Lampadariou Nikolaos
Position: Researcher
Contact Info
Institute: Oceanography
Address: CMR, Crete P.O. Box 2214 71003 Iraklion Crete, Greece
Email:nlamp@hcmr.gr
Tel: +302810337849
Telex:
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Dr. Lampadariou completed his doctoral training in many different European labs including the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the Natural History Museum of London, the Netherlands Institute of Ecology and the University of Ghent. He received his PhD from the Biology Department of the University of Crete in 2001. His dissertation research focused on the ecology of meiobenthic communities with a special emphasis on marine nematodes both from subtidal and deep-sea areas. Although the majority of his research has focused upon advancing meiofauna research in the understudied Eastern Mediterranean, his research interests have expanded considerably over the past years, ranging widely from the ecology of marine organisms to large scale patterns and the effects of anthropogenic and climate impacts on the marine environment.
Since 2010 he has been selected as chairperson of the International Association of Meiobenthologists, which is the global scientific society of meiobenthologists actively working in all aquatic disciplines.
 PhD, Marine Ecology, University of Crete, Greece 2001
 MSc, Marine Biology, University of Crete, Greece 1993
 BSc, Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 1990
Professional Profile
 2006 – today: Researcher Grade C’, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Greece
 2001 – 2006: Post Doctoral Researcher, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Greece
 1997 – 2001: Research Assistant, Institute of Marine Biology of Crete, Greece
Scientific and Professional Memberships
 International Association of Meiobenthologists
 Hellenic Zoological Society
 Hellenic National Initiative Mikrobiokosmos
 Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal
Research Interests
Dr. Lampadariou’s research focuses on the ecology and biodiversity of benthic communities emphasizing on meiobenthos and free-living marine nematodes thriving in the deep sea. He uses an ecosystem approach (biochemistry, cycling of organic matter in marine sediments, microbiology etc.) to study the benthic ecosystem and to examine the relationship between surface production and community structure at different spatial and temporal scales. More recently, his research has expanded to include large scale patterns of distribution, the effects of anthropogenic and climate impacts on the marine environment and the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function. Other research interests include the taxonomy of meiofauna, particularly nematodes, effects of trawling and aquaculture on the marine environment and the use of special statistical methods for the analysis of ecological data.
Dr Nikolaos Lampadariou has written over 30 peer reviewed research papers.
2. Kalogeropoulou V, Bett B, Gooday A, Lampadariou, N., Arbizu PM, Vanreusel A (2010) Temporal changes (1989-1999) in deep-sea metazoan meiofaunal assemblages on the Porcupine Abyssal Plain, NE Atlantic. Deep Sea Res Part II Top Stud Oceanogr 57:1383-1395
3. Lampadariou, N., Tselepides, A., Hatziyanni, E. 2009. Deep-sea meiofaunal and foraminiferal communities along a gradient of primary productivity in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Scientia Marina 73, 337-345.
4. Soetaert K, Franco M, Lampadariou, N., Muthumbi A, Steyaert M, Vandepitte L, Vanden Berghe E, Vanaverbeke J (2009) Factors affecting nematode biomass, length and width from the shelf to the deep sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 392:123-132
5. Danovaro, R., Canals, M., Gambi, C., Heussner, S., Lampadariou, N., Vanreusel, A. 2009. Exploring benthic biodiversity patterns and hot spots on European margin slopes. Oceanography 22, 20-29.
6. Schratzberger, M., Lampadariou, N., Somerfield, P.J., Vandepitte, L., Vanden Berghe, E. 2009. The impact of seabed disturbance on nematode communities: linking field and laboratory observations. Marine Biology 156, 709-724.
7. Lampadariou, N., Akoumianaki, I., Karakassis, I. 2008. Use of the size fractionation of the macrobenthic biomass for the rapid assessment of benthic organic enrichment. Ecological Indicators 8, 729-742.
8. Danovaro, R., Gambi, C., Lampadariou, N., Tselepides, A. 2008. Deep-sea nematode biodiversity in the Mediterranean basin: testing for longitudinal, bathymetric and energetic gradients. Ecography 31, 231-244.
9. Bühring, S.I., Lampadariou, N., Moodley, L., Tselepides, A., Witte, U. 2006. Benthic microbial and whole-community responses to different amounts of \su\13\r\C-enriched algae: In situ experiments in the deep Cretan Sea (Eastern Mediterranean). Limnology and Oceanography 51, 157-165.
10. Lampadariou, N., Hatziyanni, E., Tselepides, A. 2005. Meiofaunal community structure in Thermaikos Gulf: Response to intense trawling pressure. Continental Shelf Research 25, 2554-2569.
11. Lampadariou, N., Karakassis, I., Pearson, T.H. 2005. Cost/benefit analysis of a benthic monitoring programme of organic benthic enrichment using different sampling and analysis methods. Marine Pollution Bulletin 50, 1606-1618.
12. Lampadariou, N., Karakassis, I., Teraschke, S., Arlt, G. 2005. Changes in benthic meiofaunal assemblages in the vicinity of fish farms in the Eastern Mediterranean. Vie et Milieu 55, 61-69.
13. Lampadariou, N., Tselepides, A. 2006. Spatial variability of meiofaunal communities at areas of contrasting depth and productivity in the Aegean Sea (NE Mediterranean). Progress in Oceanography 69, 19-36.
Picture for Faculty Focus
Title:
The paradox of the eastern Mediterranean – High biodiversity in a poor sea!
Text:
The bathyal and abyssal basins in the Mediterranean are very unusual systems because they are exceptionally warm (~ 14°C) compared to most other deep-sea systems (~2°C). They are also extremely oligotrophic due to the accelerated bacterial degradation, caused by the above mentioned high temperatures, and the lack of riverine or coastal input of organic matter. These characteristics result in an improvised fauna as can be seen by the extremely low standing stocks of all major faunal components, including the meiofauna, a group of minute benthic invertebrates which Dr. Lampadariou studies for most than 20 years. Yet, despite the poor, in terms of density and biomass, fauna, the biodiversity of these organisms is impressively high (Fig.1), leading to the paradox of the e astern Mediterranean – the situation where a limited in food resources environment, which can support only a very low number of organisms, can display such a high biodiversity.
To study the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, we collect sediment samples at various spatial scales (Fig.2) and correlate them to various factors indicating food availability. These correlations provide us with important insights as to how biodiversity is linked to various important processes and consequently help us to understand better how exactly deep-sea ecosystems function and how they can support the provision of various goods and services to human beings.
