Cristiana Castello-Branco is a biologist specialized in sponges (a spongiologist), interested in the biodiversity of these deep-sea creatures and in answering questions regarding their evolutionary relationships and distribution.
In another words, her work is to classify, describe, and try to understand deep-sea sponges species relationships and geographical distribution. To do so, Cristiana uses different approaches, such as morphology, genetics and ecology, to better identify them. She is also
interested in how species distribution changes along latitudinal and bathymetrical ranges in the oceans, and what elements affect in the most their distribution.
Currently, Cristiana is a postdoctoral researcher at the Museu Nacional (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – Brazil) and a research associate at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH – USA), working on systematics, diversity and distribution of deep-sea sponges.
What is your academic background and area of expertise?
CCB: I hold a bachelors degree in Biology, and Masters and PhD in Zoology (Universidade Federal da Bahia, and Museu Nacional / Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, respectively – both in Brazil).
My background in sponges taxonomy started when I was an undergrad. And it was only during my PhD that I started to work with deep-sea sponges and had a better understanding of some of their evolutionary relationships and geographic distribution patterns. Such in-depth study has resulted in the description of several new species and taxonomic reviews.
After that, I got a Peter Buck fellowship to developing my postdoctorate research at the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History (USA), where I deepened my knowledge and techniques in the taxonomy and systematics of deep-sea sponges. My area of expertise is in marine sponges, focusing on hexactinellids and demosponges.
Why were you drawn to marine science/taxonomy as a career?
CCB: I grow up on a coastal city and always had a deeply connection with the ocean. I also always had a curiosity about nature and the different creatures that we see and can classify. So, it was very natural, during college, to pursue an internship to work in a taxonomy lab and to assist in the curation of the Porifera collection. That internship had a huge impact on me and in my career.
If you’re a scientist interested in supporting our mission, we’re inviting specialists in taxonomy, marine biology and related fields to join the Ocean Census Science Network.
Featured image credit: Philip Hamilton / Ocean Image Bank
