Fabio Blanco-Murillo
My scientific career started at the University of Alicante (Spain), where I started studying the effects of anthropogenic stressors on benthic communities and, particularly, on seagrasses. My PhD took place between Alicante and the University of Playa Ancha (Chile), and it was focused on the ecological and ecotoxicological effects of desalination brine discharges on seagrass meadows from the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
My interests are always related to the molecular and physiological responses of marine macrophytes to environmental stressors (salinity, temperature), their tolerance and their adaptability, always pursuing to better understand and preserve these valuable coastal ecosystems. The traits and variables I have used to detect and measure stress include gene expression, antioxidant capacity, ROS production, photochemical performance, as well as meadow-scale descriptors such as shoot density and cover on a longer time scale.
Now working at the Gabriele Procaccini’s group my research is heading towards the potential use of population genetics and physiological reinforcements (both approaches widely studied in this research group) to promote meadows recovery and small-scale restoration in the field.
I am passionate about marine life, a bit absent-minded, and always willing to do fascinating research.
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