Research group

Ecology and Resilience of Benthic Ecosystems in a Changing Ocean

An integrated view of the factors defining the resilience of benthic ecosystems

The group conducts research projects related to the factors and mechanisms that determine the resilience of marine benthic ecosystems face to the global change impacts. To this end the group adopted a multidisciplinary ranging from taxonomy and systematics, to species biology, structure and dynamics of populations and communities, both benthic and planktonic, and the relationship of biological processes with environmental factors. The multidisciplinary approach implies that the studies contemplate a wide range of analytical, experimental (in the field and in the laboratory), statistical and modeling techniques. A special effort is also made in the technological development of equipment ensuring the best guarantees of success of the developed projects. The team works mainly in the littoral and platform benthic ecosystems in which it has a long experience (campaigns in oceanographic and coastal areas with SCUBA-diving). Resulting in the acquisition of long-term (> 20 years) time series of population dynamics and biodiversity unique in the Mediterranean. The research activities is complemented by a long experience in educational and scientific outreach activities.

Objectives

The main objective of the group is to achieve an integrated vision of the factors that determine the resilience of benthic ecosystems, that is, factors that determine the resistance and recovery face of disturbances associated with global change. The team has been especially active in analyzing the central role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as tools to counteract the negative effects of human activities. The ultimate final goal in enhancing the effectiveness of marine management and conservation strategies. To this end the group works in close cooperation with the administration, authorities and society in general (educational and outreach projects) as key issue for our research group.

Specific objectives:

1. Study of the processes related to the capacity of resilience of littoral and platform Mediterranean benthic ecosystems against perturbations associated with global change.

2. Support in the design of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and analysis of their effectiveness in the conservation the preservation of key marine species and habitats.

3. Study of the structure and dynamics of benthic communities and their spatial distribution in relation to temporal, environmental and geomorphological factors. Consolidation of long-term surveys in different areas in the Mediterranean (+20 years).

4. Development and application of new methods and technological applications to improve knowledge of the marine environment and to cope with new challenges in coastal marine exploration.

5. Development of innovative and science education programs in collaboration with teachers in primary and secondary schools from public and private institutions.

6. Development of marine citizen science projects to involve and raise awareness of environmental challenges of the ocean.

 

Most relevant information

    Destacats

    Joaquim Garrabou Scientfic coordinator of the T-MEDNet network (www.t-mednet.org) aiming to track climate change impacts in the Mediterranean Sea

    Joaquim Garrabou coordinator of the marine citizen science platform Observadores del Mar www.observadoresdelmar.es

    Registro de la propiedad intelectual de “Juego Oceans” a nombre de J.M. Gili, B. Vendrell-Simón, J. Grinyó, S. Ambroso, R. Zapata, J. Salazar, L. Peral, A. Santín, C. Dominguez-Carrió, A. Martinez, M. Montseny, A. Gori, N. Viladrich, G. Corbera, B. Peral, X. Faus, representados por la Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, el día 9 de enero de 2019, Acta 7007 del Notario Pedro Antonio Mateo Salgado en Madrid. Documento, folio EK 3674213.

    Registro de la propiedad intelectual de “Gymkhana de los mares y océanos” a nombre de J.M. Gili, B. Vendrell-Simón, J. Grinyó, S. Ambroso, R. Zapata, J. Salazar, L. Peral, A. Santín, C. Dominguez-Carrió, A. Martinez, M. Montseny, A. Gori, N. Viladrich, G. Corbera, representados por la Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, el día 10 de enero de 2019, Acta 7008 del Notario Pedro Antonio Mateo Salgado en Madrid. Documento, folio EK 3674034.

    Registro de la propiedad intelectual de “Juego de Tierra o de Mar” a nombre de J.M. Gili, B. Vendrell-Simón, J. Grinyó, S. Ambroso, R. Zapata, J. Salazar, L. Peral, A. Santín, C. Dominguez-Carrió, A. Martinez, M. Montseny, A. Gori, N. Viladrich, G. Corbera, J. Corbera, representados por la Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, el día 9 de enero de 2019, Acta 7009 del Notario Pedro Antonio Mateo Salgado en Madrid. Documento, folio EK 3674025.

    Registro de la propiedad intelectual de “Guia de Identificación de Medusas” a nombre de M. Marambio, L. López-Castillo, J.M. Gili, V. Fuentes, representados por la Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, el día 9 de enero de 2019, Acta 7010 del Notario Pedro Antonio Mateo Salgado en Madrid. Documento, folio EK 3674016.

    Publicacions
    • Bates, Amanda E.; Helmuth, Brian; Burrows, Michael T.; Duncan, Murray I.; Garrabou, Joaquim; Guy-Haim, Tamar; Lima, Fernando P.; Queirós, Ana M.; Seabra, Rui; Marsh, Robert; Belmaker, J.; Bensoussan, Nathaniel; Dong, Yunwei; Mazaris, Antonios D.; Smale, Dan; Rilov, Gil;
      2018

      Biologists ignore ocean weather at their peril

      Nature 560(7718): 299-301 (2018)
      10.1038/d41586-018-05869-5
    • Montero-Serra, Ignasi; Linares, Cristina; Doak, Daniel F.; Garrabou, Joaquim; Ledoux, J. B.;
      2018

      Strong linkages between depth, longevity and demographic stability across marine sessile species

      Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 285(873) (2018)
      10.1098/rspb.2017.2688
    • Guerrero, Elena; Gili, Josep Maria; Grinyó, Jordi; Raya, Vanesa; Sabatés, Ana;
      2018

      Long-term changes in the planktonic cnidarian community in a mesoscale area of the NW Mediterranean

      PLoS ONE 13(5): e0196431 (2018)
      10.1371/journal.pone.0196431
    • Grinyó, Jordi; Viladrich, Nuria; Díaz Viñolas, David; Muñoz, Anabel; Mallol, Sandra; Salazar, Janire; Castillo, Raquel; Gili, Josep Maria; Gori, Andrea;
      2018

      Reproduction, energy storage and metabolic requirements in a mesophotic population of the gorgonian Paramuricea macrospina

      PLoS ONE 13(9): e0203308 (2018)
      10.1371/journal.pone.0203308
    • Lo Iacono, Claudio; Robert, Katleen; Gonzalez-Villanueva, Rita; Gori, Andrea; Gili, Josep Maria; Orejas, Covadonga;
      2018

      Predicting cold-water coral distribution in the Cap de Creus Canyon (NW Mediterranean): Implications for marine conservation planning

      Progress in Oceanography 69: 169-180 (2018)
      10.1016/j.pocean.2018.02.012
    Projectes
    Contractes