Trophic Ecology and Connectivity

The Trophic Ecology and Connectivity (TEC) service focuses on the study of trophic interactions and functional connectivity in marine ecosystems. Its goal is to bridge the gap between understanding ecosystem structure and its functionality by identifying trophic relationships among species and how these change across space and time. This approach enables the assessment of ecosystem vulnerability to climatic and anthropogenic disturbances, the quantification of key species' roles (including humans), and the prediction of future dynamics based on historical data.  

TEC offers an integrative view of marine ecology by connecting different spatial and temporal scales. The studies developed encompass a wide range of marine organisms (from macroinvertebrates to large pelagic fish, turtles, seabirds, and cetaceans), contributing to knowledge generation for conservation and sustainable ecosystem management. In addition, TEC develops open-access databases that compile trophic interactions and organism movements, facilitating their use in comparative and large-scale studies on trophic ecology and ecological connectivity. This interdisciplinary approach provides technical and scientific support to both internal and external projects, and contributes to the training of researchers and students.

The service offers scientific and technical support in project design, sample collection (in port and at sea), and laboratory processing. Analytical techniques are applied, such as stomach content analysis to determine species diets, stable isotope analysis to identify trophic positions and nutrient flows, and molecular tools like metabarcoding for precise prey identification. Laboratory processes include sample dissection, homogenization for isotopic analysis, demineralization, and specific extractions (such as lipid or urea), as well as preparation for molecular techniques. In parallel, TEC supports data analysis and methodological selection to ensure result quality. It also promotes both theoretical and practical training in trophic ecology, stomach content analysis, biological sample processing, and statistical and ecological modelling with an applied research focus.

Contact: trophicecologyconnectivity@icm.csic.es