Susan Brawley

Susan Brawley is an American marine ecologist at the University of Maine known for her research on algae, especially algal reproduction.

[2] Brawley's early research examined the biology of the brown algae Fucus and macroalgal reproductive ecology,[3][4][5] and the role of grazers in determining community structure on coral reefs.

[7] She has also tracked the movement of invasive species including periwinkles[8] and the toothed wrack seaweed, Fucus serratus, where her research revealed that both originated from Ireland and Scotland and were likely carried in ballast rocks on ships that were moving materials across the Atlantic Ocean.

[11] Brawley led the team examining the genome of the red algae Porphyra and the resulting research revealed how they survive by transporting nutrients, protecting themselves from light, and form cell walls.

[12][13][14] Brawley's research has implications for aquaculture and the new marketing of sea vegetables, including Ascophyllum, as a new cash crop in Maine.