Sahar Chebaane

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I’m Sahar, a marine scientist. My passion lies in understanding the intricate world of non-indigenous species—those sneaky underwater gatecrashers that hitchhike their way into new habitats. I’ve had the privilege of working in diverse marine environments, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, and now in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Weekends and holidays find me diving underwater, especially at night, where I observe fascinating behaviors in different species. When I have time off, I indulge in my other passions: playing video games, board games, and expressing my creativity through painting.

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Biography

Sahar Chebaane

Marine Scientist | Biological Invasions Specialist

Sahar Chebaane is a marine scientist with a strong focus on biological invasion in marine ecosystems. Her journey began in the Mediterranean, where she conducted research on biological invasions. As a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Lisbon, Sahar delved into the complexities of NIS in the Atlantic Ocean. Currently, Sahar is a visiting researcher at the BEM lab at KAUST, where her work extends to the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.

Research Interests

Marine Bioinvasions

Selected Publications

  • Chebaane, S., Shaiek, M., & Zakhama-Sraieb, R. (2018). A new record and range extension of an invasive amphipod Caprella scaura Templeton, 1836 in Tunisia, North Africa. J. Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment, 24(3).
  • Chebaane, S., Sempere Valverde, J., Dorai, S., Kacem, A., & Sghaier, Y. R. (2019). A Preliminary Inventory of alien and cryptogenic species in Monastir Bay, Tunisia: spatial distribution, introduction trends and pathways. Mediterranean Marine Science, 20 (3), 616-626.
  • Castro, N., Schäfer, S., Parretti, P., Monteiro, J. G., Gizzi, F., Chebaane, S., ... & Canning-Clode, J. (2021). A New Signal of Tropicalization in the Northeast Atlantic: The Spread of the Spotfin Burrfish Chilomycterus reticulatus in Madeira Archipelago and Its Invasion Risk. Diversity, 13(12), 639.
  • Chebaane, S., Canning-Clode, J., Ramalhosa, P., Belz, J., Castro, N., Órfão, I., ... & Monteiro, J. G. (2022). From Plates to Baits: Using a Remote Video Foraging System to Study the Impact of Foraging on Fouling Non-Indigenous Species. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 10(5), 611. (Selected to be on the cover of the issue)
  • Bernal-Ibáñez, A., Chebaane, S., Sempere-Valverde, J., Faria, J., Ramalhosa, P., Kaufmann, M., ... & Cacabelos, E. (2022). A worrying arrival: the first record of brown macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae in Madeira Island and its invasive risk. BioInvasions Record, 11(4).
  • Sempere-Valverde, J., Ramalhosa, P., Chebaane, S., Espinosa, F., Monteiro, J. G., Bernal-Ibáñez, A., ... & Canning-Clode, J. (2023). Location and building material determine fouling assemblages within marinas: A case study in Madeira Island (NE Atlantic, Portugal). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 187, 114522.
  • Chebaane, S., Freestone, A. L., Des Pérez, A., Sempere-Valverde, J., Chainho, P., Monteiro, J. G., & Canning-Clode, J. (2023). Predation facilitates the abundance of biofouling non-indigenous species in estuarine marinas in NE Atlantic Portugal. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 188, 114724.
  • Buzinkai, M., Radeta, M., Rodrigues, C., Silva, F., Freitas, R., Chebaane, S., ... & Monteiro, J. G. (2023). Crowdsourcing biodiversity data from recreational SCUBA divers using Dive Reporter. Ecological Informatics, 77, 102191.
  • Grech, D., Asciutto, E., Bakiu, R., Battaglia, P., Ben-Grira, C., Çamlik, Öznur Y., Cappuccinelli, R., Carmona, L., Chebaane, S., … & Zacchetti, L. (2023). New records of rarely reported species in the Mediterranean Sea (2023). Mediterranean Marine Science, 24(2), 392–418.
  • Navarro-Barranco, C., Martínez, A., Sempere-Valverde, J., Chebaane, S., Digenis, M., Plaitis, W., ... & Gerovasileiou, V. (2023). Amphipods in Mediterranean Marine and Anchialine Caves: New Data and Overview of Existing Knowledge. Diversity, 15(12), 1180.
  • Sempere-Valverde, J., Chebaane, S., Bernal-Ibáñez, A., Silva, R., Cacabelos, E., Ramalhosa, P., ... & Canning-Clode, J. (2024). Surface integrity could limit the potential of concrete as a bio-enhanced material in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 200, 116096.
  • Chebaane, S., Pais, M. P., Engelen, A. H., Ramalhosa, P., Silva, R., Gizzi, F., ... & Monteiro, J. G. (2024). Exploring foraging preference of local fish species towards non-indigenous fouling communities near marinas: Insights from Remote Video Foraging System (RVFS) trials. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 198, 115871.
  • Sempere-Valverde, J., Chebaane, S., Bernal-Ibáñez, A., Silva, R., Cacabelos, E., Ramalhosa, P., ... & Canning-Clode, J. (2024). Surface integrity could limit the potential of concrete as a bio-enhanced material in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 200, 116096.
  • Chebaane, S., Sempere-Valverde, J., Desiderato, A., Gueroun, S. K., Tiralongo, F., Azzurro, E., ... & Sghaier, Y. R. (2024). Venomous Foes in Mediterranean Africa: Occurrence of Physalia physalis (Linnaeus, 1758), and First Records of Glaucus atlanticus Forster, 1777 for Algeria and Tunisia. Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences, 1-9.
  • Sempere-Valverde, J., Saenz-Arias, P., Martynova, A., Benzarti, O., Bouhlel, R., Guerra-García, J. M., & Chebaane, S. (2024). Plasticlusters: A marine litter microhabitat in a marina of Tunisia, N Africa. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 202, 116389.


Education

  • Bachelor's degree in Marine Biotechnology and Aquaculture Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia Sep 2013 - May 2016
  • Master's research degree in Biodiversity and Dynamics of Aquatic Ecosystems The Faculty of Science Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia, Sfax, Tunisia Sep 2016 - Dec 2018 (with hounor)
  • Master of Science, Technology, Health Mention Ecology, Environment Dual degree program: University of Sfax, Tunisia and Le Mans University, France, Tunisia 2016 - 2017
  • International Doctor of Philosophy in Marine sciences Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal Dec 2019 – 2024

Professional Profile

  • 2024- present: Visiting researcher; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.

  • 2020-2024: PhD fellow; The Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE) and the University of science in Lisbon, Portugal


Awards

  • Award from Springer for best oral communication at the 9th international scientific days on the valorization of bioresources, Monastir, Tunisia, from 3rd to 6th May 2018
  • Award of the best model and co-photographer during the Andalusian championship of underwater video CAVISUB22, Spain 2022.

KAUST Affiliations

  • Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE),
  • Red Sea Research Center (RSRC),
  • Marine Science Program, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia

Non-KAUST Affiliations

  • Association Notre Grand Bleu (NGO), Cap Marina, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia

Research Interests Keywords

Invasive Species Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) Coastal Areas