Dr. Samantha de Putron

Sam is a marine biologist whose research interests are the biology, ecology and resilience of marine benthic communities and, in particular, the study of macroinvertebrate eco-physiology and population dynamics. She has been conducting research at BIOS for over 20 years with a focus on coral reefs. Sam’s current research projects include the study of coral physiology along environmental gradients and defining biological traits that drive resilience in corals. Her research program combines in situ monitoring with mesocosm and laboratory-based tank experiments to study: the effects of environmental parameters on the physiology of corals and their symbionts; the determinants of successful coral reproduction, larval settlement and recruitment; and the response of coral reefs to predicted climate change impacts and local anthropogenic stressors.

Sam received her PhD from Swansea University of Wales where she studied coral reproductive ecology in Bermuda (1998-2003). Following this she joined the BIOS staff as an Instructor in Residence and Postdoctoral Scientist (2003-2005) before becoming a faculty member at BIOS as an Assistant Scientist (2005-2009) and then promoted to Associate Scientist (2009 – present). Sam is passionate about education and is a long-standing course instructor and mentor of undergraduate interns. Sam held the positions of Adjunct Assistant Professor at Duke University (2003-2007) and Visiting Lecturer at Princeton University (2009-2015). In 2009, Sam gained the additional title as Senior Lecturer at BIOS, and from 2017 has held a joint appointment of Assistant Director of Education for University Programs as well as PI for the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.

Research Interests:
Marine invertebrate eco-physiology and population dynamics; coral physiology along environmental gradients; coral reproduction, larval settlement and recruitment ecology; understanding the mechanisms of resilience of coral reefs to climate change stressors.

Educational Background:
Swansea University of Wales
-PhD, 2003
-MPhil, 1998
-BSc in marine biology, 1996

Click HERE for a link to Dr. de Putron’s CV

Further Information:
de Putron Lab: Coral Reef Ecology and Resilience Lab

Selected Publications:
(*denotes student)

Lima LFO*, Alker AT*, Papudeshi B, Morris MM, Edwards RA, de Putron SJ, Dinsdale EA (2022) Coral and Seawater metagenomes reveal key microbial functions to coral health and ecosystem functioning shaped at reef scale. Nature Microbiology, DOI 10.1007/s00248-022-02094-6

Wong KH*, Goodbody-Gringley G, de Putron SJ, Becker DM*, Chequer A, Putnam HM (2021) Brooded coral offspring physiology depends on the combined effects of parental press and pulse thermal history. Global Change Biology, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15629

Drenkard E*, Cohen A, McCorkle D, Repeta D, de Putron SJ, Starczak V* (2018) Juveniles of the Atlantic coral, Favia fragum do not invest energy to maintain calcification under ocean acidification. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 507:61-69

Courtney TA*, Lebrato M, Bates NR, Collins A, de Putron SJ, Garley R, Johnson R, Molinero J-C, Noyes T, Sabine CL, Andersson AJ (2017). Environmental controls on modern scleractinian coral and reef-scale calcification. Science Advances, 3: e1701356

de Putron SJ, Lawson JM*, White KQL*, Costa MT*, Geronimus MVB*, MacCarthy A* (2017) Variation in larval properties of the Atlantic brooding coral Porites astreoides between different reef sites in Bermuda. Coral Reefs, DOI 10.1007/s00338-016-1527-8

Courtney TA*, Andersson AJ, Bates NR, Collins A, Cyronak T, de Putron SJ, Eyre BD, Garley R, Hochberg EJ, Johnson R, Musielewicz S, Noyes TJ, Sabine CL, Sutton AJ, Toncin J, Tribollet A (2016) Comparing chemistry and census-based estimates of net ecosystem calcification on a rim reef in Bermuda. Frontiers in Marine Science, DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2016.00181

Andersson AJ, Yeakel KL*, Bates NR, de Putron SJ (2013). Partial offsets in ocean acidification from changing coral reef biogeochemistry. Nature Climate Change. DOI: 10.1038/ NCLIMATE2050

de Putron SJ, McCorkle D, Cohen AL, Dillon A*. (2011) The impact of seawater saturation state and bicarbonate ion concentration on calcification by new recruits of two Atlantic corals. Coral Reefs 30(2): 321-328

de Putron SJ and Smith SR. (2011). Planula release and reproductive seasonality of the scleractinian coral Porites astreoides in Bermuda, a high-latitude reef. Bulletin of Marine Science 87(1): 75-90

de Putron SJ and Ryland JS. (2009) Effect of seawater temperature on reproductive seasonality and fecundity of Pseudoplexaura porosa (Cnidaria:Octocorallia): latitudinal variation in Caribbean gorgonian reproduction. Invertebrate Biology, 128(3): 213-222