Matheus A. Mello-Athayde

Dr. Matheus A. Mello-Athayde is a Research Fellow at the Coral Reef Ecosystems Laboratory (CRE Lab) within the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Queensland, Australia. He completed his PhD at UQ, focusing on coral resilience under climate change, following a double Bachelor's degree in Biological Science (Marine Biology) and Teaching from Santa Cecilia University, Brazil. His research investigates coral and sponge responses to ocean warming and acidification, emphasizing physiological adaptations and reef ecosystem dynamics.

His work spans:

• Coral calcification/photosynthesis under variable environments
• Impacts of diel pH fluctuations on coral resilience
• Thermal stress memory in reef-building corals
• Sponge bioerosion under future climate scenarios

Publications (2013-2022) demonstrate consistent focus on climate change impacts, with recent work exploring coral acid-base homeostasis and survival-calcification trade-offs. He received a doctoral fellowship for his PhD project and collaborates globally with institutions like the University of Pennsylvania and California Academy of Sciences.

He leads field/lab experiments at UQ's CRE Lab using automated incubation systems and climate mesocosms. Current projects include heterotrophic feeding in corals and genetic variation in Porites cylindrica.