معرفی
Guido Leurs is a marine biologist and researcher at the University of Groningen's Conservation Ecology Group, specializing in elasmobranch (sharks and rays) ecology and conservation. His research primarily focuses on the ecological role of sharks and rays within marine ecosystems, from large intertidal areas and coral reefs to the pelagic zone. Leurs leads multiple international research projects including the Intertidal Sharks and Rays project in West Africa, Sharks of the Caribbean project, and the Azores Shark & Ray Safari.
Leurs' research interests center on functional ecology, species niche, distribution, and ecological roles, with particular attention to how ecosystem processes are linked across spatial and temporal scales. He investigates how species with large dispersal ranges serve as vital links between ecosystems and how anthropogenic factors affect these mobile predators. His work emphasizes the importance of sharks and rays as top predators in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems through top-down mechanisms and trophic cascades.
His published research spans innovative techniques like laser photogrammetry for measuring hammerhead sharks non-invasively, acoustic telemetry studies in the Caribbean, and extensive fieldwork in West Africa's Banc d'Arguin National Park and Bijagos Archipelago. Leurs has conducted expeditions across the Atlantic from the Caribbean to West Africa, Bahamas to South Africa, studying diverse elasmobranch species from guitarfish to white sharks.
Leurs is also dedicated to science communication, appearing on Dutch television and radio to discuss shark research and conservation. His work bridges scientific research with public outreach, emphasizing that effective conservation requires communicating findings to broader audiences. He co-organizes the Azores Shark & Ray Safari to provide educational diving experiences that connect people directly with marine predators.
