Dr. Katja Guilini is marine ecologist with a wide interest in benthic biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and food-web ecology; specialized in the biology of meiofauna (mainly nematodes) from different habitats, in both deep-sea and shallow water areas. Current research projects where she’s involved in aim at understanding what drives benthic diversity and how it affects the functioning of marine sedimentary and seagrass environments in terms of biogeochemical cycling and food-web flows. Her interest in anthropogenic and climate-change impacts on marine ecosystems is met through her involvement in projects which study the effects of ocean acidification, risks associated with CO2 leakage from CCS sites and nodule mining through both controlled exposure experiments and a combination of field observations and experimental work at natural CO2 vent sites or deep-sea nodule areas. She is also committed in academia through the lecturing of the Oceangraphy and Marine Ecology course in the Biology and EMBC+ master programs and her tutoring of bachelor, master and PhD students.
Lichtschlag, A.; Braeckman, U.; Guilini, K.; Ahmerkamp, S.; James, R.H.; de Beer, D. (2022). Impact of shallow‐water hydrothermal seepage on benthic biogeochemical cycling, nutrient availability, and meiobenthic communities in a tropical coral reef. Limnol. Oceanogr. 67(3): 567-584. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lno.12017
Martins, M.; Carreiro-Silva, M.; Martins, G.M.; Barcelos e Ramos, J.; Viveiros, F.; Couto, R.P.; Parra, H.; Monteiro, J.; Gallo, F.; Silva, C.; Teodósio, A.; Guilini, K.; Hall-Spencer, J.M.; Leitao, F.; Chícharo, L.; Range, P. (2021). Ervilia castanea (Mollusca, Bivalvia) populations adversely affected at CO2 seeps in the North Atlantic. Sci. Total Environ. 754: 142044. https://hdl.handle.net/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142044
Ramirez-Llodra, E.; Pedersen, T.; Dexter, K.F.; Hauquier, F.; Guilini, K.; Mikkelsen, N.; Borgersen, G.; Van Gyseghem, M.; Vanreusel, A.; Vilas, D. (2021). Community structure of deep fjord and shelf benthic fauna receiving different detrital kelp inputs in northern Norway. Deep-Sea Res., Part 1, Oceanogr. Res. Pap. 168: 103433. https://hdl.handle.net/10.1016/j.dsr.2020.103433
Macheriotou, L.; Guilini, K.; Bezerra, T.N.; Tytgat, B.; Nguyen, D.T.; Phuong Nguyen, T.X.; Noppe, F.; Armenteros, M.; Boufahja, F.; Rigaux, A.; Vanreusel, A.; Derycke, S. (2019). Metabarcoding free-living marine nematodes using curated 18S and CO1 reference sequence databases for species-level taxonomic assignments. Ecol. Evol. 9(3): 1211-1226. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4814
Mevenkamp, L.; Guilini, K.; Boetius, A.; De Grave, J.; Laforce, B.; Vandenberghe, D.; Vincze, L.; Vanreusel, A. (2019). Responses of an abyssal meiobenthic community to short-term burial with crushed nodule particles in the south-east Pacific. Biogeosciences 16(11): 2329-2341. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2329-2019
Molari, M.; Guilini, K.; Lins, L.; Ramette, A.; Vanreusel, A. (2019). CO2 leakage can cause loss of benthic biodiversity in submarine sands. Mar. Environ. Res. 144: 213-229. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.01.006
Franzo, A.; Guilini, K.; Cibic, T.; Del Negro, P. (2018). Structure and function of nematode assemblages in contaminated sediments: what can we learn from the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea)? J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 98(SI 8): 1845-1857. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315418000553
Franzo, A.; Guilini, K.; Cibic, T.; Del Negro, P. (2018). Interactions between free-living nematodes and benthic diatoms: insights from the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea). Mediterr. Mar. Sci. 19(3): 538-554. https://dx.doi.org/10.12681/mms.15549
Mevenkamp, L.; Ong, E.Z.; Van Colen, C.; Vanreusel, A.; Guilini, K. (2018). Combined, short-term exposure to reduced seawater pH and elevated temperature induces community shifts in an intertidal meiobenthic assemblage. Mar. Environ. Res. 133: 32-44. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.11.002
