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Departments
Geoecology and Biogeochemistry
Research lines
The Group that is going to be formed is a high multidisciplinary group that can be justified by the high variety inherent to the studies devoted to natural systems as a whole. Therefore, the specific objectives of the Group may be divide in the objectives of the three research lines composing the said Group, which are related to remote sensing and soil genesis and characterization, carbon sequestration and evaluation/restoration of erosive processes in Mediterranean soils due to inappropriate invasive reforestation, forest fire or over-exploitation. These processes may be studied in a long-term to be applied to global change studies using paleoenvironment reconstructions based on sedimentological or geochemical registers.
Research Line A: Geomorphology - Soil - Vegetation Relationship. Remote Sensing.
The research line is focused on the close relationship between the vegetation communities, growing in protected sites (National or Natural Parks) with the surrounding geomorphology and the soil lying underneath. Usually, a very close relation between soil-geomorphology can be observed, as it is one of the main processes influencing the soil evolution if there's no antropic influence. Therefore, studying the geomorphology and vegetation (that gives also an idea of the soil substrate and hydrological conditions) the soil evolution can be established with great accuracy. This fact contributes to obtain a very good knowledge of the studied ecosystem, helping in the prediction of the future evolution if some of the main affecting parameters change (water table, salinity, draught, flooding, etc).
To take advantage of the huge dataset of soils, vegetation and geomorphology, obtained of a natural-preserved area (Doñana National Park) since 1980, we began to apply the analysis of remote sensing images (Thematic Mapper), to evaluate the already known ecosystems and apply a friendly, costless, monitoring technique. We did parallel studies in protected submarine areas using acoustic remote sensing (side scan sonar), obtaining excellent results to detect, characterize and map seaweed amounts of economical interest and protected sea grass meadows (as Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa or Zostera marina), in the Spanish, Danish and Colombian coasts.
At present, the focus is centred in an environmental multidisciplinary study, by doing Environmental Sensitivity Index mapping of the coasts to be prepared for oil spills. On the other hand, we continue with soil genesis and evolution studies, and will begin a project on the evolution of the wet soils placed near the lagoons in Doñana National Park in the last 25 years.
Research Line B: Organic Biogeochemistry.
The specific objectives of the Organic Biogeochemistry research line are related to various phenomena with wide incidence in Spain, and with applications to both, Agriculture and the Environment:
- Organic-geochemical characterization of soils, sediments and fossil organic matter with a view to paleoenvironmental reconstructions: assessment of sedimentary basins and climatic change predictions.
- Compositional studies and fate of organic residues with agronomic interest. Compost maturity assessment.
- Effects of wildfires on the soil organic matter. Implications in carbon sequestration and the biogeochemical C and N cycles.
- Detection of organic microcontaminants in environmental matrices.
Research lines i) y ii) are closely related to the so called Agroecology. This field is particularly interested to fostering a modern and environmentally friendly Agriculture, which act as a valuable tool for the maintenance of non renewable resources both physical (soil and water) and biological. It is well known that soil is the most important C reservoir on Earth, and that appropriate use and management, applied in the traditional Agriculture, may favour the secuestration of stable forms of C, helping thus significantly to mitigate the global climate change. On the contrary, certain sylvoagricultural practices (burning and clearing of forest zones, cultivation in flooded areas, abuse of nitrogen fertilizers, etc.) have leaded to the decrease in 30 % of the C content in soils, with a concomitant noticeable increase in the concentration of greenhouse effect gases. At the same time that climatic change risk may lead to deleterous effects on Agriculture (reduction of the cultivable surface, shifting of the production areas, higher incidence of pests and diseases, etc.), and as a consequence in the production of crops and food. This lab will continues its traditional high quality scientific production reflected in more than 150 papers (25 in the last five years) published in international journals included in the ISI. It is also its intention to maintain and increase the present close international relationships based in own and joined projects and concerted actions: 1. Isolation and molecular characterization of highly refractory forms of organic matter in fire affected soils (Action with German lab), peat (Action with German and French labs), volcanic and andic soils (Action with French lab) and marine sediments (National Project ); 2. Environmental quality of the Guadiana Estuary. Dynamic of organic contaminants in the soil-water system: adsorption, desorption, degradation and mobility (INTERREG IIIA, UE); 3. Assessment of quality criteria for humic fertilizers using pyrolytic techniques. Preparation of humic products with added value for application in sustainable Agriculture (Agreement IRNAS-AMC Chemical); 4. Identification of biogeochemical markers of the retrieve of wildfire affected soils I (National Project).
In the last 5 years more than 70 communications have been presented to national and international scientific meetings. The members of the lab maintain a relevant participation in various international Scientific Societies. Thus, they have been responsible for the organization of two important International Congresses in the last years: 14th International Symposium on Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis (Pyrolysis 2000, 2-6 April 2000, Seville. 170 Communications), and 22nd International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry (22 IMOG, 12-16 September 2005, Sevilla. 630 Communications, see http://www.imog05.org).
Research Line C: Forest Ecology.
The Forest Ecology Lab will try to maintain the rate of fund support obtained during the last 5 years, including competitive projects form the National Research Plan (MEC); the trend will be towards less number of projects but of higher relevance and number of participants. At present, the research leader is coordinator of a MEC National project (HETEROMED), including 2 sub-projects and involving 10 researchers from 4 institutions (IRNASE, Universities of Córdoba, Granada and Alcalá). In addition, there are several Contracts and Technical Assistances with the Regional Government (Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía), and with the public companies EGMASA and TRAGSA, to technical advise about ecological restoration and management of disturbed ecosystems. Starting on 2004, there is also a participation in a Network of Excellence (ALTER-net) within the Sixth European Research Program.
