Carmen Astudillo Garcia Centre for Biodiversity Theory and Modelling Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale du CNRS 09200 Moulis, France Phone: ++64 9 3737599 x87785 Email: cast828@aucklanduni.ac.nz or mcarmen.astudillo@gmail.com

Research interest

My main research interest is the study of eukaryote-prokaryote interactions, especially those interactions among marine sponges and their associated microbial communities. Sponges are filter-feeding animals which play a vital role in marine benthic communities, linking benthic and pelagic habitats due to their immense pumping capacity. Many sponges host highly diverse and abundant microbial communities, with microbes comprising up to 35% of sponge biomass. The nature of sponge-microbes relationship varies considerably (mutualism, parasitism, etc.) and the sheer diversity of participants within this symbiosis makes it a challenging system to study.

The overall aim of my project is to elucidate the diversity and structure of the highly diverse bacterial communities associated with different sponges species, utilising a multidisciplinary approach that involves high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, ecological network analyses, and transmission electron microscopy.

Summary CV

• 2013 – 2016: PhD candidate in Marine Science. University of Auckland (Auckland, New Zealand).
• 2008 – 2009: MSc in Environmental Sciences and Technology. Rey Juan Carlos University (Madrid, Spain).
• 2002 – 2008: Degree in Environmental Sciences. Rey Juan Carlos University (Madrid, Spain).

Publications

• Thomas T., Moitinho-Silva L., Lurgi M., Björk J.R., Easson C., Astudillo-García C., Olson J.B., Erwin P.M.,López-Legentil S.,Luter H.,Chaves-Fonnegra A., Costa R., Schupp P., Steindler L., Erpenbeck D., Gilbert J., Knight R., Ackerman G., Lopez J.V., Taylor M.W., Thacker R.W., Montoya J.M., Hentschel U. and Webster N. (2016) — Global Sponge Microbiome: Diversity, structure and convergent evolution of symbiont communities across the phylum Porifera. Nature Communications.
• Viejo R.M., Martínez B., Arrontes J., Astudillo-García C.., Hernández L. (2011) — Reproductive patterns in central and marginal populations of a large brown seaweed: drastic changes at the southern range limit. Ecography Vol 34, Issue 1: 75-84.

Awards and Distinctions

• 2013 – 2016: Encouraging and Supporting Innovation Doctoral Scholarship in Marine Science. University of Auckland (New Zealand).
• 2007 – 2008: Grant to collaborate with the Biology and Geology Department at the University Rey Juan Carlos (Spain). Awarded by Spanish Ministry of Education and Science.