Rodolfo Barreiro

My scientific career has focused on the study of environmental conservation from various approaches. My first studies dealt with the presence of heavy metals in sediments and organisms of the Galician coast, being the first time that this issue was addressed in Galicia. Later (1996 onwards), I focused on the presence and effects of tributyltin (TBT) in Galician coastal waters using a biomarker (imposex) that has finally become the standard tool for biomonitoring TBT in European coastal waters. This line of study is still active in our research group, and we have monitored the evolution of TBT in Galician waters over almost two decades and collaborated with Spain's IEO in the preparation of reports for the OSPAR Commission. The impact of TBT led to a new line of research: the use of molecular tools for investigating ecological processes. In the early 2000s, we commenced with standard population genetics markers to infer the dispersal potential of gastropods affected by TBT. Since then, the set of molecular ecology tools used by our group gave me the opportunity to collaborate with other researchers in studies of population structure, phylogeography, source of some alien species, and the detection of cryptic species. The versatility of these tools enabled me to work with both aquatic and terrestrial organisms, although I have always focused on species of conservation concern (either threatened or aliens). Our work included the first studies where molecular markers were used to investigate the biodiversity of maerl-forming seaweeds, studies on the population structure of threatened seaweeds, studies on the connectivity and genetic diversity of endemic coastal plants, and the phylogeography and adaptive capacity of emblematic plants such as the strawberry tree. In the particular case of threatened marine and terrestrial organisms, our work has always sought an applied perspective so that it could serve as a basis for a more effective management. Molecular ecology is a field in continuous technical growth and, in recent years, our research group took its first steps in the use of new technologies for mass sequencing. Similarly, we have started a new line focusing on the effects of global change on coastal ecosystems, with special attention to both seaweeds and coastal endemic plants.