Email: s.vollmer@neu.edu

Phone: 781.581.7370, x312
Fax: 781.581.6076

Location: Marine Science Center

Mail: NU/Marine Science Center
430 Nahant Road
Nahant, MA 01908

Research Description

I am interested in the evolution and ecology of marine organisms. Research in my lab combines modern genetic techniques with field-based research. My research has focused on tropical reef corals - specifically, 1) the role that interspecific hybridization and gene flow plays in the evolution of coral species, and 2) how gene flow and selection interact to shape the genetic structure of coral populations. My primary study group - the Caribbean Acropora corals - have been decimated by White Band Disease (WBD) and recently listed as threatened on the US Endangered Species Act. I have research (in collaboration with Dr. David Kline at the University of Queensland) aimed at further characterizing the WBD disease pathogen and understanding the environmental vs. genetic components of WBD incidence, transmission and resistance.

In addition, I have recently begun research on the molecular evolution of temperate marine snails in collaboration with Dr. Geoff Trussell at NU and Dr. John Grahame at the University of Leeds.

Selected Publications

Vollmer, S.V.,Palumbi, S.R. 2007. Restricted Gene Flow in the Caribbean Staghorn Coral Acropora cervicornis: Implications for the Recovery of Endangered Reefs. J Heredity 98: 40-50.

Willis, B.L., van Oppen, M.J.H, Miller, D.J., Vollmer, S. V., Ayre, D.J. 2006. The Role of Hybridization in the Evolution of Reef Corals. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 37: 489-517

Vollmer, S.V., Palumbi, S.R. 2004. Testing the Utility of ITS Sequences in Coral Phylogenetics. Molecular Ecology 13: 2763-2772.

Vollmer, S.V., Palumbi S.R. 2002. Hybridization and the Evolution of Reef Coral Diversity. Science 296: 2023-2025.

Vollmer, SV, Palumbi, S.R. 2002. Unisexual Clones: Lizards and Corals. Science 298: 2130-2131.

Vollmer, S.V., Edmunds, P.J. 2000. Allometric Scaling in Small Colonies of the Scleractinian Coral Siderastrea siderea (Ellis and Solander). Biological Bulletin 199: 21-28.

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