About Me
Image credits: Misha Vallejo Prut
I’m Ana Belén Yánez Suárez a marine biologist, National Geographic Explorer, Conservation Leadership Programme Alumna, and PhD candidate at Memorial University of Newfoundland. I am also a former IMBRSea scholar. My research spans coral reef ecosystems across depth gradients, from shallow tropical reefs in the Pacific and Caribbean to deep-sea coral communities living in extreme environments.
My fascination with corals began in the Galápagos Islands the archipelago of my homeland, Ecuador, where I contributed to the first systematic characterization of deep- sea benthic fauna on unexplored seamounts. I later led coral restoration efforts and studied coral spawning in the Caribbean and investigated the combined impacts of warming and eutrophication on Red Sea corals.
Learn MoreMy Research
My research focuses on understanding how coral ecosystems, from shallow tropical reefs to deep-sea communities respond to environmental stressors such as ocean deoxygenation and ocean warming.
Currently, I lead the project Cold-Water Coral Distribution Across Oxygen Minimum Zones in the Galápagos and Costa Rica, supported by a National Geographic Society grant. As part of this work, I led the discovery and documentation of a monospecific yellow coral garden thriving under anoxic conditions near Isla del Coco. This discovery was made during a multidisciplinary Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition aboard the Falkor (too), conducted in collaboration with scientists from the University of Costa Rica and the Charles Darwin Research Station and Memorial University.
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Skills & Training
My experience as a scientific diver in shallow waters, combined with the use of underwater technologies such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and drop cameras for deep-sea exploration, gives me a comprehensive perspective on coral ecosystems across depth gradients and strengthens my ability to produce actionable science for coral conservation.
Awards, Grants, and Scholarships
National Geographic Society Explorer
2023–presentAwarded the Explorer title and a research grant to lead the project "Cold-Water Coral Biodiversity and Distribution Across Oxygen Minimum Zones in the Galápagos and Isla del Coco.", project fieldwork was conducted aboard R/V Falkor (too) as part of a larger Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition.
Conservation Leadership Programme – Travel Grant
2025Awarded to present at the International Deep-Sea Biology Symposium (DSBS), 2025.
Deep Ocean Early-career Researchers (DOERS) Award
2024Honorarium recognizing early-career excellence in deep-ocean science.
Conservation Leadership Programme – Travel Grant
2023Supported participation in the 8th International Symposium on Deep-Sea Corals (ISDSC8).
Erasmus Mundus Plus Scholarship
2018–2020Two-year academic excellence scholarship for the IMBRSea master's program across Belgium, France, Portugal, Germany.
Conservation Leadership Programme – Travel Grant
2016To attend the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS).
Conservation Leadership Programme – Field Grant
2015–2016Supported marine conservation leadership work in a Marine Protected Area in Ecuador.
Analytical and Technical Skills
Diving and Maritime Safety Certifications
Languages
Education
PhD. candidate
Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland of Canada
Thesis: Dynamics of deep-sea cold-water coral reefs
MSc. International Master of Science in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea) link
Mention on marine ecology and conservation.
Honors: Magna cum laude.
University of Gent (UGent), Ghent, Belgium. link
Sorbonne University: Biological Marine Station in Roscoff, and Oceanographic Observatory of Banyuls-sur-Mer, France. link
Get In Touch
Interested in collaborations, speaking engagements, or have questions about my research? I'd love to hear from you.
Contact Me