Staff directory

Evolution and systematics of spiders

Research in Andorran ethnobotany and phylogeny of the Pyrenees of Catalan-speaking territories.

Predoctoral Researcher in Marine Sciences at the University of Barcelona. I study molecular eukaryotic biodiversity patterns in shallow hard‐bottom Antarctic benthic communities using DNA metabarcoding.

I am currently working at the Institute of Marine Sciences of Barcelona (ICM-CSIC) and the University of Barcelona (UB). My research is focused on the effect of ocean acidification on Antarctic marine calcifiers.

During my early career, as graduated in Marine Biology and a master in Marine Ecology, I have mainly studied how environmental variability modulates biochemical and reproductive adaptations in different species of marine invertebrates. Furthermore, I am currently conducting my PhD thesis about potential effects of glacial melt and retreat on different ecological characteristics of Antarctic marine benthic communities.

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

Catalan and Mediterranean ethnobotany: phylogenetic, phytochemical and meta-analytic approaches

Cynipid Taxonomy and Systematics

Population genetics and genomics; phylogeography. Comparative Genomics and Molecular Evolution. Bioinformatics.

Currently, I'm studying the coexpression of cardiogenetic markers to understand the impact of gene loss in the evolution of  regulatory gene networks of cardiac and axial muscle development in O. dioica.

Trying to understand the biological buffer systems of marine invertebrates that calcify to cope with the rapid environmental changes expected in the predicted global ocean acidification and warming scenario by applying genomics, transcriptomics, and metagenomics, along with metabolic ecology.

Study of the Mediterranean habitat-forming marine species populations under the global warming effects, and engage citizen science to produce new knowledge for science and society.

Charmed with marine biology, currently I'm studying the adaptive processes of the invasive species Styela plicata. From the reference genome construction to the bacterial community structure, we want to see how this species is available to colonize new habitats.

The general objective of this research focuses on the adaptations of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic dipterans (Chironomidae) to environmental changes through the study of possible changes in phenology, thermal physiology and distribution, and how these organisms can be sentinels of climate change.

I'm doing my PhD on the spatial ecology of storm petrels

Mariona Gonzalez Pineda is an environmental scientist and has completed a master's degree in Oceanography and Marine Management. She has always been interested in the human impact on aquatic systems and its effect on the ecosystem. Currently, she focuses her study on the microplastics present in Antarctica's benthic invertebrates.

PhD student focused on the study of the evolutionary history of pelagic birds of the genus Calonectris and the evolution of migratory behavior in this species complex

PhD title: 'Theoretical and applied issues of aquatic biodiversity at Greek Islands"
My research interests are on: a) Ecology, Phylogeny, Biogeography and Taxonomy of aquatic macroinvertebrates, primarily caddisflies (Trichoptera), damselflies/dragonflies (Odonata) and stoneflies (Plecoptera), b) Bioassessment of Mediterranean Intermittent Rivers and Ephemeral Streams (IRES) & c) Conservation and Protection of endangered freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate species (with emphasis on endemic species) and Conservation and Protection of Freshwater and Wetlands Ecosystems.

My research focuses on patterns of diversity in peatland communities at different scales. I generally work with vascular plants, bryophytes and microeukaryotes (metabarcoding) and I like to incorporate a perspective of phylogenetic and functional diversity in my studies.