Molari, M.; Guilini, K.; Lott, L.; Weber, M.; Meyer, S.; Ramette, A.; Wegener, G.; Wenzhöfer, F.; Martin, D.; Cibic, T.; De Vittor, C.; Vanreusel, A.; Boetius, A. (2018). CO2 leakage alters biogeochemical and ecological functions of submarine sands. Science Advances 4(2): eaao2040. https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aao2040
Soltwedel, T.; Guilini, K.; Sauter, E.; Schewe, I.; Hasemann, C. (2018). Local effects of large food-falls on nematode diversity at an arctic deep-sea site: results from an in situ experiment at the deep-sea observatory HAUSGARTEN. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 502: 129-141. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2017.03.002
Guilini, K.; Weber, M.; de Beer, D.; Schneider, M.; Molari, M.; Lott, L.; Bodnar, W.; Mascart, T.; De Troch, M.; Vanreusel, A. (2017). Response of Posidonia oceanica seagrass and its epibiont communities to ocean acidification. PLoS One 12(8): e0181531. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181531
Mevenkamp, L.; Stratmann, T.; Guilini, K.; Moodley, L.; Van Oevelen, D.; Vanreusel, A.; Westerlund, S.; Sweetman, A.K. (2017). Impaired short-term functioning of a benthic community from a deep Norwegian Fjord following deposition of mine tailings and sediments. Front. Mar. Sci. 4(169): 1-16. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.00169
Yang, G.; Li, C.; Guilini, K.; Wang, X.; Wang, Y. (2017). Regional patterns of δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes of size-fractionated zooplankton in the western tropical North Pacific Ocean. Deep-Sea Res., Part 1, Oceanogr. Res. Pap. 120: 39-47. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2016.12.007
Schade, H.; Mevenkamp, L.; Guilini, K.; Meyer, S.; Gorb, S.N.; Abele, D.; Vanreusel, A.; Melzner, F. (2016). Simulated leakage of high pCO2 water negatively impacts bivalve dominated infaunal communities from the Western Baltic Sea. NPG Scientific Reports 6(31447): 14 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep31447
Yang, G.; Li, C.; Guilini, K.; Peng, Q.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Y. (2016). Feeding strategies of four dominant copepod species in Prydz Bay, Antarctica: Insights from a combined fatty acid biomarker and stable isotopic approach. Deep-Sea Res., Part 1, Oceanogr. Res. Pap. 114: 55-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2016.04.016
Sarrazin, J.; Legendre, P.; de Busserolles, F.; Fabri, M.-C.; Guilini, K.; Ivanenko, V.N.; Morineaux, M.; Vanreusel, A.; Sarradin, P.-M. (2015). Biodiversity patterns, environmental drivers and indicator species on a high-temperature hydrothermal edifice, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Deep-Sea Res., Part II, Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 121: 177-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2015.04.013
Braeckman, U.; Van Colen, C.; Guilini, K.; Van Gansbeke, D.; Soetaert, K.; Vincx, M.; Vanaverbeke, J. (2014). Empirical evidence reveals seasonally dependent reduction in nitrification in coastal sediments subjected to near future ocean acidification. PLoS One 9(10): e108153. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0108153
Lins, L.; Guilini, K.; Veit-Köhler, G.; Hauquier, F.; Alves, R.M.S.; Esteves, A.M.; Vanreusel, A. (2014). The link between meiofauna and surface productivity in the Southern Ocean. Deep-Sea Res., Part II, Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 108: 60-68. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2014.05.003
Danovaro, R.; Carugati, L.; Corinaldesi, C.; Gambi, C.; Guilini, K.; Pusceddu, A.; Vanreusel, A. (2013). Multiple spatial scale analyses provide new clues on patterns and drivers of deep-sea nematode diversity. Deep-Sea Res., Part II, Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 92: 97-106. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2013.03.035
Guilini, K.; Veit-Köhler, G.; De Troch, M.; Van Gansbeke, D.; Vanreusel, A. (2013). Latitudinal and temporal variability in the community structure and fatty acid composition of deep-sea nematodes in the Southern Ocean. Prog. Oceanogr. 110: 80-92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2013.01.002
Veit-Kohler, G.; Guilini, K.; Peeken, I.; Quillfeldt, P.; Mayr, C. (2013). Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures of deep-sea meiofauna follow oceanographical gradients across the Southern Ocean. Prog. Oceanogr. 110: 69-79. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2013.01.001
