Brigitte Sommer

Dr Brigitte Sommer is a researcher at The University of Sydney, affiliated with the BIO department. Her research interests include community ecology, marine and estuarine ecology, conservation and biodiversity, environmental assessment and monitoring, environmental management, ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation, natural resource management, ecology, zoology, and climate change impacts and adaptation. Dr Sommer holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Marine Ecology) from The University of Queensland (2015), a First-class Honours in Marine Ecology from Southern Cross University (2010), a Master of Environmental Management from University of New England (2009), and a Master of Marine Science and Management from University of New England (2008).

Brigitte Sommer is a marine ecologist whose research focuses on marine ecology, biogeography, and the dynamics of range limits, particularly in biogeographic transition zones and subtropical reefs. Her work explores how environmental stressors, such as thermal stress and flooding, impact coral communities and their resilience. Sommer investigates the ecological and environmental drivers shaping coral reef ecosystems, including the effects of global warming, mass bleaching events, and human-induced stressors. Her research also examines the potential for coral reef refuges in high-latitude regions and the role of functional diversity in reef ecosystems. Through her studies, she contributes to understanding the ecological consequences of climate change on marine biodiversity.