The scientific productivity on forest ecology will be maintained on the actual rate (about 3 papers per year), in journals within the ISI list. During the last 5 years can be remarked a contribution to Science (2002), several papers in journals of general ecology, such as Oikos (2002), of plant ecology, such as Journal of Vegetation Science (2001, 2003) and Plant Ecology (2003), and aspects of environmental science, such as Science of Total Environment (2001, 2003) and Environmental Pollution (2004).
The scientific publication at national level will be also maintained (average of 2 papers per year), focused on transferring results at local level, in journals such as Almoraima, and the Revista de la Sociedad Gaditana de Historia Natural, with a clear impact on local stakeholders, managers and users of Natural Areas. With similar aims, special attention will be devoted to publish books in Spanish, which can be used as textbooks or reference books for University students. Two successful examples of contribution to collective books are: Ecosistemas Mediterráneos: Análisis Funcional (2001) and Ecología del Bosque Mediterráneo en un Mundo Cambiante (2004).
The results of the research projects have been presented in International Congresses and Symposia (at least 1 per year), of Ecology, such as MEDECOS (Mediterranean Ecosystems, 2000), and EURECO (European Ecology, 2001), of Forestry, such as IUFRO (Forest History and Biodiversity, 2003) and Ecological Restoration (2003). They are also presented in local, Spanish Meetings; remarking the invited contributions to the Jornadas de Gestión del Alcornocal (2004) and to the Restauración del Corredor Verde del Guadiamar (2003).
The international connections include the active participation in the European Network of Excellence ALTER-net (2004-2009). The cooperation projects with Morocco and Portugal, within the context of trans-frontier studies of Mediterranean forest ecology, have involved the supervision of a Ph. D. student from Morocco (2001) and one from Portugal (not finished). There are also collaborative research and joint papers with researchers from England, USA, Netherlands, South Africa and New Zealand.
The educational achievements on forest ecology are carried out in collaboration with the University of Sevilla, co-organizing a Series of Seminar on Plant Ecology and Evolution, valid for credits in the Doctorate Program and running for the last 11 years. During the last 5 years 2 Ph.D. dissertation have been presented by students from this lab and currently there 5 in different phases to be completed. The educational activity and ability to attract competitive (FPU/FPI programs) grantees by the lab have been increasing during the last 5 years.
PUBLICATIONS
STAFF
Head of department: Luís Ventura García Fernández
| Name | Category | Phone |
Alegre Rodriguez, Jose María
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Titulado Medio: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 177 |
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Avila Castuera, José Manuel
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Becario Predoctoral | 140 |
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Cara García, Juan Santiago
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Técnico Especialista Grado Medio de los OPIs | 161 |
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Clemente Salas, Luis
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Investigador Científico del CSIC | 142 |
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Diaz Herraiz, Marta
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Becario Predoctoral | 131 |
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Domínguez Moñino, Irene
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Titulado Superior: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 131 |
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Galocha Zapata, Isabel Mª
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Técnico Superior: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 9 |
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García Fernández, Luis Ventura
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Investigador Titular de los OPIs | 166 |
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Garcia Sanchez, Angela Mª
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Becario Predoctoral | 134 |
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Gómez Aparicio, Lorena
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Investigador Titular de los OPIs | 139 |
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González Grau, Juan Miguel
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Investigador Científico del CSIC | 146 |
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González Pérez, José Antonio
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Científico Titular del CSIC | 116 |
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González Vila, Francisco Javier
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Profesor de Investigación del CSIC | 116 |
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Gutierrez González, Eduardo
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Técnico Superior: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 140 |
| Gutierrez Hernandez, Oliver | Becario Predoctoral | --- |
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Hermosin Campos, Bernardo Calixto
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Científico Titular del CSIC | 153 |
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Herrera Quintero, Liz Karen
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Doctor: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 133 |
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Ibañez Moreno, Beatriz
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Titulado Superior: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 140 |
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Jurado Lobo, Valme
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Titulado Superior: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 131 |
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Knicker , Heike Elisabeth
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Profesor de Investigación del CSIC | 182 |
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Laiz Trobajo, Leonila
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Científico Titular del CSIC | 131 |
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López Martín, María
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Becario Predoctoral | 660161531 |
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Marañón Arana, Teodoro
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Investigador Científico del CSIC | 141 |
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Martín Sánchez, Pedro Mª
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Titulado Superior: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 133 |
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Moreno López, Adela
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Titulado Superior Especializado del CSIC | 162 |
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Navarro Fernández, Canmen María
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Titulado Superior: Gestión y Servicios Comunes | 605951085 |
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Pérez Ramos, Ignacio Manuel
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Doctor: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 140 |
| Piñeiro Vidal, Maximino | Titulado Superior: Gestión y Servicios Comunes | --- |
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Pozuelos Rojas, Ana
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Titulado Medio: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 140 |
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Ramírez Vázquez, Cristina
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Técnico Superior: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 169 |
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Rogerio Candelera, Miguel Angel
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Titulado Superior: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 131 |
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Rosa Arranz, Jose Mª de la
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Ayudante: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 163 |
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Sáiz Jiménez, Cesáreo
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Profesor de Investigación del CSIC | 134 |
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Siljeström Ribed, Patricia Astrid
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Científico Titular del CSIC | 161 |
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Velasco Molina, Marta
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Titulado Superior: Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales | 163 |
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