Sara Barrientos

Biotic multipliers of global change: herbivory pressure on kelp forest (PhD student)

Global change is tropicalizing temperate ecosystems. Its drivers are many, but it is increasingly perceived that they go beyond a simple physiological effect of warming. Warming leads to changes in species distribution, even the loss of the most vulnerable ones, and also in their interactions. In marine ecosystems, the rocky reefs of temperate latitudes are characterized by an abundance of habitat-forming algae, mainly large brown seaweed (kelp). Kelp forest are essential for maintaining a high biodiversity, but their abundance has recently declines across the world. Among the various disturbances altering kelp forest, recent studies elsewhere detected that global change sometimes enhances herbivory pressure. Observations suggest that herbivory may have played a role in the recent retreat of kelp forest of Northwest Atlantic, but its actual relevance remains unassessed. Therefore, the main goals of my PhD are i) evaluate the impact of herbivory on kelp forest of the Iberian Atlantic, ii) identify the main consuming species, and iii) compare the vulnerability of kelps with other native laminar algae. The obtained results will provide a scientific basis to assess the actual risk oh herbivory for the future of kelp forest of Northwest Atlantic.

Supervisors: Rodolfo Barreiro, Cristina Piñeiro Corbeira

Qualifications

· 2017: Master of Marine Biology, University of A Coruña, Spain.

· 2015: BSc Biology, University of Salamanca, Spain.

Achievements and awards

· 2018: National Postgraduate Research Scholarship for a PhD at University of A Coruña founded by Xunta de Galicia.