Staff directory

Field of research: Ecophysiology and diversity of complex natural ecosystems (e.g., microbial tapestries and intestinal tract of xylophagous insects) and simple systems, such as the study of biofilm formation in in vitro cultures using a single bacterial strain.

Conservation biology of plants, with special emphasis on the biology of small populations of endemic species and subjected to fragmentation processes in the Mediterranean region (demography, reproductive biology, population genetics). Databases of genetic biodiversity. Pharmaceutical botany.

I study the patterns of diversity (plant and animal) in agricultural landscapes, with special attention to the contrast between conventional and organic systems, and the impact of changes in diversity on functionalism of these systems and the implications for management and conservation. Also dedicate part of my work analyzing spatial data diversity, floristic studies in the biology of invasions.

Graduate in Environmental Sciences with a master’s degree in Oceanography and Marine Environment Management, focusing on phycology. My doctoral thesis is based on the cytogenetic study of Antarctic marine macroalgae

I am an Associate Professor 'Serra Húnter' at the University of Barcelona and the lead of the Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM-Lab) research group. My research interests mainly focus on the biodiversity, ecology, and conservation of freshwater ecosystems. In particular, I have been working on large-scale spatial patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrates mediterranean climate rivers and their responses to past, present, and future disturbances, combining community and population approaches. I have conducted my research mainly on of the world, where intermittent rivers are part of the daily landscape and have triggered many evolutionary adaptations of species.

Biological and ecological studies of large marine vertebrates (Chondrichthyes, chelonian, cetacean and pinniped) focused on management and conservation of populations.

Reproductive biology of plants, with special attention to the tribe Delphinieae. Conservation biology (reproductive biology, genetic diversity and population) of endemic plants, endangered and/or rare in the Mediterranean region.

Our research is in the areas of Evo-Devo, and Comparative and Population Genomics. The research of our group focuses on the study of the impact of gene loss on the evolution of the mechanisms of development, mostly those related with the evolution of body plans and central nervous system in the different subphyla of Chordates. Among our favorite signaling pathways we study the retinoic acid, FGF and WNT, using the urochordate Oikopleura dioica, the cephalochordate amphioxus, and the vertebrate zebrafish as our preferred animal models.

I study the habitat use of marine mammals and sea turtles in different ecosystems, using oxygen and sulphur stable isotopes as intrinsic habitat tracers.

My research aims to better understand the resilience of species to global change in order to develop effective management and conservation tools. To do this, I combine the use of small-scale experiments, field data, large-scale data, along with a wide variety of modeling techniques, to better understand, predict and manage their dynamics and promote their resilience.

Biological and ecological studies of large marine vertebrates (Chondrichthyes, chelonian, cetacean and pinniped) focused on management and conservation of populations.

Conservation of biodiversity - Ecology of communities - Ecology of populations - Forest ecology - Management and restoration of the natural environment

My research focuses on the genetics and genomics of marine organisms with very diverse biological characteristics, from sea turtles to benthic organisms. This includes studies of phylogeography, local adaptation, ocean migrations and genetics for the conservation of threatened species

Floristic topics and vegetation typology research  in the Pyrenees region. Fitocenology and CORINE habitats. Fitocenology units and its application in environmental assessment and management. Adapting to digital mapping of analog products and mapping methods . Mapping of vegetation and CORINE habitat.

Flora and vegetation studies in the Pyrenee and mediterranean region. Long term research in fragile communities to environmental factors. Mapping of Catalonian vegetation.

He mainly works in the “Seguiment marí” project which consists in a long-term monitoring of the marine biodiversity of the Medes Islands and Cap de Creus marine reserves. The aim of this project is to assess the conservation status of the marine habitats and populations from both MPA, to detect risk situations to the natural heritage and to improve previous knowledge about its species and habitats in order to facilitate a more sustainable territorial management. Previously, David participated in a project related with population dynamics of sea urchins in Port Cros National Park and participated in the reimplantation of red coral (Corallium rubrum) in the Medes Island reserve seized from poachers.

Biology and ecology of weed species, conservation and management of plant and animal biodiversity in agro-ecosystems, landscape ecology, agroecology, organic agriculture.

Cynipid Taxonomy and Systematics

Taxonomy, Phylogeny and Systematics of fossil insects (especially dragonflies and Hymenoptera). Taphonomy of arthropod and deposits of exceptional preservation, especially of continental origin (lacustrine and amber). Paleoecology of Mesozoic insects.