Coastal Oceanography

Línea de investigación principal

In the Coastal Oceanography group, chemical, biological and geological oceanography fields are integrated to address the study of the processes that occur in the coastal marine environment. These studies have applications in correcting environmental impacts, controlling pollutants, eutrophication processes, controlling invasive species, and managing ecosystemic fisheries.

The lines of work developed by this group are:

Study of eutrophic processes in sediments and estuarine and coastal waters. Point and diffuse inputs of nutrients and organic matter: fluvial inputs, submarine drains and outfalls, fluxes from coastal aquifers, atmospheric deposition, etc. Spatial and temporal distribution of organic matter and nutrients in marine and coastal ecosystems. The flow of materials at sediment-water interfaces. The behaviour of nutrients and organic matter at interfaces (thermoclines, chemoclines, haloclines, etc.). Toxic algal blooms. Effect of anoxia in estuarine and coastal ecosystems.
Biological oceanography, fisheries and biological pollution. Pelagic ecosystems: phytoplankton, zooplankton and nekton. Benthic ecosystems: structure and dynamics, sandy beaches, phanerogam meadows, bioconstructions. Artisanal fisheries: bivalve fisheries, cephalopods. Interactions between invasive species and invaded ecosystems. Control and exploitation of marine invasive species.
Conservative pollutants in marine ecosystems. Study of transfer in trophic chains. Inputs and effects of metals in the marine environment.
Microbiology of aquatic systems. Bacteriological quality of beaches and underwater outfalls. Biofloc systems in marine cultures. Algae cultures. Probiotics and the immune system of marine organisms.
Sustainable aquaculture. Environmental impacts of marine fish farming. Development of aquaculture production systems with low environmental impact. Multi-trophic systems.