Mary Alice Coffroth

Mary Alice Coffroth is a Research Professor at the University at Buffalo, holding dual appointments in the Department of Geology and the Department of Environment and Sustainability within the College of Arts and Sciences. She earned her PhD in Biological Oceanography from the University of Miami in 1988. Her research focuses on evolutionary biology, marine ecology, and the population dynamics of coral symbionts, particularly dinoflagellates. Her work explores symbiotic relationships in cnidarians, including coral resilience to environmental stressors like thermal bleaching and ocean acidification.

Dr. Coffroth’s research interests include understanding symbiont specificity, the role of symbiont diversity in coral survival, and the genetic mechanisms underlying host-symbiont interactions. She has extensively studied the symbiotic algae Symbiodiniaceae, examining their genetic variation, transmission patterns, and responses to environmental changes. Her studies often integrate experimental approaches with field observations to address questions about coral health and recovery in the context of global climate change.

Her recent publications highlight advancements in coral symbiosis, such as the influence of symbiont genotypes on host resilience, the effects of nutrient availability on symbiotic relationships, and the genetic structure of symbiont populations in coral recruits. She has also contributed to collaborative projects on coral reef connectivity and the development of molecular tools for studying symbiont diversity.

Dr. Coffroth has secured grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other agencies to support research on symbiont adaptation, coral population genetics, and the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. Her work emphasizes the importance of understanding symbiotic dynamics to inform conservation strategies for coral reefs.