Guilini, K.; Levin, L.A.; Vanreusel, A. (2012). Cold seep and oxygen minimum zone associated sources of margin heterogeneity affect benthic assemblages, diversity and nutrition at the Cascadian margin (NE Pacific Ocean). Prog. Oceanogr. 96(1): 77-92. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2011.10.003
Brenke, N.; Guilini, K.; Ebbe, B. (2011). Characterization of the seafloor at the SYSTCO stations based on video observations and ground truthing sedimentology. Deep-Sea Res., Part 2, Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 58(19-20): 2043-2050. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2011.05.007
Guilini, K.; Soltwedel, T.; van Oevelen, D.; Vanreusel, A. (2011). Deep-sea nematodes actively colonise sediments, irrespective of the presence of a pulse of organic matter: Results from an in-situ experiment. PLoS One 6(4): e18912. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0018912
Veit-Kohler, G.; Guilini, K.; Peeken, I.; Sachs, O.; Sauter, E.J.; Wurzberg, L. (2011). Antarctic deep-sea meiofauna and bacteria react to the deposition of particulate organic matter after a phytoplankton bloom. Deep-Sea Res., Part II, Top. Stud. Oceanogr. 58(19-20): 1983-1995. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2011.05.008
Guilini, K.; Van Oevelen, D.; Soetaert, K.; Middelburg, J.J.; Vanreusel, A. (2010). Nutritional importance of benthic bacteria for deep-sea nematodes from the Arctic ice margin: Results of an isotope tracer experiment. Limnol. Oceanogr. 55(5): 1977-1989. dx.doi.org/10.4319/lo.2010.55.5.1977
Van Hoey, G.; Guilini, K.; Rabaut, M.; Vincx, M.; Degraer, S. (2008). Ecological implications of the presence of the tube-building polychaete Lanice conchilega on soft-bottom benthic ecosystems. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 154(6): 1009-1019. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-0992-1
Rabaut, M.; Guilini, K.; Van Hoey, G.; Vincx, M.; Degraer, S. (2007). A bio-engineered soft-bottom environment: the impact of Lanice conchilega on the benthic species-specific densities and community structure. Est., Coast. and Shelf Sci. 75(4): 525-536. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2007.05.041, more
Raes, M.; De Troch, M.; Ndaro, G.M.; Muthumbi, A.; Guilini, K.; Vanreusel, A. (2007). The structuring role of microhabitat type in coral degradation zones: a case study with marine nematodes from Kenya and Zanzibar. Coral Reefs 26(1): 113-126. dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00338-006-0184-8, more
Queirós, A.M.; Norling, K.; Amaro, T.; Nunes, J.; Cummings, D.; Yakushev, E.; Sørensen, K.; Harris, C.; Woodward, M.; Danovaro, R.; Rastelli, E.; Alve, E.; De Vittor, C.; Karuza, A.; Cibic, T.; Monti, M.; Ingrosso, G.; Fornasaro, D.; Beaubien, E.S.; Guilini, K.; Vanreusel, A.; Molari, M.; Boetius, A.; Ramette, A.; Wenzhöfer, F.; de Beer, D.; Weber, M.; Grünke, S.; Bigalke, N.; Widdicombe, S. (2014). Potential impact of CCS leakage on marine communities. ECO2 project number: 265847: Deliverable, D4.1. Plymouth Marine Laboratory: Plymouth. 86 pp.
Guilini, K. (2005). Biodiversiteit en microhabitatpreferenties van mariene nematoden geassocieerd met de koraalafbraakzone in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Universiteit Gent: Gent. III, 114 pp.
Rabaut, M.; Guilini, K.; Van Hoey, G.; Vincx, M.; Degraer, S. (2009). A bio-engineered soft-bottom environment: the impact of Lanice conchilega on the benthic species-specific densities and community structure, in: Rabaut, M. Lanice conchilega, fisheries and marine conservation: Towards an ecosystem approach to marine management. pp. 31-55, more
Van Hoey, G.; Guilini, K.; Rabaut, M.; Vincx, M.; Degraer, S. (2009). Ecological implications of the presence of the tube-building polychaete Lanice conchilega on soft-bottom benthic ecosystems, in: Rabaut, M. Lanice conchilega, fisheries and marine conservation: Towards an ecosystem approach to marine management. pp. 235-254
Guilini, K. (2011). The role of trophic and oceanographic conditions in the ecology of deep-sea nematodes = De rol van trofische en oceanografische condities
in de ecologie van diepzeenematoden. PhD Thesis. Ghent University. Marine Biology Research Group: Ghent. ISBN 978-90-90265-36-0. 280 pp.
