Ecology, physiology & omics of seagrasses from the Red Sea and beyond
ABOUT THE LAB
The Seagrass Lab is based at the Ben-Gurion University, Eilat campus (on the shores of the Gulf of Aqaba).
Our research combines field ecology, physiology, and molecular biology to understand how seagrasses respond to environmental change. We study seagrass ecosystems across the Red, Med and Caribbean Seas.
Prof. Gidon Winters
Photo: Omri Omessi
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Gidon Winters, Associate Professor
Dept. of Life Sciences, BGU Eilat Campus
Gidon Winters is an Associate Professor at Ben-Gurion University’s Eilat Campus and founder of the Seagrass Lab.
His research focuses on seagrass physiology, invasion ecology, and climate resilience, with particular emphasis on Halophila stipulacea.
Combining long-term field monitoring with molecular and physiological tools, his work explores how marine plants adapt to environmental stress and shifting ocean conditions.
His group works across the Red Sea, Mediterranean and Caribbean, integrating ecology, microbiology and spatial mapping approaches. He has published 60+ peer reviewed publications (H-index 29, 2,370+ citations).
Photo: Yuval
MISSION
OUR GOALS
01
Establish Eilat as a world-leading centre for seagrass research
Leveraging extreme conditions of the GoA — extreme light, extreme depths, hyper-salinity, coral reef proximity — to study seagrasses at their physiological limits.
02
Translate research into conservation and policy
Bridging science and management through restoration programmes, marine policy input, and blue carbon quantification for Israel and beyond.
03
Mentor the next generation of marine biologists
Training rigorous, independent scientists equipped with field skills, molecular tools, and AI-driven methods to tackle global marine challenges.
SCIENCE
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ecology and distribution
Long-term monitoring, mapping, near and remote sensing across ocean basins, interactions with other organisms.
Invasion Ecology
The spread and ecological impact of H. stipulacea in the Mediterranean & Caribbean, understanding why is this species such a successful invader, predicting future distributions.
Stress & Photo-physiology
Thermal tolerance, photosynthetic responses, and priming mechanisms, can we predict the future of Halophila stipulacea in the GoA and elsewhere.
Ecogenomics
Multi-omics approaches to stress response, adaptation, and population genetics. Developing early-warning molecular markers.
Seagrass Microbiome
Do microbial communities of leaves, roots and sediments change with space, time and stress. Are their biotechnological applications for these unique microbial communities
Seagrass restoration
Develop protocols for growing seagrass in nurseries. Entails studies on flowering and seed production.
Blue Carbon
Blue Carbon sequestration, carbon credit, climate mitigation, activity. Isotope analysis.
LATEST
NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS
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New Publications
Sirota R., Rahav E., Antler G., Lander R., Winters G., Bar-Zeev E. (2026). Impacts of antiscalants used for seawater desalination on benthic bacteria, seagrass and their microbial epiphytes. Water Research, 125591. February 2026.
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World Seagrass Day (1st of March 2026)
press release published for Israel's Ministry of Agriculture:
“Seagrasses on Israel’s coasts – where, how many, and why we should care?” (Hebrew) March 1st, 2026.
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New Course
June 7th-12th, 2026: "Biology and Ecology of Seagrasses in the Gulf of Eilat"—
a 6-day intensive graduate field course at the IUI.
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Participating in recent conferences
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