Flinders University
Dr Sophie Leterme
Dr
Sophie
Leterme
Flinders University
http://www.flinders.edu.au/people/sophie.leterme
Dr. Sophie Leterme sampling during a SAIMOS research cruise
| Position/s: | Senior Lecturer Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Phone: | +61 8 82012528 |
| Email: | sophie.leterme@flinders.edu.au |
| Location: | Biological Sciences (125) |
| Postal address: | GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia |
Biography
I study the composition and dynamic of phytoplankton communities in various ecosystems. In particular, I investigate the relationship between phytoplankton distribution, composition and dynamic and the surrounding environment, to determine the effect of environmental changes on phytoplankton biology and ecology. This include processes such as:
1. phytoplankton species dynamic in different ecosystems
2. determination of the nanostructure of diatoms frustules
3. hydroclimatic forcing from local to global scales
4. impact of raising salinity and temperature levels on phytoplankton community composition and dynamic.
I am involved in IMOS (Integrated Marine Observing System) since 2008 and the deputy node leader of SAIMOS which is the South Australian Node of IMOS. We monitor the fluctuation of phytoplankton biomass and nutrients, as well as physical processes such as currents, eddies and upwelling on the continental shelf of South Australia on a monthly basis.
Qualifications
- PhD in Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth, UK
- Master in Biological Oceanography at l'Universite Pierre & Marie Curie - Paris VI, France
- Honours in Marine Biology at l'Universite des Sciences & Technologies de Lille I, France
- BSc in Biology at l'Universite des Sciences & Technologies de Lille I, France
Honours, awards and grants
, Brown M., Ellis A. National Centre of Excellence in Desalination Australia (NCEDA), Assessing the biofouling role of microbes in the desalination system; from the intake pipe to the reverse osmosis membranes; Oct. 2011 - Oct. 2014, AUS$536,408, Australia.
, Brown M., Ellis A., Rohwer F., Romero O. Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project DP110101679, Primary Producers; morphological flexibility under environmental constraints; Jan. 2011 – Dec. 2013, AUS$300,000, Australia.
, Brown M., Ellis A. National Centre of Excellence in Desalination Australia (NCEDA), Nanostructure of Diatoms: A predictive model for species sustainability; July 2010 – July 2012, AUS$241,000, Australia.
Middleton J., Leterme S., James C., Seuront L. Integrated Marine Observing System - Education Investment Funds (IMOS – EIF), Australian National Mooring Network (ANMN)–SAIMOS Mooring sub-facility, Shelf and slope moorings, field surveys and associated analyses to produce data streams, July 2010 – July 2013, AUS$1,400,000, Australia.
Leterme S., Luick J., O'Malley P., Seuront L., Van Ruth P.Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC) Project 2009/046; Carrying capacity of Spencer Gulf: Hydrodynamic and Biogeochemical measurement modelling and performance monitoring, July 2009 – June 2012, AUS$1,169,000, Australia.
Key responsibilities
Deputy Node Leader of SAIMOS
Teaching
Research and consultancy
Research interests
- Impact of desalination on marine ecosystems
- Assessing the biofouling role of microbes in desalination systems
- Exploring the cellular processes behind the flexible morphology of diatoms
- Assessing the impact of ocean dynamics and climate change on microbial communities
Postgraduate research supervision
J. Jendyk. Impact of salinity fluctuations on plankton communities. School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Australia.
J. Hayles. The role of microbes in biofouling desalination systems. School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Australia.
E. Prime. Impact of climate variability on Phytoplankton Communities and Diatoms Morphology. School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Australia. Started in February 2009.
V. Van Dongen-Vogels 2008-2011. Production and respiration in the ocean: On the relevance of phytoplankton community structure and physical forcing. Flinders University, Australia.
Publications
Book chapters
Seuront, L. & Leterme, S.C., 2006. Microscale patchiness in microphytobenthos distributions: evidence for a critical state. In Functioning of Microphytobenthos in Estuaries. Netherlands: Edita - Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, pp. 167-186.
