Ana De la Torriente

Research Specialist

Ana de la Torriente joined the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) in May 2025 as a research specialist for the Deep Ocean project, aiming to advance knowledge of deep-sea ecosystems in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, particularly those surrounding the Galápagos Islands. Her work focuses on understanding the ecological processes that determine the status, health, resilience, and conservation value of these unique habitats.

Ana holds a PhD in Marine Conservation and Management from the University of Cádiz (Spain), and her career has centered on the study of deep benthic communities associated with seamounts and continental shelves. Using technologies such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and photogrammetric sleds, she has explored biodiversity through underwater imagery, with a special focus on sponges and corals—key ecosystem engineers in lightless environments.

Before joining CDF, she worked at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, where she studied benthic biodiversity and its interaction with human activities such as fishing, aquaculture, and offshore wind energy. She has also collaborated with organizations like Rewilding Chile and Oceana, promoting applied science projects for marine conservation.