Study systems

We study urban and agricultural freshwater ecosystems with a particular focus on the interplay between animals, water quality, and plants. Our study organisms include submerged plants like Ceratophyllum demersum and Arundo donax, microbes such as bacteria and heterotrophic microeukaryotes (protozoa and micrometazoa), primary consumers such as Daphnia and mosquitoes, and apex consumers such as fish. These food-web components occur partially or totally in the following natural and artificial freshwater ecosystems we study in collaboration with national and international researchers:

Urban and agricultural streams and ditches

Irrigation channels and wastewater-treatment plant effluents are a significant source of water for streams. To assess the ecological and health risks associated with these effluent-fed streams, we employ aquatic animals, primarily fish species, as biological indicators.

Main collaborators for this topic: 

Humbert Salvadó (UB), Alexis Ribas (UB), Rosa M. Araujo (UB), Ralph Mac Nally (University of Melbourne, Australia), Nicole Colin (Universidad Austral de Chile), Francesc Sabater (UB), Jo Cable (Cardiff University, UK), Robert Poulin (University of Otago, New Zealand), Marcos Tavares-Diaz (Embrapa, Brazil), Mário Pacheco (University of Aveiro, Portugal), Jian Yen (University of Merlbourne, Australia), Carlos Barata, Demetrio Raldúa, Cinta Porté (IDAEA-CSIC), Albert Martínez-Silvestre (CRARC), Josep Escribano-Alacid (Museu de Ciències Naturals-BCN), and Ysabel Santos (University of Santiago de Compostela).

Some publications from this topic:

Maceda-Veiga, A., Mac Nally, R., Green, A.J., Poulin, R. & de Sostoa, A. (2019) Major determinants of the occurrence of a globally invasive parasite in riverine fish over large-scale environmental gradients. International Journal for Parasitology

Marqueño, A., Blanco, M., Maceda-Veiga, A. & Porte, C. (2019). Skeletal muscle lipidomics as a new tool to determine altered lipid homeostasis in fish exposed to urban and industrial wastewaters. Environmental Science & Technology 53: 8416-8425.

Colin, N.*, Porte, C., Fernandes, D., Barata, C., Padrós, F., Carrassón, M., Monroy, M., Cano-Rocabayera, O., de Sostoa, A., Piña, B. & Maceda-Veiga, A. (2016) Ecological relevance of biomarkers in monitoring studies of macro-invertebrates and fish in Mediterranean rivers. Science of the Total Environment 540: 307-323.

Wetland-based water treatment systems

We examine the diverse food-web components of ornamental ponds, natural lakes, and artificial wetlands to evaluate the ecological implications of their use as nature-based water treatment systems. Our research focuses on the proliferation of medically relevant insects and the dynamics of pollutants.

Main collaborators for this topic: 

Humbert Salvadó (UB), Francesc Sabater (UB), Núria Roca (UB), Rosa M. Araujo (UB), Carles Aranda (Mosquito Control Service, Baix Llobregat), Miguel Carles-Tolrá (Fauna Ibérica), Isabel Muñoz (UB), Edwin THM. Peeters (University of Wageningen, Netherlands), Sándor Szabó (University of Nyíregyháza, Hungary), Guy Woodward (Imperial College London, UK), Daniel Perkins (University of Roehampton, UK), Gordon Webster (Cardiff University, UK) and Ralph Mac Nally (University of Melbourne, Australia).

Some publications from this topic:

Maceda-Veiga, A., Mac Nally, R., Rodríguez, S., Szabó, S., Peeters, THME., Ruff, T. & Salvadó, H. (2022). Effects of two submerged macrophyte species on microbes and metazoans in rooftop water-storage ponds with different labile carbon loadings. Water Research 211: 117999.

Cano-Rocabayera, O., de Sostoa, A., Coll, Ll. & Maceda-Veiga A. (2019) Managing small, highly prolific invasive aquatic species: exploring an ecosystem approach for the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). Science of the Total Environment 673: 594-604.

Maceda-Veiga, A., López, R. & Green, A.J. (2017) Dramatic impact of alien carp Cyprinus carpio on globally threatened diving ducks and other waterbirds in Mediterranean shallow lakes. Biological Conservation 212: 74-85.


