Chris Ward

Research Interests:

The Aquatic Microbiomes Lab’s research examines community processes in aquatic microbial ecology, with a particular focus on algal-heterotroph interactions and their interplay with environmental drivers. Our research spans both natural and engineered ecosystems, including the Great Lakes, the coastal ocean, and algal cultivation ponds. We combine field observations, experimental manipulations, microbial culturing, and community sequencing/bioinformatics to understand the distributions and interrelationships of important microbial groups. We are also interested in the ecological theory of microbiomes and how it may be used to advance algal biofuel production, aquaculture, and even mammalian health.

Recent Publications:

Wagner RS, Neudeck MJ, Heath AE,…Ward CS, Bullerjahn GS. (2024) The recent disappearance of a persistent Planktothrix bloom: characterization of a regime shift in the phytoplankton of Sandusky Bay (USA), Harmful Algae. doi:10.1016/j.hal.2024.102656

Brown KM, Barker KB, Wagner RS, Ward CS, et al. (2024) Bacterial community and cyanotoxin gene distribution of the Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya, Environ Microbiol Rep. doi:10.1111/1758-2229.13297

Rana S, Canfield JR, Ward CS, Sprague JE. (2024) Bile acids and the gut microbiome are involved in the hyperthermia mediated by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), Sci Rep. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-65433-2

Impact Publications:

Ward CS, Diana Z, Ke KM, Orihuela B, Schultz TP, Rittschof D. (2022) Microbiome development of seawater-incubated pre-production plastic pellets reveals distinct and predictive community compositions. Front Mar Sci. 8:807327. doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.807327

Kimbrel JA, Samo TJ, Ward CS, Nilson DJ, Thelen MP, Siccardi A, Zimba P, Lane TW, Mayali X. (2019) Host selection and stochastic effects influence bacterial community assembly on the microalgal phycosphere. Algal Research. 40:101489. doi:10:1016/j.algal.2019.101489

Ward CS, Yung C-M, Davis KM, Blinebry SK, Williams TC, Johnson ZI, Hunt DE. (2017) Annual community patterns are driven by seasonal switching between closely related marine bacteria. ISMEJ 11, 1412-1422. doi:10.1038/ismej.2017.4