Our lab is located at the National Museum of Natural History of the Spanish Research Council (MNCN-CSIC) in Madrid. Our research is focused on the functionality of aquatic ecosystems considering how function and structure are changing as induced by human activity. Ecosystems are analyzed by quantifying the biogeochemical fluxes between compartments at different time scales (from minutes to millennia), with emphasis on processes related to the transformations of C, N and P and their interconnections with the structure of the biotic compartment (food webs) and sediments. The ultimate goal of the lab is to model processes that drive biogeochemical cycles in relation to global change.
See the lab news and recent papers below (scroll down the page)... |
Lab news

November 2021
We come back. We have been neglecting the web for all this time, but we have not stopped working hard and doing science during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It has been a difficult and long period, away from the lab, without being able to carry out field campaigns, only with remote contacts with our colleagues ... but we have been almost normal for a few months now. In summer we carried out two field campaigns for the new projects, we received our Mexican PhD students and they have just granted two additional new projects. Scientific life continues, although now it seems that with more intensity.
We come back. We have been neglecting the web for all this time, but we have not stopped working hard and doing science during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It has been a difficult and long period, away from the lab, without being able to carry out field campaigns, only with remote contacts with our colleagues ... but we have been almost normal for a few months now. In summer we carried out two field campaigns for the new projects, we received our Mexican PhD students and they have just granted two additional new projects. Scientific life continues, although now it seems that with more intensity.

November 2019
Water (Open Access Journal by MDPI; IF: 2.524) will publish the Special Issue "Tropical Wetlands in a Changing World: Current Status and Future Perspectives" which will be edited by Salva, Martín Merino-Ibarra (UNAM) and Javier Alcocer-Durand (UNAM). Deadline for manuscript submissions is 31 October 2020. For further information click here.
Water (Open Access Journal by MDPI; IF: 2.524) will publish the Special Issue "Tropical Wetlands in a Changing World: Current Status and Future Perspectives" which will be edited by Salva, Martín Merino-Ibarra (UNAM) and Javier Alcocer-Durand (UNAM). Deadline for manuscript submissions is 31 October 2020. For further information click here.

October 2019
Salva was again in Mexico, this time invited by Dr. Alcocer (FES-Iztacala, UNAM). During this trip he was measuring GHG emissions in tropical water bodies (Montebello Lakes and Usumacinta River) as well training his new co-advised PhD students enrolled in the Marine Sciences and Limnology Program at UNAM.
Salva was again in Mexico, this time invited by Dr. Alcocer (FES-Iztacala, UNAM). During this trip he was measuring GHG emissions in tropical water bodies (Montebello Lakes and Usumacinta River) as well training his new co-advised PhD students enrolled in the Marine Sciences and Limnology Program at UNAM.

October 2019
We welcome Mariel Barjau Aguilar, PhD student in Marine Sciences and Limnology from UNAM-Mexico, who comes to make a research stay in our lab to learn about the use of stable isotopes (15N) as tracers to estimate rates of N transformation (nitrification and denitrification). Mariel is modeling N transformations in tropical lentic systems using long time series, particularly in Valle de Bravo reservoir (central Mexico).
We welcome Mariel Barjau Aguilar, PhD student in Marine Sciences and Limnology from UNAM-Mexico, who comes to make a research stay in our lab to learn about the use of stable isotopes (15N) as tracers to estimate rates of N transformation (nitrification and denitrification). Mariel is modeling N transformations in tropical lentic systems using long time series, particularly in Valle de Bravo reservoir (central Mexico).

July 2019
Our wetland FACE site in Las Tablas de Daimiel (https://sawface.weebly.com/) is again under operation during this growing season. This year, the experiment is focused in the assessment of root exudates derived from elevated CO2 and the effects on the wetland soil C cycle.
Our wetland FACE site in Las Tablas de Daimiel (https://sawface.weebly.com/) is again under operation during this growing season. This year, the experiment is focused in the assessment of root exudates derived from elevated CO2 and the effects on the wetland soil C cycle.

June 2019
From June to August undergraduate students from Mexico are visiting our Lab supported by the Delfin Program (https://www.programadelfin.org.mx/). This year we are proud to receive the visit of 5 students from Insituto Politécnico Nacional, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Universidad Michoacana, Instituto Tecnológico de Morelia y Universidad Simón Bolivar. The main goal of the stay is to provide students an understanding of how scientific work is performed in an Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab.
From June to August undergraduate students from Mexico are visiting our Lab supported by the Delfin Program (https://www.programadelfin.org.mx/). This year we are proud to receive the visit of 5 students from Insituto Politécnico Nacional, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Universidad Michoacana, Instituto Tecnológico de Morelia y Universidad Simón Bolivar. The main goal of the stay is to provide students an understanding of how scientific work is performed in an Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab.

May 2019
In May 18, our recently published book on the Ecology of Somolinos Lake was presented in the town hall of Somolinos. The event was introducing by the former mayor of the town Rafael Anchía. Although this town is located in the so-called empty area of Spain (both the low population density and the high average age of its inhabitants), Somolinos Lake need to be conserved because its elevated environmental value. The book can be purchased at this link.
In May 18, our recently published book on the Ecology of Somolinos Lake was presented in the town hall of Somolinos. The event was introducing by the former mayor of the town Rafael Anchía. Although this town is located in the so-called empty area of Spain (both the low population density and the high average age of its inhabitants), Somolinos Lake need to be conserved because its elevated environmental value. The book can be purchased at this link.

