
Dr Ana Castro-Castellon
BSc, MSc, MSc, DPhil
Expertise
Freshwater ecosystem health is essential to life and at the heart of my professional and academic background. My aim is to improve water quality by identifying, preventing and treating pollution.
Current positions
Research Associate
School of Geographical Sciences
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
My research is interdisciplinary with a focus on freshwater ecosystem health and how human disturbances, such as nutrients or microplastic pollution, affect lentic and lotic ecosystems. My experimental research is conducted at a range of physical scales: in the field where hydrology and water chemistry are key to biological processes; and in the laboratory to disentangle observed processes. A fundamental aspect of my research involves the use of sensors for monitoring, the ecological and metabolical study of aquatic microorganisms, and the application or development of inorganic and organic analytical techniques.
My main areas of interest include:
- Pollutants and pathways to assess environmental impact and mitigation on freshwaters.
- Passive (nature-based) and active (chemical) treatment of waters.
- Understanding metabolical reponses of freshwater microorganisms to environmental stressors.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Storying the Avon: From freshwater science to folklore
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
In light of the catastrophic river health in Britain, this project seeks to connect Bristolians with their local river, the Avon using a mix of archival research, community engagement and…Managing organisational unit
School of Geographical SciencesDates
30/11/2024 to 30/08/2025
Publications
Selected publications
10/04/2022Ecotoxicity of microplastics to freshwater biota
Science of The Total Environment
Hormesis and Antagonism in Low-Dose Phalaris Allelochemicals during Microcystis Control
Inland Waters
The role of rhizofiltration and allelopathy on the removal of cyanobacteria in a continuous flow system
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Lessons from the “Living-Filter”: An in-reservoir floating treatment wetland for phytoplankton reduction prior to a water treatment works intake
Ecological Engineering
Organic-matter decomposition in urban stream and pond habitats
Ecological Indicators
Recent publications
11/05/2025Speciation/ Characterisation of Chemicals of Concern in Livestock Farming Systems
SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting
Hormesis and Antagonism in Low-Dose Phalaris Allelochemicals during Microcystis Control
Inland Waters
Blue-space availability, environmental quality and amenity use across contrasting socioeconomic contexts
Applied Geography
Organic-matter decomposition in urban stream and pond habitats
Ecological Indicators
Ecotoxicity of microplastics to freshwater biota
Science of The Total Environment