The Centre for Marine Microbiology and Genetics Research (CMMG) at AIMS has greatly boosted Australian study of the unseen world of marine microbes. These little creatures, smaller than the human eye can perceive, play a large role in all the ocean's major processes. Indeed, they may hold the key to understanding and remediating climate change.
The Centre brings together well-developed Queensland and Townsville regional capabilities in microbiology, genomics and genetics, marine ecology, biosystematics, biochemistry and evolutionary biology to foster collaborative research on tropical marine biodiversity.
CMMG features an integrated, state-of-the-art microbiology and genetics laboratory with environment-controlled experimental aquaria.
The facility is developing new technologies for assessing the diversity and functioning of marine tropical microbes, particularly concerning:
- reef health
- vulnerability and adaptive capacity of microbial symbioses (such as the coral–algal and coral–bacterial symbioses) in response to environmental change
- innovative ways to control outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish.
