Research @ Otago - Daniel Smart

Daniel’s research focuses on understanding one of the most pivotal aspects of an organism, its reproductive cycle, and how a warming ocean will affect the development of larvae. 

Daniel is working on the blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), a species in New Zealand for which there are large knowledge gaps. Trying to fill these knowledge gaps is of importance as blue mussels are significant organisms, having key roles in coastal marine ecosystems.

Daniel is investigating the timings of the reproductive cycle by taking monthly samples and looking at which stage they are at in their reproductive cycle. This will be carried out over a 12-month period, enabling an understanding of the timings of the reproductive cycle.   

Blue mussel open ready for dissection

Daniel is also looking at how blue mussel larvae will respond to a warming ocean, with experiments being run using different temperature treatments, and assessing the impacts of these different temperatures on the development and survival of the larvae.