Maria Mercedes Lopez, postgraduate researcher, CDT SuMMeR: Cohort 2

I graduated with a masters degree in marine biology at the University of Padova, with a thesis on the comparison of nectonic communities near natural and artificial saltmarshes in the Venice Lagoon. I then worked as a research fellow at the Hydrobiological Station “Umberto d'Ancona” in Chioggia, reconstructing the causes of changes in the Venice Lagoon and the northern Adriatic Sea ecosystems by integrating fishers’ local ecological knowledge with long-term timeseries of fishery landings.

My research interests range from fish ecology and biology to habitat and coastal ecosystems conservation. I am interested in the sustainable management of marine resources, from an ecological and social perspective. Participating in diverse collaborative settings gave me the opportunity to meet people with various backgrounds who share an interest in marine conservation and made me appreciate the added value of interdisciplinary research. I have a strong passion for science communication, which I had the chance to develop by pursuing a postgraduate course in public communication of science and scientific journalism.

Saltmarshes have crucial roles in coastal environmental and social resilience, and are a priority habitat for restoration, but face threats from land conversion and climate change. While marshes are thought essential nursery grounds for fisheries species, this principle is primarily derived from research in the USA, where marshes have different bio-physical and functional characteristics compared to the rest of the world. The scarcity of data on the role of marshes in supporting fisheries poses a significant barrier to effective restoration efforts.

This PhD project adopts a transdisciplinary approach to quantify the ecological benefits of marsh restoration and conservation to fisheries species. It integrates empirical observations of fisheries species and their environmental predictors with a socio-environmental analysis of stakeholders and governance communities. The project has four chapters: (1) Governance and stakeholder UK-wide mapping, (2) Nationwide sampling of natural and restored saltmarshes, (3) Lab-based assessment of marsh nursery importance, and (4) Evaluation of barriers to managing marshes for fisheries species through a synthesis and consultation on governance opportunities and challenges. The overarching goal is to uncover practical solutions that boost the multi-functional incentives for saltmarsh management, fostering a positive impact on the stakeholder community.

The project’s topic, which aligns with my passions, and the story narrated through its various chapters, attracted me immediately. I’m aware of the ecological and social importance of saltmarshes and the urgency of quantifying the benefits these environments provide and implementing conservation measures developed through collaboration between scientists, local stakeholders, and policy makers.

The structure of the programme suits my wishes perfectly, integrating marine environmental and social sciences and would allow me to train alongside experts from different fields providing me the tools necessary to address the complex challenges of sustainable management of marine environments and resources.