Maru Bernal will explore genes to protect eelgrass meadows
Maru Bernal is our new doctoral student at the Department of Marine Sciences. She will explore how genomics can be used to protect and enhance eelgrass. Her dream is a world where seagrass ecosystems are valued and protected.
What are you going to do?
"I will explore how genomics can be used to protect and enhance eelgrass, a species of seagrasses, which are flowering plants that form underwater meadows in marine environments. I’ll use genomic data generated in collaboration with Swedish authorities to identify sets of genes associated with resilience to changes in salinity and temperature. Our goal is to develop tools that help us identify genotypes with the “optimal” set of genes to test whether it’s feasible to use climate-adapted individuals in restoration efforts."
"I look forward to a world where seagrass ecosystems are valued and protected, and I’m excited to learn a lot from the knowledge and experience of the people at Tjärnö. I think that will help me contribute to getting closer to that vision."
What did you do before?
"I did a bachelor’s degree at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. There I worked with another seagrass species, Syringodium filiforme, and I described the anther-wall development and pollen formation in male flowers. After that I studied the Master's Programme in Genetic and Molecular Plant Science at Stockholm University, and I did my master’s thesis here at Tjärnö, working with population genomics."
What do you like do when you are not working?
"I enjoy SCUBA diving, swimming, or simply spending time near water. I also like playing soccer and listening to music. When being outdoors I have a good time searching for flowers and trying to identify different species."
Something else you would like to share?
"Although I’m in love with seagrasses, I sometimes cheat on them with corals. But don’t tell anyone!"
Interview: Susanne Liljenström
