Fluvial Ecology and Ecotoxicology

Belonging to the Group of Research: Ecology of Continental Aquatic Systems (GRCT17), Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona.

Campus de Montilivi, 17071-Girona,

Catalonia, Spain.

Telephone: 34 972 41 82 66

Fax: 34 972 41 81 50

Members

Research Lines

Projects

Publications

PhD Thesis

Visiting Researchers

MEMBERS, FLUVIAL ECOLOGY AND ECOTOXICOLOGY:

 COLLABORATORS 

RESEARCH LINES

River Ecology

Ecotoxicology of periphyton

Stream biofilms and applications for water quality

Periphytic diatoms as indicators for river water quality

River Ecology

River ecosystems play a key role in the carbon and nutrient cycling by biotic processes (decomposition, uptake, photosynthetic production) and abiotic processes (retention, adsorption). In low and medium order streams, often forested and tightly connected with the watershed, riparian vegetation may act as a filter for materials. In Mediterranean streams the input of material is also determined by the hydrologic cycle, characterized by a dry period (summer) and heavy rains in autumn and spring.

The organisms which develop on the river benthic substrata (rocks, cobbles, sand, leaves, wood) are the main responsible for the organic and inorganic matter flow in low order streams.

The benthic biological community is composed by autotrophic organisms (algae and cyanobacteria), and heterotrophic organisms (fungi, bacteria, microfauna, macrofauna) which are embedded within a polysaccharide matrix, making up what is called biofilm.

The main objective of this research line is to determine how the different compartments of the river biofilm are structured in relation to input of organic and inorganic nutrients in the river, and how the biological community contributes to the process of uptake and/or recycling of these nutrients. The role of the riparian vegetation as a buffer zone is also emphasized.

The trophic and structural relationships between the different organisms living within the river biofilm are also investigated. The aim is the definition of the benthic microbial loop. As basic methodologies field work by monitoring and/or experimental designs (nutrient addition, colonization of substrata), and laboratory experimental work (incubations in microcosms, artificial channels) are used.

The main techniques used are: analysis of biomass and composition of the biofilm (bacteria, algae, fungi, microfauna, macrofauna), river metabolism (extracellular enzymatic activities, photosynthetic activity, respiration), open metabolism (oxygen dynamics), biofilm structure (C, N, P content, polysaccharide content, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, Microelectrode measurements), trophic relationships, composition and biodegradability of dissolved organic carbon (fractionation by molecular weight, analysis of biodegradable DOC).

Ecotoxicology of periphyton

A major aim of ecotoxicological research is the understanding of the effect of toxicants on ecosystems. Among ecosystems, the increasing input of land-derived toxicants to flowing waters has generated much concern about the potential effects on their biota. Our research group is investigating the effect of model toxic compounds: zinc, copper and atrazine on periphyton. A field-orientated approach is followed. This is based on the assumption that the presence of toxic substances in the aquatic ecosystems should be considered as another environmental factor that natural communities are exposed to.

Short-term effects of model compounds on the photosynthesis of periphyton from different lotic systems are used to investigate the influence of the environmental variability on the ecotoxicological response of natural communities (Guasch et al. 1998; Guasch and Sabater 1998; Blanck et al. 2003). Furthermore, the effects of chronic exposure on the structural and functional parameters of periphyton are investigated on artificial rivers (Guasch et al. 2002). Following the same approach, a watershed scale study is currently performed to relate differences in land uses with the integrity of the aquatic ecosystem. Investigations focusing on the uptake, bioavailability, bioaccumulation and/or biodegradation of toxicants in lotic systems are in curse. The knowledge of the magnitude of the effects of toxicants on lotic systems is the basis to predict their self-purification capacity and guaranty their ecological integrity, the final objective of this line of research.

Periphyton ecotoxicology is also being investigated in an extreme case study: the Mar Menor, a hypersaline coastal lagoon located in the SE Mediterranean coast of Spain. In this lagoon, high metal concentration can be found in the sediment of some areas influenced by a former mining area. In order to investigate the possible transfer of metals to the aquatic food web, periphyton community composition, metal concentration and tolerance induction are being investigated.

