Animal Ecology Group

A cooperative assembly of research labs within the University of Vigo

The Animal Ecology Group at the University of Vigo try to understand the ecology and evolution of a great variety of animals, both invertebrates and vertebrates, including their biological interactions and their role in different ecosystem processes. The knowledge of fundamental aspects of the biology of micro- and macro-organisms allows us to address problems related to sustainable management and conservation in an integrated way. The group uses a multidisciplinary approach, combining state-of-the-art techniques in evolutionary biology, ecology of biological interactions, ecophysiology and statistical modelling to investigate the mechanisms underlying animal-environment interactions, the evolution of biodiversity and its applications in sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation and circular economy.

See some examples of our current research projects:

LIVINGSOILL

DEVELIFE

 

People

Current members:

 

Publications

See our last publications:

2024

Ruiz-Raya F, & Velando A. 2024. Lasting benefits of embryonic eavesdropping on parent-parent communication. Science Advances 10,eadn8542    

Domínguez, J. 2024. Vermicomposting: Using the soil ecosystem in new places. Research Outreach  

Quintela-Sabarís C, Fernández Dosouto A, Gómez-Brandón M, Domínguez J. 2024. Can vermicomposting be used to process hyperaccumulator biomass in nickel agromining? Ecological Research 39, 611-620  

Mendes LA, Domínguez J. 2024. Spent coffee grounds as a suitable alternative to standard soil in ecotoxicological tests. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 31. 16725-16734    

Mendes LA, Beiras R, Domínguez J. Earthworm (Eisenia andrei)-Mediated Degradation of Commercial Compostable Bags and Potential Toxic Effects. Microplastics 3, 322-338    

Gómez-Roel A, Aira M, Domínguez J. 2024. Vermicomposting Enhances Microbial Detoxification of Sewage Sludge, Enabling Potential Application of the Treated Product in Agroecosystems. Applied Sciences 14, 7894    

Gómez-Brandón M, Beesigamukama D, Probst M, Klammsteiner T, Zhou Y, Zhu Y-G, Tanga C. 2024. Garden fruit chafer (Pachnoda sinuata L.) accelerates recycling and bioremediation of animal waste. Waste Management 173, 131-140  

Álvarez-Quintero N, Kim S-Y. 2024. Effects of maternal age and environmental enrichment on learning ability and brain size. Behavioral Ecology 35, arae049  

Kooch Y, Heidari F, Haghverdi K, Gómez-Brandón M, Kartalaei ZM. 2024. The type of land cover and management affect differently soil functional indicators in a semi-arid ecosystem. Applied Soil Ecology 202, 105553    

Kurzemann FR, Fernández-Delgado Juárez M, Probst M, Gómez-Brandón M, Spiegel H, Resch R, Insam H, Pötsch EM 2024. Biomass ash as a substitute for lime and its impact on grassland soil, forage, and soil microbiota. Agronomy 14, 1568    

Santini G, Probst M, Gómez-Brandón M, Manfredi C, Ceccherini MT, Pietramellara G, Santorufo L, Maisto G. 2024. Microbiome dynamics of soils covered by plastic and bioplastic mulches. Biology and Fertility of Soils 60, 183-198

Eckhardt DP, Domínguez J, dos Santos ML, Steffen RB, de Almeida HS, Meirelles LA, Santana NA, Jacques RJS,  Antoniolli ZI. 2024. Utilização de fertilizantes orgânicos a base de esterco bovino na produção de alface. Observatorio de la Economia Latinoamericana 22, 1-18

Guillen-Parra M, Velando A, Barcenas-Flores R, Nicolás-Toledo L, Torres,R. 2024. Telomere length links with physiological phenotype and breeding patterns in a long-lived seabird. Ornithology  141, ukad049.    

Mira-Jover A, Rodríguez-Caro RC, Noguera JC, Fritz U, Kehlmaier C, García de la Fuente MI, Giménez A, Graciá E. 2024. Shorter telomeres are associated with shell anomalies in a long-lived tortoise. Journal of Zoology 323, 67-75.    

de Groot TR, Menoud M, van Bleijswijk J, van Leeuwen SM, van der Molen J, Hernando-Morales V, ...  Niemann H. 2024. Tidal and seasonal influence on cold seep activity and methanotroph efficiency in the North Sea. Communications Earth & Environment 5, 368.      

