This seminar brings together two visiting researchers: Dr. Marcela Aldana from Universidad Santo Tomás (Chile) and Melissa Fernández from Universidad Andrés Bello (Chile).
Entitled “Integrating parasites into marine biodiversity: a necessary paradigm shift”, the seminar challenges the traditional view of parasites as merely pathogens. Drawing on research conducted along the Chilean coast, it highlights how parasitism influences the growth, reproduction, and morphology of key marine hosts, and how these effects are shaped by environmental context, particularly coastal productivity associated with upwelling systems.
Programme
Marcela Aldana (20 min) – Integrating parasites into marine biodiversity: a necessary paradigm shift
Parasitism is an integral component of marine biodiversity that modulates the health and function of ecosystems. Studies off the coast of Chile demonstrate that parasitism affects the growth, reproduction, and morphology of key hosts, and that these effects depend on the environmental context, such as the productivity associated with coastal upwelling. These findings challenge the traditional view of parasites as simply pathogens and support their inclusion in marine conservation.
Melissa Fernández (10 min) – Impact of coastal productivity on the symbiotic interaction
This research focuses on how environmental variability, particularly temperature and coastal upwelling, influences the physiology of symbiotic interactions in marine invertebrates. It integrates experimental ecophysiology with the assessment of key biomolecules to evaluate the responses of hosts and symbionts to climatic stressors and their implications for marine conservation.
A discussion session will follow the presentations.
The seminar is hosted by João Monteiro (ECOREACH group), with in-room logistics coordinated by Carla Viegas.
About the Speakers
Marcela Aldana
PhD in Biological Sciences with specialization in Ecology, P. Univ. Católica de Chile. Researcher at Center for Research and Innovation on Climate Change, Full Professor in PhD Program in Biodiversity Conservation and Management, Univ. Santo Tomás.
Melissa Fernández
Melissa Fernández is a PhD(c) in Conservation Medicine at Universidad Andrés Bello. Her research focuses on the ecophysiology of marine coastal invertebrates, examining the effects of upwelling on biological performance under climate change.
The seminar is free of charge, but registration is mandatory.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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