Erika Gress
Erika Gress is a marine researcher and conservationist with more than six years of experience conducting research and marine conservation initiatives in her home country Mexico and internationally. Erika has always been fascinated by the marine environment and has looked at different aspects of coral reef ecology, but her current interest is on Mesophotic Corals Ecosystems (reefs 30-150m, MCEs).
MCEs are still highly unexplored worldwide and therefore haven’t been considered in management plans in most cases. However, these ecosystems contain a unique and rich biodiversity and the potential to serve as buffers from disturbances affecting shallow reefs. During summer 2016, she had the opportunity to lead and conduct the first characterisation of MCEs in the Mexican Caribbean. Erika is now collaborating with the local managers – CONANP, Cozumel - to incorporate these ecosystems into management plans.
She is currently doing an internship with the Ocean Research and Conservation Group at the University of Oxford, UK.
MCEs are still highly unexplored worldwide and therefore haven’t been considered in management plans in most cases. However, these ecosystems contain a unique and rich biodiversity and the potential to serve as buffers from disturbances affecting shallow reefs. During summer 2016, she had the opportunity to lead and conduct the first characterisation of MCEs in the Mexican Caribbean. Erika is now collaborating with the local managers – CONANP, Cozumel - to incorporate these ecosystems into management plans.
She is currently doing an internship with the Ocean Research and Conservation Group at the University of Oxford, UK.