Genetic Data to understand Biodiversity

In this episode, I’m joined by Cornelia Pia Erk, a marine biologist and conservation geneticist working at the intersection of molecular ecology, field research, and ocean conservation.Originally from southern Germany, Cornelia’s journey into marine science began through diving—an experience that shaped her understanding of marine ecosystems long before she entered the lab. She went on to study biology at the University of Regensburg and later specialized in marine biology during her Master’s at the University of Algarve.Her work focuses on using genetic data to understand biodiversity, population connectivity, and species boundaries—key information for protecting marine life in a rapidly changing ocean. She has a particular interest in cartilaginous fishes, including sharks, rays, and chimaeras—an evolutionarily ancient group that remains surprisingly understudied.