golubic@bu.edu

Ecology and Conservation Biology Marine Biology Molecular Ecology and Evolution

Professor of Biology
Ph.D., University of Zagreb, Croatia, 1963

Microbial ecology, fossil microorganisms, phycology, cyanobacteria

My research concerns the relationship between microorganisms and mineral deposits. It is by nature ecological and interdisciplinary, involving aspects of paleontology, sedimentology, and geochemistry. My interests include the role of microorganisms in carbonate deposition and dissolution, ecology of modern stromatolites, biokarst formation, use of microborings as paleoenvironmental indicators, ecology and taxonomy of cyanobacteria, microbial ecology of extreme environments and interpretation of microbial fossils, with particular reference to the Precambrian.

Current projects in my laboratory include: Activities of phototrophic and heterotrophic endoliths penetrating coral skeleton and acting as opportunistic diseases when reef corals are under stress. Distribution, ecology and diversity of benthic cyanobacteria in tropical coral reef environments. Microbial bioerosion and endoliths in carbonatic oolitic grains and shifting sediments in shallow subtropical marine settings (Arabian Gulf and Bahama Bank). - Biosedimentation of carbonate in past and present freshwater deposits (travertine) and the role of microorganisms in their formation. - Comparison between modern microorganisms and Proterozoic (older than 550 My) microfossils. Molecular phylogeny of cyanobacteria.

Glaub, I., Golubic, S., Gektidis, M., Radtke, G. and Vogel, K. 2006. Microborings and microbial endoliths: geological implications, p. 362-375.   In: Miller, W. (Ed.) Trace Fossils: Concepts, Problems, Prospects. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., Amsterdam-Oxford-New York.  

Tribollet A, Langdon C, Golubic S, Atkinson M. 2006.   Endolithic microflora are major primary producers in dead carbonate substrates of Hawaiian coral reefs. Journal of Phycology, 42: 292-303.

Gautret, P., De Wit, R., Camoin, G. & Golubic, S. 2006. Are environmental conditions recorded by the organic matrices associated with precipitated calcium carbonate in cyanobacterial microbialites? Geobiology, 4: 93-107.

Palinska, K.A, Thomasium C.F., Marquardt, J. & Golubic, S. (2006): Phylogenetic evaluation of cyanobacteria preserved as historic herbarium exsiccata.   International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 56: 2253-2263. (doi 10.1099/ijs.0.64417-0).

Richert, L. , Golubic, S., De Le Gue, R., Herve, A. & Payri, C. 2006. Cyanobacterial populations that build 'kopara' microbial mats in Rangiroa, Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia. European Journal of Phycology, 41: 259-279

Abed, R.M.M., Palinska, K.A., Camoin, G. & Golubic, S. 2006. Common evolutionary origin of planktonic and benthic nitrogen-fixing oscillatoriacean cyanobacteria from tropical oceans. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 260: 171-177 (DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.0032x).

Paul, V. J., Thacker, R.W., Banks, K. & Golubic, S. 2005. Benthic cyanobacterial bloom impact the reefs of South Florida (Broward County, USA. Coral Reefs, 24: 693-697.

Tribollet A and Golubic S. 2005. Cross-shelf differences in the pattern and pace of bioerosion of experimental carbonate substrates exposed for 3 years on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Coral Reefs, 24: 422-434 (DOI 10.1007/s00338-005-0003-7. Award for best paper in 2005).

Questions and comments are always welcome.
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This document was last modified on January 8, 2007.