Employment
04/2015 – now Senior Biodiversity Biologist; Biodiversity (BAS)
04/2009 – 03/2015 Project leader: Evolutionary history of the Polar Regions (EVOLHIST), BAS
04/2005 – 03/2009 Project leader, Biodiversty dynamics: Phylogeography, evolution and radiation of (BIOPEARL), BAS
11/2001- 03/2005 Project leader: Marine Antarctic Biodiversity (MARB), BAS 07/2000-08/2003 Higher Scientific Officer, BAS
10/1996-09/1999 PGRA, Zoological Institute and Museum, Hamburg (DFG grant BR 1121/4-1 &4-2)
09/1994-03/1996 RA, Institute of Polar Ecology, Kiel and Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar- and Marine Sciences, Bremerhaven

Qualifications
24/06/2000 PhD Zoology, University Hamburg, Germany (Magna cum laude)
30/09/1996 Diploma in Zoology, Marine Biology, Botany and Physical Oceanography, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany

Research interests

I am a marine benthic biologist with 25 years’ research experience in the biodiversity, phylogeography and evolution of Antarctic marine invertebrates. I led the team designing the first georeferenced Antarctic benthos database, resulting in new Antarctic provinces and an updated biogeography for the Southern Ocean, which is now applied to different taxa. I am considerably involved in research on phylogenetic relationships of current Antarctic species and their evolutionary histories and have significantly contributed to the discovery of high biodiversity in the bathyal and abyssal Antarctic deep sea, as well as in the recent discovery of the first hydrothermal vents in the Southern Ocean. I have participated in 16 shipboard expeditions of which 5 studied hydrothermal habitats in the Southern Ocean.

• Anderson, M., Pape, T., & Linse, K. (2025). Macrobenthic assemblages from the methane seeps in six South Georgia troughs collected in 2017 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/d34fc0d7-3ef5-49df-b626-908d76e28f75

• Linse, K., Ford, D., Blackbird, S., Brix, S., Freer, J., Jeffreys, R., Schmidt, L., & Mayor, D. (2025). Benthic, epibenthic and pelagic marine invertebrate specimens collected during PS136 in the Arctic Fram Strait in 2023 and their individual lipid profiles and bulk isotopes (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/e115d087-e3e4-4794-b4e0-18262b8e6400

• Workman, E., Yang, M., Bell, T., Dong, Y., Jones, A., Fisher, R., France, J., & Linse, K. (2024). Sea-air methane fluxes measured using an eddy-covariance technique on RRS James Clark Ross from January 2019 to March 2021 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/c9ed4746-f104-4117-ba60-174c5275e2fe

• Neuhaus, J., Brix, S., Eichsteller, A., Taylor, J., & Linse, K. (2024). Morphometric data and morphological and in-situ images of Fissidentalium aurae sp. nov. from the abyssal Labrador Sea collected in November 2021 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/c57a3261-f5f8-40e3-bcd3-c749733b3119

• Workman, E., Delille, B., Squires, F., Jones, A., Fisher, R., France, J., & Linse, K. (2024). Concentration of atmospheric methane and carbon dioxide and dissolved methane in surface water and water column in Scotia and Weddell Seas during the cruise DY158 in December 2022 and January 2023 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/b90df3c1-1b55-4579-ba89-e1d62f6f8bab

• Kuerzel, K., Linse, K., Brandt, A., Brenke, N., Enderlein, P., Griffiths, H., Kaiser, S., Svavarsson, J., Loerz, A., Frutos, I., Taylor, J., & Brix, S. (2023). Pan-Atlantic comparison of deep-water macrobenthos diversity collected by epibenthic sledge sampling and analysis of patterns and environmental drivers. (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/58080f33-884c-4e13-a419-c00cf1bab6a6

• Linse, K., & Anderson, M. (2021). Macrobenthic Mollusca from Prince Gustav Channel and Duse Bay, Eastern Antarctic Peninsula collected by epibenthic sledge in March 2018 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/5927ce18-0020-451d-b904-9fd78e118976

