Biological sciences

• Structure and dynamics of aquatic communities
• Ecology of plankton and benthos
• Biological oceanography
• Ecophysiology of marine primary producers: macroalgae and seagrasses
• Ecophysiology and biotechnology of microalgae
• Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry
• Biogeochemical cycles (C, N, P) in aquatic ecosystems
• Limnology of reservoirs, lakes and wetlands
• Biodiversity, conservation and management of aquatic and coastal ecosystems
• Ecological modelling and remote sensing in aquatic ecosystems

Neuroendocrine control of reproduction in fish.
Fish chronobiology.
Osmoregulation in fish: basic and applied aspects.
Functional neuroanatomy of fish.
Stress in fish species of interest in aquaculture: basic and applied aspects.
Fish nutrition.
Environmental physiology of fish.
Physiology of fish development.
Fish histopathology and ecotoxicology.

Our line of research focuses on the field of conservation biology, with special attention to that of coastal wetlands and the interactions between human activities and biodiversity. An important part of the research is carried out, for reasons of proximity and relevance, in the Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park, Strait of Gibraltar and nearby coastal and marine systems. Among other aspects, this line includes:
1. Conservation and management of biodiversity in coastal wetlands.

Our research lines focus on key aspects of the ecology, biogeography and biodiversity of plants in Mediterranean-type terrestrial ecosystems, including their relationships with disturbance factors (e.g. fire), and the interactions with other organisms (e.g. insects, vertebrates, soil microbiome). We pay special interest to functional ecological processes, such as regeneration after severe disturbance (e.g. fire, drought) and nutrient dynamics in the soil-water-air system.

Cell therapy in Critical limb ischemia
Proteomics in the search of cardiovascular research related biomarkers
Cell therapy in Atherosclerosis

- Proteins involved in membrane fusion: secretion of antibodies by plasma cells
- Transcriptional regulation of PRDM1 transcription factor. Implications in myeloma.
- B-lymphocytes in autoimmune diseases: Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Inflammation and immunology in ICU patients and the use of nuclear medicine techniques to diagnose the evolution of inflammation.
- Inflammation and Immunology in patients with Silicosis.

• Genomic characterization and study of the properties of different genetic groups of winemaking and aging yeasts responsible for the production of sherry wines and manzanillas
• Molecular cytogenetics of marine organisms
• Study of genetic markers in marine populations for application in wildness and aquaculture
• Molecular study of the mechanisms of pathogenicity of the fungus Botrytis cinerea applications to the integrated control of fungal diseases
• Genetics and genomics
• Gene mapping and integrated gene mapping

Development of bacterial growth/inactivation models. Study of modes of antibacterial action of metallic nanoparticles through experimental probing and modelling. Characterization of nanoparticles. Atomic force microscopy and spectroscopy of different cell types. Study of the transport of different membrane species within a membrane. Modeling and simulating membrane diffusion. Understanding an interplay between all the physical effects on the length and time scales of the living cell. 

Influence of Transition to the Renewable Energy Sources on Maritime Transport, Sustainable Development and Labour Market Policy; Proceeding from the fact that sustainable development is the key principle of Environmental Law, this research aims to determine whether transition to renewable energy sources has contributed to its intensification,  but also to the decreasement  of pollution and increasement of expenses in maritime sector as well.

The Environmental Impacts of Maritime Shipping; The aim is to establish, by using scientific method, whether our hypotheses according to which cruise ships are greater polluter than cargo ships in the Adriatic Sea is founded. The other question that should be considered within this research is whether air pollution from ships is already declining as a result of implementation of several international and European regulations obliging to emission reduction.