Dr Cecilia Liszka is a biological oceanographer with particular interests in Southern Ocean zooplankton ecology, the role of zooplankton in ecosystem processes and carbon cycling and the response of pelagic ecosystems to environmental change.

Cecilia conducted her PhD jointly between the British Antarctic Survey and University of East Anglia, where she investigated the role of zooplankton in active carbon flux in the Southern Ocean. She subsequently held a fixed term post-doctoral position at the University of East Anglia, working on the REMAIN project (REMineralisation of organic carbon by marine bActerIoplanktoN).

She currently holds a post-doctoral position in the Ecosystems team at the British Antarctic Survey where she is working on the zooplankton of the South Sandwich Islands.

Previously, she has also worked in the climate change sector managing multi-stakeholder projects and working closely with climate and energy policy development and delivery.

Qualifications

2018             NERC funded PhD in Biological Oceanography, British Antarctic Survey & University of East Anglia

Thesis: Zooplankton-mediated carbon flux in the Southern Ocean: influence of community structure, metabolism and behaviour

Supervisors: Professor Geraint Tarling, Dr Clara Manno, Dr Carol Robinson and Dr Gabriele Stowasser

Examiners: Professor Corinne le Quéré (UEA) and Dr Hauke Flores (AWI)

2014             MSc Environmental Sciences with Distinction, University of East Anglia, UK

Dissertation: Elucidating the physiological role of rhodopsin proton pumps in marine dinoflagellates

2005             MA Geography, University of Cambridge, UK

Research interests

My interests in biological oceanography stem from the importance of plankton in the global climate system and carbon cycling, and the sensitivity of marine ecosystems to environmental changes. I am particularly interested in polar marine ecosystem research because of the vital role of polar oceans in current and future climate.

During my PhD I investigated the role of zooplankton on active carbon flux in the Southern Ocean, with particular focus on diel vertical migration, zooplankton community structure and faecal pellet export. For my MSc thesis I studied the physiological role of rhodopsin as a putative alternative ATP pathway in a temperate, and a bi-polar species of dinoflagellate.

My current research interests are on the zooplankton ecology of the waters around South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the environmental variables driving observed zooplankton distributions and abundances.

I retain ongoing interests in all of the above projects and would be open to discussing any potential collaborations.

Details of previous research and reports can be found on Research Gate and LinkedIn:

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/cecilialiszka

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cecilia_Liszka

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

• Stowasser, G., Fielding, S., & Tarling, G. (2026). The taxonomic composition, abundance and wet weight of macrozooplankton and micronekton captured by an RMT8 net during surveys of the Western Core Box (South Georgia), 2009-2019 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/967411bd-0a07-49fd-ad52-2bec65781ce7

• Abrahamsen, P., Tarling, G., Firing, Y., King, B., Marzocchi, A., Burson, A., Hendry, K., Henley, S., Liszka, C., Manno, C., Ward, F., Woodward, M., Wootton, M., Brunetta, M., Song, Y., & Thorpe, S. (2024). Dissolved nutrient and particulate material concentrations and phytoplankton abundance and community composition from cruise JC211 to South Georgia, Southern Ocean, February 2021 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/eef71670-f6dc-46f6-9143-7569599854e5

• Liszka, C. (2021). Chlorophyll-a and phaeopigment-a from RRS Discovery Southern Ocean cruise DY098 to the Scotia Sea and South Sandwich Islands, during austral spring 2019 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/723c136b-9cc3-4b3d-bde5-65840031e79b

• Liszka, C. (2019). CTD fluorescence and faecal pellet data from the Ecosystems Western Core Box and Moorings cruise to the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean (JR304) (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/e2921d09-975c-4236-8acf-039d7462762e

1. PRESCIENT

   PRESCIENT supports long-term, strategically important measurements and capabilities for the wider science community.

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2. South Georgia Pelagic Biodiversity

   Zooplankton are a vital part of the Scotia Sea food web. The project aims to improve the way we manage and monitor the pelagic ecosystem around South Georgia.

   Read more of: South Georgia Pelagic Biodiversity

   

3. Winter Krill at South Georgia

   The winter krill project monitors Antarctic krill and predator overlap around South Georgia. Research informs conservation and ecosystem management.

   Read more of: Winter Krill at South Georgia

   

4. Diversity in UK Polar Science Initiative – Key outcomes

   A series of events and activities to raise awareness of opportunities in UK Polar Science

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5. Impact of Plastic in the Polar Regions

   This project investigated plastic pollution across Arctic and Antarctic environments. Scientists collected water, ice, and sediment samples to quantify macro and microplastic pollution, track its sources, and assess its impact on polar wildlife.

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1. Engagement seminar: Digital twinning for marine science fieldwork

   Join this engagement seminar to discuss digital twinning as a way to complement and enhance traditional marine science fieldwork.

   Read more of: Engagement seminar: Digital twinning for marine science fieldwork

   

2. International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2020

   The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is organised by UNESCO and UN-Women to promote full and equal access and participation in science for women and girls. The United […]

   Read more of: International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2020