CRETUS STAFF

Jesús R. Aboal Viñas

Professor
Department: Functional Biology
Center: Faculty of Biology (USC)
Research Group: ESoil and landscape mapping, physico-chemical, soil and water degradation and recovery (AMBIOSOL)
Tel .: +34 881 811 000
Email: jesusramon.aboal@usc.es
Group Web: Cartografía de suelos y paisaje, físico-química, degradación y recuperación de suelos y aguas.

   
   

I am an ecotoxicologist (Full Professor of Ecology at USC) and my personal interest is in understanding the processes of contaminant uptake by living organisms, both of inorganic contaminants (mainly potentially toxic elements – PTEs – my research focuses mainly on Hg – but also others such as F and N) and organic compounds (mainly PAHs, but also others such as PCDDs+PCDFs, HCHs, etc.). My focus is therefore on the level of integration of the individual within the discipline of ecotoxicology. However, to a lesser extent, I have also investigated other levels of integration by studying the biomagnification processes of PTEs in both coastal and terrestrial ecosystems.

To this end, I have worked on a number of model organisms during my 30-year research career, mainly plant species such as a moss species (Pseudoscleopodium purum) and a brown algae species (Fucus vesiculosus). Although to a lesser extent, I have also focused these studies on various tree species (both deciduous and coniferous). I have also worked with animals, mainly birds of prey (Buteo buteo, Accipiter gentilis and Strix aluco) and, to a lesser extent, other organisms (micromammals, aquatic and terrestrial molluscs, etc.). In these organisms, I have studied and tried to explain the causes (both physiological and environmental) of the variability of pollutant concentrations at both intra- and inter-individual, temporal and spatial levels. Knowledge of the location of contaminants at the tissue, cellular and subcellular levels is fundamental to understanding these loading processes. For this reason, I have paid particular attention to the development of analytical techniques that allow us to gain knowledge of the cellular localisation of contaminants. An inherent application of this knowledge generation in basic biology is biomonitoring. In this field, I have worked on the harmonisation and standardisation of techniques (both active and passive biomonitoring).

In a very residual way, I was and still am interested in the ecology of the Macaronesian laurel forest, especially in the hydrological and related nutrient cycles (which were the subject of my doctoral thesis at the Department of Plant Biology of the University of La Laguna, defended in 1998) and in the ecological succession of these forests.

This research has resulted in 139 articles (JCR), most of them in the most prestigious journals in the field (76% Q1), with a high level of acceptance in the scientific community, which is reflected in an index of h=35 (source: scopus, consulted in March 2025). I frequently act as a reviewer for many of these journals and I am or have been a member of the editorial board of some of them. The scientific production is accompanied by various participations in international conferences and projects, both in competitive calls (appearing as PI in several, currently: https://coastprotect.com/), as well as agreements with the administration and contracts with companies. As a result of some of this research, I have created a spin-off of the USC dedicated to biomonitoring with the implementation of a registry. I have been teaching at the University of Santiago de Compostela since 1999, teaching different subjects, with constant changes in the courses. In terms of the quality of my teaching, the student satisfaction surveys have always given me very satisfactory scores, which have always been higher than those of the University, the Centre and the subject. I have co-supervised or supervised 8 PhDs (currently co-supervising 2 more) and a large number of TFGs, TFMs and equivalents. In terms of managerial positions, I have been Vice-Dean (in charge of quality) of the Faculty of Biology at the USC, as well as a member of various commissions for a very long time. I have been an evaluator of teaching staff at ANECA for 8 years (PEP-Experimental Sciences Committee, where I have been a member, secretary and president) and of internal quality assurance systems and degrees for various national agencies.

In addition, after graduating, I worked as a professional in different environmental consulting companies, for 5 years for different administrations, such as ICONA and the Regional Ministry of the Environment of the Canary Islands Government. Among the work done, the main one was the planning and management of natural spaces, participating in the drafting of various plans, decrees and researches related to protection figures.

Research Lines

• Ecotoxicology. Loading processes of organic and inorganic pollutants in cryptogams. Cellular localisation of chemical elements.
• Ecotoxicology. Role of foliar ecological traits in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon loading processes in trees.
• Ecotoxicology. Biomagnification of potentially toxic elements.
• Ecotoxicology. Passive and active biomonitoring.
• Plant ecology. Allometry, spatial structure, succession and biogeochemical cycles in Canary Laurel Forest.
• Plant ecology. Reproductive biology of bryophytes.