Stream biofilms and applications for water quality

Drinking water companies have installed sophisticated treatment facilities to prepare drinking water. However, the quality of the raw water remains important, because increasing urbanization, industrialization and agricultural treatments. It is imperative for the drinking water sector to improve environmental technologies increasing water quality prior to treatment.

Biofims are sites of biological activity, that abound in all natural rivers and lakes, as well as in all stages of the drinking water system. The aim of this research line is to develop our knowledge of natural biofilms to optimize their capacity to regulate organic matter content in water, retention of toxicants and particles.

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and, especially, the biodegradable fraction of DOC, is used fast by the heterotrophic community of the biofilm (bacteria, fungi, protozoa). On the other hand, autotrophic organisms may be both DOC and BDOC consumers and producers.

In Mediterranean countries, maintaining the quality of raw water for drinking water is becoming increasingly critical. Water sources become scarcer and the treatments grow more and more expensive and complicated. Taste and odours of organic origin in the raw water are some of the main problems arising from the use of surface waters. Conditions of high nutrient concentration allows huge development of nuisance algae (e.g. cyanobacteria) which produce these odours. The environmental features related to the production of metabolites causing nuisance odours and taste to the water (mainly geosmin) have been relatively well described in planktonic systems, but are still poorly known in benthic systems. Experimental and field work performed in the Llobregat River (Catalonia, Spain), where geosmin odour arrives at the water distribution system. The causes and dynamics of the production of geosmin have been analysed in this river and related to the growth of cyanobacterial mats under certain conditions (low discharge, imbalance of N and P, effect of grazing, conversion of the microbial mat to a floating mat).  

Periphytic diatoms as indicators for river water quality

The benthic algal community is composed by different taxonomic groups, each one showing different adaptations and useables as indicators. Diatoms are about 80% of the species which are found in rivers. The silicium squelethon with structural elements of diatoms permits their determination at species or variety level with quite good precision. Since they are little organisms with a high reproduction rate, diatom communities show a quick and sensitive response to environmental changes. Changes such as variations in species composition, favouring the more tolerant in new conditions can be detected.

Diatoms are very sensitive to variations in physical and chemical changes in the river, being then usable as indicators of the ecological health of the river. Furthermore, diatoms are cosmopolitan, easy to collect and preserve, as advantages for their use. In Catalonia, the use of these organisms as indicators of water ecological quality have been applied since a long time ago. Professor Ramon Margalef initiate this studies using organisms living in continental water to indicate the ecological health of the water bodies. From then, numerous information has been added about organisms living in continental aquatic ecosystems and their autoecology. In an European and international context, more precise tools to obtain relevant information such as quality indexes or statistical tools have been defined.

Therefore, diatom communities provide us of excellent information about biological integrity of the ecosystem and causes of perturbations. To do that, is essential to connect species taxonomy with geomorphological, physical, and chemical characters which define the environments where they live. In this way it will be possible to determine their optimal and the possible deviations from them.

In the present a research project is being developed in the area of Catalonia with the objective of making and validating a sampling, collection, identification and quantification protocol for the diatom communities in rivers for their use as indicators of the quality of the ecosystem, and at the same time, elaborate and validate indexes based on usable diatoms for the evaluation of conservation state of fluvial ecosystems.

PROJECTS (last 5 years)

Research Projects financed by private companies or other national or international institutions

Title of the project: Convenio de colaboración para desarrollar y testar la viabilidad  de un índice basado en la comunidad fitobentónica de los cursos fluviales de Cataluña. Agència Catalana de l’Aigua, Generalitat de Catalunya. 2002. Prof. S. Sabater

PUBLICATIONS (last 5 years)

2007

Acuña, V., Giorgi, A., Muñoz, I.,  Sabater, F., & Sabater, S. 2007. Meteorological and riparian influences on organic matter dynamics in a forested Mediterranean stream. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 48, 7: 1161-1172.

Damasio Joana B., Carlos Barata, Antoni Munné, Antoni Ginebreda, Helena Guasch, Sergi Sabater, Josep Caixach, Cinta Porte. 2007. Comparing the response of chemical, biochemical (biomarkers) and biological indices to diagnose the ecological impact of an oil spillage in a Mediterranean river (NE Catalunya, Spain). Chemosphere. 66, 7:  1206-1216.

Guasch Helena, Lehmann, V., van Beusekom, Sergi Sabater & Wim Admiraal. 2007. Influence of phosphate on the response of periphyton to atrazine exposure. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology  52,32 –37.

