People | Kathryn J. Coyne

• Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Delaware, 1997.
• B.S., Chemistry, University of Delaware, 1986.

Molecular ecology of bloom-forming harmful algal species

• Development of diatoms as indicators of water quality in Blackbird watershed, DE and in Delaware's Inland Bays. These  projects are funded through NOAA (Blackbird watershed project; in collaboration with Gulni Ozbay, DSU), DE Sea Grant (DIB project) and the Center for the Inland Bays (DIB project).  Here, we are developing molecular methods to evaluate benthic diatom community composition in relation to water quality. 
• The interactive effects of light and nutrient source on the molecular regulation of nitrogen
  assimilation, photochemistry, and growth of two raphidophyte species from Delaware's Inland Bays (in collaboration with with Mark Warner, UD). This project is funded by NSF to investigate the impact of nitrogen source on photosynthetic activity of two harmful algal species, Heterosigma akashiwo and Chattonella subsalsa.
• The future of algal blooms (in collaboration with Mark Warner, UD, and Dave Hutchins, USC). With funding through EPA-STAR ECOHAB, we are investigating the combined impacts of increased eutrophication and global warming (increases in temperature and CO₂) on harmful algal blooms.
• Cyanobacteria toxin production and bloom ecology in the Chesapeake Bay (in collaboration with Chris Gobler, StonyBrook).  This ECOHAB-funded project will investigate the interactive impacts of nutrients, temperature and zooplankton grazing pressure on toxin production by cyanobacteria populations in the upper reaches of the Chesapeake Bay. 
• Protists in hydrothermal vents (in collaboration with Dave Caron and Pete Countway, USC, and Craig Cary, UD). In this project, funded by NSF, we are comparing protist diversity and function at two hydrothermal vent systems: Guaymas, located in the Bay of California, and the East Pacific Rise, at 9N.

Jennifer Stewart, PhD candidate, UD. Jen is characterizing expression patterns and enzyme activities of a novel nitrate reductase from the harmful alga, Heterosigma akashiwo.

Jennifer Totora, Master's candidate, UD. Jennifer is investigating phytoplankton interactions and their impacts on growth and toxicity of harmful algal bloom species in relation to global climate change.

Katherine Lee, Master's candidate, UD. Katherine is using molecular methods to evaluate changes in benthic diatom population structure in Delaware's inland bays in response to nutrient input.

Amanda Pappas, visiting Master's student from Delaware State University. Amanda is using molecular methods to evaluate changes in benthic diatom communities in a wetlands restoration project at the Blackbird Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Portune, K. J., Coyne, K. J., Hutchins, D. A., Handy, S. M. and Cary, S. C.  Germination of Heterosigma akashiwo and Chattonella subsalsa (Raphidophyceae) cysts in Delaware’s Inland Bays, DE.  In press, Aquatic Microbial Ecology.

Coyne, K. J. Nitrate reductase (NR1) sequence and expression in the harmful alga Heterosigma akashiwo (Raphidophyceae).  In press, Journal of Phycology.

Demir, E., Coyne, K. J., Doblin, M. A., Handy, S. M. and Hutchins, D. A.  (2008) Microzooplankton grazing rates on Heterosigma akashiwo in the Delaware Inland Bays: A species-specific approach combining quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) and dilution methods.  Microbial Ecol. 55: 583-594.

Handy, S. M., Demir, E., Hutchins, D. A., Portune, K. J., Whereat, E. B., Hare, C. E., Rose, J. M., Warner, M., Farestad, M., Cary, S. C., and Coyne, K. J. (2008) Using quantitative real-time PCR to study competition and community dynamics among Delaware Inland Bays harmful algae in field and laboratory studies. Harmful Algae 7:599-613.

Doblin, M. A., Coyne, K. J., Rinta-Kanto, J. M., Wilhelm, S. W., and Dobbs, F. C. (2007) Dynamics and short-term survival of cyanobacteria species in ballast water—implications for HAB invasions. Harmful Algae 6:519-530. 

Gobler, C. J., Davis, T. W., Coyne, K. J., and Boyer, G. L. (2007) The interactive influences of nutrient loading and zooplankton grazing on the growth and toxicity of cyanobacteria blooms in a eutrophic lake.  Harmful Algae 6:119-133. 

Coyne, K. J., Hare, C. E., Popels, L. C., Hutchins, D. A., and Cary, S. C. (2006) Distribution of Pfiesteria piscicida cyst populations in sediments of the Delaware Inland Bays, USA. Harmful Algae 5:363-373.

Handy, S. M., Cary, S. C., Hutchins, D. A., and Coyne, K. J. (2006) Simultaneous enumeration of multiple raphidophyte species by quantitative real-time PCR: capabilities and limitations. Limnol. Oceanog. Methods 3:193-204.

Zhang, Y., F.-X. Fu, E., Whereat, K.J. Coyne and D. A. Hutchins. (2006) Bottom-up controls on a mixed-species HAB assemblage:  A comparison of sympatric Chattonella subsalsa and Heterosigma akashiwo (Raphidophyceae) isolates from the Delaware Inland Bays, USA.  Harmful Algae 5:310-320.

Phleger, C. F.,  M. M. Nelson, A. K. Groce, S. C. Cary, K. J. Coyne, J. A. E. Gibson, and P. D. Nichols. (2005) Lipid biomarkers of deep-sea hydrothermal vent polychaetes - Alvinella pompejana, A. caudata, Paralvinella grasslei and Hesiolyra bergii. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 52:2333-2352.

Coyne, K. J.,  Handy, S. M., Demir, E., Whereat, E. B.,  Hutchins, D. A.,  Portune, K. J., Doblin, M. A. and Cary, S. C. (2005) Improved quantitative real-time PCR assays for enumeration of harmful algal species in field samples using an exogenous DNA reference standard. Limnology and Oceanography Methods 3:381-391.

Handy, S. M., Coyne, K. J., Portune, K. J., Demir, E., Doblin, M. A., Hare, C. E., Cary S. C., and Hutchins, D. A.  (2005) Evaluating vertical migration behavior of harmful raphidophytes in the Delaware Inland Bays utilizing quantitative real-time PCR.  Aquatic Microbial Ecology 40:121-132.

Phleger, C. F.,  M. M. Nelson, A. K. Groce, S. C. Cary, K. J. Coyne, and P. D. Nichols. (2005)  Lipid composition of deep sea hydrothermal vent tubeworm Riftia pachyptil