2023). Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review , Volume 61. United Kingdom: CRC Press. [More Information]
Book Chapters
- Verges, A., Crawford, M., Kajlich, L., Marzinelli, E., Soderlund, A., Steinberg, P., Turpin, J., Wood, G., Campbell, A. (2020). Operation Crayweed: Merging art and science to restore underwater forests. In Elspeth Probyn, Kate Johnston, Nancy Lee (Eds.), Sustaining Seas: Oceanic Space and the Politics of Care, (pp. 237-252). London: Rowman and Littlefield.
- Bigatti, G., Marzinelli, E., Cledon, M., Penchaszadeh, P. (2004). Gonadic cycle of Pseudechinus magellanicus (Philippi, 1857) (Echinoidea: Temnopleuridae) from Patagonia, Argentina. In T. Heinzeller (Eds.), Echinoderms: Munchen, (pp. 11-14). United States: Taylor and Francis. [More Information]
Journals
- Caley, A., Marzinelli, E., Byrne, M., Mayer Pinto, M. (2024). Artificial light at night and warming impact grazing rates and gonad index of the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 291(2021), 20240415. [More Information]
- McGrath, A., Lema, K., Egan, S., Wood, G., Vadillo, S., Kjelleberg, S., Steinberg, P., Marzinelli, E. (2024). Disentangling direct vs indirect effects of microbiome manipulations in a habitat-forming marine holobiont. n p j Biofilms and Microbomes, 10(1). [More Information]
- Khan, T., Song, W., Nappi, J., Marzinelli, E., Egan, S., Thomas, T. (2024). Functional guilds and drivers of diversity in seaweed-associated bacteria. FEMS Microbes, 5. [More Information]
Report
- Layton, C., Coleman, M., Marzinelli, E., Steinberg, P., Swearer, S., Verges, A., Wernberg, T., Johnson, C. (2019). Restoring kelp habitat in Australia.
- Hedge, L., Johnston, E., Ahyong, S., Birch, G., Booth, D., Creese, B., Doblin, M., Figueira, W., Pinto, M., Hutchings, P., et al (2014). Sydney Harbour: A systematic review of the science 2014.
Research Reports
- Hill, N., Althaus, F., Rees, T., Jordan, A., Colquhoun, J., Schonberg, C., Case, M., Scott, F., Edgar, G., Marzinelli, E., Friedman, A., Toohey, L., et al (2013). CATAMI Classification Scheme for scoring marine biota and substrata in underwater imagery, Version 1, (pp. 1 - 102). Australia: CATAMI.
2024
- Caley, A., Marzinelli, E., Byrne, M., Mayer Pinto, M. (2024). Artificial light at night and warming impact grazing rates and gonad index of the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 291(2021), 20240415. [More Information]
- McGrath, A., Lema, K., Egan, S., Wood, G., Vadillo, S., Kjelleberg, S., Steinberg, P., Marzinelli, E. (2024). Disentangling direct vs indirect effects of microbiome manipulations in a habitat-forming marine holobiont. n p j Biofilms and Microbomes, 10(1). [More Information]
- Khan, T., Song, W., Nappi, J., Marzinelli, E., Egan, S., Thomas, T. (2024). Functional guilds and drivers of diversity in seaweed-associated bacteria. FEMS Microbes, 5. [More Information]
2023
- Vadillo, S., Wood, G., Tiong, H., Lema, K., Mayer-Pinto, M., Lauro, F., Kjelleberg, S., Bulleri, F., Steinberg, P., Marzinelli, E. (2023). Effect of seaweed canopy disturbance on understory microbial communities on rocky shores. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10. [More Information]
- Vadillo, S., Hurd, C., Britton, D., Bennett, E., Steinberg, P., Marzinelli, E. (2023). Effects of temperature and microbial disruption on juvenile kelp Ecklonia radiata and its associated bacterial community. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10. [More Information]
- Fuggle, R., Gribben, P., Marzinelli, E. (2023). Experimental evidence root-associated microbes mediate seagrass response to environmental stress. Journal of Ecology. [More Information]
2022
