Stamatina Isari

My research lies within the field of zooplankton and larval fish taxonomy and ecology. The study of key environmental factors governing mesozooplankton and fish larvae community structure has been one of my major research lines. I have been particularly interested in investigating how the species distribution and assemblage structure is associated with the abiotic and biotic factors of the water column and how the hydrographic complexity (i.e., eddies, fronts) shapes biodiversity patterns. My expertise in taxonomy and biological-physical coupling were initially developed through my research in the Mediterranean ecosystems using traditional taxonomic criteria. From 2015-2018, my research was extended to the tropical and subtropical Red Sea environment and  incorporated the application of molecular techniques for species identification and biodiversity assessment. During my career, I have additionally developed a parallel multi-year engagement in zooplankton eco-physiological studies, aiming to better understand the organismal responses to environmental parameters/stressors, the “bottom up” processes and overall trophic interactions in the planktonic food web. I have explored interactions between different trophic levels (phytoplankton, microzooplankton, mesozooplankton) aiming to gain a broad and in-depth understanding of the structure and function of marine planktonic environments.
Now I am leading the plankton research (Theme 1) in the EAF-NANSEN project (Strengthening the Knowledge Base for and Implementing an Ecosystem Approach to Marine Fisheries in Developing Countries).