Marguerite Koch-Rose

Marguerite Koch-Rose, Ph.D

Professor

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science

Biological Sciences

mkoch@fau.edu
561-297-3325

Boca Raton Campus

Education

  • Ph.D.,听University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), 1996

Research Interests

  • Primary productivity of tropical marine ecosystems
  • Climate change (elevated temperature, salinity and听 听 pCO2) effects on tropical marine autotrophs
  • Stress responses and adaptation to stress in tropical marine autotrophs (macroalgae, seagrass, mangrove)
  • Biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling in tropical carbonate ecosystems

Research Description

Our research is on nutrient cycling and primary production in tropical marine ecosystems and stressors that influence tropical seagrass, mangrove and algal communities. We are currently focused on climate change effects, including elevated temperature, salinity and听 听 pCO2, termed 鈥渙cean acidification鈥, on marine plant and macroalgal communities. We hypothesize that ocean acidification and elevated temperature affect photosynthesis, growth and calcification in tropical reef macroalgae with far-reaching ecological consequences. However, diverse pathways of inorganic carbon acquisition for photosynthesis and mechanisms of calcification may provide resistance to elevated ocean听 听 pCO2 听 听in calcifying macroalgae. In addition, we are elucidating mechanisms causing seagrass mortality in Florida Bay, relevant to lagoons and estuaries world-wide.

Our research approach is to examine stress responses from the physiological to ecological scale, consider species life history, and focus on ecosystem-level indicators of stress, such as hypoxia and eutrophication. We are also interested in biogeochemical changes that destabilize foundation plant communities and thereby influence the sustainability of marine ecosystems. The majority of our work is in shallow tropical carbonate environments (lagoons and reefs) of South Florida, The Bahamas and wider Caribbean. We typically take an experimental approach to examine alternative hypotheses in mesocosms and field settings.

