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Michael Lesser

Emeritus
Phone: (603) 862-3442
Office: Durham, NH 03824
Curriculum Vitae
My principal focus involve understanding how taxonomically diverse marine organisms respond physiologically to changes in their environment. In particular I'm interested in how organismal physiology can influence the ecology of marine organisms. As a physiological ecologist my students and I answer these types of questions by utilizing field and laboratory experiments, as well as a wide range of techniques from molecular biology to in situ measurements. Currently my research encompasses four major areas;

1) Biochemistry and molecular genetics of oxidative stress in marine organisms associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation, elevated temperatures, or hyperoxic conditions.

2) Physiological ecology of marine invertebrates and phytoplankton, physiological responses to changes in the environment, bacterial- and algal-invertebrate symbioses, and the trophic biology of suspension-feeding invertebrates.

3) Ecology and photobiology of mesophotic coral reefs.

4) Underwater technology, use of technical diving for scientific research.

Education

  • Ph.D., Zoology, University of Maine
  • M.S., Microbiology, University of New Hampshire
  • B.A., University of New Hampshire
  • A.S., Medical Laboratory Science, George Washington University

Selected Publications

  • Slattery, M., Lesser, M. P., Rocha, L. A., Spalding, H. L., & Smith, T. B. (2024). Function and stability of mesophotic coral reefs.. Trends Ecol Evol, 39(6), 585-598. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2024.01.011

  • Pankey, M. S., Gochfeld, D. J., Gastaldi, M., Macartney, K. J., Clayshulte Abraham, A., Slattery, M., & Lesser, M. P. (2024). Phylosymbiosis and metabolomics resolve phenotypically plastic and cryptic sponge species in the genus Agelas across the Caribbean basin.. Mol Ecol, 33(8), e17321. doi:10.1111/mec.17321

  • Lesser, M. P., Sabrina Pankey, M., Slattery, M., Macartney, K. J., & Gochfeld, D. J. (2022). Microbiome diversity and metabolic capacity determines the trophic ecology of the holobiont in Caribbean sponges.. ISME Commun, 2(1), 112. doi:10.1038/s43705-022-00196-3

  • Morrow, K. M., Pankey, M. S., & Lesser, M. P. (2022). Community structure of coral microbiomes is dependent on host morphology.. Microbiome, 10(1), 113. doi:10.1186/s40168-022-01308-w

  • Sabrina Pankey, M., Plachetzki, D. C., Macartney, K. J., Gastaldi, M., Slattery, M., Gochfeld, D. J., & Lesser, M. P. (2022). Cophylogeny and convergence shape holobiont evolution in sponge-microbe symbioses. NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION, 6(6), 750-+. doi:10.1038/s41559-022-01712-3

  • Lesser, M. P. (2006). Oxidative stress in marine environments: Biochemistry and physiological ecology. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYSIOLOGY, 68, 253-278. doi:10.1146/annurev.physiol.68.040104.110001

  • Lesser, M. P. (1997). Oxidative stress causes coral bleaching during exposure to elevated temperatures. CORAL REEFS, 16(3), 187-192. doi:10.1007/s003380050073

  • Lesser, M. P. (1996). Elevated temperatures and ultraviolet radiation cause oxidative stress and inhibit photosynthesis in symbiotic dinoflagellates. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY, 41(2), 271-283. doi:10.4319/lo.1996.41.2.0271

  • CULLEN, J. J., NEALE, P. J., & LESSER, M. P. (1992). BIOLOGICAL WEIGHTING FUNCTION FOR THE INHIBITION OF PHYTOPLANKTON PHOTOSYNTHESIS BY ULTRAVIOLET-RADIATION. SCIENCE, 258(5082), 646-650. doi:10.1126/science.258.5082.646

  • LESSER, M. P., STOCHAJ, W. R., TAPLEY, D. W., & SHICK, J. M. (1990). BLEACHING IN CORAL-REEF ANTHOZOANS - EFFECTS OF IRRADIANCE, ULTRAVIOLET-RADIATION, AND TEMPERATURE ON THE ACTIVITIES OF PROTECTIVE ENZYMENS AGAINST ACTIVE OXYGEN. CORAL REEFS, 8(4), 225-232. doi:10.1007/BF00265015

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  • Most Cited Publications