Ana Cristina Rebelo

Ana Cristina Rebelo is a Research Fellow at the University of the Azores, affiliated with the Instituto Hidrográfico and Naturkunde Museum Stuttgart. She holds a PhD in Marine Sciences from the University of the Azores (2016). Her research focuses on rhodolith ecosystems, combining modern and fossil records to study their formation, ecological roles, and response to environmental changes.

Education: PhD in Marine Sciences (University of the Azores, 2016).

Research interests include the biogeography of rhodolith beds, their role in carbon sequestration, and their sensitivity to climate change. She explores the interplay between geological processes and biological communities on volcanic island shelves, particularly in the Azores and Madeira Archipelagos.

Her work highlights rhodolith beds' importance as CO2 sinks and juvenile fish habitats, as well as their protection under EU Habitats Directive. She collaborates on geopark initiatives, such as the GeoPark Azores and Paleopark Santa Maria, linking scientific research with geotourism.

Labs/Teams: CIBIO-InBIO, BIOISLE research group.