Kirsten Müller
Biography
Kirsten Müller carries out research in Phycology and is a world expert on the Bangiales.
The red algae (Rhodophyta) are an ancient lineage with some members being reported in the fossil record as far back as 1.2 billion years. This group is of considerable economic importance since they contain compounds (agar, carrageenan, etc.) that are used extensively as thickeners in products such as yogurt, ice cream and toothpaste. Genera such as Porphyra (aka. Nori, laverbread) and Palmaria (a.k.a. Dulse) are important food sources and are global billion dollar aquaculture industries. In addition, the red algae are a critical group in the evolution of photosynthetic life on earth through secondary endosymbiosis of chloroplasts. This simply means that several lineages currently capable of photosynthesis have gained that ability by engulfing and keeping other photosynthetic organisms inside them. For example, red algae are the common ancestors to the chloroplasts contained in the division, Heterokontophyta (e.g. large kelps common to Atlantic and Pacific coasts). This was a pivotal event in the evolution of photosynthetic life. Despite the obvious importance of this group, very little is known about what are considered “Bangiophyte” species. Even more fascinating is that even though the fossil, Bangiomorpha, exhibits the first example of sexual reproduction in the fossil record (1.2 billion years ago), many of these groups do not appear to undergo sexual reproduction or have lost the ability entirely.
Dr. Müller's research focuses on speciation, taxonomy and evolution of sexuality within this enigmatic group and uses molecular techniques to discern if sexual reproduction is or is not occurring within populations. This research will provide a foundation for current genome sequencing projects within the red algae. In addition, she is also interested in the impact and genetics of nuisance algae (e.g. Cladophora and Chara in Laurentian Great Lakes), invasive species (e.g. Bangia atropupurea in the Great Lakes) and their biogeography within problem areas. Dr. Müller is also studying Cyanobacteria that release toxins and taste and odour compounds in drinking water (Lake Ontario) from a molecular viewpoint in order to determine if particular genotypes present in the water body are contributing to water fouling events.
The red algae (Rhodophyta) are an ancient lineage with some members being reported in the fossil record as far back as 1.2 billion years. This group is of considerable economic importance since they contain compounds (agar, carrageenan, etc.) that are used extensively as thickeners in products such as yogurt, ice cream and toothpaste. Genera such as Porphyra (aka. Nori, laverbread) and Palmaria (a.k.a. Dulse) are important food sources and are global billion dollar aquaculture industries. In addition, the red algae are a critical group in the evolution of photosynthetic life on earth through secondary endosymbiosis of chloroplasts. This simply means that several lineages currently capable of photosynthesis have gained that ability by engulfing and keeping other photosynthetic organisms inside them. For example, red algae are the common ancestors to the chloroplasts contained in the division, Heterokontophyta (e.g. large kelps common to Atlantic and Pacific coasts). This was a pivotal event in the evolution of photosynthetic life. Despite the obvious importance of this group, very little is known about what are considered “Bangiophyte” species. Even more fascinating is that even though the fossil, Bangiomorpha, exhibits the first example of sexual reproduction in the fossil record (1.2 billion years ago), many of these groups do not appear to undergo sexual reproduction or have lost the ability entirely.
Dr. Müller's research focuses on speciation, taxonomy and evolution of sexuality within this enigmatic group and uses molecular techniques to discern if sexual reproduction is or is not occurring within populations. This research will provide a foundation for current genome sequencing projects within the red algae. In addition, she is also interested in the impact and genetics of nuisance algae (e.g. Cladophora and Chara in Laurentian Great Lakes), invasive species (e.g. Bangia atropupurea in the Great Lakes) and their biogeography within problem areas. Dr. Müller is also studying Cyanobacteria that release toxins and taste and odour compounds in drinking water (Lake Ontario) from a molecular viewpoint in order to determine if particular genotypes present in the water body are contributing to water fouling events.