Franzo, A.; Guilini, K.; Cibic, T.; Del Negro, P. (2018). What do free-living nematodes tell us about the benthic ecosystem functioning? Insights from the northern Adriatic Sea, in: Mees, J. et al. (Ed.) Book of abstracts – 53rd European Marine Biology Symposium. Oostende, Belgium, 17-21 September 2018. VLIZ Special Publication, 82: pp. 130
Franzo, A.; Guilini, K.; Cibic, T.; Del Negro, P. (2017). The effect of severely contaminated sediments of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Italy) on free-living nematodes, in: Ramšak, A. et al. (Ed.) 52nd European Marine Biology Symposium, 25-29 September 2017, Piran, Slovenia: Abstract Book. pp. 140
Yang, G.; Li, C.; Guilini, K.; Peng, Q.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Y. (2017). Feeding strategies of four dominant copepod species in Prydz Bay, Antarctica: Insights from a combined fatty acids and stable isotopes approach, in: Van de Putte, A. (Ed.) Book of Abstracts: XIIth SCAR Biology Symposium, Leuven, Belgium, 10-14 July 2017. pp. 360
Guilini, K.; Molari, M.; Weber, M.; de Beer, D.; Schneider, M.; Lott, C.; Bodnar, W.; Mascart, T.; De Troch, M.; Martin, D.; Boetius, A.; Vanreusel, A. (2016). Meiofauna at the natural CO2 vents off Panarea Island, Mediterranean Sea: a proxy for ocean acidification and CO2 leakage from subseabed storage sites, in: Lampadariou, N. et al.16th International Meiofauna Conference, Book of Abstracts. pp. 22-23
Guilini, K.; Bezerra, T.N.; Fonseca, G.; Holovachov, O.; Leduc, D.; Miljutin, D.; Sharma, J.; Smol, N.; Tchesunov, A.V.; Mokievsky, V.O.; Vanreusel, A. (2016). An introductory guide to NeMys – the World Database of free-living marine nematodes, in: Lampadariou, N. et al.16th International Meiofauna Conference, Book of Abstracts. pp. 75
Mevenkamp, L.; Brown, A.; Guilini, K.; Lins, L.; Moodley, L.; Stratmann, T.; Sweetman, A.; van Oevelen, D.; Westerlund, S.; Vanreusel, A. (2016). Responses of nematodes to increased copper toxicity, tailings exposure and sediment deposition from in-situ and laboratory experiments, in: MIDAS final meeting, 3-7 October 2016, Het Pand, Gent, Belgium: conference programme and abstract volume. pp. 52
Moens, T.; De Meester, N.; Guilini, K.; Vafeiadou, A.-M.; Vanreusel, A.; Derycke, S. (2016). Experimental elucidation of meiofaunal trophic interactions: from radioactive tracer techniques to next generation sequencing, in: Lampadariou, N. et al.16th International Meiofauna Conference, Book of Abstracts. pp. 6-7
Moens, T.; Vafeiadou, A.M.; De Meester, E.; Wu, X.; Bezerra, T.C.; Guilini, K.; Vanaverbeke, J.; Derycke, S. (2016). Assessing functional diversity of marine nematodes in the 21st century: moving away from the black box approach, in: Brownlie, K. et al. (Ed.) Second Mares Conference: Marine Ecosystems Health and Conservation, February 1st - 5th 2016, Olhão, Portugal: Abstract book. pp. 49
Mokievsky, V.O.; Bezerra, T.N.; Fonseca, G.; Guilini, K.; Holovachov, O.; Leduc, D.; Miljutin, D.; Sharma, J.; Smol, N.; Tchesunov, A.V.; Vanreusel, A. (2016). NeMys – nematodes taxonomic system in context of marine nematodes ecology, in: Lampadariou, N. et al.16th International Meiofauna Conference, Book of Abstracts. pp. 53
Van Colen, C.; Braeckman, U.; Guilini, K.; Van Gansbeke, D.; Soetaert, K.; Vincx, M.; Vanaverbeke, J. (2016). Context-dependent effects of ocean acidification on soft-sediment biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, in: Degraer, S. et al. (Ed.) North Sea Open Science Conference 7-10/11/2016. Abstract Booklet. pp. 36
Mevenkamp, L.; Stratmann, T.; Moodley, L.; Westerlund, S.; Sweetman, A.; van Oevelen, D.; Guilini, K.; Vanreusel, A. (2015). Effects of short term exposure with mine tailings on deep-sea benthic ecosystem function and services, in: Mees, J. et al. (Ed.) Book of abstracts – VLIZ Young Scientists’ Day. Brugge, Belgium, 20 February 2015. VLIZ Special Publication, 71: pp. 92
