Germán Zapata Hernández

Senior Researcher

Germán Zapata Hernández is a Chilean Marine biologist specialized in the study of benthic systems. He joined the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) in June 2025 as senior researcher in the program of exploration and conservation of the deep ocean. Germán got his PhD in Biology and applied Ecology in the Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile and through the last five years have developed three postdoctoral projects in diverse research centers both in Chile and Italy. His research lines involve the study of benthic biodiversity patterns, community ecology, application of stable isotopes in ecology and biogeochemistry, scientific diving, and data synthesis. He has more than 15 years of experience doing research in diverse benthic ecosystems in both shallow and deep-waters, mainly along the coast and Chilean continental margin, islands and oceanic ridges, Antarctic peninsula and the last years in the Mediterranean Sea. He is also an enthusiast taxonomist of shallow marine sponges and specialist in beekeeping. During his free time, he likes to travel, explore the nature, practice SCUBA diving, attend concerts, and enjoy expending time with family and friends.

Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/German-Zapata-Hernandez-2?ev=hdr_xprf

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.es/citations?hl=es&pli=1&user=JcGUAIEAAAAJ