2023

Ruiz-Raya F, Noguera JC, Velando A. 2023. Covariation between glucocorticoid levels and receptor expression modulates embryo development and postnatal phenotypes in gulls. Hormones and Behavior

Justel-Díez M, Delgadillo-Nuño E, Gutiérrez-Barral A, García-Otero P, Alonso-Barciela I, Pereira-Villanueva P, Álvarez-Salgado XA. Velando A, Teira E, Fernández E. 2023. Inputs of seabird guano alter microbial growth, community composition and the phytoplankton–bacterial interactions in a coastal system. Environmental Microbiology

Noguera JC. 2023. Male reproductive strategies are influenced by the maternal sociosexual environment.  Animal Behaviour Siles JA, Gómez-Brandón M, Insam H, Probst M. 2023. Soil microbes along elevational gradients: community structure, diversity, and role in nutrient cycling. Frontiers in Microbiology

Probst M, Gómez-Brandón M, Herbón C, Barral MT, Paradelo R. 2023. Fungal-bacterial associations in urban allotment garden soils. Applied Soil Ecology. Applied Soil Ecology    

Kooch Y, Parsapur MK, Nouraei A, Kartalaei ZM, Wu D, Gómez-Brandón M, Lucas-Borja M. E. 2023. The effect of silvicultural systems on soil function depends on bedrock geology and altitude. Journal of Environmental Management    

Gómez-Brandón M, Lores M, Domínguez J. 2023. Recycling and valorization of distilled grape marc through vermicomposting: a pilot-scale study. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management    

Fernández Marchán D, Novo M, Domínguez J, da Silva A, Martínez A, Gerard S, Hedde M, Decaëns T. 2023. The best is yet to come: six new species within a large-bodied earthworm genus (Scherotheca, Lumbricidae) in a densely sampled region (south-western France). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society    

Fernández Marchán D, Domínguez J, Hedde M, Decaëns T. 2023. The cradle of giants: insights into the origin of Scherotheca Bouché, 1972 (Lumbricidae, Crassiclitellata) with the description of eight new species from Corsica, France. Zoosystema    

Szederjesi T,  Marchán DF, Csuzdi C, Sarbu SM, Pavlíček T, Krízsik V, Martin P, Domínguez J. 2023. Three in one: molecular phylogeny of the genus Helodrilus (Crassiclitellata, Lumbricidae) with a description of two new genera and two new species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society    

Jiménez Pinadero S, Fernández Marchán D, Martínez Navarro A, Tilikj N, Novo M, Domínguez J,  Díaz Cosín DJ,  Trigo D. 2023. Comparative phylogeography and integrative systematic revision of Iberian endemic earthworms (Crassiclitellata, Lumbricidae). Zoologica Scripta    

Mustafa R, Andleeb S, Domínguez J, Abbasi WA, Ali S, Marchán DF. 2023. New Earthworm Record from Division Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan Supported by Molecular Markers. Zootaxa    

Marchán DF, Novo M, Domínguez J, Sánchez Santos N, Decaëns T. 2023. Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Boucheona (oligochaeta, hormogastridae) in France with a newly described species and a redescribed species. Zootaxa

Domínguez J, Fragoso C, James SW, Lavelle P. 2023. Clive Edwards and earthworms: in memoriam. Zootaxa

Kim S-Y, Chiara V, Álvarez-Quintero N, da Silva A, Velando A. 2023. Maternal effect senescence via reduced DNA repair ability in the three-spined stickleback. Molecular Ecology

Chiara V, Kim S-Y. 2023. AnimalTA: A highly flexible and easy-to-use program for tracking and analysing animal movement in different environments. Methods in Ecology and Evolution

Almeida AM, Ribeiro MM, Ferreira MR, Roque N, Quintela-Sabarís C and Fernandez P. 2023. Big data help to define climate change challenges for the typical Mediterranean species Cistus ladanifer L. Front. Ecol. Evol.

Gervais-Bergeron B, Paul ALD, Chagnon PL, Baker A, van der Ent A, Faucon M-P, Quintela-Sabarís C, Labrecque M. 2023. Trace element hyperaccumulator plant traits: a call for trait data collection. Plant&Soil

Domínguez J, Guimaraěs, A. 2023 A Note on Experimental Gigantic Eisenia and Dendrobaena earthworms. International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology

Fernández Marchán D, Martínez A, Jiménez Pinadero S, Gerard S, Hedde M, Domínguez J, Decaëns T, Novo M. 2023 Understanding the diversification and functional radiation of Aporrectodea (Crassiclitellata, Lumbricidae) through molecular phylogenetics of its endemic species.  European Journal of Soil Biology  

2022

Kim S-Y, Chiara V, Álvarez-Quintero N, Velando A. 2022. Mitochondrial DNA content in eggs as a maternal effect. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 289, 20212100.

