Associated Professor (Area of Ecology)
Ph.D. in Marine Sciences, 2011, University of Cádiz
B.Sc. in Marine Sciences, 2004, University of Cádiz
Research Interests:
I started my scientific career studying the effects of massive algal blooms on the biogeochemistry and community composition of coastal sediments. During this time, I gained the skills to use, adapt and develop microsensors and analytical procedures. I also developed and patented a method for the determination of nitrite and nitrate.
In 2012, I obtained a competitive postdoctoral grant and moved to Revsbech’s lab at Aarhus University, Denmark. My project consisted on the use of the recently developed STOX sensor for the measurement of net community metabolism in Oxygen Minimum Zones. I developed methodologies to measure respiration rates using high-resolution sensors and studied the distribution of oxygen in the Pacific OMZs. My research in OMZs led to the discovery of a previously unknown oxygen cycle in the poorly understood Secondary Chlorophyll Maximum of the Pacific OMZ. The results from these studies showed for the first time the presence of aerobic metabolisms within what was considered anoxic conditions in the OMZ.
My development of techniques and methods to measure oxygen concentrations and metabolism is leading me to be regularly invited to participate in international oceanographic cruises and to increase my collaborations. I also participate in the Oxygen Data Platform to create the Global Ocean Oxygen Atlas (GO2AT), led by the Global Ocean Oxygen Network (GO2NE) from UNESCO.
I have been also involved in the development of sensors (O2, H2, combined H2-H2S and CO2) and their applications in microbial ecology. These new sensors were used for studying different microbial environments such as microbial mats or methanogenic biofilms.
My research currently focuses on the planktonic community and its adaptation to trace levels of oxygen, studying how organisms adapt their metabolism, modifying oxygen consumption pathways and metabolic dominance, altering the dynamics of oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen in oxygen-limited environments such as the oxygen minimum zones of the oceans (Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic). Variations in ocean oxygen content are increasing these oxygen-deficient zones, also increasing hypoxic and anoxic events in coastal areas. Therefore, we are also investigating the impact of this deoxygenation on the phytoplankton community. This line of research focuses on two competitive research projects: MAMBO&CO and OxyOcean.
Current Projects:
