About
Lior Guttman earned his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. He joined the University of Haifa with 20 years of experience in aquaculture research, including 12 years as a principal investigator at the National Center for Mariculture of the Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research in Eilat.
The Guttman lab primarily focuses on Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology in Aquaculture, highlighting microbes’ critical roles in various areas like water quality, feed digestion, and health. The team investigates the factors influencing microbial community dynamics and their effects on the performance, health, and resilience of the cultured macroorganisms and the culture environment. Their research encompasses various aquaculture systems, including Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), as well as diverse species such as fish, seaweeds, and sea urchins.
By integrating advanced metagenomics and bioinformatics with traditional microbiology, chemistry, and molecular biology, the lab aims to ensure aquaculture longevity through sustainable practices, as well as to develop innovative biotechnological solutions using microbes, their genes, enzymes, and bioactive compounds.
Lior is married and has five children. He enjoys spending quality time with his family, swimming, and exploring the natural world.
Publications
- Performance of moving bed biofilm, periphyton, and halophyte biofilters in marine multi-trophic aquaculture systems, Bell, A., Ergas, S. J., Main, K., Rhody, N. & Guttman, L., 25 Aug 2026, In: Science of the Total Environment. 1045, 181943.
- Nitrogen mass balance in land-based aquaculture: Methodological constraints and implications for sustainability assessment, Shpigel, M. & Guttman, L., 30 Jun 2026, In: Aquacultural Engineering. 114, 102733.
- Green seaweed Ulva spp. bioprocessing: Bioactive molecules, emerging extraction technologies, and industrial applications in the circular bioeconomy, Wichard, T., Mapelli-Brahm, P., Barba, F. J., Domingues, R., Guttman, L., Hutarova, L., Loureiro, J. A., Unal, D., Koseoglu-Yilmaz, P., Zammit, G. & Meléndez Martínez, A. J., Apr 2026, In: Bioresource Technology. 445, 134066.
- Variability in prokaryotic and eukaryotic periphyton communities in marine recirculating integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems, Tarnecki, A. M., Brennan, N. P., Guttman, L. & Main, K. L., 30 Apr 2025, In: Aquaculture. 600, 742210.
- Unveiling the P-solubilizing potential of bacteria enriched from natural colonies of Red Sea Trichodesmium spp., Visser, A. N., Zhang, F., Guttman, L., Masasa, M., Wang, S., Koedooder, C. & Shaked, Y., 1 Feb 2025, In: Science of the Total Environment. 963, 178446.
- The green seaweed Ulva: tomorrow’s “wheat of the sea” in foods, feeds, nutrition, and biomaterials, Hofmann, L. C., Strauss, S., Shpigel, M., Guttman, L., Stengel, D. B., Rebours, C., Gjorgovska, N., Turan, G., Balina, K., Zammit, G., Adams, J. M. M., Ahsan, U., Bartolo, A. G., Bolton, J. J., Domingues, R., Dürrani, Ö., Eroldogan, O. T., Freitas, A., Golberg, A. & Kremer, K. I. & 8 others, , 2025, In: Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 65, 19, p. 3728-3763 36 p.
- Antibiotic Resistance in Vibrio Bacteria Associated with Red Spotting Disease in Sea Urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Echinodermata), Ben Natan, M., Masasa, M., Shashar, N. & Guttman, L., Dec 2024, In: Microorganisms. 12, 12, 2460.
- Sustainable Aquafeed with Marine Periphyton to Reduce Production Costs of Grey Mullet, Mugil cephalus, Hurwitz, A., Hurwitz, I., Harpaz, S., Zilberberg, N. & Guttman, L., Dec 2023, In: Sustainability (Switzerland). 15, 24, 16745.
- Spatial Succession Underlies Microbial Contribution to Food Digestion in the Gut of an Algivorous Sea Urchin, Masasa, M., Kushmaro, A., Nguyen, D., Chernova, H., Shashar, N. & Guttman, L., May 2023, In: Microbiology Spectrum. 11, 3
- Hydrodynamics of an integrated fish and periphyton recirculating aquaculture system, Bell, A. N., Guttman, L., Main, K. L., Nystrom, M., Brennan, N. P. & Ergas, S. J., Apr 2023, In: Algal Research. 71, 103028.
- Ecological insights into the resilience of marine plastisphere throughout a storm disturbance, Nguyen, D., Masasa, M., Ovadia, O. & Guttman, L., 1 Feb 2023, In: Science of the Total Environment. 858, 159775.
- Editorial: Microbial diversity as a prerequisite for resilience and resistance in sustainable aquaculture, Tarnecki, A. M. & Guttman, L., 2023, In: Frontiers in Marine Science. 10, 1227795.