Research Interests
- Freshwater and Marine Algae
- Phylogeny
- Taxonomy
- Systematics
- Biogeography
- Invasive species
- Bloom forming algae
- Evolution
- Threats to Aquatic Ecosystems and their Interaction
- Conservation
- Climate Change and Geosciences
- Microbiology
- Bioinformatics, Systematics and Evolution
- Ecology and Environmental Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Managing the Risk of Human Activity in Aquatic Ecosystems
- Increasingly Complex Water Challenges
Education
- 1999 Ph.D. Botany, University of Guelph, Canada
- 1995 B.Sc. Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
Awards
- 2023 UW delegate to United Nations COP28 Conference
- 2022 Outstanding Performance Award, University of Waterloo
- 2019 Outstanding Performance Award, University of Waterloo
- 2019 Selected to be a participant in Homeward Bound, yearlong global leadership program for women in STEMM
- 2016 Excellence in Science Teaching Award (ESTA), Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo
- 2016 Outstanding Performance Award, University of Waterloo
- 2011 Luigi Provasoli Award in recognition for authoring an outstanding paper published in the Journal of Phycology, Phycological Society of America
- 2005 Recipient of the 1st Dr. Jack Carslon Memorial Departmental Teaching Award, Department of Biology University of Waterloo
- 2005 Early Researcher Award (ERA), Government of Ontario
Service
- VP/President/Past President (elected) of Canadian Council of University Biology Chairs (CCUBC) (2022-2024)
- Managing Editor (elected), Journal of Phycology, Phycological Society of America (2022-2026)
- Phycological Society of America, Vice-President/President Elect/Past President (2018-2020)
- Canadian Phycological Culture Collection, Director
Affiliations and Volunteer Work
- Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research (member)
Teaching*
- BIOL 225 - Plants and Civilization
- Taught in 2024
* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.
Selected/Recent Publications
- Cameron, E.S., Krishna, A., Emelko, M.B. & Müller, K.M. Sporadic Diurnal Fluctuations of Cyanobacterial Populations in Oligotrophic Temperate Systems Can Prevent Accurate Characterization of Change and Risk in Aquatic Systems. 2024. Water Research. 252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.121199.
- Schmidt, P.J., Cameron, E.S., Müller, K.M. & Emelko, M.B. 2022. Ensuring that fundamentals of quantitative microbiology are reflected in microbial diversity analyses based on next-generation sequencing. Frontiers in Microbiology. 13: 1-13.
- Cameron, E.S., Schmidt, P.J., Tremblay, B.J.-M., Emelko, M.B. & Müller, K.M. 2021. Enhancing diversity analysis by repeatedly rarefying next generation sequencing data describing microbial communities. Scientific Reports. 11: 22302.
- Müller, K.M., Chhun, A., Jonlija, M., Yakobowski, S.J. & Guildford, S.J. 2017. Molecular characterization of toxic Cyanobacteria from the Bay of Quinte (Lake Ontario) and Maumee Bay (Lake Erie). Journal of Great Lakes Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2017.03.021
- Ruffell, S. E., Frank, R.A., Woodworth, A.P., Bragg, L. M., Bauer, A. E., Deeth, L.E., Müller, K.M., Farwell, A. J., Dixon, D. G., Servos, M. R. & McConkey, B.J. Assessing the influence of algal species indigenous to oil sands process-affected waters on mixtures of oil sands acid extractable organic. Accepted by Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, May 2016.
- Ruffell, S.E., Müller, K.M., McConkey, BJ. 2015. Comparative assessment of microalgal fatty acids as topical antibiotics. Journal of Applied Phycology. pp 1-10.
- Baxter, L., Brain, R., Hosmer, A., Nema, M., Müller, K. M., Solomon, K. 2015. Exposure of yellow-spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) egg masses to a PSII inhibitor during embryonic development. Environmental Pollution. 206: 324-331.
- Laughinghouse, H. D. Müller, K. M., Adey, W. H., Lara, Y. Young, R. & Johnson, G. 2015. Evolution of the northern rockweed Fucus distichus in a regime of glacial cycling: implications for benthic algal phylogenetics. PLoS ONE 10(12): e0143795.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0143795. Müller & Laughinghouse are co-first authors.
- Shea, T.B., Sheath, R.G., Chhun, A., Vis, M.L., Chiasson, W.B. & Müller, K.M. 2014. Distribution, seasonality and putative origin of the non-native red alga Bangia atropurpurea (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 40: 27-34.
- Please see Professor Muller's Google Scholar profile for a current list of his/her peer-reviewed articles: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=nX8u9G4AAAAJ&hl=en.