Lesley L. Rhodes

Lesley Louise Rhodes is a New Zealand scientist. She is the co-leader of the Nationally Significant Database programme (NSD) for the Cawthron Institute. In the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was named as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition for her contributions to science and marine farming.

Career Rhodes completed a master's degree in biochemistry at Lincoln University in 1988. Following this she completed a PhD in plant biotechnology at Massey University in 1995.

In 1985 she started work as a scientist for the Cawthron Institute, becoming a senior scientist in 1994.

There is a species of marine phytoplankton, Ostreopsis rhodesae, named after her to recognise her contributions to toxic algae research.

Selected publications Wood, S.A.; Rhodes, L.; Lengline, F.; Ponikla. K.; Pochon, X. (2017). "Phylogenetic characterisation of marine Chroococcus-like (Cyanobacteria) strains from the Pacific region." New Zealand Journal of Botany. 55: 5–13 Rhodes, L.; Smith, K.; Harwood, T.; Bedford, C. (2014). (2014). "Novel and toxin-producing epiphytic dinoflagellates isolated from sub-tropical Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands group." New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 48: 594–599. Kohli, G.S.; Papiol, G.G.; Rhodes, L.; Harwood, D.T.; Selwood, A.I.; Jerrett, A.; Murray, S.A.; Neilan, B.A. (2014). "A feeding study to probe the uptake of Maitotoxin by snapper (Pagrus auratus)." Harmful Algae 37: 125–132.