Emili’s CV and research projects

Current position

• Professor of Ecology (Catedrático de Universidad, Ecología), University of Girona

Past positions

• Associate Professor of Ecology (Profesor Titular de Universidad, Ecología), Univ. of Girona, 2001-2009
• Assistant Professor of Ecology, Univ. of Girona, 1991-2001

Education

• B.Sc., University of Barcelona, 1988
• Ph.D., University of Girona, 1994

Postdoctoral experience

• 1996. Experimental ecology of fish: competitive interactions between young of the year roach and perch. Dept. Animal Ecology, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden. Supervisor: Prof. Lennart Persson.
• 1998. Dept. Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California. Collaborator: Prof. Stuart H. Hurlbert

Awards

• 1991. Premi a la Recerca, Institució Catalana d’Història Natural
• 1991. Premi a treballs de recerca, Consorci de la Costa Brava
• 1996. Premi Àngel Arisó i Campà (a treballs de paisatge, medi ambient i urbanisme), Institut d’Estudis Catalans
• 2004. Distinció de la Generalitat de Catalunya per a la promoció de la recerca universitària (Catalan Government Distinction Award for university research for the year 2004), Generalitat de Catalunya

Selected publications • Full list of publications

• Comte L. et al. RivFishTIME: A global database of fish time-series to study global change ecology in riverine systems. Global Ecology and Biogeography: in press. [.HTML] [Database]
• Radinger J. & García-Berthou E. 2020. The role of connectivity in the interplay between climate change and the spread of alien fish in a large Mediterranean river. Global Change Biology 26: 6383–6398.  [.HTML] [.PDF] [Suppl. info]
• Cano-Barbacil C., Radinger J. & García-Berthou E. 2020. Reliability analysis of fish traits reveals discrepancies among databases. Freshwater Biology 65: 863–877. [.HTML]
• Radinger J., Britton J.R., Carlson S.M., Magurran A.E., Alcaraz-Hernández J.D., Almodóvar A., Benejam L., Fernández-Delgado C., Nicola G.G., Oliva-Paterna F.J., Torralva M. & García-Berthou E. 2019. Effective monitoring of freshwater fish. Fish and Fisheries 20: 729-747. [.HTML] [Wiley’s read only .PDF] [Preprint]
• Radinger J., Alcaraz-Hernández J.D. & García-Berthou E. 2019. Environmental filtering governs the spatial distribution of alien fishes in a large, human-impacted Mediterranean river. Diversity and Distributions 25: 701–714. [Publisher .HTML] [.PDF with suppl. info]
• Roy H.E. et al. 2019. Developing a list of invasive alien species likely to threaten biodiversity and ecosystems in the European Union. Global Change Biology 25: 1032–1048. [Publisher .HTML]  [.PDF with suppl. info]
• Dawson W., D. Moser, M. van Kleunen, H. Kreft, J. Pergl, P. Pyšek, M. Winter, B. Lenzner, T. Blackburn, E.E. Dyer, P. Cassey, S.L. Scrivens, E.P. Economo, B. Guénard, C. Capinha, H. Seebens, P. García-Díaz, W. Nentwig, E. García-Berthou, C. Casal, N.E. Mandrak, P. Fuller, C. Meyer & F. Essl.  2017. Global hotspots and correlates of alien species richness across taxonomic groups. Nature Ecology and Evolution 1: 0186. [.HTML]
• Azevedo-Santos V.M., Vitule J.R.S., Pelicice F.M., García-Berthou E. & Simberloff D. 2017. Non-native fish to control Aedes mosquitoes: a controversial, harmful tool. BioScience 67: 84-90. [.PDF]
• McKnight E., García-Berthou E., Srean P. & Rius M. 2017. Global meta-analysis of native and non-indigenous trophic traits in aquatic ecosystems. Global Change Biology 23: 1861–1870. [.PDF with suppl. info]
• Soto D.X., J. Benito, E. Gacia, E. García-Berthou & J. Catalan. 2016. Trace metal accumulation as complementary dietary information for the isotopic analysis of complex food webs. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 7: 910–918. [.PDF]
• Essl F., et al. 2015. Crossing frontiers in tackling pathways of biological invasions. BioScience 65: 769–782. [.PDF]
• Simberloff D., Martin J.-L., Genovesi P., Maris V., Wardle D.A., Aronson J., Courchamp F., Galil B., García-Berthou E., Pascal M., Pyšek P., Sousa R.,Tabacchi E. & Vilà M. 2013.Impacts of biological invasions – what’s what and the way forward. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 28: 58–66. [PDF] ISI’s HIGHLY CITED PAPER
