How do offshore wind farms reshape life beneath the waves? As a PhD candidate at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, I investigate how offshore wind farms influence food webs in the North Sea as part of the NO-REGRETS project. Using molecular tools, particularly DNA metabarcoding, my research aims to uncover species interactions and understand how offshore wind farms affect marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Building on my background in molecular biology, DNA barcoding and phylogenetics, I hope to contribute to a better understanding of the ecological impacts of offshore wind energy and help support a sustainable energy transition.
Keywords
Marine ecology, DNA metabarcoding, marine foodwebs, biodiversity genomics, offshore wind farms
Researchinterest
I started out in marine ecology before spending several years working in molecular biology, using DNA to study biodiversity and evolution. I wanted to bring this experience back to my interest in the marine environment. What I find particularly exciting is how DNA can reveal things that are otherwise difficult to observe, from identifying species in complex samples to uncovering the relationships between organisms.
During my PhD, I hope to build on this experience to better understand how marine food webs work and how they respond to changes in their environment. With offshore wind farms becoming an increasingly familiar part of the North Sea, I am curious about how life beneath the surface is changing and how the species living there are connected. Through my research, I hope to shed light on these connections and contribute to a better understanding of the marine ecosystems we depend on.
