Erica Carlig

Erica Carlig is a researcher at National Research Council (CNR) of Italy. Her main research interest is the biology and ecology of Arctic and Antarctic fish. She works on ecomorphology related to morpho-anatomical structures involved in the feeding activity of polar fish through morphometric analyses (traditional and geometric morphometry). These studies are important to characterise the feeding strategy of polar fish, with the aim of better understanding their adaptation and potential trophic flexibility, an important aspect in determining their ability to respond to environmental changes due to the rapid climatic warming to which polar ecosystems are subjected. She is currently the scientific leader of the Antarctic project (EMPHASIS) on the ecomorphological analysis of notothenioid fish species within the Italian National Research Programme in Antarctica (PNRA).

In addition, she is involved in studies on fish biodiversity through the use of remote visual techniques in specially protected marine areas, such as ASPAs in areas covered by sea ice in Terra Nova Bay within the Ross Sea region MPA. These studies are also supported by the CCAMLR Scientific Scholarship she was awarded by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

Current research projects / interests:

• feeding strategies of Arctic and Antarctic fish through ecomorphological analysis
• use of visual techniques to study the presence and distribution of Antarctic toothfish in coastal ice-covered areas in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea)
• research and monitoring of marine communities in coastal areas of the Ross Sea region MPA
  

Keywords: Antarctic fish, biodiversity, feeding strategy, ecomorphology, visual techniques, Antarctic conservation