Sabater, S.  Helena Guasch, Marta Ricart, Anna Romaní, Gemma Vidal, Christina Klünder,  Mechthild Schmitt-Jansen. 2007. Monitoring the effect of chemicals on biological communities. The biofilm as an interface. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry 387, 4: 1425-1434.

Tornés Elisabet , Jaume Cambra, Joan Gomà, Manel Leira, Roser Ortiz & Sergi Sabater^. 2007.Distribution and indicator taxa of diatom communities in rivers of NE Spain. Annls Limnol. 43, 1: 1-11.

2006

Bond, N.R., Sabater, S., Glaister, A., Roberts, S., Vanderkruk, K. 2006. Colonisation of introduced timber by algae and invertebrates, and its potential role in aquatic ecosystem restoration. Hydrobiologia 556:303-316.

Gaudes, A., Sergi Sabater, Elisabet Vilalta & Isabel Muñoz. 2006. The nematode community in cyanobacterial biofilms of the Llobregat River, Spain. Nematology 8,6: 909-919.

SABATER Sergi,  Helena Guasch, Isabel Muñoz, Anna M. Romaní. 2006. Hydrology, light and the use of organic and inorganic materials as structuring factors of biological communities in Mediterranean streams. The ecology of the Iberian inland waters: Homage to Ramon Margalef. Limnetica, 25(1-2): 335-348

Sabater, S., Tornés, E., Leira, M., Trobajo, R., Cambra, J., Goma, J., Ortiz, R., Ector, L. 2006. Protocol 1: Diatomees. In: Protocol d’avaluació de la qualitat biológica dels rius.Agència catalana de l’Aigua, Barcelona.

Romaní, A.M., Vázquez, E., Butturini, A. 2006. Microbial availability and size fractionation of dissolved organic carbon after drought in an intermittent stream: biogeochemical link across the stream-riparian interface. Microbial Ecology, in press.  (IF= 3.024).

Romaní, A. M., Fischer, H., Mille-Lindblom, C., Tranvik, L.J. 2006. Interactions of bacteria and fungi on decomposing litter: Differential extracellular enzyme activities. Ecology, in press. (IF= 4.104 in 2004.

2005

Acuña, V., Muñoz, I., Giorgi, A., Omella, M., Sabater, F., & Sabater, S. 2005. Drought and post-drought recovery cycles in an intermittent Mediterranean stream: structural and functional aspects. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 24, 4: 919-933.

Copp, G.H., P.G. Bianco, N.G. Bogutskaya, T. Eros, I. Falka, M.T. Ferreira, M.G. Fox, J. Freyhof, R.E. Gozlan, J. Grabowska, V. Kovac, R. Moreno-Amich, A.M. Naseka, M. Penaz, M. Povz, M. Przybylski, M. Robillard, I.C. Russell, S. Stakenas, S. Sumer, A. Vila-Gispert and C. Wiesner. 2005. To be, or not to be, a non-native freshwater fish? Journal of Applied Ichthyology 21: 242-262.

LEIRA, M. AND SABATER, S. 2005. Diatom assemblages distribution in Catalan rivers,  NE Spain, in relation to chemical and physiographical factors. Water Research 39: 73-82.

Sabater, S., Acuña, V., Giorgi, A., Guerra, E., Muñoz, I. & Romaní, A. M. 2005. Effects of simulated nutrient input in a forested oligotrophic stream. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 163,4: 479-496.

Sabater, S., Vicenç Acuña, Adonis Giorgi, Helena Guasch, Elena Guerra, Isabel Muñoz, and Anna M. Romaní. 2205. Assessing the ecological integrity after nutrient inputs in streams: the relevance of the observation scale. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 8, 4:397-403.

Sabater, S. & Wim Admiraal. 2005. Biofilms as biological indicators in managed aquatic ecosystems. In: Periphyton: Ecology, Exploitation and Management, M.E. Azim, M.C.J. Verdegem, A.A. Van Dam & M.C.M. Beveridge (eds.). Cabi Publishing. PP. 159-177.

Vilalta, E. & Sergi Sabater. 2005. Structural heterogeneity in cyanobacterial mats is associated with geosmin production in rivers. Phycologia 44, 6: 678-684.

