Joan Alfaro

Dr. Joan Alfaro is a Lecturer in Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth's School of Biological and Marine Sciences, specializing in deep-sea ecosystems. She actively accepts PhD students for research in marine ecology and biodiversity.

Research Focus

Her work investigates:

• Macroecology: Global biodiversity patterns in extreme environments.
• Hydrothermal Vents & Organic Falls: Trophodynamics, species interactions, and chemosynthesis.
• Climate Impacts: Effects of interventions (e.g., ocean alkalinity enhancement) on deep-sea ecosystems.
• Conservation: Vulnerability assessments of deep-sea communities to mining and warming.

Publication Trends

Recent articles (2020-2025) emphasize deep-sea ecological responses to anthropogenic stressors. Key themes include functional vulnerability of hydrothermal vent communities, whale-fall ecosystems as biodiversity refugia, climate intervention risks, and taxonomic discoveries in chemosynthetic habitats. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates taxonomy, biogeochemistry, and policy-relevant conservation science.