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Associate Professor Sophie Dove

Associate Professor

School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science

Affiliate Associate Professor

Global Change Institute
s.dove@cms.uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 57229

Overview

Sophie Dove obtained an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh, and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Sydney. She is presently an Associate Professor within the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Queensland, as well as a Chief Investigator within the Australia Research Council Centre for Excellence in Coral Reef Studies. Her research interests predominantly lie in the area of coral reef dynamics under climate change, and cover a range of organisms (eg. macro-algae, sponges and corals) that contribute to the carbonate balance of reefs. The goal of this research is to gain a broader understanding of how different combinations of elevated sea surface temperature and acidification may influence the coastal protective properties of shallow tropical reefs. Specific interests include understanding the potential trade-offs (or compromises) made by so called "coral winners" following recent warming associated with El nino events, or "super coral" that live in localised areas with highly fluctuating temperatures: Do these trade-offs associated with coral survival reduce energy expanded on key properties involved in skeletogenesis with the consequence that key services provided by coral reefs, or defining properties of a thriving reef, are undermined?

Research Interests

  • Photobiology of isolated reefs and their ability to withstand a range of future climate scenarios
    1) Photobiology of corals - How do host and symbiont (Symbiodininium) interact to provide a highly efficient organism that is able to both export energy in the form of mucus to other reef dwellers, and maintain high rate of calcification, despite significant rate of physical (wave) and biological erosion? a. Are some Symbiodinium more parasitic than others - potentially acting as mixotrophs/ facultative heterotrophs that are able to acquire organics from their hosts? Are mixotrophic Symbiodinium more common within corals found in less oligotrophic (nutrient enriched) environments? b. Effects of environment on coral skeletogenesis – Do corals, found in warm (but environmentally highly variable) pools of water common to lagoons or reef-flats, trade skeletal features (that may enable them to survive the intense wave activity at for-reefs) for storage compounds or proteins (that may enable survival over short periods when the environment inhibits efficient photosynthesis)? 2) Effect of future climate scenarios (temperature and/or acidification) on experimental reconstructed mini-reefs (mesocosms) maintained over 18 months? a) What are the singular and interactive effects of temperature and acidification on mesocosm net calcium carbonate acression by day and by night and through different seasons? How do different components of these ecosystems (macroalgae, sediment microbes, seacucumbers etc.) contribute to the carbonate balance of reefs under different climate scenarios? b) How do temperature, acidification and light affect the timing of observable bleaching and subsequent mortality for corals from distinct functional groups within these mesocosms? 3) How does the environment affect the bioerosion rate of sponges hosting Symbiodinium? a) Is the bioerosion rate directly solar powered by the translocation of photoassimilates to sponge cells involved in bioerosion, and/or does photosynthesis indirectly support bioerosion through the provision of oxygen to mitochondria located in these bioeroding cells? b) How do diffferent future climate scenarios affect the rate of bioerosion of these Symbiodinium hosting sponges?

Research Impacts

https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/tiny-coral-paradise-in-the-great-barrier-reef-reckons-with-climate-change

Qualifications

  • PhD Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney
  • MA Philosophy, University of Southern California
  • MA (Hons) Maths and Philosophy, University of Edinburgh

Publications

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Grants

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Supervision

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Publications

Book Chapter

  • Primary Production, Nutrient Recycling and Energy Flow through Coral Reef Ecosystems

    Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Dove, Sophia Gwendoline (2008). Primary Production, Nutrient Recycling and Energy Flow through Coral Reef Ecosystems. In Patricia Hutchins, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg and Michael John Kingsford (Ed.), The Great Barrier Reef: Biology, Environment and Management (pp. 59-73) Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing.

  • Vulnerability of reef-building corals on the Great Barrier Reef to climate change

    Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Anthony, K., Berkelmans, R., Dove, S., Fabricus, K., Lough, J., Marshall, P., van Oppen, M. J. H., Negri, A. and Willis, B. (2007). Vulnerability of reef-building corals on the Great Barrier Reef to climate change. In Johnson, J. E. and Marshall, P. A. (Ed.), Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef: A Vulnerability Assessment (pp. 271-308) Townsville, Queensland: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and The Australian Greenhouse Office.

  • The Cell Physiology of Coral Bleaching

    Dove, G. and Hoegh-Guldberg, I O (2006). The Cell Physiology of Coral Bleaching. In Jonathan T. Phinney, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Joanie Kleypas and William Skirving and Al Strong (Ed.), Coral Reefs and Climate Change: Science and Management (pp. 55-71) Washington, DC: American Geophysical Union.

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Effect of past and future Co2 emission scenarios and eutrophication on the common coral reef alga chnoospora implexa

    Bender, D., Diaz-Pulido, G. and Dove, S. (2013). Effect of past and future Co2 emission scenarios and eutrophication on the common coral reef alga chnoospora implexa. In: M. Dennis Hanisak, James A. Nienow and Akshinthala K. S. K. Prasad, Abstracts of Papers to be Presented at the 10th International Phycological Congress. 10th International Phycological Congress, Orlando, Florida, United States, (9-9). 4-10 August 2013.

  • How can dinoflagellates help in reducing coral reef vulnerability to environmental stress?

