Overview

Dr Diana Ballesteros

[email protected]

Bogotá - Colombia

Phone	+44-7772260525
Language	English - Spanish
Profession	Marine Biologist
Communication	Mobile, email

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I have been working and studying in the field of marine biology for the last 12 years. I have a degree in Biology (2010 - Military University Nueva Granada, Bogota, Colombia), with an MSc in Biological Sciences (2013 - Andes University, Bogota, Colombia) and a PhD in Environmental Biology (2021 - Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK).

In my PhD, funded by COLCIENCIAS (Doctorados Exterior 679 - 2014) and Manchester Metropolitan University, I focused on understanding connectivity and resilience in coral reef ecosystems. I developed new genetic markers for deep and shallow corals in the Caribbean and carried out some experiments to identify the effect of light/turbidity on coral development, using Indo-Pacific corals as models. During this time, I had the opportunity to collaborate with several international universities, research institutes and marine reserves from Colombia, Germany, Guatemala, Barbados and Curacao. Previous to my PhD, I worked at INVEMAR (Marine and Coastal Research Institute), Colombia, where I did the biological-physicochemical analysis and monitoring of marine ecosystems conditions (seagrass and coral reefs), identification of coral reefs areas for restoration, and biotic characterization on rocky reefs in the Colombian Pacific.

During my MSc studies (funded by Andes University), I developed my laboratory and fieldwork skills, working on the effect of fungal disease and invasive species in rocky reefs. Through this period, I also worked as a curator in taxonomy workshops (reference museum of Andes University), as a researcher in Octocorals (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute - STRI, Panama and Malpelo Foundation, Colombia), and as a teaching assistant in biodiversity conservation and development courses at Andes University. I have always been fascinated by the sea, the complex ecosystems in it, and its important role in our life. My curiosity about the dynamics of these ecosystems and their protection has only grown over time.

Funded projects

• 2017-2020: Manchester Metropolitan University (UK). Connectivity and Resilience of Coral Reef Ecosystems. Main researcher. £60.000
• 2016: University of Manchester (UK). Sustainability grant: Response of the coral Montipora Sp. to low light intensity as a factor in high turbidity conditions using an aquarium system design. Main researcher. £2.000
• 2014-2017: COLCIENCIAS- COLFUTURO (Colombia). Development of new microsatellites for Madracis corals in Colombia. Main researcher. £100.000
• 2010-2013: Andes University (Colombia). Monitoring of invasive species and fugal disease impact on Octocorals in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Main Researcher. £ 30.000

PEER-REVIEWED Publications

Ballesteros-Contreras, D. C., Barrios, L. M and Preziosi, R. (2022). Population structure of the shallow coral Madracis auretenra in the Caribbean Sea.Frontiers in Marine Science, 9 pp. 1–15. doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.840730.

Ballesteros-Contreras, D. C., Barrios, L. M., and Preziosi, R. (2022). Development of microsatellite markers for the deep coral Madracis myriaster (Pocilloporidae: Anthozoa).Scientific Reports. 12, 1–8. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-14322-7.

Ballesteros-Contreras, D. C., Barrios, L. M., and Preziosi, R. (2022). New microsatellite markers for the shallow coral Madracis auretenra from the Caribbean.PLoS One 17, 1–11. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0274895.

Sánchez, J. A., Ardila, N. S., Andrade, J., Dueñas, L., Navas, R and Ballesteros-Contreras, D. C. 2014. Octocoral densities and mortalities in Gorgona Island, Colombia, Tropical Eastern Pacific.Rev Biol Trop, 62: 209-219.

Sanchez, J. A. and Ballesteros-Contreras, D. C. 2014. The invasive snowflake coral (Carijoa riisei) in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, Colombia.Rev Biol Trop, 62: 197-207