Lea Kappas

Lea Kappas is a Doctoral Researcher at the GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel since 2024. Her work focuses on the biodiversity and conservation of macroalgal communities in the Baltic Sea, particularly through the lens of kelp afforestation and carbon sequestration initiatives.

• Education:
  • MSc in Marine Biology (2024) at the University of Bremen, focusing on the environmental framework and heat stress response of Laminaria hyperborea in the North-East Atlantic.
  • BSc in Biology (2022) at the University of Bremen, analyzing carbon sequestration potential of Laminaria hyperborea in the German Bight.
• Research Interests:
  • Investigating habitat availability and environmental stressors affecting kelp populations.
  • Assessing the feasibility of kelp-based carbon sequestration strategies.
  • Developing digital identification tools and distribution models for macroalgae in the Baltic Sea.
  • Contributing to marine conservation efforts through the "Management Ecology of Marine Macrophytes" research group.
• Professional Roles:
  • i.a.c. Instructor for RSTC Level 2 at the International Aquanautics Club (2024).
  • Core Team and Social Media Manager for the ICYMARE Conference for Young Marine Researchers (since 2019).