About IIM

The Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC) is one of the main marine research centers in the Iberian Peninsula. Looking at the Atlantic from Vigo, a city with a strong connection with the sea, the IIM-CSIC faces the challenge of increasing our knowledge about the ocean, from its physical characteristics to the food we take from it and the processes that bind the whole system together.

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Research

Research is at the core of the Institute of Marine Research's work. Working along 3 Core Research Themes, which intertwine and connect to each other, the researchers and technicians at the IIM-CSIC look for answers within 9 different research lines.

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Innovation

While our research provides us with new knowledge about our sea and shores, at the Institute of Marine Research we are committed to go a step further, creating new collaborations with the industry and other economic activities, be they already 'established' industries, such as fisheries or aquaculture, or 'emerging' ones, such as ocean observation.

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Society

Science is not complete until it is shared with society. As a public research institution, the IIM understands that its commitment is with society, fostering a two-way relationship with its surrounding community and an open perspective on science.

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Work & Study

Marine scientists, lab technicians, biologists, chemists and engineers, but also economists, lawyers or communicators (both working and in training) contribute to the interdisciplinary nature of our center. With more than 200 employees, the IIM-CSIC is a large community of people who work together for the sake of science, knowledge and sustainability.

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News & Events

Do you want to be aware of the latest at the IIM? The Institute has a whole team involved in communication & outreach, sharing all news that arise and organizing events to reach all sectors of society: from other peers working in science to children in schools or our neighbors from Vigo.

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Marine Biogeochemistry

Knowing the chemical composition of the marine environment, the concentrations of the different elements and the interactions occuring in coastal areas and generating changes in marine habitats is key for coastal populations to be able to monitor, anticipate and adapt to global change.

The research carried out by the Marine Biogeochemistry Group (MBGC) focuses on the biogeochemical cycles of minor elements (such as nitrogen, phosphorus and selenium) and trace elements (including bioactive, platinum-group and rare earth elements) found in the ocean, also exploring exchanges at the land-ocean interface and anthropogenic influences on these cycles.

In order to face the challenges of global change and to increase our knowledge about our oceans, international collaboration is essential. Therefore, the group addresses biogeochemical processes according to guidelines set by international programs, such as Future Earth Coasts (formerly LOICZ) and GEOTRACES. In addition, it collaborates with scientific staff in Spain and with foreign experts in geology and biology.

6
staff
900 k
€
funding*
15
projects & contracts*
*data from the last 5 years
Research
Lines
Projects
Publications
  • Rodríguez-Velarte, P.; Babarro, J.M.F.; Cobelo-García, A. (2022) Bioaccumulation patterns of trace elements by native (M. galloprovincialis) and invasive (X. securis) mussels in coastal systems (Vigo Ria, NW Iberian Peninsula) Marine Pollution Bulletin DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113463
  • Álvarez-Vázquez, M.Á.; De Uña-Álvarez, E.; Prego, R. (2022) Patterns and Abundance of Rare Earth Elements in Sediments of a Bedrock River (Miño River, NW Iberian Peninsula) Geosciences (Switzerland) DOI:10.3390/geosciences12030105
  • Ritter, C.; Gonçalves, V.; Pla-Rabes, S.; de Boer, E.J.; Bao, R.; Sáez, A.; Hernández, A.; Sixto, M.; Richter, N.; Benavente, M.; Prego, R.; Giralt, S.; Raposeiro, P.M. (2022) The vanishing and the establishment of a new ecosystem on an oceanic island – Anthropogenic impacts with no return ticket Science of the Total Environment DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154828
  • Alba-González, P.; Álvarez-Salgado, X.A.; Cobelo-García, A.; Kaal, J.; Teira, E. (2022) Faeces of marine birds and mammals as substrates for microbial plankton communities Marine Environmental Research DOI:10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105560
  • Romero-Freire, A.; Abdou, M.; Cobelo-García, A. (2021) Implications of kinetically-hindered metals in ecotoxicological studies: Effect of platinum spike aging on its toxicity to Dunaliella salina Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112924
Theses
  • PhD - Patricia Neira del Río (29/03/2019) Platinum and other Technology-Critical Elements: Bioaccumulation and Behaviour in Coastal Systems Universidade de Vigo (UVIGO)
  • PhD - Miguel Ángel Álvarez Vázquez (13/07/2017) Continental contributions to coastal zone: natural and anthropogenic disturbances in biogeochemical river flows and their traceability in the sedimentary compartment Universidade de Vigo (UVIGO)
  • PhD - CLARA ALMECIJA PEREDA (29/05/2015) Geochemical behaviour and sources of platinum group elements in anthropogenically-impacted sediments UNIVERSIDAD DE VIGO
  • PhD - Natalia Ospina Alvarez (12/07/2012) Procesos biogeoquímicos en la frontera continente-océano del Atlántico Nororiental ( Rias Norte de Galicia NO Península Ibérica). BIOGEOCHEMICAL PROCESSES IN THE NORTHEAST ATLANTIC CONTINENT-OCEAN BOUNDARY (NORTHERN GALICIAN RIAS, NW IBERIAN PENINSULA) UNIVERSIDAD DE BARCELONA
  • PhD - Miguel Ángel Álvarez Vázquez (10/07/2012) Caracterización analítica de los sedimentos de la ría de Arousa mediante fluorescencia de rayos X por reflexión total (TXRF) UNIVERSIDAD DE VIGO
Innovation
Sectors
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Capabilities
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Society
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Events

Team

Head of Group

Principal investigator

PreDoc Researcher

Research Support Technicians

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