The Aquatic Ecology and Biotechnology group addresses (i) the impacts of environmental stressors on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems at different trophic levels (from microbial communities to organisms higher in the food chain), (ii) the risk assessment of these stressors for ecosystems, and (iii) the development of nature-based solutions and technologies to mitigate their impacts. Specifically, there are four lines of research with active projects:
1. Risk assessment for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems derived from environmental stressors (e.g., microplastics, additives, salt pollution).
2. Microbial ecology of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, with an emphasis on the detection and management of cyanobacterial blooms and cyanotoxins using nature-based solutions (e.g., bioaugmentation).
3. Assessment of the impacts of aquatic stressors on terrestrial biodiversity (e.g., emergence of aquatic-terrestrial insects, pollinating insects) and the ecosystem services they provide (e.g., pollination, food production, crop pest control, nutrient transfer).
4. Studies of the impact of contaminants (pesticides, antibiotics, and biocides) on microorganisms in aquatic environments, as well as the development of antibiotic resistance.