Jacob González-Solis Bou ICREA Academy 2023

The ICREA Academy 2023 program has distinguished the scientific career of Dr. Jacob González-Solis Bou, professor of the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences and member of the Biodiversity Research Institute of the UB (IRBio)

The ICREA Acadèmia program thus contributes to intensifying the research carried out by university professors who are in a fully active and expansive phase of their research career. Winners receive a grant to conduct research for a period of five years. ICREA Research Professors form a dynamic community of scientists and researchers from all areas of knowledge, who contribute to the progress of humanity with their studies, interpretations, and questions.

The research of Dr. González-Solís aims to understand the key processes that drive the spatial and temporal dynamics of seabird populations, with a particular emphasis on the role of animal movement and anthropogenic drivers.

His research seeks strategies to conserve and protect these species and their habitats through the study of the behavior, migration patterns, feeding ecology, and reproductive biology of seabirds, as well as their role in marine ecosystems. This includes their interaction with marine food webs and fisheries. Studies are conducted by integrating multidisciplinary approaches and tools, such as molecular, stable isotope, physiological, microbiological and contamination analyses.

Monitoring data from these birds contributes to the identification of several Important Seabird Areas (mIBA) and Marine Protected Areas in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. In addition, it also contributes to the understanding about the reverse zoonosis of bacteria in Antarctica, the phylogeny and evolution of seabirds, and the migratory strategies of several poorly known seabird species. It studies the impacts of plastic and other pollutants in the sea and the impact of fishing and climate change on the health of marine ecosystems and policy responsibilities for seabird conservation.

The research career of Dr. González-Solís started with the doctorate, directed by Profs. Xavier Ruiz and Lluís Jover, on the interactions between two species of seagulls. Since then, he went through different European research teams investigating the mating systems of seabirds equipped with microchips with the team led by Peter H. Becker in Wilhelmshaven (Germany); in 1999 he worked with John P. Croxall's team at the British Antarctic Survey (UK) to investigate the movements and sexual segregation of giant petrels using PTT and GLS devices.