Chiarenza AA, Mannion PD, Farnsworth A, Carrano MT, Varela S. 2022. Climatic constraints on the biogeographic history of Mesozoic dinosaurs. Current Biology 32, 1–16

Fernández Marchán D, Domínguez J. 2022 Evaluating the Conservation Status of a North-Western Iberian Earthworm (Compostelandrilus cyaneus) with Insight into Its Genetic Diversity and Ecological Preferences. Genes 2022, 13, 337.

Rupani P, Zabed HM, Domínguez J. 2022. Vermicomposting and bioconversion approaches towards the sustainable utilization of palm oil mill waste. In: C.M. Hussain & Subrata Hait (Eds.) “Advanced Organic Waste Management: Sustainable Practices and Approaches”, Academic Press, Elsevier. London, pp. 193-205

Saiqa A, Mustafa RG, Domínguez J et al. 2022 Therapeutic Values of Earthworm Species Extract from Azad Kashmir as Anticoagulant, Antibacterial, and Antioxidant Agents. Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, 6949117

Fernández Marchán D, Decaëns T, Domínguez J, Novo  M. 2022. Perspectives in Earthworm Molecular Phylogeny: Recent Advances in Lumbricoidea and Standing Questions. Diversity 14, 30.

Rosado D, Pérez-Losada M, Aira M, Domínguez J. 2022 Bacterial Succession during Vermicomposting of Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata Link). Microorganisms 10, 1: 65.

Oceguera-Contreras E et al. 2022. Establishment of the upstream processing for renewable production of hydrogen using vermicomposting-tea and molasses as substrate. Waste Management 139, 279-289.

Ferraz Ramos R et al. 2022. Vermicomposting of cow manure: Effect of time on earthworm biomass and chemical, physical, and biological properties of vermicompost. Bioresource Technology 345, 126572.

Chiara V, Velando A, Kim S-Y. 2022. Relationships between male secondary sexual traits, physiological state and offspring viability in the three-spined stickleback. BMC Ecology and Evolution 22:4

Marques AJD, Mata VA,  Velo-Antón G. 2022. COI Metabarcoding Provides Insights into the Highly Diverse Diet of a Generalist Salamander, Salamandra salamandra (Caudata: Salamandridae). Diversity 14, 89

Mulder KP, Alarcón-Río, L, Nicieza AG, Fleischer RC, Bell RC, Velo-Antón G. 2022. Independent evolutionary transitions to pueriparity across multiple timescales in the viviparous genus Salamandra. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 107347

Martínez-Gil H et al. 2022. Morphological diversification of Mediterranean anurans: the roles of evolutionary history and climate. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, blab156.

Marques A.J.D et al. 2022. Range-wide genomic scans and tests for selection identify non-neutral spatial patterns of genetic variation in a non-model species (Pelobates cultripes). Conservation Genetics  

Alarcón-Ríos L, Velo-Antón G. 2022. Multiple paternity in the pueriparous North African fire salamander, Salamandra algira, supports polyandry as a successful mating strategy in low fecundity Salamandra lineages. Amphibia-Reptilia

2021

Aira, M, Tato A, Domínguez J 2021 Seasonal dynamics of soil nutrients and microbial activity due to colonization by bracken ferns (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) in a pine forest European Journal of Soil Biology

Álvarez-Quintero N, Chiara V, and Kim S-Y 2021 Trap versus net: behavioural sampling bias caused by capture method in three-spined sticklebacks Behavioural Processes

Álvarez-Quintero N, Velando A and Kim S-Y 2021 Smart mating: the cognitive ability of females influences their preference for male cognitive ability. Behavioral Ecology

Antunes, B, Velo-Antón, G, Buckley, D, Pereira, R & Martínez-Solano, I 2021 Physical and ecological isolation contribute to maintain genetic differentiation between fire salamander subspecies. Heredity    

Bosch, J, Martel, A, Sopniewski, J, Thumsová, B, Ayres, C, Scheele, B C, Velo-Antón, G & Pasmans, F 2021 Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans Threat to the Iberian Urodele Hotspot Journal of Fungi, 

Burgon, J D, Vences, M, Steinfartz, S, Bogaerts, S, Bonato, L, Donaire-Barroso, D, Martínez-Solano, I, Velo-Antón, G, Vieites, D, Mable, B K & Elmer, K R 2021 Phylogenomic inference of species and subspecies diversity in the Palearctic salamander genus Salamandra Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution    

Probst M, Ascher-Jenull J, Insam H, Gómez-Brandón M. 2021. The molecular information about deadwood bacteriomes partly depends on the targeted environmental DNA. Frontiers Microbiology 12:640386

