Toxicity bioassays are used in different fields of Science related to environmental risk assessment (ERA), and biodiversity protection in freshwater habitats. The research team has studied the following issues:

• Industrial effluents: risk evaluation and classification was performed using Daphnia magna acute and chronic toxicity tests
• River sediments: risk evaluation and classification was performed using Tubifex tubifex chronic toxicity test. Currently, we have alos included the measurement of metal bioaccumulation is for the environmental risk assessment in sediment polluted by metals

• Biodiversity metrics (taxa richness, endemicity and presence of stygobionts) are calculated and used in the assessment and classification of sites for conservation of rivers, springs and caves.