UMass Boston

Marine and estuarine ecology, microbial ecology, invertebrate biology, biosecurity and invasive species ecology, ecosystem function, environmental management, sediment pollution, stormwater, ecological restoration, climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions

PhD, Biological Sciences, University of New South Wales

GradCert, University Learning and Teaching, University of New South Wales

BSc (Hons and University Medal), Marine Biology and Spatial Information Systems, University of New South Wales

Barros, TL, Mayer-Pinto, M, Dafforn, KA, Simpson, SL, Farrell, M, Bracewell, S, Johnston, EL (2025) Impact of wildfires on sediment quality in estuaries in New South Wales, Australia. Chemosphere. 385: 144604.

Renn, C, Vadillo Gonzalez, S, Marzinelli, EM, Dafforn, KA, Hart, J, Voerman, SE, Firth, LB, Gribben, PE (2025) Propagule pressure and native macrophyte biomass mediate the success of an invasive alga: the role of below-ground microbial communities. Biological Invasions. 27: 137.

Dafforn, KA (2025) Future-proofing our ports against biological invasion. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 73: 101518.

Schaefer, N, Bishop, MJ, Herbert, B, Hoey, AS, Mayer-Pinto, M, Sherman, CDH, Foster-Thorpe, C, Vozzo, ML & Dafforn, KA (2025) Major global ports alter light regimes for marine biofouling communities. Journal of Environmental Management. 374: 124119.

Schaefer, N, Hoey, AS, Bishop, MJ, Bugnot, AB, Herbert, B, Mayer-Pinto, M, Sherman, CDH, Foster-Thorpe, C, Vozzo, ML & Dafforn, KA (2025) Shining the light on marine infrastructure: the use of artificial light to manipulate benthic marine communities. Journal of Applied Ecology. 62: 220-230.

Ferguson, A, Filippini, G, Potts, J, Bugnot, AB, Johnston, EL, Rao, S, Ruszczyk, J & Dafforn, KA (2025) Benthic processes are an important indicator of eutrophication in intermittently open and closed lakes and lagoons. Estuaries and Coasts. 47: 2324-2340.

Vozzo, ML, Bishop, MJ, Dafforn, KA & Mayer-Pinto, M (2025) Ecological effects of habitat complexity vary with intertidal elevation: implications for seawall eco-engineering. Journal of Applied Ecology. 

Dodds, KC, Vozzo, ML, Mayer-Pinto, M, Dafforn, KA & Bishop, MJ (2025) Stakeholders support marine eco-engineering, but what are the perceived benefits and who should pay? People and Nature. 

Renn, C, Vadillo Gonzalez, S, Marzinelli, EM, Dafforn, KA, Hart, J, Voerman, SE, Firth, LB & Gribben, PE (2025) Propagule pressure and native macrophyte biomass mediate the success of an invasive algae: the role of below-ground microbial communities. Biological Invasions. 27: 1-21.

Bauer, F, Knights, AM, Hanley, ME, Griffin, JN, Foggo, A, Brown, A, Bishop, MJ, Dafforn, KA, Mayer-Pinto, M & Firth, LB (2025) Thermal patterns on eco-engineered coastal infrastructure depend on topographic complexity and spatial scale. Ecological Engineering. 215: 107596.

Palmer, J, Bugnot, AB, Filippini, G, Gribben, PE, Varkey, D, Erickson, K & Dafforn, KA (2024) The influence of bioturbator activity on sediment bacterial structure and function is moderated by environment. Marine Environmental Research. 201: 106702.

Janssen, AR, Bishop, MJ, Mayer-Pinto, M & Dafforn, KA (2024) Morpho-physiological traits and tissue burdens of Ecklonia radiata linked to environmental variation in an urban estuary. Marine Environmental Research. 199: 106572.

Vozzo, ML, Bishop, MJ, Dafforn, KA, Steinberg, PD, Strain, EMA & Mayer-Pinto, M (2024) From experiment to intervention: a case study of scaling up marine eco-engineering from research to application. Environmental Science and Policy. 158: 103800

Schaefer, N, Dafforn, KA, Johnston, EL, Clark, GF & Mayer-Pinto, M (2024) Investigating the interactive effects of habitat type and light intensity on rocky shores. Oecologia. 3: 627-642.

