Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) announced that McCaela Acord, a senior in the Marine Science, Safety, and Environmental Protection program, co-authored a research article published by the Phycological Society of America’s Journal of Phycology. The study, titled “Exploring the Phaeosphere: Characterizing the microbiomes of Phaeocystis antarctica colonies from the coastal Southern Ocean and laboratory culture,” investigates the bacterial communities associated with Phaeocystis antarctica, a key phytoplankton species in the Southern Ocean.
The research compares microbiomes found in natural colonies collected from the coastal Southern Ocean with those that develop in laboratory cultures over time. This work sheds light on how bacteria interact within large ocean ecosystems and how these relationships change when organisms are removed from their natural habitat. Understanding these interactions is crucial for predicting how polar marine ecosystems may respond to environmental changes.
Acord contributed to the 11-author study through her work at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She noted that participating in this research was a rewarding experience, highlighting the complexity of polar ecosystems. Dr. Heather Burton, MSSEP Department Chair, praised Acord’s contributions as reflective of the high caliber of students at MMA, emphasizing the impact undergraduates can have on advancing marine science through experiential learning.
James McKenna, dean of Undergraduate Studies at MMA, called Acord’s achievement a testament to her dedication and the collaborative opportunities MMA fosters with institutions like Woods Hole. The study’s publication by a respected scientific organization underscores the importance of undergraduate research in addressing critical questions about marine ecosystems.
For more information, visit Massachusetts Maritime Academy at https://www.maritime.edu.
