Fabio Benedetti

Dr. Fabio Benedetti is a Researcher in the Department of Plant Ecology at the Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern. His work focuses on understanding the biogeography, functional diversity, and climate change impacts on marine plankton communities. He employs machine learning and biogeochemical modeling to study copepod ecology, zooplankton roles in carbon cycling, and the restructuring of marine assemblages under global warming.

Key research themes include: (1) Functional trait-based analysis of plankton communities, (2) Climate-driven shifts in marine bioregions, (3) Quantifying zooplankton contributions to biogeochemical cycles, and (4) Developing predictive models for plankton responses to environmental change. His work integrates field data with advanced computational methods to address pressing questions in marine ecology.

Notable contributions include demonstrating copepod bioregion dynamics in the North Atlantic, quantifying functional diversity impacts on ecosystem functioning, and revealing climate change effects on Mediterranean zooplankton communities. His studies highlight both regional and global perspectives, emphasizing the interconnectedness of planktonic systems with broader marine health.

Research outputs consistently emphasize methodological innovations (machine learning applications), cross-scale analyses (from individual species to global patterns), and interdisciplinary approaches combining ecology, oceanography, and biogeochemistry. Current work explores emerging marine biomes through phytoplankton-driven classifications and evaluates the role of gelatinous zooplankton in carbon sequestration processes.