Seaweed and Seagrass Ecology

My major research interest is the ecophysiology of marine macroalgae and seagrasses, from physiological aspects related to photobiology and nutrient metabolism, to the dynamics of green tides, and the effects of eutrophication in seagrass beds. I am interested in seagrass communities, its bottom-up and top down controls in a global change scenario, and its implications at ecological and socioeconomical levels. I have also involved in projects related to integrated aquaculture projects and the application of the Water Framework Directive with macroalgae and seagrasses.

In addition to the Universities of Malaga and Cádiz, I was trained at Univ. of North Carolina at Wilmington in my predoctoral stage, and at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (New York) (Dr. Paul G. Falkowski, postdoctoral stage, 1995). Throughout my career, I have published more than 70 articles in international journals, several books and book chapters, and has supervised 9 Doctoral Theses and more than 20 Ms.Sci. Theses.

Download my short CV English here: CVA

Short History

After my Degree and Ph.D in Biology (1993) at Univ. Malaga. I moved to Faculty of Marine and Environmental Siciences (Univ. Cadiz) reaching a permanent position in 1998, and Professor of Ecology since 2010. I have been responsible for the research group RNM214 “Structure and Dynamics of Aquatic Ecosystems" from November 2014 to June 2016, Director of the Marine Research Laboratory, Labimar; General Director of Scientific Projection (Vice-Rectorate for Research in June 2016), and, from March 2017 until July 2019, General Coordinator of the Campus of International Excellence of the Sea CEI·MAR.

Teaching

Degrees of Marine and of Environmental Sciences. Courses: Marine Ecology, Ecology, Primary Production, Phycology.

Master Courses on Oceanography and on Coastal Management programs.

PhD and Summer Courses: Stable Isotopes in Ecology, Advanced Phycology, etc.

Outreach

Science outreach has been a fundamental in my career. Our dedication to the world of algae led us to publish the book “¿Las algas se comen?” in 2016. This book was awarded with the National University Edition Award for the best outreach work, as well as the best book in the world in the Health and Nutrition category of the Gourmand Book Awards in China. This book has been translated into English, “Those courious Seaweeds. From Biology to Gastronomy ”, receiving in 2019 the prize for best book in the world in non-original language of the Gourmand Awards.

I have been involverd organizing many outreach activities: Scientic fairs, to tall ship races, activities with scholars workshops of biodiversity.

Science dissemination is a fundamental part of the scientific activity.