• Carmona-Catot G., Benito J. & García-Berthou E. 2011. Comparing latitudinal and upstream-downstream gradients: life-history traits of invasive mosquitofish. Diversity and Distributions 17: 214–224. [.PDF(including appendix)]
• Santos L.N., García-Berthou E., Agostinho A.A., Latini J.D. 2011. Fish colonization of artificial reefs in a large Neotropical reservoir: material type and successional changes. Ecological Applications 21: 251–262. [.PDF]
• Olden J.D., Kennard M.J., Leprieur F., Tedesco P.A., Winemiller K.O. & García-Berthou E. 2010. Conservation biogeography of freshwater fishes: recent progress and future challenges. Diversity and Distributions 16: 496–513. [.PDF] ISI’s HIGHLY CITED PAPER
• Benejam L., Angermeier P.L., Munné, A., García-Berthou E. 2010. Assessing effects of water abstraction on fish assemblages in Mediterranean streams. Freshwater Biology 55: 628-642. [.PDF]
• Copp G.H., Britton R., Cucherousset J., García-Berthou E., Kirk R., Peeler E. & Stakenas S. 2009.Voracious invader or benign feline? A review of the environmental biology of European catfish Silurus glanis in its native and introduced range. Fish and Fisheries 10: 252-282. [.PDF]
• Benejam L., Alcaraz C., Sasal P., Simon-Levert G. & García-Berthou E. 2009.Life history and parasites of an invasive fish (Gambusia holbrooki) along a latitudinal gradient. Biological Invasions 11: 2265–2277. [.PDF]
• Tedesco P., Benito J. & García-Berthou E. 2008. Size-independent age effects on reproductive effort in a small, short-lived fish. Freshwater Biology 53: 865-871.[.PDF]
• Alcaraz C., Bisazza A., García-Berthou E. 2008. Salinity mediates the competitive interactions between invasive mosquitofish and an endangered fish. Oecologia 155: 205–213. [.PDF]
• Alcaraz C. & García-Berthou E. 2007. Life history variation of an invasive fish (Gambusia holbrooki) along a salinity gradient. Biological Conservation 139: 83–92. [.PDF]
• García-Berthou E. 2007. The characteristics of invasive fish: what has been learned so far? Journal of Fish Biology 71 (Supplement D): 33–55. [.PDF] ISI’s HIGHLY CITED PAPER
• Clavero M. & García-Berthou E. 2006. Homogenization dynamics and introduction routes of invasive freshwater fish in the Iberian Peninsula. Ecological Applications 16: 2313-2324. [.PDF]
• Alcaraz C., Vila-Gispert A. & García-Berthou E. 2005. Profiling invasive fish species: the importance of phylogeny and human use. Diversity and Distributions 11: 289-298. [.PDF]
• García-Berthou E., Alcaraz C., Pou-Rovira Q., Zamora L., Coenders G. & Feo C. 2005. Introduction pathways and establishment rates of invasive aquatic species in Europe. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65: 453-463.
• Clavero M. & García-Berthou E. 2005. Invasive species are a leading cause of animal extinctions. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 20: 110. [.PDF]
• García-Berthou E. 2001. On the misuse of residuals in ecology: testing regression residuals vs. the analysis of covariance. Journal of Animal Ecology 70: 708-711. [.PDF] ISI’s HIGHLY CITED PAPER
• García-Berthou E. & Moreno-Amich R. 2000. Introduction of exotic fish into a Mediterranean lake over a 90-year period. Arch. Hydrobiol. 149: 271-284. [Scan .PDF]
• Byström P. & García-Berthou E. 1999. Density dependent growth and size specific competitive interactions in young fish. Oikos 86: 217-232. [.PDF]
• García-Berthou E. & R. Moreno-Amich. 1993. Multivariate analysis of covariance in morphometric studies of the reproductive cycle. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 50: 1394-1399. [Scan .PDF]

Citation statistics

Citation statistics according to Google Scholar Citations
http://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=OG5WezAAAAAJ
Total Articles in Publication List: 202
Sum of the Times Cited: 12766
h-index: 55
Last Updated: 23 March 2021

Citation statistics according to Publons/Web of Science ResearcherID
https://publons.com/researcher/1202493/emili-garcia-berthou/metrics/
Publications: 157
Sum of the Times Cited: 8136
h-index: 44
Last Updated: 25 October 2021

Origin of citations according to Publons (10 September 2020)

Check Google Scholar Citations, Scopus, or publons for more updated citation metrics and my Impactstory profile for altmetrics.

