The ECHO group – Ecotoxicology and Chemical Oceanography – is dedicated to investigating chemical oceanography across multiple scales and environments, from eutrophic coastal zones to the open ocean and extreme systems such as hydrothermal vents and polar regions. We study the processes that govern the distribution, transformation, and fate of chemical elements in the ocean, with a focus on the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nutrients, and trace metals.

Our work combines high-resolution chemical analyses, ecotoxicological experimentation, and integrated field-lab approaches to understand how emerging contaminants—such as antifouling biocides, nanomaterials, and metal compounds—affect marine biota. We conduct assays with planktonic and benthic organisms across different trophic levels, using biochemical and cellular biomarkers to assess sublethal effects, toxicity mechanisms, and ecological risks.

We also examine the effects of global stressors like ocean acidification on the metabolism and structure of marine communities, focusing on key carbon-cycling organisms such as coccolithophores. In heavily impacted coastal areas, we monitor nutrient dynamics, metal concentrations, and plankton communities, with particular attention to harmful algal blooms (HABs), identifying functional traits of dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria through morphological and molecular tools.

In addition, we take part in deep-sea expeditions to study the geodynamics and chemistry of hydrothermal vent systems, as well as the ecotoxicological risks associated with deep-sea mining of polymetallic sulfides. ECHO’s mission is to advance the understanding of chemical processes shaping marine systems and how ecosystems respond to environmental change, supporting ocean conservation and sustainable management.