2004

Acuña, V., Giorgi, A., Muñoz, I., Uehlinger, U. & S.Sabater. 2004. Flow extremes and benthic organic matter shape the metabolism of a headwater Mediterranean stream. Freshwater Biology 49: 960-971.

ARTIGAS, J., ROMANÍ, A.M. AND SABATER, S. 2004. Organic matter decomposition by fungi in a Mediterranean forested stream: contribution of streambed substrata. Annales de Limnologie 40, 4:269-277.

Guasch, H., Navarro, E., Serra, A. & S.Sabater. 2004. Phosphate limitation influences the sensitivity to copper in periphytic algae. Freshwater Biology  49:463-473.

LUDĚK BLÁHA, SERGI SABATER, PAVEL BABICA, ELISABET VILALTA, BLAHOSLAV MARŠÁLEK. 2004. Geosmin occurrence in riverine cyanobacterial mats: is it causing a significant health hazard? Water Science and Technology 49,9: 307-312.

NAVARRO, E & SABATER, S. 2004. Contaminación de los ríos por metales pesados. Investigación y Ciencia  336: 26-31.

Roberts, Simon, Sergi Sabater, John Beardall. 2004. Benthic microalgal colonization in streams of differing riparian cover and light availability. Journal of Phycology 40: 1004-1012.

ROMANÍ, A.M., H. GUASCH, I. MUÑOZ, J.RUANA, E.VILALTA, T. SCHWARTZ, F. EMTIAZI, S.SABATER. 2004. Biofilm structure and function and possible implications for riverine DOC dynamics. Microbial Ecology, vol. 47(4), pp.316-328.

ROMANÍ, A.M., A. GIORGI, V. ACUÑA, S. SABATER. 2004. The influence of substratum type and nutrient supply on biofilm organic matter utilization in streams. Limnology and Oceanography, vol. 49(5), pp. 1713-1721.

SABATER, S., ACUÑA, V., ARTIGAS, J., GAUDES, A., GIORGI, A., GUERRA, E., MUÑOZ, I., OMELLA, M., ROMANÍ, A.M. (2004) Ecologia d’un riu forestat al Montnegre i el Corredor: la Riera de Fuirosos. IV Trobada d’Estudiosos del Montnegre i el Corredor Diputació de Barcelona, 2004 p. 53-55

Trobajo, R., X. D. Quintana & S. Sabater. 2004. Factors affecting the periphytic diatom community in Mediterranean coastal wetlands (Empordà wetlands, NE Spain) Arch. Hydrobiol. 160(3)375-399.

VILALTA,E., H. GUASCH., I. MUÑOZ, A. ROMANÍ, F. VALERO, JJ RODRIGUEZ, R. ALCARAZ &S.SABATER. 2004. Nuisance odours produced by benthic cianobacteria in a Mediterranean River. Water Sciences and Technology, vol. 49(9), pp. 25-31.

2003

BERNAL, S., A. BUTTURINI, E. NIN, F. SABATER, S. SABATER. 2003. Leaf litter dynamics and nitrous oxide emission in a Mediterranean riparian forest: implications for soil nitrogen dynamics. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32 (1): 191-197.

BLANCK, H., W. ADMIRAAL, R.F.M.J. CLEVEN, H. GUASCH, M.A.G.T. van den HOOP, N. IVORRA, B. NYSTRÖM, M.PAULSSON,R.P. PETTERSON, S. SABATER & G.M.J TUBBING. 2003. Variability in Zinc Tolerance, measured as incorporation of radio-labelled carbon dioxide and thymidine, in periphyton communities sampled from 15 European river stretches. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 44:17-29.

GUASCH, H., W. ADMIRAAL & S. SABATER. 2003. Contrasting effects of organic and inorganic toxicants on freshwater periphyton. Aquatic Toxicology (64):165-175.

SABATER,S., T.BUCHACA, J. CAMBRA, J. CATALAN, H. GUASCH, N. IVORRA, I. MUÑOZ, E. NAVARRO, M. REAL, A. ROMANÍ. 2003. Structure and function of benthic algal communities in an extremely acid river. Journal of Phycology 39, (3): 481-489.

