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Drew Sieg
PhD Student, GT School of Biology
Email: drew.sieg@gatech.edu

B.S.: Biology, University of Richmond, VA. USA

Research interests

I received my B.S. at the University of Richmond, where I studied microbial symbionts of the red beard sponge, Clathria prolifera, found in the Chesapeake Bay. Specifically, I was trying to determine if symbionts were producing carotenoids that could protect the sponge against environmental stressors.

At Georgia Tech, I am currently studying the chemical and community ecology of the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. Although K. brevis is a weak exploitation competitor, it can form large harmful algal blooms roughly annually in the Gulf of Mexico. These 'red tides' are ecologically and economically costly, due to massive fish kills caused by the release of potent neurotoxins (brevetoxins) and associated losses in the fishery and tourism industries. Previous research in our lab has shown that K. brevis may have a competitive edge because it can release chemical compounds into the water that hinder the competitive abilities of other members of the Gulf of Mexico phytoplankton community, a process known as allelopathy.

My current research examines intra-specific variation in K. brevis allelopathy, as well as how biodiversity is maintained between red tides. I am also interested in interactions between K. brevis and associated bacteria.

Publications

Poulson K. L., Sieg R. D., Kubanek J. Chemical Ecology in the Marine Plankton: A Review. Natural Product Reports. Manuscript in preparation.