- Li, J., Majzoub, M., Marzinelli, E., Dai, Z., Thomas, T., Egan, S. (2022). Bacterial controlled mitigation of dysbiosis in a seaweed disease. The ISME Journal, 16(2), 378-387. [More Information]
- Nappi, J., Goncalves, P., Khan, T., Majzoub, M., Grobler, A., Marzinelli, E., Thomas, T., Egan, S. (2022). Differential priority effects impact taxonomy and functionality of host-associated microbiomes. Molecular Ecology. [More Information]
- Eger, A., Marzinelli, E., Christie, H., Fagerli, C., Fujita, D., Gonzalez, A., Hong, S., Kim, J., Lee, L., McHugh, T., et al (2022). Global kelp forest restoration: past lessons, present status and future directions. Biological Reviews. [More Information]
2021
- Dittami, S., Arboleda, E., Auguet, J., Bigalke, A., Briand, E., Cárdenas, P., Cardini, U., Decelle, J., Engelen, A., Eveillard, D., Marzinelli, E., et al (2021). A community perspective on the concept of marine holobionts: current status, challenges, and future directions. PeerJ, 9, e10911. [More Information]
- Critchley, L., Bugnot, A., Dafforn, K., Marzinelli, E., Bishop, M. (2021). Comparison of wrack dynamics between mangrove forests with and without seawalls. Science of the Total Environment, 751, 141371. [More Information]
- Song, W., Wemheuer, B., Steinberg, P., Marzinelli, E., Thomas, T. (2021). Contribution of horizontal gene transfer to the functionality of microbial biofilm on a macroalgae. The ISME Journal, 15(3), 807-817. [More Information]
2020
- Eger, A., Vergés, A., Choi, C., Christie, H., Coleman, M., Fagerli, C., Fujita, D., Hasegawa, M., Kim, J., Mayer-Pinto, M., Marzinelli, E., et al (2020). Financial and Institutional Support Are Important for Large-Scale Kelp Forest Restoration. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 1-7. [More Information]
- Koch, H., Germscheid, N., Freese, H., Noriega-Ortega, B., Lucking, D., Berger, M., Qiu, G., Marzinelli, E., Campbell, A., Steinberg, P., et al (2020). Genomic, metabolic and phenotypic variability shapes ecological differentiation and intraspecies interactions of Alteromonas macleodii. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-14. [More Information]
- Layton, C., Coleman, M., Marzinelli, E., Steinberg, P., Swearer, S., Verges, A., Wernberg, T., Johnson, C. (2020). Kelp forest restoration in Australia. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 1-12. [More Information]
2019
- Trevathan-Tackett, S., Sherman, C., Huggett, M., Campbell, A., Laverock, B., Hurtado-McCormick, V., Seymour, J., Firl, A., Messer, L., Ainsworth, T., Marzinelli, E., et al (2019). A horizon scan of priorities for coastal marine microbiome research. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 3, 1509-1520. [More Information]
- Wernberg, T., Coleman, M., Babcock, R., Bell, S., Bolton, J., Connell, S., Hurd, C., Johnson, C., Marzinelli, E., Shears, N., et al (2019). Biology and ecology of the globally significant kelp Ecklonia radiata. Oceanography and Marine Biology: an annual review, 57, 265-324. [More Information]
- Qiu, Z., Coleman, M., Provost, E., Campbell, A., Kelaher, B., Dalton, S., Thomas, T., Steinberg, P., Marzinelli, E. (2019). Future climate change is predicted to affect the microbiome and condition of habitat-forming kelp. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 286(1896), 1-10. [More Information]
2018
- Marzinelli, E., Qiu, Z., Dafforn, K., Johnston, E., Steinberg, P., Mayer-Pinto, M. (2018). Coastal urbanisation affects microbial communities on a dominant marine holobiont. n p j Biofilms and Microbomes, 4(1), 1. [More Information]
