Dr. Frederik Leliaert obtained his PhD in Biology from Ghent University and subsequently held research positions at Ghent University, University of Cape Town and the University of Alabama before joining Meise Botanic Garden in 2016, where he currently serves as Scientific Director of the Herbarium & Library. His research focuses on the biodiversity, systematics, and evolution of algae, with a particular emphasis on green seaweeds.
In addition to his research activities, Frederik Leliaert leads initiatives aimed at modernizing and improving access to the Meise Botanical Garden herbarium, one of Europe’s largest botanical collections. He oversees the conservation, digitisation, and long-term curation of this collection, promotion their use in biodiversity research and supporting international scientific collaboration.
He has authored more than 200 scientific publications and serves as Associate Editor for Phycologia and the European Journal of Taxonomy.
Key Publications
Del Cortona, A., Jackson, C. J., Bucchini, F., Van Bel, M., D’Hondt, S., Škaloud, P., Delwiche, C. F., Knoll, A. H., Raven, J. A., Verbruggen, H., Vandepoele, K., De Clerck, O., & Leliaert, F. (2020). Neoproterozoic origin and multiple transitions to macroscopic growth in green seaweeds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(5), 2551–2559. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910060117
Hou, Z., Ma, X., Shi, X., Li, X., Yang, L., Xiao, S., De Clerck, O., Leliaert, F., & Zhong, B. (2022). Phylotranscriptomic insights into a Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic origin and early radiation of green seaweeds (Ulvophyceae). Nature Communications, 13, Article 1610. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29282-9
Leliaert, F., Kelly, E. L., Janouškovec, J., Fox, M. D., Johnson, M. D., Redfern, F. M., Eria, T., Haas, A. F., Sala, E., & Sandin, S. A. (2022). Brilliantia kiribatiensis, a new genus and species of Cladophorales (Chlorophyta) from the remote coral reefs of the Southern Line Islands, Pacific Ocean. Journal of Phycology, 58(2), 183–197. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.13230
Leliaert, F., Payo, D. A., Gurgel, C. F. D., Schils, T., Draisma, S. G. A., Saunders, G. W., Kamiya, M., Sherwood, A. R., Lin, S.-M., Huisman, J. M., Le Gall, L., Anderson, R. J., Bolton, J. J., Mattio, L., Zubia, M., Spokes, T., Vieira, C., Payri, C. E., Coppejans, E., D’Hondt, S., Verbruggen, H., & De Clerck, O. (2018). Patterns and drivers of species diversity in the Indo-Pacific red seaweed Portieria. Journal of Biogeography, 45(10), 2299–2313. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13410
Simões, A. R. G., Leliaert, F., Bramley, G. L., Clark, R. P., Smith, R. J., Luján, M., Ondo, I., Brown, J. M., Ameka, G. K., Lukhoba, C. W., Borosova, R., Klitgård, B. B., Tang, C. C., Larridon, I., & Antonelli, A. (2026). Equipping the next generation of plant taxonomists: Insights and recommendations. Trends in Plant Science, 31(5), 677–691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2025.08.019
Complete list of publications