Riparian vegetation

We investigate how different types of riparian zones can mitigate the negative effects of agriculture and farming on streams. Our research aims to inspire Nature-Based Solutions for runoff waters, unravel the ecological connections between riparian areas and adjacent lands, and enhance our understanding of riparian biodiversity, particularly arthropods.

Main collaborators for this topic: 

Francesc Sabater (UB), Carles Aranda (Mosquito Control Service, Baix Llobregat), Núria Roca (UB), Ralph Mac Nally (University of Melbourne, Australia),   Edwin THM. Peeters (University of Wageningen, Netherlands), Sándor Szabó (University of Nyíregyháza, Hungary), Marc Domènech (UB), Xavier Espadaler (CREAF, UAB), Miguel Carles-Tolrá (Fauna Ibérica), Eduard Vives (Museu de Ciències Naturals-BCN), Sergio Albacete (CREAF), Antoni Serra (CRBA-UB), Juli Pujade-Villar (UB), Jan Máca (Czech Entomological Society , Czech Republic), Francesc Sabater (CREAF, UB),  Raimundo Outerelo Dominguez (UCM), Purificación Gamarra (UAM),  José Domingo Gilgado (UAH), Vicenç Bros (DIBA),  Carlos Enrique Prieto (UPV), Miguel Angel Alonso-Zarazaga (MNCN-CSIC), Julio Cifuentes (UAM),  Joke van Erkelens (Netherlands), Michael von Tschirnhaus (Germany) and Pierfilippo Cerretti (Italy).

Some publications from this topic:

Albacete, S., Mac Nally, R.,  Carles-Tolrá, M., Domènech, M., Vives, E., Espadaler, X., Pujadé-Villar, J., Serra, A. & Maceda-Veiga, A*. (2020). Stream distance and vegetation structure are among the major factors affecting various groups of arthropods in non-riparian chestnut forests. Forest Ecology and Management 460: 117860. 

Carles-Tolrá, M., Albacete, S., & Maceda-Veiga, A. (2018) Tres especies nuevas de dípteros para España (Diptera: Lauxaniidae, Periscelididae, Fanniidae). Arquivos Entomolóxicos 19: 167-168 .

Carles-Tolrá, M., Albacete, S., & Maceda-Veiga, A. (2019) Piezura pardalina Rondani, 1866 y Mesembrina intermedia Zetterstedt, 1849, dos especies nuevas para España, y eliminación de Sapromyza nitida Czerny, 1932 de la lista española (Diptera: Lauxaniidae, Fanniidae, Muscidae). Arquivos Entomolóxicos 21: 217-219. 

Aquaria, microcosms and mesocosms

Drawing on over two decades of experience as a professional aquarist, I am applying aquarist knowledge to develop nature-inspired solutions for aquatic habitat restoration and to gain insights into the functioning of food webs through experimental research. Recognizing the potential of the aquarium trade as a source of invasive species, I am also using aquarist expertise to improve management practices in the aquarium trade. 

Main collaborators for this topic: 

Jiri Patoka (Czech University of Life Sciences, Praga), André L. B. Magalhães (Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Brazil), John D. Lyons (University of Wisconsin, USA), Omar Domínguez-Domínguez (Universidad Michoacana, México), Josep Escribano-Alacid (Museu de Ciències Naturals-BCN), Ralph Mac Nally (University of Melbourne, Australia) and Albert Martínez-Silvestre (CRARC).

Some publications from this topic:

Maceda-Veiga, A., Escribano-Alacid, J., Martínez-Silvestre, A., Verdaguer, I. & Mac Nally, R. (2019) What's next? The release of exotic pets continues unabated seven years after enforcement of new legislation for managing invasive species. Biological Invasions 21: 2933-2947 

Maceda-Veiga, A., Domínguez-Domínguez, O., Escribano-Alacid, J. & Lyons, J. (2016) The aquarium hobby: can sinners become saints in freshwater fish conservation?. Fish and Fisheries 17: 860-874. 

Maceda-Veiga, A., Escribano-Alacid, J., De Sostoa, A. & García-Berthou, E. (2013) The aquarium trade as a potential source of fish introductions in southwestern Europe. Biological Invasions 15:2707-2716.