SABATER, S., E. VILALTA, A. GAUDES, H. GUASCH, A. ROMANÍ. 2003. Ecological implications of mass growth benthic cianobacteria in rivers. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 32: 175-184

SABATER, S., A. BUTTURINI, J.C. CLEMENT, T. BURT, D. DOWRICK, M. HEFTING,  V. MAÎTRE, G. PINAY, C. POSTOLACHE, M. RZEPECKI & F. SABATER. Nitrogen removal by riparian buffers along a European Climatic Gradient: Patterns and factors of variation. 2003. Ecosystems, 6: 20-30.

VILALTA,E., H. GUASCH., I. MUÑOZ, E. NAVARRO, A. ROMANÍ, F. VALERO, JJ RODRIGUEZ, R. ALCARAZ & S.SABATER. 2003. Ecological factors that co-occur with geosmin production by benthic cyanobacteria. The case of the Llobregat  River. Arch. Hydrobiol. Algological Studies, vol. 109, pp. 579-592.

2002

 BUTTURINI, A., S. BERNAL, S. SABATER & F.SABATER. 2002. The influence of riparian-hyporheic groundwater on the hydrological responses in a intermittent stream. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 6: 515-525.

GUASCH, H., M. PAULSSON & S. SABATER. 2002. Effect of copper on algal communities from oligotrophic calcareous streams. Journal of Phycology 38, 2: 241-248.

IVORRA, N., J. HETELAAR, MHS KRAAK, S. SABATER & W ADMIRAAL. 2002. Responses of biofilms to combined nutrient and metal exposure. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21, 3: 626-632.    

NAVARRO, E., H. GUASCH & S. SABATER. 2002. Use of microbenthic algal communities in ecotoxicological tests for the assessment of water quality: the Ter river case study. J. Appl. Phycol. 14, 1: 27-39.

PRYGIEL JEAN , PATRICE CARPENTIER, SALOMÉ ALMEIDA, MICHEL COSTE, JEAN-CLAUDE DRUART, LUC ECTOR, DIDIER GUILLARD, MARIE-ANGE HONORÉ, ROBERT ISERENTANT, PETER LEDEGANCK, CHRISTIAN LALANNE-CASSOU, CHRISTOPHE LESNIAK, ISABELLE MERCIER, PHILIPPE MONCAUT, MAXENCE NAZART, NATHALIE NOUCHET, FLORENCE PERES, VALÉRIE PEETERS, FRÉDÉRIC RIMET, ALAIN RUMEAU, SERGI SABATER, FRANÇOIS STRAUB, MARIACRISTINA TORRISI, LOÏC TUDESQUE, BART VAN DE VIJVER, HENRI VIDAL, JESSICA VIZINET & NATHALIE ZYDEK.  Determination of the Biological Diatom Index (IBD NF T 90 - 354): results of an intercomparison exercise. 2002. Journal of Applied Phycology 14, 1: 27-39.

ROMANÍ, A.M. & J. MARXSEN. 2002. Extracellular enzymatic activities in epilithic biofilms of the Breitenbach: microhabitat differences. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 155: 541-555.

SABATER, S., NAVARRO, N. & H. GUASCH. 2002. Effects of copper on algal communities at different current velocities. Journal of Applied Phycology. 14: 391:398

SABATER, S., H. GUASCH, A. ROMANÍ & I. MUÑOZ. 2002. The effect of biological factors on the efficiency of river biofilms in improving water quality. In: “Ecological processes and ecosystems: functioning towards water purification”. Ostroumov, S., S.C. Mc Cutcheon, Ch. E. W. Steinberg (eds.). Hydrobiologia 469: 149-156.

2001

MUÑOZ, I., M. REAL, H. GUASCH, E. NAVARRO & S. SABATER. 2001. Effects of atrazine on periphyton under grazing pressure. Aquatic Toxicology 55, 3-4: 239- 249.

ROMANÍ, A.M. & S. SABATER. 2001. Structure of rock and sand biofilms in a Mediterranean stream. Ecology 82: 3232-3245.

ROMANÍ, A.M. 2001. Biofilms fluvials: metabolisme heterotròfic i autotròfic en rius mediterranis. Publicacions de l’Institut d’Estudis Catalans, R. Margalef (ed.), 254 pp.

