Speakers: Natalia Prieto Vidal, AIAS Fellow, and Dorte Krause-Jensen, AIAS Associate Fellow

The seminar is held in-person, but online attendance is possible via: https://aarhusuniversity.zoom.us/j/65173958293

Abstract

Macroalgae (seaweeds) are the globally most widely distributed type of marine vegetation, forming productive and biodiverse habitats, especially along rocky shores. This dual talk will discuss various ways in which management of macroalgal habitats may contribute to climate change mitigation and other ecosystem services. Dorte will address the climate change mitigation aspects of protecting and restoring marine vegetated habitats including the challenges of quantifying the carbon fluxes and – sequestration of macroalgal carbon and will also touch upon potential climate change mitigation aspects of macroalgal farming. Natalia will focus on the invasive large brown macroalga, Sargassum, and dive into its chemical composition possibilities to design and produce healthy food and positive ecological impact via harvest and use of this species.

Short bio on Dorte Krause-Jensen

Dorte Krause-Jensen is a professor at the Department of Ecoscience, Marine Ecology, at Aarhus University, and an AIAS Associate Fellow. Her research focuses on the ecology of vegetated marine ecosystems, particularly seagrass meadows and kelp forests and their contribution to marine C-sequestration (blue carbon). These vast hidden forests have multiple ecological functions, and I explore how their protection and restoration in many ways can serve as nature-based solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and stimulate biodiversity. I also have a special interest in Arctic marine vegetation, and the expansion of these habitats in response to warming and loss of sea ice along the Arctic shores.

Short bio on Natalia Prieto Vidal

Natalia Prieto Vidal is an AIAS-COFUND Fellow. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of the Basque Country (Spain) and has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada), University of Guelph (Canada) and Aarhus University (Denmark). Her research goal is to understand the molecular structure of food components and their chemo-physical changes and interactions during processing and digestion. This knowledge and tools will contribute to build a sustainable food system (healthy food with minimal loss of healthy components) with a positive impact on our health, on society and climate.

What is an AIAS Seminar?

The AIAS Seminar is a session of seminars held by the AIAS fellow or by other speakers proposed by the fellows. In each seminar, one fellow will present and discuss his/her current research and research project, closing off with a question and discussion session.

All seminars are held in English.