Advisor: Prof. Susana Carvalho

Abstract:
Coral reef ecosystems are among the most valuable habitats on Earth, yet they are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures, including coastal development, pollution, and climate-driven environmental change. In the Red Sea, rapid coastal expansion highligths the need for science-based approaches to understand, monitor, and protect coral reef ecosystems.
This dissertation integrates field-based ecological assessments with ecotoxicological approaches to investigate how local anthropogenic stressors affect Red Sea coral reef organisms. The research examines the fate and trophic transfer of trace metals within coral reef food webs, evaluates physiological and biochemical responses of corals to environmental gradients, and assesses the impacts of simulated desalination brine under controlled experimental conditions. By linking environmental exposure to biological responses, this work advances our understanding of contaminant dynamics, ecological vulnerability, and early-warning indicators of stress in coral reef ecosystems.
The findings provide a scientific foundation for developing environmental monitoring frameworks, risk assessment strategies, and evidence-based management approaches to support the conservation and sustainable development of Red Sea coastal ecosystems.

Bio:
Micaela Justo is a PhD candidate in the Marine Science Program. Her research focuses on understanding how anthropogenic pressures, including trace metal pollution and desalination brine discharges, affect coral reef ecosystems through field-based and laboratory studies, with the aim of supporting evidence-based environmental management, policymaking, and conservation strategies.