Lins, L.; Guilini, K.; Hauquier, F.; André Esteves, M.; Vanreusel, A. (2014). Insights on the link between surface productivity and benthic communities in the deep sea, in: Mees, J. et al. (Ed.) Book of abstracts – VLIZ Young Scientists’ Day. Brugge, Belgium, 7 March 2014. VLIZ Special Publication, 67: pp. 79
Vanaverbeke, J.; Braeckman, U.; Van Colen, C.; Guilini, K.; Van Gansbeke, D.; Soetaert, K.; Vincx, M. (2014). Ocean acidification affects the benthic nitrogen cycle in coastal sediments: evidence from the Belgian Part of the North Sea, in: Mees, J. et al. (Ed.) Book of abstracts – VLIZ Young Scientists’ Day. Brugge, Belgium, 7 March 2014. VLIZ Special Publication, 67: pp. 113
Vanreusel, A.; Guilini, K.; Ingels, J.; Pape, E. (2011). Nematodes and their food: difficult customers in the deep sea?, in: World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2011. Our Oceans, Our Future: Oral Abstract Booklet. pp. 118
Van Campenhout, J.; Bezerra, T.N.; Fonseca, G.; Steyaert, M.; Vanaverbeke, J.; Ingels, J.; Braeckman, U.; Merckx, B.; De Groote, A.; Pape, E.; De Meester, N.; Maria, T.; Guilini, K.; Moens, T.; Vanreusel, A.; Deprez, T.; Vincx, M. (2010). NEMYS: an online nematode indication and taxonomical tool, in: Gheerardyn, H. et al.Fourteenth International Meiofauna Conference, Aula Academica, Ghent, 11-16 July 2010. Book of Abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 44: pp. 199
Guilini, K.; Vanreusel, A. (2008). The trophodynamic role of nematode communities in the ecology of different deep-sea environments, in: Mees, J. et al. (Ed.) VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium, 29 February 2008: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 40: pp. 48
Ingels, J.; Raes, M.; Vanreusel, A.; De Broyer, C.; Martin, P.; De Ridder, C.; Dubois, P.; Dauby, P.; David, B.; d’Udekem d’Acoz, C.; Robert, H.; Catarino, A.I.; Pierrat, B.; Havermans, C.; Pasotti, F.; Guilini, K.; Hauquier, F. (2011). BIANZO II: Biodiversity of three representative groups of the Antarctic zoobenthos - Coping with change. Final report. Belgian Science Policy: Brussels. 132 + annexes pp.
Guilini, K.; Bezerra, T.N.; Fonseca, G.; Holovachov, O.; Leduc, D.; Miljutin, D.; Sharma, J.; Smol, N.; Tchesunov, A.; Mokievsky, V.; Vanreusel, A. (2016). An introductory guide to Nemys, the World database of free-living marine nematodes. Poster at the 16th International Meiofauna Conference in Heraklion . Ghent University: Ghent. 1 poster pp.
Raes, M.; Guilini, K.; Vanreusel, A. (2007). Meiofauna at the poles - coping with change, in: Thirteenth International Meiofauna Conference (THIRIMCO) July 29 - August 3, 2007, Recife, Brazil: Abstract book. pp. [Poster 99]
Mevenkamp, L. (2018). Experimental assessment of the response of meiobenthos to disturbance associated with atmospheric carbon increase and mineral extraction. PhD Thesis. Ghent University, Faculty of Sciences: Ghent. ISBN 9789082561128. 293 pp.
Noppe, F. (2016). DNA barcoding and metabarcoding marine nematodes: from voucher to sequence and back. MSc Thesis. UGent, Faculteit Wetenschappen: Ghent. 79 pp.
Elsen, J. (2014). The effect of ocean acidification on the functioning of coastal marine benthos. MSc Thesis. Universiteit Antwerpen/Universiteit Gent/VUB: Antwerpen, Gent, Brussel. 13, 33 pp.
Bodnar, W. (2013). Meiofauna associated with seagrasses at natural CO2 seeps in the Mediterranean Sea. MSc Thesis. Universiteit Antwerpen/Universiteit Gent/VUB: Antwerpen, Gent, Brussel. 16, 52 pp.
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