- Temporal force governs the microbial assembly associated with Ulva fasciata (Chlorophyta) from an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture system, Nguyen, D., Ovadia, O. & Guttman, L., 2023, In: Frontiers in Microbiology. 14, 1223204.
- Author Correction: Fishmeal replacement by periphyton reduces the fsh in fsh out ratio and alimentation cost in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata (Scientific Reports, (2021), 11, 1, (20990), 10.1038/s41598-021-00466-5), Savonitto, G., Barkan, R., Harpaz, S., Neori, A., Chernova, H., Terlizzi, A. & Guttman, L., Dec 2022, In: Scientific Reports. 12, 1, 7186.
- Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes of a Novel Halotolerant Alkalihalobacillus Species for Hydrolysis of Starch and Other Algal Polysaccharides, Masasa, M., Kushmaro, A., Chernova, H., Shashar, N. & Guttman, L., Aug 2022, In: Microbiology Spectrum. 10, 4
- Fishmeal replacement by periphyton reduces the fish in fish out ratio and alimentation cost in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata, Savonitto, G., Barkan, R., Harpaz, S., Neori, A., Chernova, H., Terlizzi, A. & Guttman, L., Dec 2021, In: Scientific Reports. 11, 1, 20990.
- Mono-specific algal diets shape microbial networking in the gut of the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla elatensis, Masasa, M., Kushmaro, A., Kramarsky-Winter, E., Shpigel, M., Barkan, R., Golberg, A., Kribus, A., Shashar, N. & Guttman, L., Dec 2021, In: Animal Microbiome. 3, 1, 79.
- Integrated biofilters with Ulva and periphyton to improve nitrogen removal from mariculture effluent, Shahar, B. & Guttman, L., 15 Feb 2021, In: Aquaculture. 532, 736011.
- An integrated, two-step biofiltration system with Ulva fasciata for sequenced removal of ammonia and nitrate in mariculture effluents, Shahar, B. & Guttman, L., Dec 2020, In: Algal Research. 52, 102120.
- The suitability of Ulva fasciata, Ulva compressa, and Hypnea musciformis for production in an outdoor spray cultivation system, with respect to biomass yield and protein content, Neori, A., Bronfman, Y., van Rijn, J., Guttman, L., Krupnik, N., Shpigel, M., Samocha, T. M., Davis, D. A., Qiu, X., Abelin, P. & Israel, Á., 1 Oct 2020, In: Journal of Applied Phycology. 32, 5, p. 3183-3197 15 p.
- Light and primary production shape bacterial activity and community composition of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria in a microcosm experiment, Piwosz, K., Vrdoljak, A., Frenken, T., González-Olalla, J. M., Šantić, D., McKay, R. M., Spilling, K., Guttman, L., Znachor, P., Mujakić, I., Fecskeová, L. K., Zoccarato, L., Hanusová, M., Pessina, A., Reich, T., Grossart, H. P. & Koblížek, M., 1 Jul 2020, In: mSphere. 5, 4, e00354.
- Erratum for Piwosz et al., “Light and Primary Production Shape Bacterial Activity and Community Composition of Aerobic Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria in a Microcosm Experiment”, Piwosz, K., Vrdoljak, A., Frenken, T., Gonzalez-Olalla, J. M., Šantić, D., McKay, R. M., Spilling, K., Guttman, L., Znachor, P., Mujakić, I., Fecskeová, L. K., Zoccarato, L., Hanusová, M., Pessina, A., Reich, T., Grossart, H. P. & Koblížek, M., Jul 2020, In: mSphere. 5, 4, e00673-20.
- Changes in metabolism, growth and nutrient uptake of Ulva fasciata (Chlorophyta) in response to nitrogen source, Shahar, B., Shpigel, M., Barkan, R., Masasa, M., Neori, A., Chernov, H., Salomon, E., Kiflawi, M. & Guttman, L., Mar 2020, In: Algal Research. 46, 101781.
- Israeli-Developed Models of Marine Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), Neori, A., Guttman, L., Israel, A. & Shpigel, M., 1 Dec 2019, In: Journal of Coastal Research. 86, sp1, p. 11-20 10 p.
- Co-production of Monosaccharides and Hydrochar from Green Macroalgae Ulva (Chlorophyta) sp. with Subcritical Hydrolysis and Carbonization, Greiserman, S., Epstein, M., Chemodanov, A., Steinbruch, E., Prabhu, M., Guttman, L., Jinjikhashvily, G., Shamis, O., Gozin, M., Kribus, A. & Golberg, A., 1 Dec 2019, In: Bioenergy Research. 12, 4, p. 1090-1103 14 p.