SABATER, S., S. BERNAL, A. BUTTURINI, E. NIN & F. SABATER. 2001. Wood and leaf debris input in a Mediterranean stream: the influence of riparian vegetation. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 153: 91-102. 

2000

IVORRA, N., S. BREMER, H. GUASCH, M.H.S. KRAAK, W. ADMIRAAL. 2000. Differences in the sensitivity of benthic microalgae to Zn and Cd regarding biofilm development and exposure history. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 19(5):1332-1339

MUÑOZ, I., M. REAL, H.GUASCH, E. NAVARRO & S.SABATER. 2000. Resource limitation by freshwater snail (Stagnicola vulnerata) grazing pressure: an experimental study. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 148: 517-532.

NAVARRO, E., H. GUASCH, I. MUÑOZ, M. REAL & S. SABATER. 2000. Uso de ríos artificiales en ecotoxicología. Limnetica. 18: 1-14.

ROMANÍ, A.M. 2000. Characterization of extracellular enzyme kinetics in two Mediterranean streams. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 148: 99-117.

ROMANÍ, A.M. & S. SABATER. 2000. Influence of algal biomass on extracellular enzyme activity in river biofilms. Microbial Ecology 41:16-24.

ROMANÍ, A.M. & S. SABATER .2000. Variability of heterotrophic activity in Mediterranean stream biofilms: A multivariate analysis of physical-chemical and biological factors. Aquatic Sciences 62:205-215.

SABATER, S., A.M. ROMANÍ, H. GUASCH & I. MUÑOZ. 2000. Stromatolitic communities in Mediterranean streams: Adaptations to a changing environment. Biodiversity and Conservation  9, 3: 379-392.

SABATER, S. & I. MUÑOZ. 2000. Nostoc verrucosum (Cyanobacteria) colonized by a chironomid larva in a Mediterranean stream. Journal of Phycology 36, 1:59-61.

SABATER, S. 2000. Structure and architecture of a riverine Mediterranean stromatolite. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 21: 161-168.

SABATER, S. 2000. Diatom communities as indicators of environmental stress in the Guadiamar River, S-W. Spain, following a major mine tailings spill. J. Appl. Phycol.  12, 2: 113-124.

SABATER, F., A. BUTTURINI, E. MARTÍ, I. MUÑOZ, A. ROMANI, J. WRAY, & S. SABATER. 2000. Effects of riparian vegetation removal on nutrient retention in a Mediterranean stream. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc. 19, 4: 609-620.

SABATER, S., J.ARMENGOL, E. COMAS, F.SABATER, & I. URRIZALQUI. 2000. Algal biomass in a disturbed Atlantic river: water quality relationships and environmental implications. The Science of the Total Environment 263, 1-3: 185-195.

1999

ADMIRAAL, W., H. BLANCK, M.BUCKERT-DE JONG, H. GUASCH, N. IVORRA, V.LEHMANN, B.A.H. NYSTRÖM,  M. PAULSSON & S. SABATER. 1999. Short-term toxicity of zinc to microbenthic algae and bacteria in a metal polluted stream. Water Research, 33(9): 1989-1996.

GUASCH, H., W. ADMIRAAL, H. BLANCK, N. IVORRA, V. LEHMANN, M. REAL, & S. SABATER. 1999. Use of lotic periphyton communities as indicators of sensitivity to certain toxicants. In: Use of algae for monitoring rivers III, Prygiel, J., Whitton, B.A., Bukowska, J. (eds). Agence de l’Eau Artois-Picardie p. 245-252.

IVORRA, N., J.N. HETTELAAR, G.M.J. TUBBING, M. H. S., KRAAK, S. SABATER & W.ADMIRAAL. 1999. Translocation of microbenthic algal assemblages used for in situ analysis of Metal Pollution in Rivers. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 37:19-28.

ROMANÍ, A.M. & S. SABATER. 1999. Epilithic ectoenzyme activity in a nutrient- rich Mediterranean river. Aquatic Sciences 61: 122-132.

ROMANÍ, A.M. & S. SABATER. 1999. Effect of primary producers on the heterotrophic metabolism of a stream biofilm. Freshwater Biology 41: 729-736.  

1998

Romaní, A. M., Butturini, A., Sabater, F., Sabater, S. 1998. Heterotrophic metabolism in a forest stream sediment: surface versus subsurface zones. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 16: 143-151. (IF=2.364).