Refereed journal articles
Jeffries, T.C., Seymour, J.R., Gilbert, J., Dinsdale, E.A., Newton, K., Leterme, S.C., Roudnew, B., Smith, R.J., Seuront, L., & Mitchell, J.G., 2011. Substrate type determines metagenomic profiles from diverse chemical habitats. PLoS One, 6(9).
Schapira, M., Buscot, M., Pollet, T., Leterme, S.C., & Seuront, L., 2010. Distribution of picophytoplankton communities from brackish to hypersaline waters in a South Australian coastal lagoon. Saline Systems, 6(2), 1-15.
Pollet, T., Schapira, M.N., Buscot, M., Leterme, S.C., Mitchell, J.G., & Seuront, L., 2010. Prokaryotic aminopeptidase activity along a continuous salinity gradient in a hypersaline coastal lagoon (the Coorong, South Australia). Saline Systems, 6(5), 1-5.
Leterme, S.C., Ellis, A.V., Mitchell, J.G., Buscot, M., Pollet, T., Schapira, M., & Seuront, L., 2010. Morphological Flexibility of Cocconeis Placentula (Bacillariophyceae) Nanostructure to changing salinity levels. Journal of Phycology, 46(4), 715-719.
Seuront, L., Leterme, S.C., Seymour, J., Mitchell, J.G., Ashcroft, D.P., Noble, W.J., Thomson, P.G., Davidson, A., van den Enden, R.d., Scott, F., et al., 2010. Role of microbial and phytoplanktonic communities in the control of seawater viscosity off West Antarctica (30-80° E). Deep-Sea Research Part 2:Topical Studies in Oceanography, 57(9-10), 877-886.
Schapira, M.N., Buscot, M., Leterme, S.C., Pollet, T., Chapperon, C., & Seuront, L., 2009. Distribution of heterotrophic bacteria and virus-like particles along a salinity gradient in a hypersaline coastal lagoon. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 54(2), 171-183.
Kesaulya, I., Leterme, S.C., Mitchell, J.G., & Seuront, L., 2008. The impact of turbulence and phytoplankton dynamics on foam formation, seawater viscosity and chlorophyll concentration in the eastern English Channel. Oceanologia, 50(2), 167-182.
Leterme, S.C. & Pingree, R.D., 2008. The Gulf Stream, Rings and North Atlantic Eddy structure from remote sensing (Altimeter and SeaWiFS). Journal of Marine Systems, 69(3-4), 177-190.
Leterme, S.C., Pingree, R.D., Skogen, M.D., Seuront, L., Reid, P., & Attrill, M., 2008. Decadal fluctuations in North Atlantic water inflow in the North Sea between 1958-2003: impacts on temperature and phytoplankton populations. Oceanologia, 50(1), 59-72.
Books
Leterme, S.C., 2011. Experimental Design for Biology, Sydney, NSW: Pearson Custom Books.
Leterme, S.C., 2010. BIOL2701 Experimental Design and Statistics for Biology, Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education.
Leterme, S.C., 2009. Functional Biology and Experimental Design, Frenchs Forest, Sydney: Pearson Education.
Leterme, S.C., 2008. BIOL2162 - Functional Biology and Experimental Design, Australia: Pearson.
Book chapters
Seuront, L. & Leterme, S.C., 2006. Microscale patchiness in microphytobenthos distributions: evidence for a critical state. In Functioning of Microphytobenthos in Estuaries. Netherlands: Edita - Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, pp. 167-186.
Refereed journal articles
Jeffries, T.C., Seymour, J.R., Gilbert, J., Dinsdale, E.A., Newton, K., Leterme, S.C., Roudnew, B., Smith, R.J., Seuront, L., & Mitchell, J.G., 2011. Substrate type determines metagenomic profiles from diverse chemical habitats. PLoS One, 6(9).