- Leong, R., Marzinelli, E., Low, J., Bauman, A., Lim, E., Lim, C., Steinberg, P., Guest, J. (2018). Effect of Coral-Algal Interactions on Early Life History Processes in Pocillopora acuta in a Highly Disturbed Coral Reef System. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5, 1-11. [More Information]
- Ferrari, R., Marzinelli, E., Ayroza, C., Jordan, A., Figueira, W., Byrne, M., Malcom, H., Williams, S., Steinberg, P. (2018). Large-scale assessment of benthic communities across multiple marine protected areas using an autonomous underwater vehicle. PloS One, 13(3), 1-20. [More Information]
2017
- Thompson, L., Sanders, J., McDonald, D., Amir, A., Ladau, J., Locey, K., Prill, R., Tripathi, A., Gibbons, S., Marzinelli, E., et al (2017). A communal catalogue reveals Earth's multiscale microbial diversity. Nature, 551(7681), 457-463. [More Information]
- Brzozowska, A., Maassen, S., Rong, R., Benke, P., Lim, C., Marzinelli, E., Janczewski, D., Teo, S., Vancso, G. (2017). Effect of Variations in Micropatterns and Surface Modulus on Marine Fouling of Engineering Polymers. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 9(20), 17508-17516. [More Information]
- Turney, C., Fogwill, C., Palmer, J., van Sebille, E., Thomas, Z., McGlone, M., Richardson, S., Wilmshurst, J., Fenwick, P., Marzinelli, E., et al (2017). Tropical forcing of increased Southern Ocean climate variability revealed by a 140-year subantarctic temperature reconstruction. Climate of the Past, 13(3), 231-248. [More Information]
2016
- Guest, J., Tun, K., Low, J., Verges, A., Marzinelli, E., Campbell, A., Bauman, A., Feary, D., Chou, L., Steinberg, P. (2016). 27 years of benthic and coral community dynamics on turbid, highly urbanised reefs off Singapore. Scientific Reports, 6, 36260. [More Information]
- Fogwill, C., van Sebille, E., Cougnon, E., Turney, C., Rintoul, S., Galton-Fenzi, B., Clark, G., Marzinelli, E., Rainsley, E., Carter, L. (2016). Brief communication: Impacts of a developing polynya off Commonwealth Bay, East Antarctica, triggered by grounding of iceberg B09B. The Cryosphere, 10(6), 2603-2609. [More Information]
- Marzinelli, E., Leong, M., Campbell, A., Steinberg, P., Verges, A. (2016). Does restoration of a habitat-forming seaweed restore associated faunal diversity? Restoration Ecology, 24(1), 81-90. [More Information]
2015
- Bugnot, A., Coleman, R., Figueira, W., Marzinelli, E. (2015). Community-level impacts of the invasive isopod Cirolana harfordi. Biological Invasions, 17(4), 1149-1161. [More Information]
- Marzinelli, E., Campbell, A., Valdes, E., Verges, A., Nielsen, S., Wernberg, T., de Bettignies, T., Bennett, S., Caporaso, J., Thomas, T., et al (2015). Continental-scale variation in seaweed host-associated bacterial communities is a function of host condition, not geography. Environmental Microbiology, 17(10), 4078-4088. [More Information]
- Saxena, G., Marzinelli, E., Naing, N., He, Z., Liang, Y., Tom, L., Mitra, S., Ping, H., Joshi, U., Reuben, S., et al (2015). Ecogenomics reveals metals and land-use pressures on microbial communities in the waterways of a megacity. Environmental Science & Technology, 49(3), 1462-1471. [More Information]
2014
- Bugnot, A., Coleman, R., Figueira, W., Marzinelli, E. (2014). Patterns of the Non-Indigenous Isopod Cirolana harfordi in Sydney Harbour. PloS One, 9(1), 1-7. [More Information]
- Marzinelli, E., Campbell, A., Verges, A., Coleman, M., Kelaher, B., Steinberg, P. (2014). Restoring seaweeds: does the declining fucoid Phyllospora comosa support different biodiversity than other habitats? Journal of Applied Phycology, 26(2), 1089-1096. [More Information]
- Hedge, L., Johnston, E., Ahyong, S., Birch, G., Booth, D., Creese, B., Doblin, M., Figueira, W., Pinto, M., Hutchings, P., et al (2014). Sydney Harbour: A systematic review of the science 2014.
