Denisa-Stefania Luca

Research Interests

My pronouns are she/her


My research focuses on understanding how energy and material fluxes across terrestrial–aquatic boundaries shape wetland food webs, with particular interest in how anthropogenic stressors alter these dynamics. Wetlands are critical ecosystems where trophic subsidies, such as insect emergence, provide essential resources for higher trophic levels. However, multiple stressors—including land-use change—impact ecological systems and can have cascading consequences for biodiversity. By investigating how these factors interact, I aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of ecosystem resilience and the management strategies needed to protect wetland communities.

In this project, I will combine meta-analysis of freshwater and marine wetlands with detailed fieldwork at Spains Hall Estate (Essex). By quantifying trophic subsidies across a stress gradient—from actively farmed wetlands to newly restored beaver habitats—I will assess how changes in subsidy timing, quantity, and quality influence wetland biodiversity, particularly bat populations that depend on these resources. This interdisciplinary approach will offer insights into how restoration and conservation strategies can protect food web integrity under various stress scenarios, with practical implications for wetland management and species conservation.

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