Dr Laura Biessy

My research focuses on the application of molecular tools to understand our precious aquatic ecosystems, as well as protecting human health related to toxic seafood. I specialise in marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs) with a particular interest in marine biotoxins that accumulate in edible seafood/kaimoana. I have experience using real-time PCR and droplet-digital PCR systems, and the interpretation of high-throughput sequencing data to understand and mitigate HABs. My PhD research used molecular, analytical and laboratory-based methods to investigate the source and transmission of tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent neurotoxin, in Aotearoa-NZ shellfish, discovering that pipi likely accumulate TTX from their diet and that cyanobacteria could be responsible for TTX production. I primarily work on research projects in the field of molecular ecology, applied to both freshwater and marine environments. During a recent project, I assessed the future risk of ciguatera poisoning on valuable seafood species in Aotearoa-NZ as sea temperatures rise. I am also interested at looking into environmental variables, including HABs, that can impact seafood species.