Gut reaction: a fascinating look inside tuatara tummies across Aotearoa
Tuatara are an endemic reptile to Aotearoa and have lived here for millions of years. However, in recent years, the species has faced a steep population decline due to habitat destruction and introduced predators. Today tuatara populations exist only in predator-free sanctuaries and offshore islands.
Join Carmen Hoffbeck as she takes a fascinating look inside the tummies of tuatara around New Zealand. In this talk, she will share her research investigating what bacteria live in the guts of tuatara in different sanctuaries around the country, whether these bacteria vary with temperature, and what they may be contributing to the health of this ancient species.
Bio
Carmen (Cam) Hoffbeck is a third-year PhD candidate at the University of Auckland studying tuatara gut microbiology. She earned her bachelors and masters degrees in the United States and came to Aotearoa to study the microbiology of its unique native species. Cam has researched the microbes associated with clams, marine sponges, legumes and tuatara. She has a broad interest in how microbes like bacteria interact with their hosts, especially how those microbes can influence the conservation of species like tuatara.
Event
8:00pm @The Oakroom, 17 Drake Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
Also speaking at this location at 6:30pm is Rod Dunbar