• Di Franco, D., Brandt, A., & Linse, K. (2021). Macrobenthic Isopoda collected by epibenthic sledge from the southern Weddell Sea in 2012, South Orkney Islands in 2016, Prince Gustav Channel in 2018 and Eastern Antarctic Peninsula in 2019 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/68315d6d-e7bf-4da0-a73a-5d6e0ba242a7

• Linse, K., Steib, L., Brandt, A., & Di Franco, D. (2021). Macrobenthic Cumacea collected by epibenthic sledge from the Amundsen Sea in March 2008 and from the Prince Gustav Channel and Duse Bay, Eastern Antarctic Peninsula in March 2018 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/f41dfd1d-b903-4179-9819-f59f3c121d02

• Linse, K., Grant, S., Whittle, R., Reid, W., McKenzie, M., Federwisch, L., Polfrey, S., & Apeland, B. (2020). Benthic seafloor images from Prince Gustav Channel and Duse Bay, Eastern Antarctic Peninsula, March 2018 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/48dcef16-6719-45e5-a335-3a97f099e451

• Hogg, O., Huevenne, V., Griffiths, H., Dorschel, B., & Linse, K. (2017). A Bathymetric Compilation of South Georgia, 1985-2015 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/01037

• British Antarctic Survey (2015). Raw acoustic data collected by ship-borne EK60 echo sounder in Southern Ocean (Feb – Apr 2008) (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/69645711-2472-49d5-9836-7398cc7a5ec1

1. Hydrothermal exploration of the Red Sea

   HEXPLORES searches for active hydrothermal vents in the Red Sea Rift. The Rift contains the world’s largest submarine metalliferous sulphide deposit. Yet no active vent systems have been located there.

   Read more of: Hydrothermal exploration of the Red Sea

   

2. Darwin Plus SO Red Listing

   The first Red List for Antarctic and Subantarctic marine molluscs, for the British Antarctic Territory, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, funded by Darwin Plus.

   Read more of: Darwin Plus SO Red Listing

   

3. Studying Icelandic marine animals

   The international IceAGE project focuses on the collection of genetically useful material for DNA barcoding, population genetics and other molecular analyses of Icelandic marine animals.

   Read more of: Studying Icelandic marine animals

   

4. Biogeochemical processes in polar ecosystems

   BIOPOLE studies how climate change is affecting the release of nutrients from the polar regions, and their redistribution around the world’s oceans.

   Read more of: Biogeochemical processes in polar ecosystems

   

5. Larsen-C Benthos

   The Larsen-C Benthos project studied benthic biodiversity on the seabed exposed by the 2017 calving of the Larsen-C Ice Shelf.

   Read more of: Larsen-C Benthos

   

6. Managing South Orkney’s seafloor communities

   SO-AntEco was a British Antarctic Survey (BAS) led expedition undertaken in conjunction with an international team of scientists from the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) AntEco research programme.

   Read more of: Managing South Orkney’s seafloor communities

   

1. Blog: My ‘silver anniversary’ research cruise

   British Antarctic Survey biodiversity biologist Dr Katrin Linse is onboard German ship RV Sonne conducting a research expedition to map biodiversity in the Atlantic deep sea. In this blog, Katrin […]

   Read more of: Blog: My ‘silver anniversary’ research cruise

   

2. Exploring South Georgia’s seafloor fauna with SQUID

   I recently spent four-and-a-bit weeks aboard the German blue water research ship RV Meteor along with Oli Hogg, my PhD student. We took part in the “Methane South Georgia” research […]

   Read more of: Exploring South Georgia’s seafloor fauna with SQUID

   

1. New deep-sea mollusc species co-habits with anemone 

   A new species of tusk shell, a burrowing marine mollusc, has been discovered in deep, North Atlantic waters by scientists from British Antarctic Survey and the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research.

   Read more of: New deep-sea mollusc species co-habits with anemone 

   

2. Octopus DNA solves mystery of ice sheet’s past

   Scientists, including from British Antarctic Survey, have used octopus DNA to discover that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) likely collapsed during the Last Interglacial period around 120,000 years ago – when the global temperatures were similar to today.

