Uncovering the hidden world of infra-red cyanobacteria: from coral reefs and ancient stromatolites to mangroves and Blue Mountains caves

Start year: 2025

Summary: This project aims to investigate the diversity, ecological roles and adaptations of NIR-photosynthetic cyanobacteria in a variety of Australian ecosystems, including coastal mangroves, and the World Heritage sites of the Great Barrier Reef, the Blue Mountains, and the ancient stromatolites of Shark Bay. Using advanced confocal imaging, microsensor technology, imaging fluorometry and micro-spectral detection techniques developed by the project team, we aim to uncover this hidden diversity, examine the key photosynthetic properties and measure metabolic processes in both natural and cultured samples, gaining hitherto undiscovered insight into the biology and biogeography of these unique cyanobacteria. The significance of this project lies in its potential to enhance our understanding of how NIR-cyanobacteria contribute to ecosystem processes such as primary productivity, carbon cycling, and ecosystem resilience, especially in light-limited environments. By revealing the taxonomic diversity and metabolic adaptations of these microorganisms, the project will shed light on how they function in extreme habitats, generating new knowledge about their importance for ecosystem resilience which can inform conservation and management strategies for these vulnerable and iconic ecosystems.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.