Científico Principal
CurrentCoordinator of the research group about Marine Megafauna (MegaFauna Marina (MegaMAR)) from IEO-CSIC.MegaMar is an inter-center group (CSIC Group ID code: 944622) formed by researchers from various Oceanographic centers from the Spanish Oceanographic Institute (IEO-CSIC). The research activity of the group is focused on protected marine megafauna, specially focusing on marine mammals. The group performs basic and applied research, in a wide range of fields, including population biology, spatial ecology, trophic ecology, behaviour, bioacoustics, and movement ecology. The final goal of the research team is to improve the management of marine megafauna and contributing to the understanding of the anthropogenic impacts that are causing their declines. Group member’s advice regional, national and international entities on the conservation of these species and how anthropic impacts impact this group of animals, from fishery interactions, to acoustic pollution among others. The three main lines of research of the group are:- ECOLOGY> Trophic ecology: Diet and nutrients cycling by marine megafauna. Stomach content analysis, stable isotope analysis, DNA metabarcoding> Spatial ecology: Distribution statistical models (Maxent, GAM, Random forest…)> Movement ecology and Behaviour: Satellite tags and D-tag deployments to understand the use of horizontal and vertical movement- POPULATION DYNAMICS- Abundance: Small-scale (ie. resident populations) by photo-identification and large-scale assessment by distance sampling methodology by boat, drones and aircrafts- Growth and body condition: Drone biometries, teeth growth layers, gonadal development- INTERACTION WITH HUMAN ACTIVITIES- Bycatch and collisions: Onboard observation, Remote electronic observation- Chemical and acoustic pollution: Macro/microplastics, PCBS, PBDEs, Hg, plasticizers, and noise levels- Marine spatial planning: Prioritization algorithms (Marxan, Prioritzr…) to determine important megafauna spots
