John Joseph Kerigan III

I study sponges and their relationships with their symbiont microbes, which can account for up to 40% of their total body mass. I want to understand the differences between the microbial communities within sponges of polluted areas vs. more pristine areas and see if sponge microbial communities can be alternated/transplanted to aid in sponge community restoration after die-offs, and "prep" sponges for future stressors.