Dr Emma Camp
Marine Biologist
Research focus of the physiology, ecology and bio-geochemistry of coral reefs.
Coral Elementome
Research on coral building blocks
Extreme Corals
Research on
ultra-tolerant corals
Publications
Scientific
research papers
Research
Current and previous
focus areas
Committed to Change Growth Education Equity
I am the Deputy Team Leader of the Future Reefs Program within the Climate Change Cluster at the University of Technology Sydney. In 2020 I established the Reef Biogeochemistry Group. My research focuses on the physiology, ecology and biogeochemistry of coral reefs, to advance our understanding on how species chemical traits influence their biogeochemical niche and competitive fitness.
Alongside my research I am passionate to champion the introduction and retention of women and girls in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
I am a National Geographic Explorer and Rolex Associate Laureate. In 2020 I was named an inaugural Australian Academy of Sciences STEM Women’s Gamechanger and made Time Magazines Next Generation Leaders list. I am passionate about communicating research to engage society to become part of the solutions required to ensure a perpetual Earth.
Extreme Mangrove Corals
Super Corals
During my PhD I discovered corals living in some of the most extreme conditions reported for extant coral reefs. Surprisingly these corals were living in mangrove lagoons where the water was warmer, more acidic and deoxygenated compared to the neighbouring reefs less than 0.5 km away.
At these mangrove sites, temperatures are often 1-2°C higher than the reef, pH falls regularly below pH 7.5 and oxygen regularly falls below 1 mg/L. Consequently resident corals are effectively being pre-conditioned to future climate conditions.
My Research
Elemental Diagnostic of Coral Resilience to Future Reef Climates
This project aims to integrate elemental stoichiometry (the coral and symbiont elementome), bio-elemental imaging and metabolomics to develop a common ‘elemental currency’ as a new diagnostic of coral fitness. Coral reefs generate invaluable ecosystem services, but are on the verge of global collapse. Efforts to resolve coral traits that promote ecological resilience have been unable to integrate biological and environmental complexities of reef systems into a unifying diagnostic of reef health. Natural extremes will provide the platform to identify key metabolic traits vital for future survival, to establish adaptive elemental signatures that can scale from organism to ecosystem.
Coral Nurture Program
A globally unique research-tourism partnership to introducing coral planting into localised coral reef stewardship and adaptation.
