Photograph of Dr Mar Benavides
Group
Ocean BioGeosciences
Site
Southampton
Biography

My research bridges the spatiotemporal scales between diazotrophs (nitrogen-fixers) and global biogeochemical cycles. Ranging from cold and nutrient-rich waters such as the mesopelagic ocean or coastal upwelling ecosystems to ocean deserts, I seek to understand which factors control the magnitude, distribution and diversity of nitrogen fixation in the ocean. To this end I combine nanotechnology, molecular biology, biogeochemistry and modelling approaches.

 

For more info about my research, team and projects, please visit www.oceanbridges.net

 

You can check my publications here 

  • Senior Research Scientist (NOC)
  • Chargée de Recherche (IRD, France)
  • Associate Editor Limnology & Oceanography Letters

  • NERC Cruise Programme Review Group (CPRG)

  • French High-Seas Oceanographic Fleet Commission (CNFH)

  • BioGeoSCAPES Science Plan Writing Team

  • Aquatic N2-Fixation Research Coordination Network

Current projects

  • POET: Particles as niches for nOn-cyanobactErial diazoTrophs, co-PI (Transatlantic Research Partnership, USA-France)
  • ANITA: Architecture and dyNamics of marIne parTicle colonizAtion, PI (Amidex, France)
  • FIESTA: “FInE scale dynamicS of diazoTrophs in the oceAn”, PI (ANR-JCJC, France)

Past projects

  • PANDA: Particles as niches for non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs, PI (EC2CO, France)
  • MANIOC: iMpact of particle microbial colonisation on Nitrogen cyclIng in the Ocean, PI (A*Midex, Institut Océans, AMU, France)
  • DEFINE2: “Diazotroph activity and diversity shaped by fine scale ocean dynamics”, PI (LEFE, France)
  • DOGMA: “Diazotrophs and OrGanic Matter under climAte change”, co-PI (EC2CO, France)
  • IDEFIX: “Dinitrogen Fixation in the Indian Ocean: an interbasin and seasonal comparison”, PI (Pure Ocean Fund, France)
  • FIGURE: “Fine scales shaping nitrogen fIxation in the GUlf stream”, PI (Eurofleets)
  • ART: “AggRegation processes in Trichodesmium”, PI (EC2CO, France)
  • DINDE: “Dinitrogen Fixation in the Indian Ocean: an interbasin and seasonal comparison”, co-PI (Indo French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research, France-India)
  • DEFINE: “Diazotroph activity and diversity shaped by fine scale ocean dynamics”, PI (LEFE, France)
  • EMPANADAS: “Exploring Microbes in marine PArticles: fuNction, trAits and Diversity Associated”, co-PI (Axes Transverses MIO, France)
  • NOTION: “NitrOgen fixers structuring phyToplankton bIodiversity in the OceaN under climate change”, PI (BNP Paribas Foundation Climate & Biodiversity initiative)
  • TAPAS: “Transfert et cAractéristiques des PArticules dans les Systèmes océaniques”, co-PI (Axes Transverses MIO, France)
  • OASIS: Oceanic nitrogen fixation Across SpatIotemporal Scales”, co-PI (Thomas Jefferson Foundation, USA-France)
  • REACH: Remineralization of black carbon (BC) particles in coastal waters off Halong Bay (Vietnam) under different oxidation states”, PI (Action Sud IRD, France)
  • Black Carbon project, PI (Action Sud IRD, France)