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Dr. Charo López-Blanco

Charo López-Blanco, Postdoctoral researcher
Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics
Justus Liebig University
Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32 IFZ
D-35392 Giessen
Phone: +49 (0) 641 99-35726
Fax: +49 (0) 641 99-35709

 

Fields of interest/focus of work

I am working in Late-Holocene Paleoecology using proxy analyses in lake sediments to infer natural and anthropogenic changes and to place them into a longer perspective of current global changes. I have used cladoceran sub-fossil combined with other physico-chemical (sedimentology, geochemistry, stable isotopes) and biological (plant-macrofossils, charcoals) proxies in sedimentary sequences from Europe and South America. In my ongoing research, I am also using molecular techniques in water fleas for DNA- barcoding and phylogenetic inferences. In the future, I would like to combine neo-limnology, paleo-limnology and molecular biology to provide answers to hot research topics such as the management of water resources, the biodiversity loss and the influence of humans in climate development.


Scientific career

  • 2017-2019: Alexander von Humboldt postdoctoral researcher at the Justus-Liebig Universität Giessen, Germany

  • 2015-2016: Prometeo researcher at the Escuela Politécnica Nacional (Quito, Ecuador). Awarded project: Anthropogenic/natural impacts in lacustrine systems and implications for restoration and management policies

  • 2014-2015: Prometeo researcher at the Instituto Nacional de Investigación Geológico, Minero y metalúrgico (Quito, Ecuador). Awarded project: Effects of artisanal and small-scale mining in lentic and lotic ecosystems

  • 2013: Research collaborator in the project Indicators of environmental changes in high resolution sedimentary sequences (INCAMEDSELAR) from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education.  University de Valencia, Spain

  • 2008-2012: PhD candidate. FPU Program from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education. Department of Microbiology and Ecology. University of Valencia, Spain

  • 2007-2008: Master in Biodiversity, Conservation and Evolution. University of Valencia, Spain

  • 2005-2006: Maîtrise Biologie des Populations et des Ecosystèmes. Mention “Environnement”. Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale, France

  • 2000-2005: BSc Environmental Sciences. University of Extremadura, Spain


Scientific stays in research centers

  • Department of Geology of the University of Helsinki, Finland. September-December, 2008. Research training: cladoceran sub-fossils identification and preparation of semi-permanent slides

  • Department of Environmental Sciences of Linnaeus University, Sweden. September-December 2009. Research training: plant-macrofossil and macrocharcoal analysis

  • Department of Stable Isotopes of the School of Environmental Sciences. University of East Anglia, United Kingdom.  September-December 2010. Research training: stable isotopes analysis on lacustrine carbonates


Publications
Peer-reviewed articles

  • López-Blanco, C. & Romero-Viana, L. (2019): Dry and wet periods over the last millennium in central-eastern Spain – a paleolimnological perspective. Limnetica, 38, 335-352.

  • Sinev, A. & López-Blanco, C. (2018): А new species of Alona Baird, 1843 (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae) from the ancient Lake Ohrid. Zootaxa, 4526, 434-446.

  • López-Blanco, C.; Kenney, W. & Varas, A. (2018): Multiple stressors trigger ecological changes in tropical Lake La Tembladera (Ecuador). Aquatic Ecology, 52, 211-224.

  • López-Blanco, C.; Kenney, W. & Varas, A. (2017): Recent flood management efforts obscure the sedimentary climate signal in a tropical lake. Journal of Paleolimnology, 58, 467-478.

  • López-Blanco, C. & Sinev, A. (2016): Cladoceran biodiversity in La Tembladera Lake (Ecuador): a palaeolimnological approach. Crustaceana, 89, 1611-1637.

  • López-Blanco, C.; Andrews, J.; Dennis, P.; Miracle, M.R. & Vicente, E. (2016): The sedimentary response of lake El Tobar (Spain) to climate: lake level changes after the Maunder Minimum. Journal of Quaternary Science, 31, 905-918.

  • López-Blanco, C.; Andrews, J.; Dennis, P.; Miracle, M.R. & Vicente, E. (2016): North Atlantic Oscillation recorded in carbonate δ18O signature from Lagunillo del Tejo (Spain). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 441, 882-889.

  • López-Blanco, C.; Collahuazo, L.; Torres, S.; Chinchay, L.; Ayala, D. & Benitez, P. (2015): Mercury pollution in soils from the Yacuambi River (Ecuadorian Amazon) as a result of gold placer mining.  Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 95, 311-316.

  • López-Blanco, C.; Miracle, M.R. & Vicente, E. (2013): Is there any bias between contemporary and subfossil cladoceran assemblages? Limnetica, 32, 201-2014.

  • López-Blanco, C.; Miracle, M.R. & Vicente E. (2012): Cladocera sub-fossils and plant macrofossils as indicators of droughts in Lagunillo del Tejo (Spain) — implications for climate studies. Fundamental and Applied Limnology, 180, 207-220.

  • López-Blanco, C.; Gaillard M.J.; Miracle, M.R & Vicente, E. (2012): Lake-level changes and fire history at Lagunillo del Tejo (Spain) during the last millennium: climate or humans? The Holocene, 22, 551-560.

  • López-Blanco, C.; Miracle, M.R. & Vicente E. (2011): Cladoceran assemblages as indicators of hydrological changes. Hydrobiologia, 676, 249-261.

  • Romero-Viana, L; Miracle, MR; López-Blanco, C.; Cuna, E; Vilaclara,G; García-Orellana, J; Keely, B.J.; Camacho, A & Vicente, E. (2009): Sedimentary multiproxy response to hydroclimatic variability in Lagunillo del Tejo (Spain). Hydrobiologia, 631, 231-245.