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Esperança Gacia Pasola

Senior Scientist

Department

Contact
Email

gacia@ceab.csic.es

Phone

(+34) 972336101

Esperança Gacia Pasola

Senior Scientist

My research focuses on the study of structure and function dynamics of communities and ecosystems dominated by plants. These range from seagrass meadows in the marine coastal zone, to aquatic vegetation in wetlands, rivers and lakes in continental waters. I am particularly interested in the interactions between plant physiology and the environment (water column and sediment) in extreme conditions (i.e. resource limitation, contaminants). Within this context, we study the interaction between submersed aquatic vegetation and biogeochemistry in oligotrophic small lakes and ponds in the Pyrenees. We are also involved in the study of aquatic plants as indicators of pollution (i.e. eutrophication, metals) in lowland ponds and streams. Finally, my research on marine coastal ecosystems has focused on different aspects related to ecological functions of seagrass meadows, and more recently, on examining the metabolic balance between production and respiration in these ecosystems.

Research projects which I am IP:

Changes in the flora of the lakes of the Pyrenees (FLORAQUA)

PROJECTS

In this project, we measure the anthropogenic impact on the rivers of high mountain national parks, investigate the response of river ecosystems to this impact, and evaluate management strategies to mitigate this impact.
In 1987, a synoptic study of the ponds of the Pyrenees was carried out that included 35 localities of the PNASM. This reference offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the changes that have occurred since then in submerged plant communities and analyze their causes.