Firth, L. B., Bone, J., Bartholomew, A., Bishop, M. J., Bugnot, A., Bulleri, F., Chee, S.-Y., Claassens, L., Dafforn, K. A., Fairchild, T. P., Hall, A. E., Hanley, M. E., Komyakova, V., Lemasson, A. J., Loke, L. H. L., Mayer-Pinto, M., Morris, R., Naylor, L., Perkins, M. J., Pioch, S., Porri, F., O'Shaughnessy, K. A., Schaefer, N., Strain, E. A., Toft, J. D., Waltham, N., Aguilera, M., Airoldi, L., Bauer, F., Brooks, P., Burt, J., Clubley, C., Cordell, J. R., Espinosa, F., Evans, A. J., Farrugia-Drakard, V., Froneman, W., Griffin, J., Hawkins, S. J., Heery, E., Herbert, R. J. H., Jones, E., Leung, K. M. Y., Moore, P., Sempere-Valverde, J., Sengupta, D., Sheaves, M., Swearer, S., Thompson, R. C., Todd, P., & Knights, A. M. (2024) Coastal greening of grey infrastructure: an update on the state-of-the-art. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Maritime Engineering. 177:35-67.

MacIntosh, A., Dafforn, K.A., Chariton, A., Koppel, D., Cresswell, T., & Gissi, F. (2024) Response of microbial communities to NORM-contaminated sediments: a microcosm-based study. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 43: 1648-1661.

Schaefer, N., Bishop, M. J., Bugnot, A. B., Foster-Thorpe, C., Herbert, B., Hoey, A. S., Mayer-Pinto, M., Nakagawa, S., Sherman, C. D. H., Vozzo, M. L., & Dafforn, K. A. (2024) Influence of habitat features on the colonisation of native and non-indigenous species. Marine Environmental Research. 198: 106498.

Walker, L. D. A., Gribben, P., Glasby, T. M., Marzinelli, E. M., Varkey, D. & Dafforn, K. A. (2024) Above and below-ground bacterial communities shift in seagrass beds with warming temperatures. Frontiers in Marine Science – Aquatic Microbiology. 11: 1374946.

Schaefer, N., Bishop, M. J., Bugnot, A. B., Herbert, B., Hoey, A. S., Mayer-Pinto, M., Sherman, C. D. H., Foster-Thorpe, C., Vozzo, M. L., & Dafforn, K. A. (2024) Variable effects of substrate colour and microtexture on sessile marine taxa in Australian estuaries. Biofouling. 40: 223-234.

Steinberg, RK, Turnbull, J, Ainsworth, TD, Dafforn, KA, Poore, AGB & Johnston EL (2024) Impacts of necrotizing disease on the Endangered cauliflower soft coral Dendronypthya australis, Marine and Freshwater Research. 75

Filippini, G, Bugnot, AB, Varkey, DR, Siboni, N, Ferguson, A, Gribben, PE, Erickson, K, Palmer, J & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'Nitrogen-cycling genes in oyster reefs and surrounding sediments: relationships with environmental factors and respective nitrogen rates', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 197, 115710, pp. 1-11. 

Filippini, G, Bugnot, AB, Ferguson, A, Gribben, PE, Palmer, J, Erickson, K & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'The influence of oyster reefs and surrounding sediments on nitrogen removal – an in-situ study along the East coast of Australia', Environmental Research, vol. 237, no. Part 1, 116947, pp. 1-11. 

MacIntosh, A, Dafforn, K, Penrose, B, Chariton, A & Cresswell, T 2023, 'Assessing the ecological impacts of NORM-contaminated scale on marine infauna using sediment microcosms', Chemosphere, vol. 340, 139939, pp. 1-15.

Gonzalez, SV, Dafforn, KA, Gribben, PE, O'Connor, WA & Johnston, EL 2023, 'Organic enrichment reduces sediment bacterial and archaeal diversity, composition, and functional profile independent of bioturbator activity', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 196, 115608, pp. 1-13.

Trethewy, M, Mayer-Pinto, M & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'Urban shading and artificial light at night alter natural light regimes and affect marine intertidal assemblages', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 193, 115203, pp. 1-12. 