Recent Publications

  • Koch, M.S., C. R. Johnson, L. Travis, O. Pedersen, C. J. Madden. (2022) 听 听Hypersalinity听 听 effects on听O2 听 听 听 flux across the diffusive boundary layer of leaves in the tropical seagrass听 听 Thalassia testudinum听 听 Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 555: 1-8.听. 听 听 听 听
  • Koch, M.S., C. R. Johnson, C. J. Madden, O. Pedersen. (2022) Low irradiance disrupts the internal听O2 听 听 听 dynamics of seagrass听(Thalassia testudinum)听leading to shoot meristem听H2S intrusion. Aquatic Botany 181: 1-11.听听听
  • Koch, M.S., C. R. Johnson, C. J. Madden, O. Pedersen. (2022) Irradiance, Water Column听O2 听 听 听 , and Tide Drive Internal听O2 听 听 听 Dynamics and Meristem听H2S Detection in the Dominant Caribbean鈥怲ropical Atlantic Seagrass,听 听 Thalassia testudinum.听Estuaries and Coasts.听听听 听 听
  • Strazisar, T., Koch, M., Madden, C. (2021) Abiotic and Biotic Interactions Control听 听 Ruppia maritima 听 听 听 Life history development within a heterogeneous coastal landscape. Estuaries and Coasts. 44, pages1975鈥1993.
  • C. McNicholl, M. S. Koch,听 听 Swarzenski, P.W., Oberhaensli, F.R., Taylor A., Gomez Batista, M., Metian M.听 听 (2020) Ocean acidification effects on calcification and dissolution in tropical reef macroalgae. Coral Reefs 39, pages1635鈥1647听
  • C. McNicholl, M. S. Koch,听 听 Hofmann, L.C.听 听 听 听 (2019) Photosynthesis and light-dependent proton pumps increase boundary layer pH in tropical macroalgae: A proposed mechanism to sustain calcification under ocean acidification. Journal Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology.听听
  • Johnson, M. S. Koch, O. Pedersen and C. J. Madden (2020)听 听 Hypersalinity affects leaf and meristem听O2 听 听 听 dynamics exposing meristems to听H2S in the dominant tropical seagrass听Thalassia听testudinum.听Journal Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 533:1-10.听听听
  • Andersson, A.J, Venn, A.A., Pendleton, L., Brathwaite, A., Camp, E.F., Colley, S. Gledhill, D., Koch, M., Maliki, S., Manfrino, C. 2019. Ecological and socioeconomic strategies to sustain Caribbean coral reefs in a high-CO2 听 听 听 world. Regional Studies in Marine Science. 29:1-13.听听听
  • Johnson, M. S. Koch, O. Pedersen and C. J. Madden (2018) Hypersalinity as a trigger of seagrass听(Thalassia testudinum)听die-off events in Florida Bay: Evidence based on shoot meristem听O2 听 听 听 and听H2S dynamics. Journal Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 504:47-52.听听听
  • Zweng, R.C., Koch, M.S., Bowes, G. (2018). The role of irradiance and C-use strategies in tropical macroalgae photosynthetic response to ocean acidification.听 听 Scientific Reports 听 听 听 .听听 听 听
  • Morey, S., Koch, M., Liu, Y., Lee, SK. (2017) Chapter 7 Florida鈥檚 Oceans and Marine Habitats in a Changing Climate. In (eds. Chassignet, E., Jones, J., Misra, V., Mitchum, G., Obeysekera) Florida鈥檚 Climate: Changes, Variations & Impacts. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.听 听 听 听 听
  • Peach, K.E., Koch, M.S.,听 听 Blackwelder, P.L., Kamasawa, N., Guerrero-Given, D. 听 听 听 (2017)听 听 Primary utricle structure of six听 听 Halimeda 听 听 听 species and potential relevance for ocean acidification tolerance. Botanica Marina 60(1): https://doi.org/10.1515/bot-2016-0055
  • Peach, K.E., Koch, M.S., Blackwelder, P.L., Manfrino, C. J. (2016) Calcification and photophysiology responses to elevated听 听 pCO2 听 听 听 in six听 听 Halimeda 听 听 听 species from contrasting irradiance environments on Little Cayman Island reefs. Exp. Mar. Bio. Ecol. 486, 114-126,听听 听 听
  • Strazisar, T., Koch, M., Madden, C. (2016) The importance of recurrent reproductive events for听 听 Ruppia maritima 听 听 听 seed bank viability in a highly variable estuary: the Everglades-Florida Bay ecotone. Journal of Aquatic Botany听听 听 听
  • Hofmann, L.C., Koch, M.S., de Beer, D. (2016) Evidence for biotic control of diffusive boundary layer pH and active听Ca2+ 听 听 听 flux mechanisms in a tropical crustose coralline alga. PLOS ONE听听 听 听
  • Bedwell, H., Joles, L., Koch, M.S., Peach, K., Dutra, E., Manfrino, C. (2016) The role of in hospite zooxanthellae photophysiology and reef chemistry on elevated听 听 pCO2听effects in two branching Caribbean corals:听Acropora cervicornis听and听Porites divaricata听.听ICES Journal of Marine Science听听听
  • Koch, M. S. (2016) The significance of warming seas for species and ecosystems: Impacts and effects on seagrasses. In (eds. Laffoley, D., Baxter, J.M.) Explaining Ocean Warming: Causes, scale, effects and consequences. IUCN-International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Report. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 456 pp. 听 听 听 听
  • Peach, K.E., Koch, M.S., Blackwelder, P. (2016) Effects of elevated听 听 pCO2听and irradiance on growth, photosynthesis and calcification in听Halimeda discoidea听Marine Ecology Progress Series 01/2016;听.听听
  • Dutra, E., Koch, M., Peach, K., Manfrino, C. (2015) Tropical crustose coralline algal individual and community responses to elevated听 听 pCO2 听 听 听 under high and low irradiance. ICES Journal of Marine Science;听.听 听 听
  • Koch, M.S., C. Coronado, M.W. Miller, D.T. Rudnick, E. Stabenau, R.B. Halley, F.H. Sklar (2014) Climate Change Projected Effects on Coastal Foundation Communities of the Greater Everglades using a 2060 Scenario: Need for a New Management Paradigm. Journal of Environmental Management.听听听 听 听
