My research focuses on the benthic diatoms of Mediterranean rivers, coastal lagoons and estuaries. I’m particularly interested in the factors and processes affecting diatom communities and their distribution in these environments, and also in their use to track environmental changes. I’m also using culture and molecular data in order to improve the taxonomy and to better understand the ecology of selected common species that play a key role in these systems. Recently we have initiated research into DNA metabarcoding in which we are collaborating with several other European research groups.