Columba MARTINEZ-ESPINOSA

Theme : Wetland Dynamics and Water Management

Contact : e-mail | +33 (0)4 90 97 28 74

Joined our team : 1er mars 2022

Personal page: Research Gate profile

Research interests and expertise

• Functional ecology
• Nutrient dynamics of natural wetlands
• Biogeochemical modeling

I am interested in understanding nitrate and phosphorus fluxes in coastal lagoons in order to understand the current state of the lagoons in terms of ecosystem health and to propose a future course of action to maintain or improve lagoon conditions. To achieve this objective, I use the GAMELag model.

For the construction and implementation of this model, which will then allow the creation of the action plan, it is necessary to work in collaboration with local stakeholders and other institutional entities involved in the subject. To fully understand the main hazard factors and vulnerabilities of each lagoon.

My research focuses on Mediterranean lagoons, starting with the lagoons of the Rhone basin and Corsica.

My mission is organized in 4 axes:

• Axis 1: Help in the constitution of a database prior to the implementation of the modelling.
• Axis 2: Implementation of GAMELag (calibration/validation) on the lagoon and definition of the “reference” scenario.
• Axis 3: Analysis of scenarios of reduction of nutrient inputs and estimation of the FMA.
• Axis 4: Development of a strategic project or action plan with the objective of regaining the good ecological status of the lagoon.

Education

• 2021 – Postdoctoral research at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).
• 2017-2021 – Doctorate of the University Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier, speciality ” Functional Ecology ” Thesis prepared at Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement and defended on October 8, 2021. Title : Dynamic model of denitrification in natural wetlands at the global scale.
• 2015-2017 – Master in Tropical Biodiversity at the University Libre de Bruxelles, Vrije Univeriteit Brussel and Universitá degli studi di Firenze.
• 2010-2015 – Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM).

Publications

Find below the most recent publications of Columba Martinez-Espinosa, or see the full list on the Tour du Valat’s documentary web portal:

• Assessing methane emissions and soil carbon stocks in the Camargue coastal wetlands: Management implications for climate change regulation
  de Maite Martínez-Eixarch, Pere Masqué, Anna Lafratta, Paul Lavery, Samuel Hilaire, Lluís Jornet, Cyrille Thomas, Arnaud Boisnard, Néstor Pérez-Méndez, Carles Alcaraz, et al. In Science of The Total Environment, 950 (November, 2024), 175224 En ligne : www.sciencedirect.com[...] Coastal wetlands are crucial in climate change regulation due to their ... read more
• A dynamic model for assessing soil denitrification in large-scale natural wetlands driven by Earth Observations.
  de Columba Martínez-Espinosa, Sabine Sauvage, Ahmad Al Bitar, Jose Miguel Sánchez Pérez In Environmental Modelling and Software, 158 (December, 2022), 12 En ligne : www.sciencedirect.com[...] The Wetland Soils Denitrification Model (WSDM) developed here for natural wetlands, is a physical based model that proposes: (i) the inclusion of soil ... read more
• Modèle dynamique de dénitrification dans les zones humides naturelles à l’échelle mondiale (2021-10-08)
  de Columba Martínez-Espinosa [S.l.] : Toulouse 3, 2021-10-08, 279 En ligne : www.theses.fr[...] La biosphère subit une crise environnementale causée par notre modèle économique énergivore. Comprendre les processus de régulation et d'échange des écosystèmes globaux est le défi majeur pour améliorer notre résilience et réduire notre impact sur la Terre. L'objectif de cette ... read more