Mia Hoogenboom

I investigate how processes occurring at the physiological scale influence the growth, survival and reproduction (fitness) of organisms. My work establishes mechanistic links between environmental conditions, individual performance and population processes, and focuses on three main themes.

Environmental controls on individual performance

I use process-based models to determine how energy acquisition and allocation influence demographic rates of different coral species. Recent projects have demonstrated how the physiological response of corals to light and water flow influences colony health and reproduction, and how enhanced condition of coral colonies prior to an environmental stress mitigates mortality risk. My work on freshwater fishes has shown that the quality and predictability of food resources determines the performance advantages of different behavioural strategies.

Adaptive significance of phenotypic plasticity

My research has developed 2- and 3-dimensional models of light interception by coral colonies, then analysed and field-tested these models to demonstrate that morphological plasticity in foliose corals maximises total energy available for coral growth and reproduction. Recent research under this theme has also investigated how spawning female fish control the phenotype of their offspring by varying hormone deposition among different eggs within a clutch.

Metabolism and photosynthesis

Photosynthesis by algal symbionts within coral tissue is extremely important for reef growth. My work in this field has shown that colonies grown at high-light intensities suffer reduced daily energy acquisition, but that seasonal fluctuations in symbiont densities have a negligible influence on colony energetics. My recent research has also revealed that, in contrast to the deleterious effects of temperature stress on the activity of Photosystem II within coral symbionts, the function of Photosystem I is robust to temperature stress, particularly when rates of heterotrophic feeding are high.