Bugnot, AB, Dafforn, KA, Erickson, K, McGrath, A, O'Connor, WA & Gribben, PE 2023, 'Reintroducing a keystone bioturbator can facilitate microbial bioremediation in urban polluted sediments', Environmental Pollution, vol. 324, 121419, pp. 1-10. 

Schaefer, N, Mayer-Pinto, M, Johnston, EL & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'Understanding the role of microhabitats in intertidal rock pools to guide future eco-engineering designs', Marine Biology, vol. 170, no. 4, 44, pp. 1-11. 

Schaefer, N, Sedano, F, Bishop, MJ, Dunn, K, Haeusler, MH, Yu, KD, Zavoleas, Y & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'Facilitation of non-indigenous ascidian by marine eco-engineering interventions at an urban site', Biofouling, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 80-93. 

Mayer‐Pinto, M, Bugnot, AB, Johnston, EL, Potts, J, Airoldi, L, Glasby, TM, Strain, EMA, Scanes, P, Ushiama, S & Dafforn, KA 2023, 'Physical and biogenic complexity mediates ecosystem functions in urban sessile marine communities', Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 60, no. 3, pp. 480-493. 

Bracewell, SA, Barros, TL, Mayer-Pinto, M, Dafforn, K, Simpson, SL & Johnston, E 2023, 'Contaminant pulse following wildfire is associated with shifts in estuarine benthic communities', Environmental Pollution, vol. 316, no. Part 1, 120533, pp. 1-13. 

Filippini, G, Dafforn, KA & Bugnot, AB 2023, 'Shellfish as a bioremediation tool: a review and meta-analysis', Environmental Pollution, vol. 316, no. Part 2, 120614, pp. 1-12. 

Stelling-Wood, TP, Gribben, PE, Birch, G, Bishop, MJ, Blount, C, Booth, DJ, Brown, C, Bruce, E, Bugnot, AB, Byrne, M, Creese, RG, Dafforn, KA, Dahlenburg, J, Doblin, MA, Fellowes, TE, Fowler, AM, Gibbs, MC, Glamore, W, Glasby, TM, Hay, AC, Kelaher, B, Knott, NA, Larkum, AWD, Parker, LM, Marzine

My research has focused on the ecological dynamics of urban marine environments, particularly the impacts of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. I began by investigating how chemical contaminants and physical habitat modifications influence the success of invasive species, conducting large-scale experiments across estuaries with results that informed antifouling policy in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. This foundational work evolved into applied research on ecological engineering of built structures, where I collaborated with industry partners like Lendlease to develop multifunctional built infrastructure that supports biodiversity and ecosystem health. These efforts culminated in the co-founding of the Living Seawalls project, which integrates ecological design into urban marine structures to enhance biodiversity.

In my current role as Co-Director of the Stone Living Lab I am designing and testing innovative nature-based approaches to enhance coastal resilience while delivering benefits beyond biodiversity such as water quality and shoreline protection. My team has conducted foundational research demonstrating how human-made structures select for species with distinct functional traits, influencing ecosystem processes. We’ve shown that increasing physical and biogenic complexity through eco-engineering can enhance species richness and particle removal, contributing to improved water clarity. These findings are critical as we seek to develop nature-positive solutions for increasingly urbanised coastlines. Through projects like Living Seawalls, I aim to continue advancing scalable, evidence-based designs that integrate ecological restoration with coastal protection.

My research has also explored the biogeochemical processes that underpin ecosystem function in urban estuaries, with a strong focus on developing nature-based solutions for coastal restoration. I have led large-scale experiments to quantify nitrogen removal and disentangle the roles of oysters, sediments, and their interactions. My team has shown that cross-habitat coupling enhances biodiversity through organic matter provisioning, and that dense oyster patches can act as hotspots for denitrification. A key part of my work connects ‘omics with benthic ecology—an area I believe is often overlooked. My team has demonstrated that restoring sediment-dwelling animals increases denitrifying microbial communities and remineralisation, offering promising strategies for remediating contaminated sediments. We’ve also found that microbial communities near stormwater drains are distinct and dominated by sulphur-reducing bacteria, and have used metatranscriptomics to link gene expression to nitrogen and sulphur cycling, revealing potential greenhouse gas production in contaminated sediments. By integrating macrofaunal, microbial, and biogeochemical research, I aim to deliver scalable, evidence-based interventions to support the recovery of degraded coastal systems.