2013
- Hill, N., Althaus, F., Rees, T., Jordan, A., Colquhoun, J., Schonberg, C., Case, M., Scott, F., Edgar, G., Marzinelli, E., Friedman, A., Toohey, L., et al (2013). CATAMI Classification Scheme for scoring marine biota and substrata in underwater imagery, Version 1, (pp. 1 - 102). Australia: CATAMI.
2012
- Marzinelli, E. (2012). Artificial structures influence fouling on habitat-forming kelps. Biofouling, 28(3), 339-349. [More Information]
- Marzinelli, E., Underwood, A., Coleman, R. (2012). Modified habitats change ecological processes affecting a non-indigenous epibiont. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 446, 119-129. [More Information]
- Marzinelli, E., Burrows, M., Jackson, A., Mayer Pinto, M. (2012). Positive and Negative Effects of Habitat-Forming Algae on Survival, Growth and Intra-Specific Competition of Limpets. PloS One, 7(12), 1-9. [More Information]
2011
- Johnston, E., Marzinelli, E., Wood, C., Speranza, D., Bishop, J. (2011). Bearing the burden of boat harbours: Heavy contaminant and fouling loads in a native habitat-forming alga. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(10), 2137-2144. [More Information]
- Marzinelli, E., Underwood, A., Coleman, R. (2011). Modified Habitats Influence Kelp Epibiota via Direct and Indirect Effects. PloS One, 6(7), e21936-1-e21936-6. [More Information]
2009
- Marzinelli, E., Zagal, C., Chapman, M., Underwood, A. (2009). Do modified habitats have direct or indirect effects on epifauna? Ecology, 90(10), 2948-2955. [More Information]
2008
- Marzinelli, E., Penchaszadeh, P., Bigatti, G. (2008). Egg strain in the sea urchin Pseudechinus magellanicus (Echinoidea: Temnopleuridae). Revista de Biologia Tropical, 56(Suppl 3), 335-339. [More Information]
- Bigatti, G., Marzinelli, E., Penchaszadeh, P. (2008). Seasonal reproduction and sexual maturity in Odontocymbiola magellanica (Neogastropoda, Volutidae). Invertebrate Biology, 127(3), 314-326. [More Information]
2006
- Marzinelli, E. (2006). Reproduction of the sea urchin Pseudechinus magellanicus (Echinoidea : Temnopleuridae) from Golfo Nuevo, Argentina. Bulletin of Marine Science, 79(1), 127-136.
2004
- Bigatti, G., Marzinelli, E., Cledon, M., Penchaszadeh, P. (2004). Gonadic cycle of Pseudechinus magellanicus (Philippi, 1857) (Echinoidea: Temnopleuridae) from Patagonia, Argentina. In T. Heinzeller (Eds.), Echinoderms: Munchen, (pp. 11-14). United States: Taylor and Francis. [More Information]
Selected Grants
2024
- Using plant-sediment feedbacks to aid seagrass restoration in the face of climate change., Marzinelli E, Jongen R, Ecological Society of Australia/Student Research Grant
- Self-supervised feature learning for rapid processing of marine imagery, Williams S, Liu T, Marzinelli E, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP)
2023
- Do root microbiomes control seagrass response to environmental stress?, Gribben P, Marzinelli E, Waycott M, Dafforn K, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP)
If you are interested in doing research on marine ecology and/or microbial ecology, please come and talk to me.
In the media
Some recent examples of TV, newspaper and radio appearances:
TV
ABC News (12/8/2017); Coast Australia (Foxtel/BBC); Scope (kids science show, Network Ten, 7/5/2016); Channel 9 News (3/12/2015); ABC News (3/12/2015)
ABC News(12/8/2017)
Daily Telegraph(17/1/2016)
BBC News(24/12/2015)
Sydney Morning Herald(3/12/2015)
Clarín (Argentina; 14/1/2014)
Radio
Northside Radio (9&13/2/2018); ABC Radio Sydney (14/8/2017); ABC Radio Hobart (9/12/2015); ABC 702 Sydney (10/8/2013); ABC Victoria (12/8/2013)