    Rosic, N. and Dove, S. (2013). How can dinoflagellates help in reducing coral reef vulnerability to environmental stress?. In: M. Dennis Hanisak, James A. Nienow and Akshinthala K. S. K. Prasad, Abstracts of Papers to be Presented at the 10th International Phycological Congress. 10th International Phycological Congress, Orlando, Florida, United States, (94-94). 4-10 August 2013.

  • Differential Regulation of Heat Shock Proteins and Cytochrome P450 Genes in Symbiotic Dinoflagellates Under Thermal Stress

    Rosic, Nela, Pernice, Mathieu, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Dove, Sophie (2011). Differential Regulation of Heat Shock Proteins and Cytochrome P450 Genes in Symbiotic Dinoflagellates Under Thermal Stress. In: Fifth European Phycological Congress: EPC5 Programme and Abstracts. 5th European Phycological Congress, Rhodes, Greece, (145-145). 04-09 September 2011. doi:10.1080/09670262.2011.613192

  • Transcriptomics of the coral-algal symbiosis in response to environmental stress

    Rosic, Nela, Kaniewska, Pauline, Ling, Edmund, Edwards, David, Dove, Sophie and Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove (2011). Transcriptomics of the coral-algal symbiosis in response to environmental stress. In: Fifth European Phycological Congress: EPC5 Programme and Abstracts. 5th European Phycological Congress, Rhodes, Greece, (97-97). 04-09 September 2011. doi:10.1080/09670262.2011.613190

  • The coral proto free ocean carbon enrichment system (CP-FOCE): Engineering and development

    Marker, Malcolm, Kline, D.I., Kirkwood, W.J., Headley, K., Brewer, P.G., Peltzer, E.T., Miard, T., Chai, A., James, M., Schneider, K., Silverman, J., Caldeiara, K., Koseff, J.R., Monismith, S., Opdyke, B., Dunbar, R., White, R., Dove, S. and Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (2010). The coral proto free ocean carbon enrichment system (CP-FOCE): Engineering and development. In: Proceedings of OCEANS 2010 IEEE. OCEANS 2010 IEEE - Sydney, Sydney, Australia, (1-10). 24-27 May 2010. doi:10.1109/OCEANSSYD.2010.5603603

  • All-protein chromophores isolated from corals, quench superoxide radicals

    Dove, S., Hoegh-Gulderg, O. and Lesser, M. (2006). All-protein chromophores isolated from corals, quench superoxide radicals. In: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology: Abstracts of the Annual Main Meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology, University of Kent at Canterbury, UK, 2nd-7th April, 2006. Annual Main Meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology, University of Kent at Canterbury, United Kingdom, (S132-S132). 2-7 April, 2006. doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2006.01.051

  • The molecular ecology of colour in reef-building corals

    Dove, S. G. and Hoegh-Guldberg, I.O. (2001). The molecular ecology of colour in reef-building corals. In: Australian Coral Reef Society, Magnetic Island International Hotel, Queensland, (). 6-9th July.

  • Dissolved free amino acid (DFAA) concentrations in Great Barrier Reef waters: the implications for the role of DFAA transport by Acanthaster planci.

    Dove, Sophie G., Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Siggaard, Dorthe (1997). Dissolved free amino acid (DFAA) concentrations in Great Barrier Reef waters: the implications for the role of DFAA transport by Acanthaster planci.. In: Proceedings of the Eight International Coral Reef Symposium. Eight International Coral Reef Symposium, Panama City, (1237-1241). 24-29 June 1996.

  • Convergence in the Photophore and Eye Lenses of the Midshipman Fish

    Dove, S, Horwitz, J and McFallngai, M (1991). Convergence in the Photophore and Eye Lenses of the Midshipman Fish. In: American Zoologist. , , (A96-A96). .

  • Convergence in the photophore and eye lenses of the midshipman fish

    Dove, S., Horwitz, J. and McFallngai, M. (1991). Convergence in the photophore and eye lenses of the midshipman fish. In: American Zoologist. Proceedings of: Annual Meeting of The American Society of Zoologists, American Microscopical Society, Animal Behavior Society, The Crustacean Society and The International Association of Astacology. Annual Meeting of The American Society of Zoologists, American Microscopical Society, Animal Behavior Society, The Crustacean Society and The International Association of Astacology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, (96A-96A). 27-30 December 1991.

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Drivers of coral reef composition, cryptic marine biodiversity, and coral health along the north coast of Timor-Leste

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Effects of ocean warming and ocean acidification on a massive reef-building coral from different depths

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Physical and biological dynamics of post-disturbance coral reef rubble fields

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision

This staff member is a UQ Expert for media in the following fields:

UV and coral reefs, Marine biochemistry, Light effect on algae, Sun and coral reefs, Coral biology, Coral - heat and light stress, Global warming and coral reefs, Algae - effects of light, Coral reefs, Photosynthesis - marine life, Coral bleaching

They are happy to lend their expertise to your articles or broadcasts and share their research discoveries and insights with the community via media channels.

For additional assistance with story ideas, general advice and information or help with seeking further experts, please email the UQ Media Team or telephone (07) 3365 1120.

Links

ResearcherID: G-7339-2012

ORCID: 0000-0003-1823-8634

Scopus ID: 7005822223

Google Scholar ID: asBzm-oAAAAJ

Personal Profile: Link

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