- An integrated Ulva-periphyton biofilter for mariculture effluents: Multiple nitrogen removal kinetics, Guttman, L., Neori, A., Boxman, S. E., Barkan, R., Shahar, B., Tarnecki, A. M., Brennan, N. P., Main, K. L. & Shpigel, M., Sep 2019, In: Algal Research. 42, 101586.
- Is Ulva sp. able to be an efficient biofilter for mariculture effluents?, Shpigel, M., Guttman, L., Ben-Ezra, D., Yu, J. & Chen, S., 1 Aug 2019, In: Journal of Applied Phycology. 31, 4, p. 2449-2459 11 p.
- Combinations of Ulva and periphyton as biofilters for both ammonia and nitrate in mariculture fishpond effluents, Guttman, L., Boxman, S. E., Barkan, R., Neori, A. & Shpigel, M., Sep 2018, In: Algal Research. 34, p. 235-243 9 p.
- Water quality, ecological processes and management procedures in a periphyton biofiltration system in mariculture: A statistical analysis, Milstein, A., Levy, A., Neori, A., Harpaz, S., Shpigel, M. & Guttman, L., Apr 2018, In: Aquaculture Research. 49, 4, p. 1491-1503 13 p.
- Evaluation of green seaweed Ulva sp. as a replacement of fish meal in plant-based practical diets for Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, Qiu, X., Neori, A., Kim, J. K., Yarish, C., Shpigel, M., Guttman, L., Ben Ezra, D., Odintsov, V. & Davis, D. A., 1 Apr 2018, In: Journal of Applied Phycology. 30, 2, p. 1305-1316 12 p.
- Green seaweed Ulva sp. as an alternative ingredient in plant-based practical diets for Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, Qiu, X., Neori, A., Kim, J. K., Yarish, C., Shpigel, M., Guttman, L., Ben Ezra, D., Odintsov, V. & Davis, D. A., 1 Apr 2018, In: Journal of Applied Phycology. 30, 2, p. 1317-1333 17 p.
- The sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, in an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system with fish (Sparus aurata) and seaweed (Ulva lactuca): Nitrogen partitioning and proportional configurations, Shpigel, M., Shauli, L., Odintsov, V., Ben-Ezra, D., Neori, A. & Guttman, L., 4 Jan 2018, In: Aquaculture. 490, p. 260-269 10 p.
- Ulva lactuca from an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) biofilter system as a protein supplement in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) diet, Shpigel, M., Guttman, L., Shauli, L., Odintsov, V., Ben-Ezra, D. & Harpaz, S., 1 Dec 2017, In: Aquaculture. 481, p. 112-118 7 p.
- Marine periphyton biofilters in mariculture effluents: Nutrient uptake and biomass development, Levy, A., Milstein, A., Neori, A., Harpaz, S., Shpigel, M. & Guttman, L., 20 Apr 2017, In: Aquaculture. 473, p. 513-520 8 p.
- Development of polyculture and integrated multi - trophic aquaculture (IMTA) in Israel: A review, Neori, A., Shpigel, M., Guttman, L. & Israel, A., 2017, In: Israeli Journal of Aquaculture - Bamidgeh. 69, IJA_69.2017.1385.
- Isolation of bacteria capable of growth with 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin as the sole carbon and energy sources, Guttman, L. & van Rijn, J., Jan 2012, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 78, 2, p. 363-370 8 p.
- 2-Methylisoborneol and geosmin uptake by organic sludge derived from a recirculating aquaculture system, Guttman, L. & van Rijn, J., Feb 2009, In: Water Research. 43, 2, p. 474-480 7 p.
- Identification of conditions underlying production of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol in a recirculating system, Guttman, L. & van Rijn, J., 2 Jul 2008, In: Aquaculture. 279, 1-4, p. 85-91 7 p.
Education
• 1997-2000 B.Sc. Tel Aviv University, Department of Life Sciences
• 2002-2005 M.Sc. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Department of Animal Sciences and Veterinary
• 2005-2012 Ph.D. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Department of Animal Sciences and Veterinary
• 2013 Post-doctorate fellow, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Research Areas
• Microbial community dynamics in the aquaculture environment and cultured organisms and their relationships with culture and organism performances, health, and resilience
• Host-microbe interactions in marine organisms for biotechnological applications (e.g., probiotics)
• Innovative biofilters (bacterial, algal, and plant-based) for improving aquaculture sustainability
• Seaweed's ecosystem services and biorefinery
• Aquaculture-environment interactions for reducing footprint