Calado JG ,  Veríssimo SN,  Paiva VH, Ramos R, Vaz PT,  Matos D, Pereira J, Lopes C , Oliveira, A Quaresma, F R Ceia , A Velando, J A Ramos 2021 Influence of fisheries on the spatio-temporal feeding ecology of gulls along the western Iberian coast Marine Ecology Progress Series    

Chowdhury MAW, Müller J, Varela S  2021 Climate change and the increase of human population will threaten conservation of Asian cobras Scientific Reports  

Domínguez J, Aira M, Crandall KA, Pérez-Losada, M 2021 Earthworms drastically change fungal and bacterial communities during vermicomposting of sewage sludge. Scientific Reports

Gómez-Brandón M, Martínez-Cordeiro H, Domínguez J  2021 Changes in the nutrient dynamics and microbiological properties of grape marc in a continuous-feeding vermicomposting system. Waste Management 135:1-10    

Kurzemann F, Fernández-Delgado Juárez M, Probst M, Gómez-Brandón M, Partl C, Insam H. 2021. Effect of biomass fly ashes from fast pyrolysis bio-oil production on soil properties and plant yield. Journal of Environmental Management 298:113479.    

Siles JA, García-Sánchez M, Gómez-Brandón M. 2021. Studying microbial communities through co-occurrence network analysis during processes of waste treatment and in organically amended soils. Microorganisms 9:1165

Hupfauf S, Etemadi M, Fernández-Delgado Juárez M, Gómez-Brandón M, Insam H, Podmirseg SM 2020 CoMA-an intuitive and user-friendly pipeline for amplicon-sequencing data analysis. PlosOne    

Tukanghan W, Hupfauf S, Gómez-Brandón M, Insam H, Salvenmoser W, Prasertsan P, Cheirsilp B, O-Thong S. 2021. Symbiotic Bacteroides and Clostridium-rich methanogenic consortium enhanced biogas production of high solid-anaerobic digestion systems. Bioresource Technology Reports 14:100685.

Jiménez Pinadero S, Fenández Marchán D, Novo M, Trigo D, Domínguez J, Díaz Cosín, D 2021 Sorry atlanticus, you are not my type: molecular assessment splits Zophoscolex (Lumbricidae: Crassiclitellata) into French and Iberian genera Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society    

Jones LA,  Eichenseer K  2021 Uneven spatial sampling distorts reconstructions of Phanerozoic seawater temperature (In press) Geology    

Liz, AV, Rödder, D, Gonçalves, DV, Velo-Antón, G, Fonseca, MM, Geniez, P, Crochet, P-A & Brito, JC  2021 The role of Sahara highlands in the diversification and desert colonization of the Bosc's fringe-toed lizard. Journal of Biogeography

Marchán DF, Csuzdi C,  Decaëns T, Szederjesi T, Pizl V, Domínguez J 2021 The disjunct distribution of relict earthworm genera clarifies the early historical biogeography of the Lumbricidae (Crassiclitellata, Annelida). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research  

Marchán DF, Jimenez S, Decaëns T, Domínguez J 2021 Systematic revision of Gatesona (Crassiclitellata, Lumbricidae), an endemic earthworm genus from the Massif Central (France). PlosOne    

Noguera JC 2021 Heterogenous effects of father and mother age on offspring development Behavioral Ecology    

Noguera JC, Velando A 2021 Telomerase activity can mediate the effects of growth on telomeres during post-natal development in a wild bird. Journal of Experimental Biology    

Ruiz-Raya F 2021 Ecophysiology of egg rejection in hosts of avian brood parasites: new insights and perspectives Current Zoology    

Vázquez-Figueiredo, C, Lourenço, A, & Velo-Anton, G 2021 Riverine barriers to gene flow in a salamander with both aquatic and terrestrial reproduction Evolutionary Ecology    

Velando A, Noguera JC, Aira M, Domínguez J 2021 Gut microbiome and telomere length in gull hatchlings Biology Letters     Velo-Antón G, Álvarez D, Alarcón-Rios L 2021 Monsters in the city: multiple deformities increase in terrestrial-breeding urban salamanders Amphibia-Reptilia    

Velo-Antón, G, Lourenço, A, Galán 2021  Landscape resistance constrains hybridization across contact zones in a reproductively and morphologically polymorphic salamander. Scientific Reports

Yakkou L, Houida S, Domínguez J,  Raouane M, Amghar S,  El Harti A 2021 Identification and Characterization of Earthworm (Aporrectodea molleri)’s Coelomic Fluid Microbial Community Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters 

Visit our lab pages for previous publications

 Centro de Investigacións Mariñas - Universidade de Vigo