Research Lines: TA.P04.030.001 – Biophysics and molecular biology in the study of environmental processes
People: Serena Como

The general objective of this research is to analyse the role of benthos on the nutrients fluxes and the exchanges of organic matter between sediment and water column.  

Keywords: Macrozoobenthos, Coastal processes; biodisturbance; biological engineering; Food webs; Feeding behavior, human-induced disturbances.

The issues addressed recently concerned:

• Analysis of the stable isotopes, mainly of Carbon and Nitrogen, used at their natural abundances and as tracers to analyse the transfer of material among organisms;
• Role of bioturbation on nutrient cycles and organic matter;
• Role of ecosystem engineers on biodiversity;
• Consequences of human-induced stressors (warming, organic enrichment and invasive species) on the fluxes on energy and material among benthic compartments.