Dr Maria da Assunção de Carvalho Soares Franco Milititsky
Postdoctoral researcher (FCT Scholarship)
Email: mm814@cam.ac.uk
Tel:
+44 (0)1223 762934
Qualifications
PhD, Gent University, Belgium (FCT Scholarship)
MSc, Gent University, Belgium (FCT Scholarship)
BSc, University of Lisbon, Portugal
Research
My research has been mainly focused on marine ecology. I have worked with marine and estuarine nematodes and their response to inputs of organic mater from different sources, using techniques like molecular tools and stable isotopes.
I am currently working with the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes of Grey Seals. I am investigating if variability at the DQB2 locus as an effect on fitness and also if this effect is habitat related.
My research interests within marine biology include genetics, fisheries, conservation measures, ecosystem functioning and general ecology.
Publications
Franco MA, Vanaverbeke J, Van Oevelen D, Soetaert K, Costa MJ, Vincx M, Moens T (2010) Respiration partitioning in contrasting subtidal sediments: seasonality and response to a spring phytoplankton deposition. Mar Ecol 31: 276-290
Soetaert K, Franco M, Lampadariou N, Muthumbi A, Steyaert M, Vandepitte L, vanden Berghe E, Vanaverbeke J (2009) Factors affecting nematode biomass, length and width from the shelf to the deep sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 392: 123-132
Van Oevelen D, Soetaert K, Franco MA, Moodley L, van Ijzerloo L, Vincx M, Vanaverbeke J (2009) Organic matter input and processing in two contrasting North Sea sediments: insights from stable isotope and biomass data. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 380:19-32
Franco MA, Steyaert M, Cabral HN, Tenreiro R, Chambel L, Vincx M, Costa MJ,
Vanaverbeke J (2008) Impact of discards of beam trawl fishing on the nematode community from the Tagus estuary (Portugal). Mar Pollut Bull 56: 1728-1736
Franco MA, Soetaert K, Costa MJ, Vincx M, Vanaverbeke J (2008) Uptake of phytodetritus by meiobenthos using 13 C labelled diatoms and Phaeocystis in two contrasting sediments from the North Sea. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 362: 1-8
Franco MA, Soetaert K, Van Oevelen D, Van Gansbeke D, Costa MJ, Vincx M, Vanaverbeke J (2008) Trophic resource and position of metazoan meiobenthos at contrasting subtidal sediments: carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 358: 51–62
Franco MA, De Mesel I, Demba Diallo M, Van der Gucht K, van Gansbeke D, Van Rijswijk P, Costa MJ, Vincx M, Vanaverbeke J (2007). Effect of phytoplankton bloom deposition on benthic bacterial communities in two contrasting sediments in the southern North Sea. Aquat Microb Ecol 48(3): 241-254
Vanaverbeke J, Courtens W, Deneudt K, Franco MA, Gysels ES, Hellemans B, Huyse T, Larmuseau M, Mees J, Moodley L, Pampoulie C, Provoost P, Remerie T, Soetaert K, Stienen E, Vanden Berghe E, Van de Walle M, van Oevelen D, Volckaert FAM, Vincx M (2007). TROPHOS: Fundamental research for policy and sustainable management, in: Calewaert, J-B & Maes F (Ed.) (2007). Science and sustainable management of the North Sea: Belgian case studies. pp. 21-81.
Vanaverbeke J, Franco MA, Van Oevelen D, Moodley M, Provoost P, Steyaert M, Soetaert K & Vincx M (2006). Benthic responses to sedimentation of phytoplankton on the Belgian Continental Shelf, in: Rousseau, V.; Lancelot, C. et al. (Ed.) (2006). Current status of eutrophication in the Belgian coastal zone. pp. 73-90
Funding Bodies
Here is the link to Fundação para a Ciêcie e a Tecnologia (FCT) that has and currently is supporting my research: www.fct.mctes.pt
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