   Read more of: Octopus DNA solves mystery of ice sheet’s past

   

3. Celebrating International Women’s Day

   On International Women’s Day (8 March 2021), we mark and celebrate women working at British Antarctic Survey (BAS). We showcase the diversity of roles and specialities of those working in […]

   Read more of: Celebrating International Women’s Day

   

4. Discovery of life beneath Antarctica’s ice shelves

   Far underneath the ice shelves of the Antarctic, there’s more life than expected, finds a recent study in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, published this week (15 February 2021). […]

   Read more of: Discovery of life beneath Antarctica’s ice shelves

   

5. Expedition to map biodiversity in Atlantic deep sea

   A British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientist departs Germany today (8 January 2021) onboard the research vessel SONNE  to study the diversity of marine organisms in the Atlantic deep sea. Dr […]

   Read more of: Expedition to map biodiversity in Atlantic deep sea

   

6. Microplastics ‘abundant’ in remote polar seas

   New study of plastics in the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands

   Read more of: Microplastics ‘abundant’ in remote polar seas

   

7. Research mission to Larsen C Ice Shelf thwarted by sea ice

   Heavy sea ice conditions have thwarted a science mission from reaching the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica from which a large iceberg broke off in July 2017. A team […]

   Read more of: Research mission to Larsen C Ice Shelf thwarted by sea ice

   

8. First expedition to newly exposed Antarctic ecosystem

   A team of scientists, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), heads to Antarctica this week (14 February) to investigate a mysterious marine ecosystem that’s been hidden beneath an Antarctic ice […]

   Read more of: First expedition to newly exposed Antarctic ecosystem

   

9. Scientists to visit hidden Antarctic ecosystem after giant iceberg calving

   A team of scientists, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), is planning an urgent mission to investigate a mysterious marine ecosystem that’s been hidden beneath an Antarctic ice shelf for […]

   Read more of: Scientists to visit hidden Antarctic ecosystem after giant iceberg calving

   

10. New study explains moss migration across the globe

    A new study on mosses found in the polar regions reveals when and how often they have migrated across the Equator. Mosses are the dominant flora in Antarctica, yet little is known of […]

    Read more of: New study explains moss migration across the globe

    

11. Biological sampling gear

    Discovering ocean life

    Read more of: Biological sampling gear

    

12. NEWS STORY: New starfish identified

    First new family of starfish discovered in hydrothermal vents A new family of deep-sea starfish has been discovered living in the warm waters around a hydrothermal vent in the East […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: New starfish identified

    

13. NEWS STORY: New critter discovered on whale carcass

    Chance discovery could be unique to whale bone habitat A new species of bug, similar in appearance to the common woodlouse, has been found plastered all over a whale carcass […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: New critter discovered on whale carcass

    

14. NEWS STORY: New marine species identified

    New species recovered from Amundsen Sea More than thirty new, and, as yet unclassified, species of marine life were discovered during a science expedition to the Amundsen Sea off Pine […]

    Read more of: NEWS STORY: New marine species identified

    

15. PRESS RELEASE: Census of Marine Life

    Event: A Decade of Discovery: Census of Marine Life — News Conference Venue: Royal Institution, London Date: Monday 4 October: 12.30 – 16.30 Findings from a major international investigation into […]

    Read more of: PRESS RELEASE: Census of Marine Life

    

16. PRESS RELEASE: Continent’s diversity revealed

    First comprehensive inventory of life in Antarctica The first comprehensive “inventory” of sea and land animals around a group of Antarctic islands reveals a region that is rich in biodiversity […]

    Read more of: PRESS RELEASE: Continent’s diversity revealed

    

17. Biodiversity podcast on Planet Earth Online

    Listen to Dave Barnes and Katrin Linse talking to Richard Hollingham for NERC’s Planet Earth Online about the remarkable biodiversity around Antarctica’s South Orkney Islands. Related link Biodiversity Podcast on […]

    Read more of: Biodiversity podcast on Planet Earth Online