Sandra Brucet

Sandra Brucet

Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya

Experimental Sciences & Mathematics

I graduated in 1998 and obtained my PhD in Biology in November 2003 at University of Girona. After that I was a postdoc at the University of Oslo (2006) and the National Environmental Institute of Denmark (2006-2008). From 2009 to 2012, I worked as a research scientist at the European Commission-Joint Research Centre (Italy). In 2013, I was awarded a Marie Curie Intra European Senior Fellowship to work at the University of Aarhus (Denmark) for two years. In 2013, I was also a Visiting Scientist at the Middle East Technical University, Turkey. In September 2015, I was appointed ICREA Research professor at University of Vic and I am heading the Aquatic Ecology Research Group (GEA) that hosts ten members. GEA researchers are members of the Chair on Water, Nature and Wellness.


Research interests

Our research focuses on the response of aquatic ecosystems and their biodiversity to global changes (e.g. eutrophication, habitat destruction, climate change). We use the organisms’ size structure, in combination with taxonomical approaches, to assess biodiversity and ecosystem processes. We are also interested in basic and applied aspects of ecological theories relating organisms’ body size, metabolism and temperature. Our research includes the whole trophic structure from phytoplankton to fish. We focus on different aquatic ecosystems (lakes, rivers, ponds) and use complementary approaches such as experiments, latitudinal comparisons and models. Ultimately, we aim to apply our research results to solving problems related with the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. We also pay particular attention at transferring our knowledge into European policies and platforms (e.g. Water Framework Directive, Biodiversity Strategy, IPBES) and the general public.

Selected publications

– Arranz I, Hsieh CH, Mehner T & Brucet S 2019, ‘Systematic deviations from linear size spectra of lake fish communities are correlated with predator-prey interactions and lake-use intensity‘, Oikos, 128, pp 33-44.

– Gozlan RE, Karimov BK, Zadereev E, Kuznetsova D & Brucet S 2019, ‘Status, trends and future dynamics of freshwater ecosystems in Europe and Central Asia‘, Inland Waters, 9, 1, pp 78-94.

– Vila-Martínez N, Caiola N, Ibáñez C, Benejam L & Brucet S 2019, ‘Normalized Abundance Spectra of fish community reflect hydropeaking on a Mediterranean large River‘, Ecological Indicators, 97, pp 280-289.

– Sgarzi S, Badosa A, Leiva-Presa A, Benejam L, Lopez-Flores R & Brucet S 2019, ‘Plankton Taxonomic and Size Diversity of Mediterranean Brackish Ponds in Spring: Influence of Abiotic and Biotic Factors‘, Water, vol 11, 1, 106.

– Ersoy Z, Brucet S, Bartrons M & Mehner T 2019, ‘Short-term fish predation destroys resilience of zooplankton communities and prevents recovery of phytoplankton control by zooplankton grazing‘, Plos One, 14, 2, e0212351.


Selected research activities

2019-2021. SizeEcoFun: Size-based approaches to understand impacts on river ecosystem functioning. Funded by Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology. Program I+D+i Retos. 54821€. PIs: S Brucet /L Benejam

2018-2021. Size spectra of coastland wetland invertebrate communities in Chile: the role of disturbance. Funding entity: Conycit-Fondecyt Iniciación Chile. 97131€. PI: C Coccia

2019. SOS-Temporales: Mediterranean temporary ponds, biodiversity refuges that need protection. Funded by Fundación Biodiversidad, Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente. 37528€. PI: S Brucet

2019. Contract: Diagnosi de la biodiversitat de la bassa temporània de Cap Gros, Parc Natural de Cap de Creus. Funded by Parc Natural del Cap de Creus. Co-PI: S Brucet

Plenary Talk at IBES (Institute of Evolutionary Biology) Scientific Retreat 2019. Biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems: alternative measures, status and trends in Europe.