Main Research Lines
Carbon cycling in freshwater
Freshwater systems, i.e. running waters, lakes, and reservoirs, while covering just a tiny fraction of the Earth’s surface, are fundamental players in the carbon and nutrient biogeochemical cycles. However, their role at the global scale is still uncertain and this is one of the most relevant gaps in current Earth System Models and regional carbon and nutrient accountings. Our research focus on carbon cycling in river networks considering all the environments using a seamless approach: rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, weirs, dry river beds, etc. are considered discontinuities of a continuum.
Freshwater systems, i.e. running waters, lakes, and reservoirs, while covering just a tiny fraction of the Earth’s surface, are fundamental players in the carbon and nutrient biogeochemical cycles. However, their role at the global scale is still uncertain and this is one of the most relevant gaps in current Earth System Models and regional carbon and nutrient accountings. Our research focus on carbon cycling in river networks considering all the environments using a seamless approach: rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, weirs, dry river beds, etc. are considered discontinuities of a continuum.
Detection of global change effects on fluvial basins and their ecosystem services
We apply state-of-the-art modeling techniques and time series analysis to detect the effects of global changes on the functioning of Mediterranean fluvial basins and their ecosystem services. We paid especial attention to the vulnerability of water scarce regions to global change, and we are particularly involved in generating the appropriate large scale models to correctly predict the biogeochemical responses of ecosystems.
Water quality in reservoirs
The relevance of water resources stored in reservoirs on a global scale is not matched with a sound knowledge of their ecological dynamics and the impacts of global change on reservoir water quality. With our research we expand the lake toolbox to generate the right knowledge to manage reservoirs
The relevance of water resources stored in reservoirs on a global scale is not matched with a sound knowledge of their ecological dynamics and the impacts of global change on reservoir water quality. With our research we expand the lake toolbox to generate the right knowledge to manage reservoirs
Fate of emerging pollutants at the basin scale
One of the most significant group within the category of emerging contaminants are pharmacological active compounds like antibiotics because of their extensive use in human and veterinary medicine. These substances are biologically active leading to conspicuous effects on ecosystems hosted by river networks. Our research on this topic focuses on the fate of emerging pollutants using watershed scale models, and the impacts of antibiotics on bacterial assemblages in reservoirs.
Current Projects
• Inventive forecasting tools for adapting water quality management to a new climate (inventWater - MSCA-ITN-2020 - Innovative Training Networks, 2021-2025, Consortium Coordinator)
• Integration of climate seasonal prediction and ecosystem impact modeling for an efficient adaptation of water resources management to increasing climate extreme events (WATExR - ERA4CS JPI Climate, 2017-2020, Consortium Coordinator).
• Carbon dynamics in lakes and reservoirs under a changing hydrology: implications for ecosystem metabolism, gas fluxes, and sedimentary sinks (C-HydroChange - MINECO , 2018-2021, Principal Investigator)
• Management of climatic extreme events in lakes and reservoirs for the protection of Ecosystem Services (MANTEL - MSCA Innovative Training Networks, 2017-2020, Principal Investigator)
• Securing biodiversity, functional integrity and ecosystem services in DRYing rivER networks (DRYvER - H2020, 2019 - 2024, Researcher).
• Resolving the dissolved organic matter degradability dilemma in freshwater ecosystems (FREEDOM - EXPLORA MINECO, 2015-2017, Principal Investigator)
• Managing the effects of multiple stressors on aquatic ecosystems under water scarcity (GLOBAQUA- FP7, 2014-2019, Full time researcher).
• Fate and persistence of emerging contaminants and MRB in a continuum of surface water-groundwater from the
laboratory scale to the regional scale (PERSIST - JPI Water, 2015-2018, Full time researcher).
• Water pollution remediation strategies based on the optimization of natural attenuation processes (REMEDIATION - MINECO, 2016-2018, Co-Principal Investigator).
• Integration of climate seasonal prediction and ecosystem impact modeling for an efficient adaptation of water resources management to increasing climate extreme events (WATExR - ERA4CS JPI Climate, 2017-2020, Consortium Coordinator).
• Carbon dynamics in lakes and reservoirs under a changing hydrology: implications for ecosystem metabolism, gas fluxes, and sedimentary sinks (C-HydroChange - MINECO , 2018-2021, Principal Investigator)
• Management of climatic extreme events in lakes and reservoirs for the protection of Ecosystem Services (MANTEL - MSCA Innovative Training Networks, 2017-2020, Principal Investigator)
• Securing biodiversity, functional integrity and ecosystem services in DRYing rivER networks (DRYvER - H2020, 2019 - 2024, Researcher).
• Resolving the dissolved organic matter degradability dilemma in freshwater ecosystems (FREEDOM - EXPLORA MINECO, 2015-2017, Principal Investigator)
• Managing the effects of multiple stressors on aquatic ecosystems under water scarcity (GLOBAQUA- FP7, 2014-2019, Full time researcher).
• Fate and persistence of emerging contaminants and MRB in a continuum of surface water-groundwater from the
laboratory scale to the regional scale (PERSIST - JPI Water, 2015-2018, Full time researcher).
• Water pollution remediation strategies based on the optimization of natural attenuation processes (REMEDIATION - MINECO, 2016-2018, Co-Principal Investigator).