My current research focuses on understanding how reef-building corals function at the molecular level, with a particular focus on dissecting the processes of symbiosis and calcification. I use molecular techniques to explore the impacts of global environmental stresses on the coral holobiont. I have developed extensive knowledge and practical skills in the area of coral genomics, starting from classical gene cloning techniques to high-throughput RNA sequencing. My background means that I am familiar with the complexity as well as the fragility of the coral holobiont, and have a broad understanding of partners’ communication.

In addressing these research topics, I have taken the opportunity to work in the laboratories of the current leaders in this field, Professors Denis Allemand (Monaco), and David J. Miller (JCU, Townsville).

I completed my PhD at the Scientific Centre of Monaco (2004-2007) where I studied the relation that exists between calcification and photosynthesis in Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate symbiosis. From 2007 to 2009, I held a Lecturer position at the University of Nice where I studied the molecular dialogue between the two partners of the symbiosis, and more particularly the molecular response to heat stress. In 2009, I was awarded a prestigious European fellowship from the Marie Curie actions (Outgoing International Fellowship). I shared my time between Australia (ARC CoE for Coral Reefs Studies, Townsville) and France (UPMC-CNRS, Villefranche-sur-mer), and investigated the timely topic of ocean acidification’s impact on marine invertebrates using high-throughput sequencing.

 

Interests

Research

• Coral genomics
• Biomineralization
• Symbiosis
• Ocean acidification

Experience

• 2013 to 2016 - Research Fellow in Genomics, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reefs Studies / James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2011 to 2012 - Marie Curie post-doctoral fellow, UPMC-CNRS (Villefranche-sur-mer, France)
• 2009 to 2011 - Marie Curie post-doctoral fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reefs Studies / James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2007 to 2009 - Part-time Lecturer, University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis (Nice, France)

Research Disciplines

• Ecology (0602)
• Evolutionary Biology (0603)
• Genetics (0604)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Climate and Climate Change (9603)
• Expanding Knowledge (9701)
• Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity (9608)

Fellowships

• 2009 to 2012 - Marie-Curie International Outoing Fellowship European Commission, Funding scheme FP7-MC-IOF

Other

• 2013 - Competitive Research Incentive Grant (CRIG) - James Cook University

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Cooke I, Mead O, Whalen C, Boote C, Moya A, Ying H, Robbins S, Strugnell J, Darling A, Miller D, Voolstra C and Adamska M (2019) Molecular techniques and their limitations shape our view of the holobiont. Zoology, 137.
• Smith H, Moya A, Cantin N, van Oppen M and Torda G (2019) Observations of simultaneous sperm release and larval planulation suggest reproductive assurance in the coral Pocillopora acuta. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6.
• Kenkel C, Moya A, Strahl J, Humphrey C and Bay L (2018) Functional genomic analysis of corals from natural CO2‐seeps reveals core molecular responses involved in acclimatization to ocean acidification. Global Change Biology, 24 (1). pp. 158-171
• Torda G, Sambrook K, Cross P, Sato Y, Bourne D, Lukoschek V, Hill T, Torras Jorda G, Moya A and Willis B (2018) Decadal erosion of coral assemblages by multiple disturbances in the Palm Islands, central Great Barrier Reef. Scientific Reports, 8. pp. 1-10
• Lin M, Moya A, Ying H, Chen C, Cooke I, Ball E, Forȇt S and Miller D (2017) Analyses of corallimorpharian transcriptomes provide new perspectives on the evolution of calcification in the Scleractinia (corals). Genome Biology and Evolution, 9 (1). pp. 150-160
• Torda G, Donelson J, Aranda M, Barshis D, Bay L, Berumen M, Bourne D, Cantin N, Foret S, Matz M, Miller D, Moya A, Putnam H, Ravasi T, van Oppen M, Vega Thurber R, Vidal-Dupiol J, Voolstra C, Watson S, Whitelaw E, Willis B and Munday P (2017) Rapid adaptive responses to climate change in corals. Nature Climate Change, 7. pp. 627-636
• Wu H, Dissard D, Le Cornec F, Thil F, Tribollet A, Moya A and Douville E (2017) Primary life stage boron isotope and trace elements incorporation in aposymbiotic Acropora millepora coral under ocean acidification and warming. Frontiers in Marine Science, 4.
• Cinner J, Pratchett M, Graham N, Messmer V, Fuentes M, Ainsworth T, Ban N, Bay L, Blythe J, Dissard D, Dunn S, Evans L, Fabinyi M, Fidelman P, Figueiredo J, Frisch A, Fulton C, Hicks C, Lukoschek V, Mallela J, Moya A, Penin L, Rummer J, Walker S and Williamson D (2016) A framework for understanding climate change impacts on coral reef social–ecological systems. Regional Environmental Change, 16 (4). pp. 1133-1146
• Moya A, Howes E, Lacoue-Labarthe T, Foret S, Hanna B, Medina M, Munday P, Ong J, Teyssié J, Torda G, Watson S, Miller D, Bijma J and Gattuso J (2016) Near-future pH conditions severely impact calcification, metabolism and the nervous system in the pteropod Heliconoides inflatus. Global Change Biology, 22 (12). pp. 3888-3900
• Moya A, Sakamaki K, Mason B, Huisman L, Forêt S, Weiss Y, Bull T, Tomii K, Imai K, Hayward D, Ball E and Miller D (2016) Functional conservation of the apoptotic machinery from coral to man: the diverse and complex Bcl-2 and caspase repertoires of Acropora millepora. BMC Genomics, 17. pp. 1-20
• Moya A, Huisman L, Fêret S, Gattuso J, Hayward D, Ball E and Miller D (2015) Rapid acclimation of juvenile corals to CO2-mediated acidification by upregulation of heat shock protein and Bcl-2 genes. Molecular Ecology, 24 (2). pp. 438-452
• Rocker M, Noonan S, Humphrey C, Moya A, Willis B and Bay L (2015) Expression of calcification and metabolism-related genes in response to elevated pCO(2) and temperature in the reef-building coral Acropora millepora. Marine Genomics, 24 (Part 3). pp. 313-318

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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 27+ research outputs authored by Dr Aurelie Moya from 2006 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• A comparrison of the molecular bases of regeneration and development in corals (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Studying Stress Impacts Using the Mushroom Coral Heliofungia (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• The Function and Ligands of G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) in Coral Larvae Settlement (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

• Non-contact competition between soft and hard corals: a transcriptomic perspective (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.

• Moya, A. (2017) Acropora millepora transcriptome. James Cook University

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.