Spatial ecology in a changing world

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New article: Ecosystem services provision by Mediterranean forests will be compromised above 2℃ warming

New article: Ecosystem services provision by Mediterranean forests will be compromised above 2℃ warming

A new study published in Global Change Biology reviews the potential impacts of climate change on the provision of ecosystem services and the risk of fire and other climatic risks linked to Mediterranean forests. Forests provide a wide range of provisioning, regulating and cultural services […]

New article: Towards a comprehensive look at global drivers of novel extreme wildfire events

New article: Towards a comprehensive look at global drivers of novel extreme wildfire events

A new article published in Climatic Change reviews the major mechanisms behind the occurrence of novel extreme wildfire events occurred around the globe between 2016 and 2020. Extreme wildfire events in recent years are shaking our established knowledge of how fire regimes respond to climate […]

Fire and biodiversity in the Anthropocene

Fire and biodiversity in the Anthropocene

Check out our important paper published in Science in which we highlight forward-looking methods for predicting the combined effects of human drivers and fire on biodiversity, and foreshadow emerging actions and strategies that could evolutionize how society manages fire for biodiversity in the Anthropocene. Fire […]

Predicting the potential distribution and forest impact of the invasive species Cydalima perspectalis in Europe

Predicting the potential distribution and forest impact of the invasive species Cydalima perspectalis in Europe

The box tree moth is an invasive species that impacts forests in Europe. What is its dynamic? What defines its impact pattern? What are the main factors determining its ecological niche? In this new publication in Ecology and Evolution we answer all these questions. Invasive […]

Global review on interactions between insect pests and other forest disturbances

Global review on interactions between insect pests and other forest disturbances

Is the whole greater than the sum of his parts? In this new publication in Landscape Ecology, we performed a literature review to describe how insect pests interact with fire, drought, pollution and other disturbances and we discuss their role on forest landscape dynamics. Forest […]

State of Nature in Catalonia 2020

State of Nature in Catalonia 2020

New Report: Catalan wildlife is in clear decline: population sizes of vertebrates and invertebrates have fallen an average of 25% over the last 18 years. The loss of biodiversity has not been the same in the various environments or habitats and land use changes are the main direct drivers of this trend.

New article: Calibrating Sentinel-2 imagery with multispectral UAV derived information to quantify damages in Mediterranean rice crops caused by western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)

New article: Calibrating Sentinel-2 imagery with multispectral UAV derived information to quantify damages in Mediterranean rice crops caused by western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)

Objective quantification of damages caused by conservation interest birds in the rice crops of the Ebro Delta to compensate farmers, based on satellite images and drone. An example of science applied to protected areas management. Since 2018, the Catalan Government quantifies in an objective manner […]

The potential of agricultural conversion to shape forest fire regimes in Mediterranean landscapes

The potential of agricultural conversion to shape forest fire regimes in Mediterranean landscapes

A new study published in Ecosystems explores whether new croplands and pastures allocated across the territory facilitate fire extinction activities. The authors found that more heterogeneous agro-forest mosaics increase fire suppression effectiveness and thus final burnt area decreases In densely populated fire-prone regions, interactions between […]

New article: From stand to landscape: modelling post-fire regeneration and species growth

New article: From stand to landscape: modelling post-fire regeneration and species growth

How does a forest change after a fire?In this new work published in the Ecological Modeling journal, the authors propound this question for the Mediterranean forest. They propose specific responses via simulating species regeneration and species growth in burned areas. Landscape models are comprehensive tools […]

New article: Adapting prescribed burns to future climate change in Mediterranean landscapes

New article: Adapting prescribed burns to future climate change in Mediterranean landscapes

A new article published in Science of the Total Environment evaluates fire management effects on fire regime under climate change. The authors found that prescribed burning reduce high-intensity fires associated with climate change and that adaptive prescribed burning gain in cost-efficiency compared to rigid strategies […]

New article: Contrasting impacts of precipitation on Mediterranean birds and butterfies

New article: Contrasting impacts of precipitation on Mediterranean birds and butterfies

A new article led by Sergi Herrando (Catalan Institute of Ornithology and CREAF) examines the role played by temperature and precipitation preferences in determining population trends for birds and butterflies in a Mediterranean area, concluding that water availability is likely an important driver of animal […]

New PhD in town: Núria Aquilué, Models and the management of forest landscapes under global changes

New PhD in town: Núria Aquilué, Models and the management of forest landscapes under global changes

In this thesis, Núria Aquilué presents two simulation modelling approaches to characterise forest ecosystems to then evaluate landscape-scale forest management strategies to be applied in an uncertain global change context. All the proposed strategies seek at enhancing resilience of forest landscapes to shifting disturbances regimes. She applies each of these two modelling approaches to two distinct highly managed forest regions.

Wildfire seen from a drone

Wildfire seen from a drone

InForest mixed unity, composed by CTFC and CREAF, has published the first images taken by drones of the burned area from Òdena’s wildfire (Barcelona area), occurred last july which burned more than 1.200 ha. Ecoland lab and InForest are pioneers in drones use for ecology and conservation research.

Position on forest ecosystem monitoring using drone technology and remote sensing

Position on forest ecosystem monitoring using drone technology and remote sensing

A new position to conduct pre/post-doctoral research is open at CEMFOR (CTFC) – CREAF Joint research unit (InFOREST JRU) for one year (with the possibility of an extension) in the context of the new joint research unit between the two research institutions and the NEWFORESTS […]

New article: Predicting the future effectiveness of protected areas for bird conservation in Mediterranean ecosystems under climate change and novel fire regime scenarios

New article: Predicting the future effectiveness of protected areas for bird conservation in Mediterranean ecosystems under climate change and novel fire regime scenarios

Global change challenges traditional conservation approaches based on the selection of static protected areas due to their limited ability to deal with the dynamic nature of driving forces relevant to biodiversity. The Natura 2000 network (N2000) constitutes a major milestone in biodiversity conservation in Europe, […]