Role in CaRe-GR
Leads WP2 (Mapping reefs and marine caves in Greece), Task 2.2 (Mapping deep reefs), Task 3.3 (Data analysis) and Task 3.4 (Assessing the ecological status of reefs). She is active in habitat mapping, reef biodiversity monitoring, benthic image analysis, and ecological assessment.
Biography
Maria has a PhD in marine ecology specializing in biodiversity assessment, ecological mapping and monitoring, and the conservation of marine ecosystems. Her research focuses on fish and benthic communities in the Mediterranean Sea, exploring their responses to pressures such as invasive species, climate change, and fishing. She has worked extensively on mapping and health status assessments of rocky reefs, restoration of vulnerable species and habitats, and MPA monitoring. She is an experienced scientific diver, actively involved in the development of non-destructive sampling methods.
Within the CaRe-GR project, she leads key activities under WP2- “Mapping reefs and marine caves in Greece” and WP3-“Assessing the Ecological Status of Reefs in Greece”. Her contribution includes data compilation for the mapping of deep rocky reefs across the Greek seas, data collection through underwater fieldwork using SCUBA-based methodologies such as ECOfast and photoquadrat sampling, as well as leading the data analysis and the large-scale ecological assessment of rocky reef ecosystems.
She has contributed to over 27 research projects and has co-developed specialized software such as PhotoQuad® for seabed image analysis, Cavetopo for underwater cave mapping, and the ECO-fast monitoring protocol and subsequent index. With 49 peer-reviewed publications, and more than 70 conference presentations, her work emphasizes marine ecology through SCUBA diving, and biodiversity assessment using advanced tools. Her collaborative work, which integrates scientific research and public engagement, underscores her commitment to advancing marine ecology and environmental sustainability.