Jan Maximiliano F. Tapia Guerra

Jan Maximiliano F. Tapia Guerra is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile. He specializes in the taxonomy and ecology of deep-sea fauna, with a particular focus on organisms inhabiting remote island habitats and seamounts in deep-sea environments. His primary research centers on characterising the benthic habitats and fauna of the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges.

Utilising state-of-the-art techniques such as Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) imagery analysis, Jan seeks to deepen the scientific understanding of these unique marine ecosystems. Over the course of his career, he has actively participated in numerous Chilean expeditions (covering the continental shelf, continental slope, and insular territory) as well as international expeditions in the South Pacific Ocean and Southern Ocean (South Sandwich Islands). His work aims to address significant knowledge gaps in these isolated and understudied regions.

Jan’s academic trajectory and collaborations with global experts highlight his commitment to advancing knowledge and appreciation of complex marine ecosystems. Additionally, he is affiliated with ESMOI Center and the Sala de Colecciones Biológicas at UCN, where he contributes to the identification, cataloguing, and preservation of fauna collected during various underwater campaigns.

 

Cruises:

• Visualizing the Deep off Uruguay
• Searching for New Species in the South Sandwich Islands
• High Seas and Seamounts of the Nazca Ridge
• Unexplored Seamounts of the Salas y Gómez Ridge
• Seamounts of the Southeast Pacific