Line of research

Bioinvasions
and endemism

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current and extreme environmental conditions have represented an effective barrier to isolate the biota of different regions of the Southern Ocean. However, Antarctica is no longer a physically isolated continent and the colonization of exotic species on its coasts is one of the central issues of current scientific research. Phenomena such as the displacement and arrival of species to this continent are exacerbated by climate change and the increase in human presence. Potential colonization, such as toxin-producing algae, new competitors or new predators, could generate drastic ecological changes in the Antarctic ecosystem, including the loss of biodiversity of native species.

Through the use of molecular tools and physiological studies, this line of research focuses on answering critical questions about bioinvasions: What are the physiological barriers to the colonization of Antarctica? And how will the new climate change scenarios determine the frequency and impact of bioinvasions on the Antarctic ecosystem?