Dr Megan Jane Huggett. PhD (UNSW)
Postdoctoral Associate
Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology
P.O. Box 1346
Kaneohe, HI. 96744
Email: huggett@hawaii.edu
Ph: +1 808 236 7465
Fax: +1 808 236 7443
Research
My research focuses on marine microbial ecology. Currently I am involved with projects involving genome sequencing and annotation of several marine bacteria; isolation and cultivation of previously uncultivated bacteria associated with corals and phylogenetic analysis of planktonic microbial communities from Kaneohe Bay. I am also interested in the settlement and recruitment of marine invertebrates, and investigations of the interaction between marine invertebrates and bacterial biofilms. Broadly, my research encompasses larval development, larval settlement and recruitment, microbial community analysis, quantitative microbial analysis and plant-animal interactions. Past research interests include amphipod taxonomy and interactions between specialist amphipods and hosts.
Publications
Published:
Bishop, C.D., Huggett, M.J., Heyland, A, Hodin, J and Brandhorst, B.P. 2006. Interspecific variation in metamorphic competence in marine invertebrates: the significance for comparative investigations of regulatory systems. Society for Comparative and Integrative Biology. 46 (6): 662-682
Huggett, M.J., Williamson, J.E., de Nys, R., Kjelleberg, S. and Steinberg, P.D. 2006. Settlement of the common Australian sea urchin, Heliocidaris erythrogramma in response to bacteria from the surface of coralline algae. Oecologia 149: 604-619
Swanson, R.L., de Nys, R. Huggett, M.J., Green, J.K. and Steinberg, P.D. In situ quantification of a natural settlement cue and recruitment of the Australian sea urchin Hopneustes purpurascens. 2006. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 314: 1-14.
Huggett, M.J., King, C.K., Williamson, J.E. and Steinberg, P.D. Larval development and metamorphosis of the Australian Diadematid sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii and its ecological and commercial implications. 2005. Invertebrate Reproduction and Development. 47(3):197-204.
Huggett, M.J., Williamson, J.E., de Nys, R., and Steinberg, P.D. Settlement of larval blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra, in response to green and red macroalgae. 2005. Marine Biology. 147:1155-1163.
Watson, M.J., Lowry, J.K. and Steinberg, P.D. Revision of the Icillidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda), 2004. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 52(2):467-495.
Lowry, J.K. and Watson M.J. Revision of the Gammarellid group, with a new species from the Andaman Sea (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Melitidae), 2002. Phuket Marine Biological Centre Special Publication. 23 (1):197-212.
Poore, A.G.B., M.J. Watson, R. de Nys, J.K. Lowry and P.D. Steinberg, 2000. Patterns of host use among algal and sponge associated amphipods. Marine Ecology Progress Series 208: 183-196.
In preparation:
Huggett, M.J., Crocetti, G., Kjelleberg, S. and Steinberg, P.D. Field distribution of bacteria that induce settlement of the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma, and the distribution and recruitment of new recruits. (intended for Microbial Ecology)
Oral Presentations
Settlement and recruitment of Hydroides elegans to surfaces with difference wettabilities: surface effects or biofilm effects? Huggett, M.J., Nedved, B.T. and Hadfield, M.G. International Larval Biology Meeting, Oregon, 2006.
Invited Speaker: School of Aquaculture and Marine Biology, James Cook University, Larval settlement of the Australian blacklip abalone Haliotis rubra in response to red and green macroalgae. July 2004.
Bacteria from the surface of coralline algae induce settlement by larvae of the common sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma. Watson, M.J., Williamson, J.E., de Nys, R., Kjelleberg, S., Steinberg, P.D. Annual Conference of the Australian Marine Sciences Society, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. July, 2003
Bacteria from the surface of coralline algae induce settlement by larvae of the common sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma. Watson, M.J., Williamson, J.E., de Nys, R., Kjelleberg, S., Steinberg, P.D. 5th International Larval Biology Meeting, Vigo, Spain. September, 2002
Host specificity in marine amphipods. Poore, A. G. B. and Watson, M.J. 5th Invertebrate Biodiversity and Conservation Conference, Adelaide University, Australia, December 2001
Settlement of Haliotis rubra in response to marine algae. Watson, M.J., Williamson, J.E., de Nys, R., Steinberg, P.D. Abalone Enhancement and Ranching Workshop, Cronulla Fisheries Centre, Australia, August 2001
Settlement of Heliocidaris erythrogramma larvae in response to biofilms. Watson, M.J, Williamson, J.E., de Nys, R., Steinberg, P.D. Annual Conference of the Australian Marine Sciences Association, Townsville, Australia July, 2001
Professional Affiliations/Activities
Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) 2000 - present
Editor: AMSA Bulletin: 2004 – 2005
Federal Council Member: 2004 – 2005
Student council member: NSW AMSA sub-branch: 2003 - 2005
Organiser: NSW AMSA workshops
Statistics and Experimental Design – Sydney, May 2003
Scientific Writing – Brisbane, July 2003