According to this ranking (Ioannidis et al. (2020) Plos Biology; see also Ioannidis et al. (2019)) based on Scopus data, I’m the 23th most-cited Spanish biologist (up to May 2020, excluding self-citations). According to the same ranking, I’m also the 33299th world’s top scientist (all disciplines), 1543th world’s biologist, 267th world’s aquatic biologist (“Marine Biology & Hydrobiology”), 316th Spanish scientist, 3rd Spanish aquatic biologist, and 2nd scientist at the University of Girona. Note that citation statistics vary markedly among scientific disciplines (e.g. researchers in Clinical Medicine coauthor many more publications and get many more citations than in other fields). In my opinion, this ranking by Ioannidis et al. (2020) is likely one of the best citation rankings available (does not rely on a single metric, standardized by scientific field, excludes self-citations, etc.).

Included in Essential Science Indicators, Thomson Reuters (“GARCIA-BERTHOU, E”) as 1% of the most cited scientists (#1975 in the field “ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY” by October 2019).

According to this ranking (Grupo DIH) based on the Web of Science, I’m the 16-17th Spanish scientist with the highest h-index in the field of MARINE & FRESHWATER BIOLOGY (by October 2021). Only two researchers from the University of Girona are listed in the Biology ranking.

Research interests

male of Gambusia holbrooki (© Enric Aparicio)

Ecology of freshwater fish, with focus on invasive species. My Lab has been mainly investigating the ecology of invasive fishes (e.g. largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, pumpkinseed sunfish Lepomis gibbosus, mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki…) in Lake Banyoles, Iberian coastal lagoons (e.g., the impact on the native cyprinodont Aphanius iberus) and rivers. With my graduate students, we have also performed large-scale macroecological analyses of invasive species, e.g. trying to identify the features that determine the success of invasive species or describing the routes and vectors of introduction and biotic homogenization. We have used invasive mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) as a model species, investigating its life-history traits and ecological impacts on endemic, endangered species such as Aphanius iberus. We also help the Catalan Water Agency, the Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro and the Spanish Ministry with the implementation of the EU water framework directive using fish as indicators in streams and reservoirs.

Statistical ecology, particularly the application of linear models (ANOVA, regression…) and the application of new techniques to ecological data.

See also the research group website for further information

Selected current projects

• 2020-2023. Conservation biology of endangered endemic cyprinodontiform fishes: ecology. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, PID2019-103936GB-C21. PI UdG: E. García-Berthou
• 2020-2021. Red Temática sobre Invasiones Biológicas (InvaNET) [Thematic network on biological invasions]. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, RED2018‐102571‐T. https://invasiber.org/InvaNET/ PI: E. García-Berthou