Seuront, L., Leterme, S.C., Seymour, J., Mitchell, J.G., Ashcroft, D.P., Noble, W.J., Thomson, P.G., Davidson, A., van den Enden, R.d., Scott, F., et al., 2010. Role of microbial and phytoplanktonic communities in the control of seawater viscosity off West Antarctica (30-80° E). Deep-Sea Research Part 2:Topical Studies in Oceanography, 57(9-10), 877-886.
Schapira, M., Buscot, M., Pollet, T., Leterme, S.C., & Seuront, L., 2010. Distribution of picophytoplankton communities from brackish to hypersaline waters in a South Australian coastal lagoon. Saline Systems, 6(2), 1-15.
Pollet, T., Schapira, M.N., Buscot, M., Leterme, S.C., Mitchell, J.G., & Seuront, L., 2010. Prokaryotic aminopeptidase activity along a continuous salinity gradient in a hypersaline coastal lagoon (the Coorong, South Australia). Saline Systems, 6(5), 1-5.
Leterme, S.C., Ellis, A.V., Mitchell, J.G., Buscot, M., Pollet, T., Schapira, M., & Seuront, L., 2010. Morphological Flexibility of Cocconeis Placentula (Bacillariophyceae) Nanostructure to changing salinity levels. Journal of Phycology, 46(4), 715-719.
Schapira, M.N., Buscot, M., Leterme, S.C., Pollet, T., Chapperon, C., & Seuront, L., 2009. Distribution of heterotrophic bacteria and virus-like particles along a salinity gradient in a hypersaline coastal lagoon. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 54(2), 171-183.
Leterme, S.C., Pingree, R.D., Skogen, M.D., Seuront, L., Reid, P., & Attrill, M., 2008. Decadal fluctuations in North Atlantic water inflow in the North Sea between 1958-2003: impacts on temperature and phytoplankton populations. Oceanologia, 50(1), 59-72.
Kesaulya, I., Leterme, S.C., Mitchell, J.G., & Seuront, L., 2008. The impact of turbulence and phytoplankton dynamics on foam formation, seawater viscosity and chlorophyll concentration in the eastern English Channel. Oceanologia, 50(2), 167-182.
Leterme, S.C. & Pingree, R.D., 2008. The Gulf Stream, Rings and North Atlantic Eddy structure from remote sensing (Altimeter and SeaWiFS). Journal of Marine Systems, 69(3-4), 177-190.
Gieskes, W.W., Leterme, S.C., Peletier, H., Edwards, M., & Reid, P., 2007. Phaeocystis colony distribution in the North Atalantic Ocean since 1948, and interpretation of long-term changes in the Phaecystis hotspot in the North Sea. Biogeochemistry, 83(1-3), 49-60.
Leterme, S.C. & Pingree, R.D., 2007. Structure of phytoplankton (Continuous Plankton Recorder and SeaWiFS) and impact of climate in the Northwest Atlantic Shelves. Ocean Science, 3(1), 105-116.
Seuront, L. & Leterme, S.C., 2007. Increased Zooplankton Behavioral Stress in Response to Short-Term Exposure to Hydrocarbon Contamination. The Open Oceanography Journal, 1, 1-7.
Leterme, S.C., Seuront, L., & Edwards, M., 2006. Differential contribution of diatoms and dinoflagellates to phytoplankton biomass in the NE Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. Marine Ecology-Progress Series, 312, 57-65.
Leterme, S.C., Edwards, M., Seuront, L., Attrill, M., Reid, P., & John, A., 2005. Decadal basin-scale changes of diatoms, dinoflagellates and phytoplankton colour across the North Atlantic. Limnology and Oceanography, 50(4), 1244-1253.
Professional and community engagement
I am involved with the School of Science and Mathematics to discuss the research done in my laboratory with their students.
Expertise for media contact
- Desalination: Using phytoplankton species as bioindicators of the effect of desalination plants on marine environments
Subject/s
- Biology
- Climate
- Marine science
- Microbiology
- Oceanography
- Salinity
Further information
Project funded by the National Centre of Excellence in Desalination featured on ABC News
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-27/brine-desalination-gulf-research/2946472