Romaní, A. M., Sabater, S. 1998. A stromatolitic cyanobacterial crust in a Mediterranean stream optimizes organic matter use. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 16: 131-141. (IF= 2.364).

Sabater, S., Butturini, A., Muñoz, I., Romaní, A. M., Wray, J., Sabater, F.  1998. Effects of removal of riparian vegetation on algae and heterotrophs in a Mediterranean stream. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery, 6: 129-140.

1997

Romaní, A. M., Sabater, S. 1997. Metabolism recovery of a stromatolitic biofilm after drought in a Mediterranean stream. Archiv für Hydrobiologie, 140: 261-271. (IF=1.363).

1996

Sabater, S., Romaní, A. M. 1996. Metabolic changes associated with biofilm formation in an undisturbed Mediterranean stream. Hydrobiologia, 335: 107-113. (IF=0.526).

Book

Romaní, A. M. 2001. “Biofilms fluvials: metabolisme heterotròfic I autotròfic en rius mediterranis”, Publicacions de l'Institut d'Estudis Catalans, Margalef, R. (ed.), 243 pp

Book chapter

Sabater, S., Guasch, H., Picón, A., Romaní, A.M., Muñoz, I. 1996. Using diatom communities to monitor water quality in a river after the implementation of a sanitation plan (River Ter, Spain). In: Whitton, B.A., Rott, E. (eds.), Use of algae for monitoring rivers II,  pp. 97-103.

Other papers

Sabater, S., Acuña, V., Artigas, J., Gaudes, A., Giorgi, A., Guerra, E., Muñoz, I., Omella, M., Romaní, A. M. 2004. Ecologia d’un riu forestat al Montnegre I el Corredor: la riera de Fuirosos. IV Trobada d’Estudiosos del Montnegre i el Corredor. Diputació de Barcelona, p. 53-55.

PhD THESIS (last 5 years)

Vilalta, E. 2004. Structure and function in fluvial biofilms: Implications in river DOC dynamics and nuisance metabolite production. Ecology Department, University of Barcelona. Supervisor: S. Sabater, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Girona.

Acuña, V. 2004. Riparian forest and hydrology influences on the ecosystem structure and function of a Mediterranean stream. Ecolgy Department, University of Barcelona. Supervisor: I. Muñoz, F. Sabater, S. Sabater, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Girona. 

Navarro, E. 2001. Ecotoxicological response of microbenthic communities in Mediterranean rivers. Ecology Department, University of Barcelona. Supervisor: S. Sabater.

Ivorra, N. 2000. Metal induced succession in benthic diatom consortia.  Department of Ecotoxicology and Aquatic Ecology, University of Amsterdam. Supervisors: S. Sabater, Ecology Department, University of Barcelona, and W. Admiraal, Department of Ecotoxicology and Aquatic Ecology, University of Amsterdam.

Postgraduate Diploma

(200 hours of theoretical courses + 120 hours of experimental project).

Tornés, E. 2004. Diatom communities in Mediterranean rivers and its relationship with ecological quality. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Girona. Supervisor: S. Sabater.

Serra, A. 2004. Influence of eutrophization in copper and atrazine toxicity in an agriculture river watershed. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Girona. Supervisor: H. Guasch.

Artigas, J. 2004. The role of fungi in organic matter decomposition in fluvial ecosystems: interaction with biofilms. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Girona. Supervisors: A. M. Romaní and S. Sabater.

VISITING RESEARCHERS 

Research stages of undergraduate students:

-          Gemma Vidal, student of biology at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, July-August 2004.

-          Manuel Rodríguez Jaramillo, student of Environmental Sciences, University of Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, July-August 2004.

Research stages of PhD students:

-          Maria Paulsson, University of Göteborg, Sweden. 1999. Three months. Financiation: University of Göteborg.

-     Melina Devercelli. Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI-CONICET). Argentina. 2003. Four months. Funding: MAE-AECI.

Post-Doc Stages

-          Manel Leira. Universidad de A Coruña, España. 2000- 2001. Three months. Funding: Xunta de Galicia.

-          Adonis Giorgi. Universidad Nacional de Luján, Argentina. 2001. Twelve months. Funding: ICI (Spain) and CONICET (Argentina).