Selected past projects

• 2018-2020. Working Group: sTWIST – Theory and Workflows for Alien and Invasive Species Tracking. sDiv, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv). PIs: Melodie McGeoch & Marten Winter
• 2017-2019. ODYSSEUS – Between Scylla and Charybdis – managing connectivity for freshwater fish. European Commission, BiodivERsA. PCIN-2016-168. PI: G. Englund. PI UdG: E. García-Berthou
• 2017-2019. Evaluación de los efectos directos e indirectos del cambio global sobre la ictiofauna nativa fluvial. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, CGL2016-80820-R. PI UdG: H. Guasch & A. Vila-Gispert
• 2015-2018. Red temática sobre peces y pesca continentales [Excellence network on inland fish and fisheries]. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, CGL2015-69311-REDT. https://invasiber.org/ICTIOS/. PI: E. García-Berthou
• 2015-2017. Programa Pesquisador Visitante Especial (PVE) – Ciência sem fronteiras. Ministério da Educação (Brasil), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – CAPES. Ref. 88881.068352/2014-01. PI: L.N. dos Santos & E. García-Berthou
• 2014-2017. Hacia un uso sostenible de los ecosistemas fluviales mediterráneos: efectos directos e indirectos de la alteración hidrológica en peces [Towards a sustainable use of Mediterranean stream ecosystems: direct and indirect effects of hydrological alteration on fish]. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, CGL2013-43822-R. PI: E. García-Berthou
• 2013-2017. European Information System for Alien Species (ALIEN Challenge).COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), Action TD1209. PI: Helen Roy (NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology).
• 2012-2016. Networking on Environmental Safety & Sustainability Initiative for Engineering (NESSIE). European Commission, Erasmus Mundus Partnership. PI: Georges Zissis (Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier)
• 2012-2016. Euro-Asia partnership to promote Medical, Environmental and Engineering Technology Education and Research Exchanges (TECHNO II). European Commission, Erasmus Mundus Partnership. PI: Jean-Michel Baleynaud (Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier)
• 2011-2015. Euro-Asia partnership to promote Engineering Technology Education and Research Exchanges (TECHNO). European Commission, Erasmus Mundus Partnership. PI: Sovan Lek (Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier)
• 2010-2014. Assessing and predicting effects on water quantity and quality in Iberian rivers caused by global change (SCARCE). Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Programa Consolider-Ingenio 2010, CSD2009-00065. PI: Damià Barceló (CSIC)
• 2010-2012. Invasibilidad de ríos por peces introducidos: determinantes ecológicos [River invasibility by introduced fish: ecological determinants]. Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, CGL2009-12877-C02-01. PI: E. García-Berthou
• 2006-2009.Conveni de col·laboració entre l’Agència Catalana de l’Aigua, la Fundació Bosch i Gimpera, les Universitats de Barcelona, Girona i Lleida, i l’Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries per ajustar l’índex d’integritat biòtica (Ibicat) basat en l’ús dels peixos com a indicadors de la qualitat ambiental als rius de Catalunya i intercalibrar-lo a nivell europeu tal com preveu la Directiva marc de l’aigua (2000/60/CE). Agència Catalana de l’Aigua. PI: E. García-Berthou
• 2006-2009. Éxito invasor de la gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki): plasticidad ecológica [Invasive success of mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki): ecological plasticity]. Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, CGL2006-11652-C02-01/BOS. PI: E. García-Berthou
• 2006-2009. Cambios globales en sistemas fluviales: efectos sobre la biodiversidad, la red trófica y el funcionamiento del sistema. Fundación BBVA. PI: Sergi Sabater
• 2005-2008. Estudio de las dinámicas de las poblaciones de peces en el río Ebro entre el embalse de Ribarroja y la desembocadura. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Agència Catalana de l’Aigua. PI: E. García-Berthou
• 2004-2008. Distinció de la Generalitat de Catalunya per a la promoció de la recerca universitària (Catalan Government Distinction Award for university research for the year 2004), Generalitat de Catalunya
• 2003-2006. Impacto ecológico de los peces invasores y su medición: de la gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki) al siluro (Silurus glanis). [Ecological impact of invasive fish and its measurement: from mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) to wels (Silurus glanis).] Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, REN2003-00477. PI: E. García-Berthou. Researchers: E. García-Berthou, R. Moreno-Amich, Anna Vila-Gispert, Lluís Zamora, Quim Pou, Carles Alcaraz, Joaquim Carol, Lluís Benejam
• 2004-2005. Programa de cooperació interregional, Mobilitat interregional d’investigadors (AIRE), Generalitat de Catalunya. PI: E. García-Berthou
• 2003-2004. InvasIBER: website sobre la introducción de especies exóticas en España. [InvasIBER: a website on invasive species in Spain.] Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, REN2002-10059-E. PI: E. García-Berthou
  Researchers: E. García-Berthou, M. Casadevall, L. Vilar, C. Gómez, R. Moreno, J. Font, D. Boix, A. Vergés, P. Pons, C. Alcaraz, C. Feo