  • Strazisar, T., Koch, M., Madden, C. Seagrass ( 听 听 听 Ruppia maritima 听 听 听 听 L.) (2014) Life history transitions in response to salinity dynamics along the Everglades-Florida Bay ecotone Estuaries and Coasts听. 听 听 听 听
  • Strazisar, T., Koch, M., Madden, C., Filina, J., Lara, Pedro, U. and Mattair, A. (2013) Salinity effects on听 听 Ruppia maritima 听 听 听 L. seed germination and seedling survival at the Everglades-Florida Bay ecotone Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 44: 5129鈥139. 听 听 听 听
  • Strazisar, T., Koch, M., Dutra, E., Madden, C. 听 听 听 (2013)听听Ruppia maritima听听听L. seed bank viability at the Everglades-Florida Bay ecotone Aquatic Botany 111 26鈥34.听听听听
  • Koch, M., Bowes, G., Ross, C., Zhang, Xing-Hai. (2013 electronic; 2014 print) Climate change and ocean acidification effects on seagrasses and marine macroalgae. Review: Global Change Biology 19, 103鈥132, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02791.x 听 听 听 听
  • Iz, B.H., Berry, L., and Koch M. (2012) Modeling regional sea level rise using local tide gauge data. Geodetic Science DOI: 10.2478/v10156-011-0039-2. 听 听 听 听
  • Holmer, M., Pedersen, O., Krause-Jensen, D. Olesen, B. Petersen, M.H., Schopmeyer, S., Koch, M., Lomstein, B., Jensen, H.S. (2009) Sulfide intrusion in the tropical seagrasses听 听 Thalassia testudinum 听 听 听 and听 听 Syringodium filiforme 听 听 听 . Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science. 听 听 听 85: 319鈥326.听听听听
  • Jensen, H.J., Nielsen, O.I., Koch, M.S. (2009) Phosphorus release with carbonate dissolution coupled to sulfide oxidation in Florida Bay seagrass sediments.听 听 Limnology and Oceanography. 听 听 听 54(5): 1753鈥1764. 听 听 听 听
  • Koch, M.S., Kletou, D.C., Tursi, R. (2009) Alkaline phosphatase activity of water column fractions and seagrass in a tropical carbonate estuary, Florida Bay.听 听 Coastal Estuarine and Shelf Science 听 听 听 . 83: 403鈥413. 听 听 听 听
  • Rosch, K. and Koch, M.S. (2009) Seagrass听(Thalassia testudinum)听nutrient recycling along a trophic gradient in Florida Bay.听 听 Bulletin of Marine Science 听 听 听 84(1): 1鈥24. 听 听 听 听
  • Nielsen, O. I., M.S. Koch, C.J. Madden (2007) Inorganic phosphorus uptake in a carbonate-dominated seagrass ecosystem.听 听 Estuaries and Coasts 听 听 听 30(5):827-839. 听 听 听 听
  • Koch, M.S., Schopmeyer, S.A., Nielsen, O.I., Kyhn-Hansen, C., Madden, C.J (2007) Conceptual model of seagrass die-off in Florida Bay: Links to biogeochemical processes. 350:73-88.听 听 Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 听 听 听 . 听 听 听 听
  • Koch, M.S., Schopmeyer, S.A., Holmer, M. Madden, C.J., Kyhn-Hansen, C. (2007)听 听 Thalassia testudinum 听 听 听 response to the interactive stressors hypersalinity, sulfide and hypoxia.听 听 Aquatic Botany 听 听 听 87:104-110. 听 听 听 听
  • Koch, M.S., Schopmeyer, S.A., Kyhn-Hansen, C., Madden, C.J. (2007) Synergistic effects of high temperature and sulfide on tropical seagrass.听 听 Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology听 听 341:91-101. 听 听 听 听
  • Koch, M.S., Schopmeyer, S.A., Kyhn-Hansen, C., Madden, C.J., Peters, J.S. (2007) Tropical seagrass species tolerance to hypersalinity stress.听 听 Aquatic Botany听 听 86:14-24. 听 听 听 听
  • Nielsen, O. I., M.S. Koch, H.S. Jensen, C.J. Madden (2006)听 听 Thalassia testudinum 听 听 听 phosphate uptake kinetics at low in situ concentrations using a听 听 33 听 听 听 P radioisotope technique.听听 听 Limnology and Oceanography 51: 208-217 听 听 听 .
  • Kieckbusch, D. and M.S. Koch (2004) Trophic linkages of primary producers and consumers in fringing mangroves of tropical lagoons.听听 听 Bulletin of Marine Science 听 听 听 74(2):271-285. 听 听 听 听
  • Gras, A. and M.S. Koch (2003) Phosphorus uptake kinetics in the tropical seagrass听 听 Thalassia testudinum 听 听 听 .听听 听 Aquatic Botany听 听 76:299-315. 听 听 听 听
  • Koch, M. S. and J. M. Erskine (2001) Sulfide as a phytotoxin to the tropical seagrass,听 听 Thalassia testudinum 听 听 听 :听 Interactions with high salinity and temperature.听 听 Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology听 听 266:81-95. 听 听 听 听
  • Koch, M. S., and C. Madden (2001) Patterns of primary production and nutrient availability in a fringing mangrove tropical lagoon in the Bahamas.听 听 Marine Ecology Progress Series 听 听 听 219:109-119. 听 听 听 听
  • Koch, M. S., R. Benz, D. Rudnick (2001) Solid-phase phosphorus pools in highly organic carbonate sediments of northeastern Florida Bay.听 听 Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science 听 听 听 52:279-291. 听 听 听 听
  • Erskine, J. M. and M. S. Koch (2000) Sulfide effects on听 听 Thalassia testudinum 听 听 听 carbon balance and adenylate energy charge.听 听 Aquatic Botany 听 听 听 67:275-285.

Scholarly Activities

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science

The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science prepares students for careers in various fields, including biology, mathematics, physics and psychology.The Charles E. Schmidt College of Science offers unparalleled experiential learning opportunities to prepare the next generation of scientists and problem solvers.The College of Engineering and Computer Science offers majors in areas of national priority such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, transportation and supply chain management.

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