Main research line is disturbance on benthos. Sewage-induced disturbance is the principal effect studied, affecting intertidal epilithic community in both Mar del Plata and Quequen cities.
Other studies are focused on interaction macrobenthos-sediments-contaminants around submarine outfall (PICT 2014 – 3484, amount: 333.000 pesos. Responsible Investigator: Dr. R. Elías).
Also the interaction of Boccardia proboscidea, an invader polychaetes with the ecosystem engineer of rocky shores are studied, with the reproductive strategy and populational dynamics of the invader polychaete (PICT 2014 – 2446 “Boccardia proboscidea, un poliqueto invasor en el Atlántico Sudoccidental: estado actual del conocimiento y perspectivas” (amount: 240.000 pesos. Dra. Garaffo, Responsible investigator, with Dra. Jaubet).
Taxonomy of polychaetes is under development on families Spionidae and Cirratulidae in particular.
For example, project “Sistemática y taxonomia de Cirratulidae australes (Polychaeta)” PICT 2013 – 1511. Amount: 407.160 pesos. Responsible investigator: Dr. R. Elías. (Felowship ANPCyT Lic. Andrea Saracho Bottero).
Periodically, Dr. Elias is hired for environmental assessment and base line using benthos.