I am PhD in Biological Sciences by the University of Barcelona (UB) in Spain and currently Collaborating Lecturer at the University of Lleida (UdL) as member of the Wildlife Section of the Animal Science Department with part of the teaching activity in the Msc Erasmus Mundus European Forestry and the MSc Erasmus Mundus Mediterranean Forestry and Natural Resources Management. I’m also associate researcher at the CTFC.

My research interests focus on the biology and ecology of freshwater fishes, mainly in Iberian rivers. Actual research lines are centered in aspects related to present impacts of rivers and their management:

- freshwater fish communities and their evolution in time and distribution.

- Aquatic invasive species ecology, factors associated  and routes of invasion.

- fish-based biotic indexes and tools for ecological status assessment related to the Water Framework Directive.

- restoration of aquatic ecosystems; dam removal and habitat connectivity.

Rubio-Gracia,  F.; Almeida, D.; Bonet, B.; Casals, F.; Espinosa, C.; Flecker, A.S.; García-Berthou, E.; Martí, E.;Tuulaikhuu, B.; Vila-Gispert, A.; Zamora, L. & Guasch, H. 2017. Combined effects of hydrologic alteration and cyprinid fish in mediating biogeochemical processes in a Mediterranean stream. Science of The Total Environment, 601–602:  1217-1225. DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.287.

Benejam, L.; Ordeix, M.; Casals, F.; Caiola, N.; Sostoa, A. de; Solà, C. & Munné, A. 2016. Fish as Ecological Indicators in Mediterranean Streams: The Catalan Experience. p. 101-123. In:  Experiences from Surface Water Quality Monitoring: The EU Water Framework Directive Implementation in the Catalan River Basin District (Part I). Springer International Publishing (Suiza). DOI:10.1007/698_2015_345.

García-Berthou, E.; Bae, M.; Benejam, L.; Alcaraz, C.; Casals, F.; Sostoa, A. de; Solà, C. & Munné, A. 2016. Fish-Based Indices in Catalan Rivers: Intercalibration and Comparison of Approaches. p. 125-147.  In:  Experiences from Surface Water Quality Monitoring: The EU Water Framework Directive Implementation in the Catalan River Basin District (Part I). Springer International Publishing (Suiza). DOI:10.1007/698_2015_342.

Benejam, L. ; Alcaraz, C. ; Benito, J. ; Caiola, N.; Casals, F.; Maceda-Veiga, A.; Sostoa, A.  de; García-Berthou, E. 2012. Fish catchability and comparison of four electrofishing crews in Mediterranean streams. Fisheries Research, 123-124: 9-15. DOI: 10.1016/j.fishres.2011.11.022.

Sanz, N.; Fernández-Cebrián, R.; Casals, F.; Araguas, R.M.; García-Marín, J.L. 2011. Dispersal and demography of brown trout, Salmo trutta, inferred from population and family structure in unstable Mediterranean streams. Hydrobiologia, 671 (1): 105-119. DOI: 10.1007/s10750-011-0708-2.

Maceda-Veiga, A.; Monleón-Getino, A.; Caiola, N.; Casals, F.; Sostoa, A. de. 2010. Changes in fish assemblages in catchments in north-eastern Spain: biodiversity, conservation status and introduced species. Freshwater Biology, 55 (8): 1734-1746. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2427.2010.02407.x.

Ferreira, T.; Caiola, N.; Casals, F.; Oliveira, J.M. & Sostoa, A. de. 2007. Assessing perturbation of river fish communities in the Iberian Ecoregion. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 14 (6): 519-530. DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2400.2007.00581.x.

Reyjol, Y.; Hugueny, B.; Pont, D.; Bianco, P.G.; Beier, U.; Caiola, N.; Casals, F.; Cowx, I.; Economou, A.; Ferreira, T.; Haidvogl, G.; Noble, R.; Sostoa, A. de; Vigneron,T. & Virbickas, T. 2007. Patterns in species richness and endemism of European freshwater fish. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 16 (1): 65-75. DOI:10.1111/j.1466-8238.2006.00264.x.