Selected INVITED international talks

• 2017, 25 July. Invited talk, Workshop: BES Symposium 2017: The Macroecology of Alien Species: Patterns, Drivers and Consequences of Global Biotic Exchange, British Ecological Society, Durham, UK
• 2017, 12 July. Invited talk, Conference “Functional Ecology and Environment”, Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
• 2015. Invited talk, Workshop: East meets West: Transcontinental aquatic invasions of North America and Europe, ASLO 2015 Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Granada, Spain
• 2015. Invited talks, XXI Encontro Brasileiro de Ictiologia, Recife , Brazil.
• 2014. Invited talk, The Ramon Margalef Summer Colloquia “What Ecology can learn from natural and human-induced disturbances – A cross-system view”, Barcelona, Spain.
• 2014. Invited talk, “Ecology and management of invasive fish: a perspective from the Iberian Peninsula”, V Iberian Congress of Ichthyology, Lisboa, Portugal.
• 2013. Invited talk “Ecology of invasive fishes: research challenges and opportunities”, Conference of the Chinese Ichthyological Society for Young Scientists. Chongqing, China
• 2013. Invited talk “Invasion biology and inland waters: from conservation to communication”, Opening Doors Workshop on “The ecology of inland waters: Concepts, connections, climate, conservation and communication.”. Organized by: British Council, Spain & CSIC. Estación Biológica de Doñana, Huelva, Spain
• 2013. Invited talk “Invasive fish in Iberian fresh waters: current knowledge and research prospects”, Workshop “Scientific Working Group on European catfish”. Organized by: Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
• 2012. Invited talk “Invasion biology and freshwater fish: research needs and opportunities”, International Conference on Ecology & Conservation of Freshwater Fish. Organized by: ESG/Escola Superior Gallaecia, CIMAR/CIIMAR & Aquamuseu do Rio Minho. Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal
• 2012. Invited talk “Ecological effects of introduced inland fish in Europe: what do we know?”. Workshop “Biological invasions and management: useful, harmful, or futile?”. Organized by: Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Montpellier, France. Related paper: Simberloff et al (2013)
• 2011. Invited talk “Ecology of invasive fishes: research challenges and opportunities”, RGJ Seminar series LXXXI: “Advances in Fish Ecology Study”. Organized by: Faculty of Agriculture, Ubon Ratchathani University and The Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program. Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
• 2011. Invited talk “Conservation of freshwater fishes: hydrological alteration and invasive species”, Workshop: “River conservation. Threats, Challenges and Opportunities for a sustainable future”, Fundación BBVA, Madrid. Related book.
• 2009: Invited talk “Invasive fishes in the Iberian Peninsula: linking ecology and biogeography”, 10th International Congress of Ecology (INTECOL) “Ecology in a Changing Climate: Two Hemispheres, One Globe”, Brisbane, Australia. Symposium S29: “Species invasions, environmental change and the future biogeography of freshwater fishes” Organizer: Prof. Julian D. Olden. Related paper: Olden et al (2010)
• 2007: Plenary Lecture “The characteristics of invasive fish: what have we learned so far?”, Fisheries Society of the British Isles International Symposium 2007 “Integrated biology of the establishment success and dispersal of non-native fishes”. Exeter, UK. Convener: Prof. Anne Brown. See García-Berthou E. 2007. The characteristics of invasive fish: what has been learned so far? Journal of Fish Biology 71 (Supplement D): 33–55. [.PDF]

Principal courses taught

• Ecology
• Biological Invasions
• Multivariate analysis of environmental data
• Experimental design (Experimentació)
• Multivariate analysis (Anàlisi avançada de dades)
• Ecology of freshwater fish: diversity, habitat and trophic ecology

Check here for courses and syllabuses of the current academic year

Reviewer of papers for journals

Animal Biodiversity and Conservation, Aquatic Biology, Aquatic Conservation, Aquatic Invasions, Aquatic Sciences, Archiv für Hydrobiologie, Bioinvasions Records, Biological Conservation, Biological Invasions, Biology Letters, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Ciencias Marinas, Conservation Biology, Conservation Letters, Diversity and Distributions, Ecography, Ecological Indicators, Ecology, Ecology of Freshwater Fish, Environmental Biology of Fishes, Evolutionary Ecology, Fisheries Management and Ecology, Fisheries Research, Freshwater Biology, Global Change Biology, Global Ecology and Biogeography, Hydrobiologia, International Review of Hydrobiology, Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal of Applied Ichthyology, Journal of Biogeography, Journal of Fish Biology, Limnetica, Oikos, PLoS ONE, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, River Research and Applications, Science of the Total Environment, Scientia Marina, Scientific Reports, Web Ecology

In the 98th percentile for verified review contributions on Publons up until October 2019 (#11 from University of Girona), although I don’t have records of many reviews. Publons Verified Record (July 2018). #15 from Spain (#1 from University of Girona) in terms of # Verified Editor Records (October 2019).

Membership of Editorial Boards

• Biological Invasions (since 2011)
• Neobiota (since 2010)
• Neotropical Ichthyology (since 2015)

• Ecosphere (2011-2016)
• Limnetica (2008-2011)
• Plos ONE (2014-2015)

Reviewer/Jury of Ph.D. theses, HDR, and academic positions

Australia, Canada, France, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, and the United States of America

Reviewer of research proposals and groups for agencies

Agence Nationale de la Recherche, France; BiodivERsA; Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS); Czech Science Foundation; Irstea/Cemagref, France; Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva, República Argentina; National Research Foundation, South Africa; National Science Centre, Poland; National Science Foundation, USA; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada; Rufford Foundation, UK; Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), USA; Swiss National Science Foundation, Switzerland

Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación (ANECA), Spain; Agencia Estatal de Investigación & former Agencia Nacional de Evaluación y Prospectiva (ANEP), Spanish Ministry of Science; Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR), Generalitat de Catalunya; Agència per a la Qualitat del Sistema Universitari de Catalunya (AQU Catalunya); Fundación BBVA