address key questions to do with the population structure and biogeography of Symbiodinium within Australian waters. Together with D. Carter form Biochemistry, we are also gathering important information on the extent to which this organism engages in sexual recombination. Sexual reproduction is characteristic of free-living dinoflagellates but has yet to be observed among populations of symbiotic zooxanthellae. The expected outcome of this work is a vast increase in our knowledge of the population structure, diversity and life histories of the zooxanthellae associated with Australian waters. This knowledge will have great importance for understanding the ecology, population dynamics, evolution and biodiversity of zooxanthellae, and by extension, coral reef ecosystems.