April 2019
During this month, Salva is visiting Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (UNAM, Mexico). As Visiting Professor is offering a course about the Contribution of aquatic ecosystems to the radiative forcing of climate (postgraduate in Marine Sciences and Limnology). Additionally, he will join to the Lab of Aquatic Biogeochemistry (head Dr. Martín Merino-Ibarra) to carry out an extensive field campaing studying nutrient dynamics and GHG emissions in the Usumacinta River Basin (Chiapas and Tabasco; South Mexico).
During this month, Salva is visiting Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (UNAM, Mexico). As Visiting Professor is offering a course about the Contribution of aquatic ecosystems to the radiative forcing of climate (postgraduate in Marine Sciences and Limnology). Additionally, he will join to the Lab of Aquatic Biogeochemistry (head Dr. Martín Merino-Ibarra) to carry out an extensive field campaing studying nutrient dynamics and GHG emissions in the Usumacinta River Basin (Chiapas and Tabasco; South Mexico).

January 2019
Our book on the ecology of Somolinos Lake (Guadalajara, Central Spain) has already been published by CSIC. Interested readers can purchase it at here.
Our book on the ecology of Somolinos Lake (Guadalajara, Central Spain) has already been published by CSIC. Interested readers can purchase it at here.

December 2018
Limnetica, the Journal of the Iberian Limnological Society, has appointed Miguel as the Guest Editor of a Special Issue on "Long-term studies in inland aquatic ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula", which will be published by early 2020
Limnetica, the Journal of the Iberian Limnological Society, has appointed Miguel as the Guest Editor of a Special Issue on "Long-term studies in inland aquatic ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula", which will be published by early 2020

November 2018
16 November, final meeting of MACROFITOS project at ICBYBE (Valencia Univesity): Salva, Miguel and Luis attended the meeting and presented our main results on nitrogen dynamics and C:N:P stoichiometry
16 November, final meeting of MACROFITOS project at ICBYBE (Valencia Univesity): Salva, Miguel and Luis attended the meeting and presented our main results on nitrogen dynamics and C:N:P stoichiometry

November 2018
6-7 November, Salva and Miguel attended the LTER-Spain Annual Meeting in Córdoba. Salva chaired several sessions and presented his long-term data on Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park. Miguel gave an invited lecture on long-term (> 26 years) monthly dynamics of the oligo-mesotrophic Las Madres lake, near Madrid.
6-7 November, Salva and Miguel attended the LTER-Spain Annual Meeting in Córdoba. Salva chaired several sessions and presented his long-term data on Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park. Miguel gave an invited lecture on long-term (> 26 years) monthly dynamics of the oligo-mesotrophic Las Madres lake, near Madrid.

018
23-26 July, Salva attended the AQUATROP2018 Meeting "Tropical Aquatic Ecosystems in the Anthropocene" at Quito (Ecuador). He presented the main results of the microcosm experiments on the N cycle carried out within the MACROFITOS project.
23-26 July, Salva attended the AQUATROP2018 Meeting "Tropical Aquatic Ecosystems in the Anthropocene" at Quito (Ecuador). He presented the main results of the microcosm experiments on the N cycle carried out within the MACROFITOS project.

gaveJune 2018
Thursday, June 24 (18 h) at the Library of the Real Botanic Garden (RJB-CSIC) in Madrid Miguel and Santos Cirujano gave a lecture on gray literature, a nebulous and inaccessible world.
Thursday, June 24 (18 h) at the Library of the Real Botanic Garden (RJB-CSIC) in Madrid Miguel and Santos Cirujano gave a lecture on gray literature, a nebulous and inaccessible world.

June 2018
The MACROFITOS project is nearing completion. Currently, our colleagues from the University of Valencia are performing the latest experiments using limnocorrals at the Albufera de Valencia.
The MACROFITOS project is nearing completion. Currently, our colleagues from the University of Valencia are performing the latest experiments using limnocorrals at the Albufera de Valencia.

May 2018
16-18 May, Salva attended the IX INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CARBON IN MEXICO at Alamos (Mexico). He presented some results of the experiment on methane production and oxidation with stable isotopes carried out in mangrove forest of Sonora (Mexico) during a research stay at ITSON in 2016.
16-18 May, Salva attended the IX INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CARBON IN MEXICO at Alamos (Mexico). He presented some results of the experiment on methane production and oxidation with stable isotopes carried out in mangrove forest of Sonora (Mexico) during a research stay at ITSON in 2016.

May 2018
The book "Ecology of Laguna de Somolinos and its environment" (in Spanish), which has been edited by Salva and Miguel, will be published by the CSIC Press in this year.
The book "Ecology of Laguna de Somolinos and its environment" (in Spanish), which has been edited by Salva and Miguel, will be published by the CSIC Press in this year.

May 2018
The first draft of our new project book "Aquatic ecology of Madrid" (in Spanish) is ready. We expect to be published by the CSIC Press in 2019
The first draft of our new project book "Aquatic ecology of Madrid" (in Spanish) is ready. We expect to be published by the CSIC Press in 2019